eight o'clock
There was a sound of stir and movement in the Turkish battery , but nothing that would excite the suspicion of a large body of troops being in motion . When it became light it was seen that the Turkish ships had sailed away to their previous anchorage on the other side of the Island , and although at considerable intervals the great cannon hurled their missiles against the fort , it was evident that , for the time at least , the attack was not to be pressed at that point . A fresh body of slaves , however , came down from the town to relieve those who had been all night at work , and the repair of the defences was continued , and with greater neatness and method than had been possible in the darkness . At eight o'clock the bells of St. John 's Church gave notice that a solemn service of thanksgiving for the repulse of the enemy was about to be held . Notice had been sent down early to the tower ; and all the knights who could be spared , without too greatly weakening the garrison , went up to attend it ; the service was conducted with all the pomp and ceremony possible , and after it was over a great procession was formed to proceed to the shrine , where a picture of the Virgin held in special reverence by the Order was placed . As it wound through the streets in splendid array , the grand master and officials in all their robes of state , the knights in full armour and the mantles of the Order , while the inhabitants in gala costume lined the streets , windows , and housetops , the ladies waving scarves and scattering flowers down on the knights , the roar of great cannon on the south side of the city showed that the Turks had commenced the attack in another quarter . Without pausing , the procession continued its way , and it was not until the service in the chapel had been concluded that any steps were taken to ascertain the direction of the attack .