THE SECOND CAPTURE OF TILMISAN.
When Abdullah, the brother of Massoud, had left Vehran and come to Tilmisan, with the troops of Khair-ad-din, Massoud came out against him, but was routed in an engagement, and driven into the castle, where he was shut up twenty days. One night, however, two hundred men scaled the castle walls and threw open the outer gates; but Massoud, who was in the inner castle, made his escape with two hundred horsemen. The criers then proclaimed Sultan Selim sovereign of the place; and as soon as order was restored Abdullah was duly installed governor by Khair-ad-din. The khotba was read, and coinage was issued in the name of the emperor; and a garrison of an hundred and fifty men was left in the castle. On the departure of Khair-ad-din, Massoud returned and besieged it for three months; but the former hastened back to its defence, routed Massoud in an engagement, in which he made him prisoner; and he died in confinement.