 CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRST PRIZES After leaving the Slaves, Gervais joined his companions on the poop. They were engaged in an animated discussion, as to whether it was advisable to grant indulgences to the Slaves. The majority approved of the steps Gervais had taken, but Samba asserted that these concessions would only lead them to look for more, and would create discontent among the crews of other galleys, not so favored. Well comrades, sent Gervais, I think that so far I am better qualified than any of you to give an opinion, but it may be that it will fall to the lot of some of you to be a slave in Turkish hands. In that case, I can affirm with certainty that you will keenly appreciate any alleviation, however small, of your lot. You must remember that the one feeling of the slave is dull despair. Death is the only relief he has to look forward to. Do you think that a man so feeling can do his best, either at an ore or at any other kind of work? I am sure it would not be so in my case, but if you brighten his life a little, and show him that he is not regarded as merely a brute beast, and that you take some interest in him, he will work in a different spirit, even viewed from a merely monetary point of view it must pay well to render him as content as possible with his lot. You know how great is the mortality among the slaves, how they pine away and die from no material malady that can be detected, but simply from hopelessness and weariness of life. Aided undoubtedly in the case of the galley slaves, by sleeping in the damp night air after an exposure all day to the full heat of the sun, this brings an answer to your second objection. Undoubtedly it might cause discontent among the slaves of other galleys when they hear that others are treated better than themselves, but I hope that if on our return, we bring back all our slaves in good condition and health. The contrast between their appearance and that of the slaves in most other galleys will be so marked that the admiral may consider it would be well to order awnings to be fixed to all the vessels of the order, and even to grant to all slaves when away on voyages the little indulgences I have given them here. The expense would be very trifling, and it would certainly add a great deal to the average life of a slave, and would render him capable of better work. There is another advantage if the Turks learn that their countrymen in our hands are treated with a certain amount of kindness and consideration. It might lead them to act similarly to those of our order who may be unfortunate enough to fall into their hands. There is a great deal in what you say, certain verbates. One of the knights who had before taken the opposite point of view said, There is no reason why our galleys should not be a minority, and though like enough the seniors will laugh at our making innovations, Diabasin is a reformer and will certainly support anything that he sees to be beneficial from whatever quarter it comes. Supper was now served, and the young knights were well pleased with the entertainment provided for them. It was the principal meal of the day. Their fast was broken by a glass of wine, a mansion of bread, and fruit soon after rising. At eleven o'clock they sat down to a more substantial meal, but in that climate the heat was at that hour considerable, and as there were duties to be performed, there was no sitting long at table. At supper the day's work was over, their appetite was sharpened by the cool evening breeze, and the meal was hardy and prolonged. After it was concluded, several of the knights brought up from below vials and other instruments of music, for the ability to accompany the voice with such an instrument was considered an essential part of the education of a knight. For some hours the songs and romances, so popular at the time, were sung in the various languages represented on board. Then the knights, one by one, went down to their sleeping places, until only the seven knights of the Lang of Avergy, who were to watch the first knight remain on deck. Five of these wrapped themselves in their mantles and laid down on the benches. One of the others descended to the waist, walked along the plank between the lines of sleeping slaves, and took up his place in the bow. While the other paced up and down the poop. The fall of his footsteps being the only sound to break the silence that rained throughout the ship. In the morning as soon as the knights had all taken a plunge in the sea, the oars were gut out and the galley proceeded on her way. Passing through the islands and skirting the southern shore of Greece, she continued her course west. Malta was sighted, but they did not put in there. Pentalaria was passed, and in a fortnight after leaving Rhodes, Cape Bon at the entrance to the Bay of Tunis was sighted. Until Greece was left behind them, the knights had generally been spit in small ports, where supplies of fresh meat, fish, and fruit were obtainable. So far no incident had marked the voyage. The weather had continued fine, and they had heard nothing from ships they had fallen in with, of any Muslim pirates having been seen. A few hours, however, after sighting the coast of Africa, a dark object was seen ahead. It is a ship of some sort, Ralph said, but her mass have gone. It may be that she is a merchant than that has been captured and sacked by the Moorish pirates. Orders were given to the rowers to quicken their pace, and in little over an hour they were alongside the hull. As soon as the vessels were close enough for those on the poop of the galley to look down onto the deck of the other craft, it was seen that Ralph's suppositions were correct. Two bodies lay stretched upon it. One was crushed under the fallen mast. The other lay huddled up in a heap, a cannonball having almost tore him ascender. The knights slept onto the deck as soon as the galley ran alongside. Gervais made first for the man lying beneath the mast. As he came up to him, the sailor opened his eyes and murmured, Water! Gervais called out to one of the servants to bring water from the galley, and as soon as it came, poured some between the man's lips. The knights by their united efforts lifted the mast from across his body. It was evident, however, that he had but a short time to live, and the dew of death was on his face. After a few minutes he rallied a little and looked gratefully at his rescuers. You have been attacked by pirates, Gervais said. Was there one galley or two? Three galleys! the man replied in a faint whisper. Do you know where they were from? Triple A! How long ago? It was about three hours after sunrise when we saw them coming up. The man said, his voice gaining in strength, as some wine negated him took effect. It was useless to fight, and I hauled down our flag. But in spite of that, one of the pirates fired a broadside, and one of the shot hit the mast and brought it down, and I was crushed under it. They boarded us, took off all the crew's captives, and emptied the hold. I knew that I was done for and begged them to kill me, but they paid no attention. I know a little of their language, and as I lay there I caught something of what they were saying. They are bound for the island of Sardinia, where they have a rendezvous, and are to join a great gathering of their consorts. I don't know the name of the place, but it is on the east coast, more water. Gervais knelt to pour some water between his lips. When he gave a sudden cry, a shudder ran through his frame, and he was dead. Let us return on board, gentlemen, Gervais said, rising to his feet. We can do nothing here. As soon as he regained the deck of the galley, he signed to Ralph to follow him below. Now Ralph, he said, this is one of those cases in which we have to decide whether we ought or ought not to be prudent. From what the poor fellow said, the pirates have about five hours start of us, and as they can have no idea that they are pursued, we can doubtless overtake them before they reach Sardinia. The question is, ought we to pursue them at once, or ought we to coast along till we find Viscontes Galley? Three of these triply pirates, crowded as they always are with men, would prove serious opponents. Yet we might engage them with a fair hope of victory, but we may be seriously disabled in the fight, and should be, perhaps, unable to carry the news to Genoa that there are many pirate ships gathering on the coast of Sardinia to prey upon their commerce. We might be days or even weeks before we lie upon Viscontes Galley surveys, and even when we found it, he might not consider himself justified in leaving the coast where he is stationed. Besides, while we are spending our time looking for him, the pirates will be committing terrible depredations. It must be a big expedition under some notorious pirate, or they would never venture so far north. Then you think that I should be justified in pursuing them alone? It is a fearful responsibility to have to decide. I think so, your ways. There is no saying what misfortunes might happen if we did not venture to do so. Very well then, Sobiant, but before deciding finally on so great a manner, I will lay it before the company. There is no doubt as to what their decision will be, Ralph said with a smile. Perhaps not, Ralph, but as they will be called upon to risk their lives in a dangerous enterprise, it is as well that they should have a say in the matter. When they returned on to the poop, there was an expression of eagerness and excitement on the faces of the young knights, which showed how anxiously they had been awaiting the result of the conference below. Berve stepped on to a bench and motioned to them to close up around him. Comrades, he said, although the responsibility of whatever course may be taken must rest upon my shoulders, yet I think it but right that as a general before a battle often calls a council of war to assist him with its advice, so I should lay before you the two courses open to us, and ask your opinion upon them. Sir Ralph Hardcore could die out of one mind in the matter, but as the decision is a grave one, we should be loath to act upon it without your concurrence. He then repeated the alternatives as he had laid them before Ralph. Now he went on, as you see, there is grave danger and much risk in the one course, but if successful its advantages are obvious. On the other hand, the second plan is more sure, more prudent, and more in accordance with the instructions I have received. I ask you to let me know frankly your opinion on the subject. If your view agrees with ours, although it will not relieve me from the responsibility of deciding, it will at least in the event of things turning out badly, be a satisfaction to know that the course had your approval, and that it was your desire as well as ours that we should undertake it. First then, let all who are in favor of following the pirates go to the starboard side of the deck, while those who are in favor of joining Visconti in laying this serious matter we have discovered before him, move to the labyrinth side. There was a rush of the knights to the right, and not one move to the other side. Your decision is the same as ours, Gervais said, to the north then. If there is great peril in the adventure, there is also great honor to be gained. The knights gave a shout of satisfaction at finding that their choice was also that of the officers. Later head to the north, Gervais said to the pilot, then he went to the end of the poop, and ordered the slaves to row on. Row a long, steady stroke, such as you can maintain for many hours. We have a long journey before us, and there is need for haste. Now is the time for willing work. The oars dipped into the water, and the galley was soon moving along at a much faster pace than that at which they had performed the journey for roads. The slaves had not, from their benches, been able to see what had passed on board the dismantled vessel. But from the order and the change of course they had no doubt that the knights had obtained some clue through the direction taken by the corsairs, who had captured and sapped the ship. There is but little wind, Gervais said to Row, and their sails will be of slight use to them. Therefore we shall go fully three feet to their two. It is quite possible that we may not catch sight of them, for we cannot tell exactly the course they will take. We shall steer for Cape Carbonara, which is some hundred and thirty miles distant. If we do not see them by the time we get there, we shall be sure that we have passed them on the way. Unless indeed a strong wind should spring up from the south. However, I hope that we shall catch sight of them before that, for we shall be able from our lookout to discover their mast and sails some eight or ten miles away. While they will not be able to see us until we are within half that distance, they cannot be more than twenty miles away now, for the light breeze will aid them but little, and as they will see no occasion for haste, they will not be rowing at their full power, with so long a passage before them. Already indeed, one of the knights had perched himself on the seat at the top of a low mast, some fifteen feet above the poop that served as a lookout. You can see nothing yet, I suppose, Carolee. No, the line of sea is clear all around. It was indeed some four hours before the night on the lookout cried that he could make out three dark specks on the horizon. Gervais at once ascended to the lookout, by the ladder that was fixed against the post. They are making to the left of the course we are taking. Turn her head, rather more to the west, that will do. They are directly ahead now. He then came down to the deck again. I would that we had seven or eight more hours of daylight route, instead of but three at the outside. However, as we know the course they are taking, we are not likely to miss them. For as we shall not be near enough for them to make us out before the sun sets, there will be no chance that they are changing it. Do you think they will row all night? I should not think so. If the land were nearer, they might keep on until they make it. But as they have had no wind since daylight, they will lie on their oars until morning. You see at sunset they will still be some eighty miles from Cape Carmonera, and the slaves could not possibly row that distance without rest. So if we keep on, we may take them by surprise. That is what I have been thinking about, but it would be well not to attack them until nearly daybreak. We should capture one galley easily enough, but the others, being ignorant of our course, might make off in different directions, and we might lose both of them. If on the other hand we could fall upon them a short time before daylight, we should be able to keep them in sight, and even if they separated, they would soon come together and continue their course. Or as I hope, when they see that we are alone, bear up and fight us. I think that our best plan will be to row on until it is dark, then give the slaves six hours rest, and after that go on quietly. If we can make them out, which we may do if they have lights on board, we will stop, and wait until it is the hour to attack them. If we miss them, we will row on to Sardinia, in my up, as we proposed until they come along. I think that will be a very good plan, Gurves. Before sunset, the three pirate ships could be clearly made out from the deck, but the pilot judged them to be fully ten miles away. Half an hour later, the slaves were told to cease rowing. Gurves had ordered the cooks to prepare them a good meal, and this was at once served, together with a full ration of wine. As soon as they had consumed it, they were told to lie down and sleep, as at one o'clock the galley would be again underway. The night supper was served below, as lights on the poop might be made out, should they look out and be placed by the corsairs in their tops. We had better follow the example of the galley slaves, Gurves said, rising as soon as the meal was finished, and with the exception of Spain, who was on watch, turned in to sleep till we are up again. All of you will, of course, don your armor on rising. At the appointed hour, the galley was again underway. There was not a breath of air, and before Sardinia, pieces of cloth were wrapped around the oars at the rollox due dead in the sound, which might otherwise have been heard at a considerable distance on so still a night. After an hour and a half's rowing, the night on the lookout said that he could see a light some distance ahead. The pilot, an experienced old sailor, joined him, and speedily descended to the poop again. It is a ship's light, he said. I should say that it was a lantern for the ship of the captain of the expedition, and it is shown to enable the other two to keep near him. I cannot sail how far it is away, for I do not know at what height it hangs above the water, but I should imagine from the peopleness of our light that it must be some two miles distant. As soon as the light had been noticed, the slaves had been ordered to cease rowing, and they were now told that they would not be required again for fully two hours. When the first gleam of dawn appeared in the east, they were called to do their work again. The lantern was still burning, and in a quarter of an hour the nights on the poop were able, in the broadening light, to make out three shadowy forms some two miles ahead of them. They decreased this distance by more than half before they could discern any signs of light or motion on board. Then a sudden stir was apparent. They could hear shouts from one vessel to another. Ores were thrust out, and an effort made to get the heads of the ships in the same direction so as to catch the light breeze that had just sprung up. The moment he saw that the galley was discovered, Gervais shouted down to the slaves to row their hardest, and told the pilot to steer for the ship farthest to the east. She was some four or five hundred yards from her nearest consort, and the same distance separated that vessel from the third craft. We shall have time to carry her, Ralph, before the others come to her assistance, and they will only arrive one at a time if we were to lie alongside the middle craft, which is probably that of the chief, as it is she that has the light burning. We might have the other two upon us before we have done with her, for she is evidently the largest, and most likely the strongest-handed of them. The leader of the pirates evidently saw that there was no chance of evading the fight. A flag was run up to the mast head of his ship, and the three vessels began to endeavor to turn so as to meet the galley. The operation, however, took some time. In the confusion, orders were misunderstood, and instead of all the slaves on one side rowing whilst those on the other side backed, all order was lost, and long before the craft for which the galley was making had got round, the latter was upon her. Shall I ram her, Sir Gervais? The pilot asked. No, we might damage ourselves. Besides, I do not want to sink her, cheer away the oars on one side. The galley carried eight guns, three on each side of the poop, and two forward, and these had been loaded with small pieces of iron. A few shots had been fired by the pirates, but owing to the confusion that prevailed on board, the guns were discharged so hurriedly that the shot either flew overhead or passed wide at the galley. Excited as the young knights were, and eager for the fray, a general laugh broke out as the galley swept along by the pirate ship, breaking many of her oars, and hurling all the slaves who manned the backwards off their benches. A moment later, the guns poured their iron contents among the pirates, who clustered thickly on the forecastle and poop. And as the vessels created together, the knights sprang on board the corsair. The members of the English Lang had each been provided with short pieces of rope, and before joining their companions in the fray, they lashed the vessels together side by side. The fight was a very short one. France and Avrilmy, led by Ralph Harcourt, boarded at the bow. The other five langs at the poop, and so impetuous was their onset that the pirates, who had still scarce to recover from their surprise, had been hastily aroused from sleep, to repel the attack of the foe who had so suddenly sprung out from the darkness upon them, offered but a feeble resistance. Many threw themselves overboard, and swam to the ship nearest to them. Others were cut down, and the rest flung away their arms and cried for quarter. All who did so were, without the loss of a minute's time, thrown down into the hold of their ship, and the hatches secured over them. It had before been arranged that Ralph should take the command of the corsair, having with him France, Avrilmy, and Germany. As soon, therefore, as the captives were fastened below, Gervais called the knights of the other four langs back to the deck of the galley. The lichens were cast off, she was pushed from the side of the prize, and the oars were got out. There was no time to be lost, for the largest of the three pirate ships, which had directly it was seen that her consort was captured, poured two heavy broadsides into the prize, was now approaching, rowing but slowly, however, for the third vessel to come up. She was but a hundred yards away when the galley swept around the bow of the prize, and advanced to meet her. As she did so, Ralph discharged the eight guns of the prize, which he had at once reloaded into the bow of the corsair, the shot raking the crowded deck from end to end, when but a few yards distant, the two bow guns of the galley poured in a shower of missiles. In a moment later, she ran alongside the pirate, the poop guns as before preparing the way for the borders, but no sooner had they leapt on the deck when they were met by the pirates headed by their captain. Gervais had specially charged the knights not to allow themselves to be carried away by their ardor. We are sure to be greatly outnumbered, and when we first spring on board we must cut our way across the deck, and then form ourselves in a double or treble line across it, and so fighting gradually forced them before us. This, in spite of the efforts of the pirates, was accomplished, and once formed the corsairs strove in vain to break through the wall of steel. For a time, however, no forward movement could be made, so furious were the attacks upon them led by the pirate chief. Several times breaches were made in the front rank, but the knights behind each time bore back the assault and restored the line. The knights had wanded their way half along the poop when a yell of exultation rose from the corsairs as the third of their vessels rode up on the other side of the galley, and her crew sprang on board it. Gervais called the knights of the second line from their places and raged them along the bulwark to prevent the moors from boarding from the poop of the galley. Then for a moment he looked round. The prize was creeping up, and was a length or two away coming up alongside. Its approach was also noticed by the pirates, who with wild shouts flung themselves upon their opponents. Gervais sprang forward to take the place of a young Italian knight who staggered back with his helmet cleft by a heavy blow from the keen yatigan of the pirate captain. The corsair shouting his war cry of Allah sprang with the bound of a wild cat upon Gervais. His weapon descended on his uplifted guard and shore right through the stout blade. With a shout of triumph the corsair raised his arm to repeat the blow, but Gervais in turn sprang forward and struck with all his force with the pummel of his sword on the forehead of his opponent. The latter fell as a shot, his weapon dropping from his hand beside him. Dismayed at the fall of their leader his followers recoiled for a moment. Another tall pirate sprang forward to take his place, and shouting to them to follow was about to throw himself upon Gervais when a gun crashed out close alongside. A storm of irons swept away the front line of wars and the shout of Saint John, Saint John rose above the den. It was one of the bow guns of the prize and as she swept along gun after gun poured its contents among the pirates. Do you clear the galley route? We can manage here now, Gervais said as routes left on board. The latter followed by his party of knights rushed across the poop and sprang onto the galley among the pirates who had been striving in vain to break through the line of defenders. Gervais called to his party to follow them and taking the offensive fell upon the remnant of the corsairs who still held the forward end of the poop. The discharge of the cannon at such close quarters had wrought terrible havoc among them and the pirates with but slight resistance turned in either ran down the ladder or left into the water. The knights followed them forward among the benches of the rowers who cheered loudly in many tongues as they passed them. At the forecastle the moors made another stand but the knights forced their way up and in two minutes all was over. Now to the aid of our comrades Gervais shouted as the last of the corsairs was struck down. Ross's party had indeed cleared the poop of the galley but they in vain endeavored to climb up onto that of the third pirate ship whose superior hike gave a great advantage to his defenders. Gervais leapt down to the bow of the galley followed by the knights and then ran out until he could climb into the waist of the pirate. So intent were the corsairs upon defending the poop that they did not see what was going on elsewhere and Gervais had obtained a fair footing before he was noticed. Then a number of men ran down and attacked his party but it was too late for the whole of the knights had by this time left on board. Their assailants were forced back and pressing close upon them the knights gained the poop before the main body of the pirates were aware of their coming. Worn by the shouts and shrieks of their comrades that they had been taken in the rear the Muslims who were defending decided the poop wavered moment. Ralph took advantage of their hesitation and sprang on board his companions pouring in after him. There was a stern and desperate fight the Muslims fought with the fury of despair disdaining to ask or accept quarter. A few leapt overboard preferring death by drowning through that by the swords of the Christians but the great majority died fighting to the last. A shout of triumph rose from the knights as the last of the Muslims fell. The first impulse of all of them was to take off their helmets in order to breathe the fresh air and for a while they all stood panting from their exertions. Nobly and gallantly done comrades Gervais explained this is indeed a victory of which we have all a right to be proud. Now the first thing is to free the slaves of their shackles there are many white faces among them let our land look after the wounded while the released tactics clear the decks of the bodies of the fallen pirates. It took an hour's hard work to knock off the chains of the slaves. The greater portion of them were Christians Greeks Italians Spaniards and French who had been captured in various raids by the corsairs and among them were the crew of the ship that had been overhauled by the galley on the previous day. Besides these there were a few Muslims who had been sentenced to labor in the galleys for various crimes. Among the Christians the joy of their liberation was intense some laughed some cried others were to overcome to speak coherently among the rest were found the intense pleasure of their rescuers three nights of the order who had for years been missing they had been taken prisoners on an island at which the galley on which they belong had touched many of the nights had landed and three of them all belonging to the Lang of Italy had wandered away from the rest and had not returned a search had been made for them and it was discovered that a struggle had taken place as there were no marks of blood it was supposed that they were suddenly pounced upon by a party of hidden marauders who had been watching them from some hiding place it had thrown themselves upon the nights before they had had time to draw their swords following the trail by bushes broken down and plants crushed underfoot it was found to lead to a creek on the other side of the island here there were signs that a craft had been angered as there were the ashes of fires fragments of food and other matters scattered about on the shore hours had passed before the nights had been missed and therefore the craft in which they had been carried off was long out of sight letters were written by the Grand Master to the Pasha of Syria to the Emperor of Egypt and to the Bay of Tunis offering to ransom the nights but all replied that they were unaware of any such captives having been landed an attempt had then been made to ascertain whether they had been carried to Tripoli but the bay had little authority over the various tribesmen along the coast and only replied that no such captives had been sold in the city thus all hope of ransoming them had died away and their names were inscribed in the list of those who had fallen into the hands of the infidels but of whose subsequent fate no clue could be obtained all were greatly emaciated and their faces showed signs of the sufferings they had undergone the young nights were all familiar with their names but personally none had known them for they had been carried off two or three months before Gervais and Ralph Harpore had arrived at Rose all three had struggled desperately to break their chains while the fight was going on and had as soon as the contest was decided risen to their feet and shouted the battle cry of the order then overcome by their emotions they sang down upon their benches and remained as if any stupor until the nights who had hurried first to them struck off their fetters then the three men grasped each other's hands while tears streamed down their cheeks it is no dream comrades one of them said in a horse voice we are free again let us first return thanks to god for our release and then we can thank these are brothers the three nights knelt at the benches where they had toiled and suffered and hid their faces in their hands no sounds came from their lips but their stifled sobs and the heaving of their naked shoulders seemed and scarred by the strokes of their task master's whips told the young nights who stood unherited and silent around how deep was their emotion then they rose I am Fabricius Carretto once said this is Giacomo da Vinci this Pietro forzi all night's commanders of the order and now for six years prisoners in the hands of these corsairs assuredly no one would know us so changed are we he looked around inquiringly for a familiar face your commander must surely be a comrade of ours we know all your names Gervais said coming forward though none of us reached the convict until after your capture I have the honor to command this galley my name is Gervais Triton and I have for my understanding served Ralph Harcourt all of us glad as we are at the capture we have affected of these three corsairs are still more pleased that we should have been the means of rescuing three noble minds of our order from captivity now I pray you first of all to accompany me on board the galley where we will do all we can to make you forget the sufferings you have gone through after you have bathed and reclined yourselves I will present you to the knights of my comrades among whom are seven of your own leg three of these I will tell off to see to your comfort for as you understand I have my hands full indeed at present first before all things sir night let me express to you all our deep gratitude and our admiration of the gallant deed that you have accomplished and thus single-handed capturing three vessels belonging to the fiercest and the most dreaded of the corsairs of Tripoli God bless you all sirs and his voice broke again for the deed you have done and for bringing us out of this living hell Gervais called to three of the Italian knights and followed by them and the release captives led the way to the galley here he left them in the charge of their countrymen give them each a drop of old cypress and something to eat he said aside to one of the knights they sorely need refreshment before all else for as you see they are well night dazed with this unlooked for change I will put out clothes and not for one of them the others you must supply for the present from your stores now I must be off there was indeed much to be done four of the knights were told off to attend upon the most urgent cases among their own wounded only two of their number had been killed outright but there were four serious cases among the wounded while eight or ten others had received wounds that required bandaging and attending to as fast as the slave's fetters were struck off food and wine were given to them together with such garments as could be found at the moment then the bodies of the fallen pirates were thrown overboard while the wounded were attended to and the released Christians were divided equally between the three prizes to each of these the knights of one of the lands were told off the seniors being appointed to the command there were an awesome 90 Christian captives on board the three ships thus each vessel had a complement of seven knights and 30 Christians and do these were added 10 of the 30 Muslims found at the oars and 15 of the pirates to whom corner had been given it was past noon before all these arrangements had been made and during the time so occupied the ships lay idly side by side drifting slowly before the wind the sails having been lowered as soon as the struggle was over up to this time the knights had been too busily engaged to think of food that they were right glad when they were summoned to a meal on board the galley Gurves found the three knights in the cabin dressed in the unusual attire of the order they presented a very different appearance indeed to that which they wore when he had first seen them they had bathed and combed their matted hair which was alone sufficient to transform them but the feeling that they were at once more free men and knights of an honored order had done even more to affect the change and although they looked thin and worn the martial bearing had come back naturally as they donned their nightly robes and buckled on swords i am glad to see that you are better gurveys said as he went up to greet them 20 years seem to have dropped off your shoulders since this morning we are not the same men exert gurveys we were slaves and are now free we were christian dogs now we are christian knights we were subjects to scoffs and loaves now thank god we have swords to strike with and though as yet our arms may not have regained their full strength we could at least very share and fray our comrades have been telling us somewhat of how this wonderful thing has come about and have been explaining when it first filled us with surprise that a galley should be man solely by young knights of whom their commander is one of the youngest we can testify at least that had the grandmaster been himself in command and his crew composed of better knights he could have done no better we were fortunate in taking them so much by surprise that the first of their ships fell into our hands before her consorts could come to her assistance and her guns did us good service in our struggle with the others the matter was well arranged as well as gallantly thought one of the other knights said had your first fallen foul of the chief's galley it would have gone hard with you for his crew were so strong that you could scarce have overcome them before the other two vessels came up to his assistance now let us to our meal here they said the three knights were placed at the head of the table by him and it was pleasant to see how they enjoyed their food i can scarce persuade myself that i am not dreaming caretto said sometimes when lying at night went through with the damp air i have wondered to myself whether i could ever have lived thus and whether i should ever exchange my hard bread and water for what seemed to me fabulous luxuries though at the time one had taken them as a matter of course you cannot tell how strange it feels to me to come back to the old life again you will soon be accustomed to it gervais said with a smile and then you will look upon your captivity as a dream just as you then regarded your past life i suppose sir gervais pietro forcey said that you will sell direct for rose with your prizes no indeed gervais replied at the same time that we learned from a dying man left on board the ship the pirates captured yesterday of the course they had taken and were so unable to follow them we also learned that they were on their way to join a corsair fleet that was collecting at some point on the eastern side of sardinia with the intention of sweeping the coast of italy it was this rather than the capture of these three vessels that induced us to disobey the general instructions we had been given to cruise along the norther coast of africa and determined us to push north to get warning along the coast from naples to genoa the danger that threatened and if possible to enable genoa to fit out her galleys to encounter the corsairs that duty has still to be fulfilled though i feared that genoa will be able to do little for a blade she has been engaged in a long civil war between her great families and has taken but a small part in maritime affairs however we can at least warn her as well as naples pizza and other towns and they possibly find some opportunity for ourselves striking another blow against the pirates if so certainly we shall be glad to accompany you if you will allow us to serve under you for nothing would please us so much as the opportunity of paying off a small share of the vengeance we owe them but of course if you would rather we will sell for roads and the prizes i am not thinking of sending them to roads at present gourmet said it seems to me that we may be able in some way to utilize them to our advantage they have their sails and roars for the oars there will be an each beside seven nights of the order thirty men who like yourselves must be willing to strike a blow at their late oppressors i need hardly say that i shall be glad indeed to have the company and aid of three such well known nights of the order and would could i do so gladly resign my command into your experienced hands but this i cannot do and anticipating that you would be willing to join us in this expedition i have been thinking how i could best utilize your aid i have thought that if you would accept the positions i would appoint one of you to each of the prizes to act not as its commander but as the leader of the band of release captives most of them are sailors of course and with them you could work the guns and give effective aid to the little party of lads in any actual fights the three nights all explained that they would gladly accept the posts he offered them the idea is a capital one serve your days and as long as it does not come to close fighting the three ships should be able to render efficient aid to your galley in any encounter they will be at any rate a match for their own number of pirate ships correcto said as soon as the meal concluded the muslim captives were questioned one by one as to the rendezvous at which the pirate fleet was to assemble all however protested that the place was known only to the three commanders all of whom had fallen in the fight and of chapter 13 read by peter strome in carahenia columbia on january 28 2019 chapter 14 of a night of the white cross by g.a. henty this libra box recording is in the public domain chapter 14 the corsair fleet an hour later all was ready for a start the knights of the lands of france germany and spain went on board their respective ships as did the three parties of released captives with the knights who were to command them while the rovers took their seats on the benches shackled with the chains that had recently held the christians the wind was from the south and with sails and oars the prizes were able to keep barely abreast with the galley with a few short intervals of rest the slaves continued their work all night until shortly before daybreak land was seen ahead and the pilot at once pronounced it to be k carbonara a good landfall your base Ralph said the pilot has done right well I suppose you mean to anchor when you get there certainly Ralph the slaves will have rode nearly 18 hours with only two hours rest they must have some hours at least of sleep before we go on as you and I have been up all night we will turn in also we will sit a boat ashore to try and find out from the natives they may come across whether any vessels bearing the appearance of moorish corsairs have been seen passing up the coast and also to find out what base and inlets there are where they would be likely to anchor some of the italian knights had best go with the boat for though I believe these people speak a different dialect to those of the mainland they would have more chance of understanding then than any of the others the sun had risen when the little fleet came to anchor close to the Cape a boat was at once prepared to go ashore and Gervais begged by briscius carretto the senior of the rescued italian knights to endeavor to find out whether a swift sailing craft of some kind could be hired if so he was to secure her on any terms and come off in her at once to the galley Gervais had already talked the matter over with Ralph and they agreed that a strongly manned craft of this kind would go faster than any of those they had taken and that moreover it would be a pity to weaken their force by sending one of the prizes away having seen them off Gervais retired to the cabin and threw himself down for a short sleep leaving the knights who had been off washed during the night to see that all went well in two hours he was roused a native craft having come alongside with Sir Fabricius Carretto I think she is just the craft for us the knight said as Gervais came on deck she belongs to a large fishing village just around the point to the left there were several boats there but the villagers all said that this was the speediest vessel anywhere along the coast she belongs to two brothers who with four men constitute her regular crew but I have arranged for 12 others to go in her in order that they may row her along at a good pace if the wind falls light are your companions come off yet no but we can hoist a flag for their recall do so I shall be greatly obliged if you will undertake this mission to the seaports it needs one of name and rank to speak with the nobles and officials authoritatively I would gladly do so sir Gervais give me your instructions and you can rely upon me carrying them out I thank you greatly Sir Fabricius and shall be glad if you will take with you any two of the knights you may select I have to write letters for you to deliver to the authorities at Naples Pisa and Genoa I shall write but briefly and leave you to explain matters more holy I shall merely say that I have intelligence of the arrival here of a fleet of Moorish corsairs of whose strength I am ignorant but that assuredly their intention is to make a raid on the commerce of the coast and perhaps to land at unprotected places at Ostia after warning the authorities to send orders along coast for the inhabitants to be on their guard pray them to carry word at once to roam and request his holiness the pope to order some armed galleys to put to sea as soon as possible beg them at Naples and Pisa to do the same thing but of course it is from Genoa that we must hope for the most assistance in each place you will if possible see the syndic himself and such of his counsel as can be got quickly together the moment you have done all you can at Genoa sail for the island of Medellina which lies off the northeastern point of the island there you will either find us or a boat with a message where to direct your course I think perhaps it will be best to omit Naples it will save you fully a day if not two to do so pray them at Ostia to send off news down the coast or to request the papal authorities to dispatch mountain messengers it is likely that at first at any rate the corsairs will try the narrower waters to the north from here to Ostia is 9200 miles and if the wind is brisk you may arrive there tomorrow afternoon and start again at night arriving at Pisa before noon on the following day while allowing for four or five hours to ascend the river there you may be at Genoa next morning three hours should suffice to gather from the authorities what force they can dispatch and as soon as you have learned this embark again and sail south you may reach Medellina in two days thus at the earliest it must be from six to seven days before you can bring us the news there if you meet with calms or foul winds you may be well night double at time if at Ostia you could get a faster craft than this hire it or take a relay of fresh rowers I will furnish you with means when I give you the letters in less than half an hour Gurves was on deck again the boat had returned with the other italian nights an ample store of provisions had been placed on board the Sperongra both for the crew and for the three nights and without a moment's delay these took their places on board the great sails were twisted and the craft glided rapidly away the villager spoke truly as to her speed Ralph said as they looked after her even with this light wind she is running fully six miles an hour and as by the look of the sky there will be more of it soon she will make the run to ostia well within the time we calculated Gurves now questioned the other italian nights as to what information they had gained they said the peasants had told them that several strange craft using both ores and sails had been noticed passing northwards and that so strong was the opinion that these were either Algerians or Tunisians that for the last three or four days none of the fishing craft had ventured to put to sea they were able to tell but little as to the bays along the coastline which they described as very rugged and precipitous five or six little streams ran they knew down from the mountains they thought the most likely place for corsairs to rendezvous would be a deep indentation north of Cape Bella Vista or behind Cape Comino if not at these places they might meet in the great bay at whose entrance stands Tavallera island and that beyond there were several deep inlets on the north eastern coast of the island Gurves had a consultation with Ralph the first thing is to find out where these corsairs have their reading place Ralph and this must be done without their catching sight of the galley or of the prizes which some of them would be sure to recognize Ralph nodded it is a very difficult question your ways of course if we had a boat speedy enough to row away from the corsairs it would be easy enough but with wind and ores they go so fast that no boat could escape them that is quite certain Ralph and therefore if it is done by a boat it must be by one so small and insignificant that they would pay a little attention to it if they caught sight of it my idea is that we should take our own little boat which is a fast one paint it black to give it the appearance of a fisherman's boat and hire a couple of good rowers from the village this with one night dressed as a fisherman should go ahead of us and explore every inlet where ships could be sheltered we would follow 10 miles behind when we get near the places where the natives think the fleet is likely to be the boat must go on at night while we anchor in that way they ought to be able to discover the corsairs while themselves unseen and to gain some idea of their numbers and the position in which they are anchored and bring us back news shall I go myself dervets I could not spare you Ralph the risk of capture does not seem to me to be great but there certainly is a risk and I dare not part of you it had better be an Italian because there will doubtless be an opportunity of landing at villages and questioning the inhabitants therefore we will send flasco if there are some eight or ten corsairs gathered in any of these bays the news is sure to travel along the shore and we may get some tidings in that way the first thing is to send off to the village again to fetch two young fishermen they must be active fellows strong and possessed of some courage I will ask da Vinci to go himself and select them while he is away we will paint our boat black and make ready for her to start at once the sooner she is off the better the Italian night at once undertook the mission and started for the shore fosco who had been chosen principally because he was light a frame as well as very shrewd and intelligent was then called up and his mission explained to him he was delighted at having been selected her base took him down to the cabin and they consulted the maps with which the galley was furnished you will roll on to her a vera it is some 20 miles from here you see the village lies at the mouth of a river as soon as you arrive there you will land and find out whether there is any report of Moorish pirates having been seen along the coast we shall be there to see me and you will come on board and report next day you will get to lunacy which is about five miles on this side of Cape Bella Vista and they will certainly know there if the pirates are lying behind the cape if they are so you will roll back to meet us if they are not you will remain there until we come up in the evening remember that should you want either day be seen and chased and you find they are overtaking you you will make for the shore land and conceal yourselves we shall keep along near the coast and as we pass you can come down to the water's edge and signal to us to take you off now you had better disguise yourself so as to be in readiness to start as soon as Da Vinci comes off with the men you will only need to take a small stock of provisions as each night you can replenish them here an hour later Da Vinci came off with two stalwart young fishermen the little boat had already been painted and it was lowered at once Fosco stepped into it and started two hours later the prizes got up sail and accompanied by the galley was posted quietly along the shore arriving late in the afternoon at Murrovera Fosco at once came on board there is no news here beyond that which we gained this morning Sir Gervais he said strange ships have certainly been seen sailing north but they did not approach the coast a similar report was given at lunacy there were certainly no corsairs lying behind Cape Bella Vista or news would assuredly have reached the village at Orocy next day the report was the same there were no strange ships at Cape Camino they had been warned overnight that the coast beyond the Cape was so precipitous that there would be no villages at which to make inquiries and arranged with Fosco that the ships should anchor north of the Cape and that he should go on at once to inspect the next bay if he found the ships there he was to return at once if not he was at daybreak to land at one of the villages in the bay and to make inquiries no news was brought in by him during the night it is evident the pirates are not in the bay Gervais Ralph said as they came on deck at daybreak yes and I am glad of it it is a large bay and in the Gino east and half a dozen galley some of the pirates might still escape while the next bays are deeper and narrower and it would be more easy to entrap them all I have all along thought it most probable that they would rendezvous there the maps show no villages for many miles round and they might lie there for weeks without so much as a shepherd getting sight of them from the cliffs moreover it is the nearest point for cutting off ships coming down between Corsica and the mainland and they can besides snap up those proceeding from the south to Marseille as these for the most part pass between Sardinia and Corsica at eight at eight o'clock the boat was seen coming around the point any news Fasco Gervais asked as it approached the galley not sir Gervais they have heard nothing of pirates nor seen anything of them exclamations of disappointment broke from the nights that makes it all the more likely Gervais said that they are lying in one of the endless to the north you see lower down they kept comparatively close to the shore being careless who might notice them but as they approached their rendezvous they would be more careful and might either pass along at night or keep far out if they had not been anxious to conceal their near presence they would have been likely to put into this bay in search of plunder and captives for Tempe one of the largest of the Sardinian towns lies but a short distance away and there must be a considerable amount of traffic there are four or five small craft lying there Fasco who had by this time stepped on board put in and a considerable number of fishing boats when I came upon the ships in the dark I thought at first that I had lighted on the pirates but on letting the boat drift closely by them I soon saw they were not Corsair galleys shall we get up anchor and go into the bay Ralph said if we're safer not to do so Ralph possibly one of the craft lying there might be presently captured by them and they might learn from her crew of the presence of a galley of the order there therefore I think it best to remain where we are till nightfall and then to proceed and anchor on the north side of the island of Madalina if we can find a sheltered cove where we could not be seen either from the land or by passing ships during the day there was a good deal of discussion among the nights as to whether the Corsairs might not already have sailed away it was evident that if all their ships had arrived there would be no motive for delay three ships they knew would never join them and others might have been detained from some paws or another there could be no doubt that the pirates had already ample force for capturing as many merchant vessels as they might come across but it might be intended to carry out some more daring project to sack and burn towns along the coast carry off the leading people for ransom and fill the vessels with slaves the attack being made simultaneously on several unprotected towns a vast amount of plunder could thus be reaped together with captives of even greater money value were this their plan they would doubtless delay until all those who had promised to join in the expedition had arrived the balance of opinion then was that the Corsairs were still in hiding by daybreak next morning they were moored in a sheltered little bay to the north of Madalina the galley lying inside the prizes so as to be concealed as much as possible from view of any craft that might happen to pass them out of the bay posko started as soon as darkness fell in the evening and returned early in the morning they are there he shouted as he neared the galley hidden in a deep inlet that runs into one of the narrow bays how many are there of them 17 or 18 i could not say which they are all moored side by side by this time posko's boat had reached the galley you have done well indeed gerbet said as the young knight ascended to the poop now give us a full account of what you have seen as you know sir gerbet's the bay opposite this island splits up into two running a long way inland like the fangs of a great tooth i had of course no difficulty in finding the entrance to the bay itself as it is but a short distance across the street i steered first for the left hand shore and kept close along into the shadow of the cliffs which in many cases rise almost straight out from the water we rode very quietly fearing to run against a rock for although it was light enough to see across the water and to make out any crap that might be anchored there it was very dark along the foot of the cliffs there was no need for haste as i knew i had plenty of time to explore both arms of the bay and to be back here before day began to break we rode up to the end of the inlet and then having assured ourselves that it was empty came down the other side and turned up the western arm we had got some distance along when i fancied i heard voices and so let the boat drift along only dipping the oars in the water occasionally i couldn't make out no signs of whatever of the corsairs went suddenly we came upon a break in the cliffs it was only some 50 yards across and here a creek came in at right angles to the shore i could have given a shout of pleasure as i looked up at for there a score of lights were burning above a dark mass and we could hear the sound of talking and laughter it was but a glimpse i caught for the minute once backed water and we were soon around the corner again up till then the fishermen had been ready enough to go where i wanted but the sight of that clump of galleys regularly scared them and they wanted to row straight away but of course i pointed out to them that they had taken pay to do this thing and that they had to do it they said that it caught they would be either killed or made slaves up and i could not contradict them but said that in the first place as i was ready to run the risk there was no reason why they should do so and in the second there was no chance whatever of their being taken as if discovered we should get so long a start that we could either escape them all together or run the boat ashore at some point where the trees came down to the water's edge carry the boat up and hide it and then move up into the hills until the corsairs had gone we waited there three or four hours looking around the point occasionally at the end of that time all was quiet two or three of the lanterns still burned but there was no sign of life removed on their decks after waiting another half hour to ensure the crews being asleep we rode quietly up the creek keeping within an oar's length of the rocks there was not much to see the galleys laid too abreast and as there was no space between them i suppose the hole were lashed together there were eight of them on the side we went along but i think there were only seven on the other side as i thought it did not much matter whether there were 15 or 16 and as the men were in a state of horrible fright we turned and went back again and i know and i felt very glad myself when we got around the point without an alarm being given we came quietly out and it was fortunate we did so where we had not gone a quarter of a mile when we heard the sound of oars and lines silently under the cliff we saw two large galleys roll past us it is a strong forester days Ralph said as they paced up and down the poop together probably in each of those galleys are 80 or 100 men in addition to the rowers it is evident that unless you know us in this help we shall not be able to interfere with their plans i don't know Ralph i think we may injure them sorely though we might not be able to defeat them all together i want you tonight to take one of the prizes and row around to the bay we passed and there to buy three coasting vessels and six or eight fishing boats get as much pitch oil and other combustibles as you can purchase in the villages on the shore if you can engage a score of fishermen to mend them all the better my idea is that if Coretto returns with news that the genoese have no galleys ready for sea we must do what we can to injure these corsairs if we smear these craft you are going to fetch with pitch and oil and fill the holes with combustibles and so turn them into fire ships we may at least do the pirates a tremendous lot of harm when we get to the mouth of this inlet we can have the fire ships rowed in by three or four men in each they having a boat behind in which to escape as soon as the boats are lighted the side of a dozen craft coming down on them in flames would cause a terrific panic for more closely together as they are if one took fire there would be little chance of the others escaping of course we should add to the confusion by opening a fire with all our guns and could hope to capture some at least of them as they tried to make their way out it is a grand idea surveys a splendid idea it would be a terrific blow to the moors and would make the seas safe from them for a long time when you buy the other things Ralph get a quantity of black cloth it matters not how coarse or of what material and also some white as soon as you come back with it all hands shall be set to work to make the stuff up into mantles of the order with the white cross we will put these onto the christians and the prizes and the moors will suppose that they are attacked by four of the galleys of the order if you can get some more arms and some iron head pieces all the better I will do what I can dervise the arms will certainly be wanted for those we found on the decks were sufficient only to arm half the christians as to the steel caps that will not matter so much as in the darkness and confusion the side of the mantles will be quiet enough to convince the corsairs that we are all knights of the order by the way dervise we have not yet looked into the holes of the prizes that is so Ralph we knew of course that as the ships had but just started we should find nothing in them save the cargo of that unfortunate craft they captured on searching they found as they had expected that the cargo of the captured ship had been of no great value it consisted of wine olive oil and grain these were all useful for the number of mouths to be fed was considerable and heavy inroads had already been made on the stores of the galleys the rowers of the four vessels were at once set to work to crush the grain between flat stones brought from the shore and an ample supply of coarse flour for their use for at least a fortnight was obtained before sunset as soon as darkness fell ralph and two of the prince knights started in one of the prizes late on the following afternoon a sail was seen coming from the north and before the sunset they were able to make her out to be the craft in which careto had sailed the anchor of the galleys was at once found out and she rode out to meet the boat and conduct her into the little bay it was almost dark when they came with inhaling distance what news do you bring sir from brishius bad news i regret to say i do not think that jenoa will be able to send out any galleys for at least a fortnight there have been civil dissensions and fighting between rival factions and in consequence her ships are all dismantled and laid up crews will have to be collected for them repairs executed and officers chosen a fortnight will be the earliest time in which they can be here pisa has no war galleys and unless the pope sends some out directly he gets the news the corsairs will have it their own way have you discovered them yes they lie but a few miles from here there were 15 or 16 of them two days ago and two others joined them that night you have lost no time indeed we had scarce begun to expect you sir for brishius he added as the night and his two comrades stepped on board i had done my best the night said angrily but i am in a rage with my ill success all i have accomplished is that no merchant vessels will put to sea at present at ostia they would only send off a message to rome to ask for orders at pisa the authorities that first treated my story as a fiction and i believe took me for an imposter but on the news spreading some nights came forward and recognized me then we had a meeting of the council all talked wrangled and protested they said that it was absurd to suppose that they could at a moment's notice fit out ships to cope with a fleet of corsairs and their sole idea was to man the forts and to repel an attack however mounted messengers were sent off at once up and down the coast to give warning to the inhabitants of the towns to put themselves into a posture of defense and to the villagers to fly with their wives and families into the interior as soon as they saw galley's doubtful appearance approaching i was there at four hours and then started for jenoa there was almost a panic there too as the members of the council were mostly merchants and were filled with dismay for the safety of their ships and goods at sea of course there was no thought that the corsairs however strong would venture an attack upon jenoa i told them that you had captured three of the corsairs with a single galley and that if they could send you ten others you would probably be able to make head against the pirates but as i have told you jenoa is at peace with all the world her war galleys are laid up and most of them would be repaired and recocky before they would be fit to send to sea although they maintain that no more than a week should elapse before they would be ready to sail i am right sure that it will be double that time before they are pitted out of course in jenoa i was well known though my family estates line your mantua and my acquaintances flocked around me and urged me to stay until the galleys were ready for sea this i would not hear of and six hours after my arrival started again we made the voyage to corsica at a good speed but since then we have had the oars constantly out to help the sails the men have well earned their pay i can assure you it is enough to make one mad with rage to think that these pirates will be able to harry the coast of italy at their pleasure for there can be little chance that they will abide quiet much longer this rendezvous it is annoying indeed your maze agreed and a murmur of disappointment ran round the assembled knights however we have the consolation that we have done all we could and i am sure that we shall do so in the future gervais had charged raff to say nothing about the object of his mission and the general supposition was that he had sailed to endeavor to purchase some bullocks as the supply of meat was nearly exhausted raff himself had let drop a few words to this effect and had indeed been charged by gervais to bring on a few oxen if they can be obtained without loss of time gervais was on deck at midnight and soon afterwards the beat of oars was heard it was a still night and one of the knights on watch remarked to him it seems to me sir gervais that the sound is a confused one and that there must be several vessels rowing shall i call up our companions it may be that it is the pirate fleet coming out you need not do that gervais replied i am expecting sir raff to bring back with him some fishing boats for which i think i can find a use we should have heard before this if the coursers had been putting out posko is in his boat watching them out of the inlet and would have started with the news had there been any stir on board their galleys it was a quarter of an hour before a number of dark objects entered the little bay as soon as they did so they ceased rowing and the splashes of the anchors as they fell into the water were heard then came the sound of a boat's oars and route was soon alongside i see that you have succeeded route there is no fear of failing when one is ready to pay the full value of what one wants to get i have bought three coasters and eight fishing boats and have a sufficient store of pitch and oil with plenty of straw and faggots there was no difficulty in getting men to come with me as soon as they heard that a fleet of 18 morish galleys was in the next day they were ready enough to aid in any plan for their destruction for they know well enough that some of them would be sure to make raids all along the coast sacking and burning and carrying off men women and children as slaves i said i only wanted two men for each craft but so many were willing to come that i have some 30 more than the number i asked for and we can divide these among us they are strong active looking fellows we will keep them here then round you see there are one in 20 of our knights in the three prizes and as we lost two in the capture and four others are not fit to put on armor we have six and 20 and the addition will be very welcome what are they armed with they have bows and arrows and long pikes and axes good have you managed to collect any more arms yes the people are all charcoal burners and wood men in the winter and i was therefore able to get together some 30 or 40 axes and hatchets which will be ample with the arms we took from the moors to equip the 90 christians i think we can depend upon these for a fighting route i don't think there is any doubt about that a few of them are pretty well worn out with labor and suffering but all have gained strength and spirits greatly in the past week and you may be sure that they will fight to the death rather than run the risk of another turn in the galleys and have you got the stuff to make the mantles yes there was plenty of the coarse black cloth which they wear in summer in winter of course they are clad in sheepskins and i have sufficient white cotton cloth to make the crosses we have only one thing to wish for now route and that is that the corsairs may not take it into their heads to sail tomorrow fosco will bring me news at daybreak and we will at once send another boat off to watch the mouth of the bay when he leaves it if they sail we cannot venture to attack them as long as they keep together the odds are far too heavy and our only plan will be to follow them at a distance when we can just keep their upper sails in sight and then to attack any detachments that may separate from the main body i hope it will not come to that surveys it would be hard indeed when you have devised such a splendid plan and we have got everything ready to carry it out if they were to give us the slip do the others know anything about it yet no i thought it better to keep silence till tomorrow no doubt some of the galley say is understand it not of one or another of our languages to gather what is on foot besides their late captives might in their satisfaction at the thought of revenge say enough to them to let them know that an attack on their fleet was intended and one of them might in some way free himself from his irons and swim ashore we know there is a small fishing village across the island and there would be no difficulty in stealing a boat and making off with the news i do not say that the risk is great still it were better not to throw away even a chance the knights have all turned in in a very gloomy mood for caretto has returned with news that there is no hope of assistance from joanoa for a fortnight and it seemed therefore that all our plans had been thrown away and now we may as well turn in until daylight end of chapter 14 read by peter strong in karta hanga columbia on january 29th 2019 chapter 15 of a night of the white cross by g.a. hendy this liberbox recording is in the public domain chapter 15 a splendid exploit gervais was up again at dawn he was amused at the wonder of the knights as they came up one by one at the site of the little fleet anchored outside them as soon as it was fairly daylight he sent off to the three prizes to request all the knights to come on board the galley when all were assembled there he said you are all aware comrades that ser fabricius caretto has brought news that the galleys at janua are all laid up and that it will be a fortnight before they can be put to sea long before that the corsairs will assuredly be ravaging all the villages and small towns along the coast of italy unless we can prevent their doing so it would be simple madness to try to attack them at sea of that i feel sure you are all conscious it would be only throwing away our lives in our galley there was a murmur of ascent among the knights they were ready for any encounter in which there was a chance however faint of success but all saw that for a single galley to attack one of the largest corsair fleets that had ever set out would be nothing short of insanity their leader's words however seem to show that he had some plan in his mind by which he hoped to strike a blow at the enemy and all listened eagerly for what was coming we have heard from our comrade fosco that their ships lied more in two lines side by side in a narrow inlet he has returned this morning with the news that they are still there he thinks that three or four more have arrived during the last two days and it is probable that they are waiting for the three we captured to join them tonight it is my intention to attack them but not by rowing in and boarding them for that would be hopeless yesterday sir ralph hardcore went as you are aware to fetch provisions but this was a part only of the object of his trip he has as you see brought back 11 craft with him these i may tell you are laden with combustibles pitch oil straw and faggots they will be rode and towed to the inlet tonight set on fire and launched against the pirates an enthusiastic cheer broke from the knights they saw it once that lying as the corsairs were side by side the destruction of many of them was certain he has also brought fishermen graves went on two or three of whom will go in each fire ship having a boat towing behind in which they will escape as soon as the craft are alongside the galleys the galley and the three prizes will take their post at the mouth of the inlet the fire of our guns will add to the confusion among the pirates and we shall endeavor to fall upon any galleys that may extricate themselves from the mass and try to make their escape sir ralph has brought back materials for making 90 manholes of the order for the christians on board the three prizes and 30 fishermen to bring the crew of our galley up to its full strength the light of the flames will suffice to show the pirates that as they will believe four vessels made by knights of the order are barring the entrance many will we may calculate jump overboard and swim ashore rather than face us and we shall be able at any rate to capture three or four of their craft for as they come out one by one we can all close around them and with nearly 50 nights 90 release captives burning for vengeance and some 50 or 60 fishermen for those from the fire ships will of course join us we shall make sure at work of them and remain even hope to entirely destroy their fleet again a joyous shout rose from the knights this would indeed be an exploit that all might be proud to share in and breaking the ranks in which they had stood while groveys addressed them they crowded around him with exclamations of enthusiasm and devotion now he said as soon as the silence was a little restored the knights of the langs on board the prizes will sit at once to the coaster on the left of the other two sir ralph will go there now and supply each with materials for making the mantles for the christians he has brought thread and fishbone needles you will see that the stuff is cut up into suitable lengths and handed over to your crews and that each man makes up his mantle there can be but little sewing required for these sleeveless gowns nor need it be carefully done the great thing is that the white crosses shall be conspicuous as soon as you have set them to work you will examine the state of the arms see how many more are needed to complete the list and then send off to sir ralph who will furnish as many as are required the fishermen have brought their own weapons see that the slaves are all well fed today and before evening inspect well their fetters so that you may be free from all anxiety as to an attempt by them to escape during the conflict the rest of you will go on board these native craft and see that the combustibles are fairly distributed among them the wood and straw soaked with pigeon oil as also the sails and ropes and that the decks are well coated this is a most important duty get some torches made also so that there shall be two on board each craft these are to be lighted the last thing before we get to the point and we'll be thrown down into the strong faggots in the hold by the fishermen when they get close to the corsairs all this can be prepared before our morning meal and when you assemble here i hope to receive your reports that everything is in readiness one of the other coasters has some bullocks on board sir ralph will send one to each of the prizes and one to us they have better be killed and cut up at once in order that the crews may have two good meals today of fresh meat see that the galley slaves have their share no time was lost in carrying out the orders ralph as soon as the cloth arms and meat were distributed went round in a boat to see that the combustibles were properly laid for firing and everything done to ensure that the flames should spread rapidly the sards shared in the work and rations and wine were distributed to them and when the night sat down to their meal on board the galley they were able to report that everything was in perfect readiness and that the work of sewing the mantles was making good progress the day passed slowly to the young knights all of whom were burning with excitement at the thought of the coming fray the released christians were no less exultant at the prospect of taking vengeance for the sufferings they had so long endured and the scene on board all four ships was most animated after talking it over with ralph gervais told off three more of the knights to each of the prizes so that there should be 10 on board each this reduced the strength on board the galley to 17 but as they would have the assistance of a strong band of sards they considered this to be ample under the circumstances it was arranged that the galley with one of the prizes should close with the first corsair that came out and that the other two prizes should attack the second after capturing these they were to assist each other as circumstances might dictate gervais strongly impressed upon the knights in command of each prize that they were not single-handed to attack the corsair unless one of their consorts was near and free to give assistance we must run no risk of a reverse he said we are certain of destroying many of their vessels and of breaking up their fleet and it is far better that a few should escape than that we should run the risk of losing 10 of our number to say nothing of those we have rescued from captivity in the excitement of the fight this order must be strictly born in mind our victory must be marred by no misfortune brought on by headstrong rashness the corsairs are bound to be very strongly banned and 10 knights even aided by such assistance as they may get from the christians might find themselves altogether overmatched against a crowd of desperate men as soon as it was dusk the anchors were drawn up and the fleet got underway they proceeded but slowly for the wind was light and the fishing boats moved heavily through the water there was however no occasion for speed for gervais did not wish to commence the attack until past midnight the guns had all been loaded before starting and a pile of ammunition was placed near each presently the wind nearly died out and the galley and prizes then took the coasters and fishing craft in tow it was nearly one o'clock when they got within half a mile of the inlet the tow ropes were then thrown off the fishermen got out sweeps and the galley led the way the fire ships followed in a body and the three prizes brought up the rear the oars had all been muffled and slowly they made their way until fosco who was standing next to gervais on board the galley said that the point just ahead marked the entrance to the inlet they then stopped rowing until the fire ships were all close up these were as had previously been arranged in two lines by fishing boats each man by four men and having a small boat in tow behind it formed the first line the three coasters each with six men at the oars and the three other fishing boats formed the second the tortures were now lighted ralph took his place in the center boat of the first line gervais went on board one of the coasters and the order was given to the men to row what wind there was was favorable blowing from the northwest and therefore right into the inlet scarcely had the first boats reached the entrance when a shout was heard row men your heart is now ralph shouted the sards bent to their oars and the five boats advanced rapidly towards the coasters as they did so a babble of shouts and cries rose from the dark massive ships which swelled into a tumult of alarm as on ralph's orders throw your torches into the straw a flash of flame leapt up from each boat five more strokes and they were alongside the two outside ships as they crashed heavily into them the men leapt from their seats and sprang over into the small boats threw off the painters and rode a stern opening on either hand to allow the second line of fire ships to pass these by gervais's direction divided and three bore along either side of the coasters and then ran in among them throwing grappinals to fasten the fire ships alongside then as the flames sprang up from the holes the crews betook themselves to their boats and rode out of the inlet by the time they reached the galley and prizes the 11 fire ships were a massive flame which was spreading to the corsairs line packed together as these were the confusion was terrible numbers of men endeavored to push off the fire ships but it was too late others tried to extricate their galleys from the mass throwing off the hazers and striding with hand in order to push their vessels out of the line as soon as the boats were alongside the galley the guns of the four vessels opened fire with great into the crowded ships now lit up by the flames as clearly as at noon tide while the battle cry of the order sounded high above the den nothing can save the ships near this end of the line Ralph said but some of those behind may make their way out between the others in the rocks I can see that some of them there are lowering their yards and sails to prevent their catching fire as they pass the knights distributed among the guns work them incessantly directing their fire chiefly against the outside ships so as to hinder the crews in their endeavors to arrest the progress of the flames but they were soon able to fire impartially into the mass as the heat of the flames drove the pirates back scores of men left overboard and made for the shore presently two or three ships were seen making their way along the narrow line of water on either side of the flaming group in front as the first advanced the galley and one of the prizes rode a short distance to meet it its deck was crowded with men among whom a discharge of tin from both ships created terrible slaughter a moment afterwards they closed with it one on either side and the knights the released captives and the sards sprang down onto its deck the fight lasted but a minute appalled by the disaster that had befallen them by the terrible effect of the broad sides poured in at a few yards distance and by the sight of so many of the dreaded warriors of the cross some of the corsairs threw down their arms and flung themselves on the deck or into the hole crying for quarter those who resisted fell either under the swords of the knights the vengeful axes of the late captives or the pikes of the sards but the great bulk leaping from the bow or stern swam ashore back to your ships gervais shouted the moment resistance ceased leave her floating here she will help to block the way six vessels alone managed to make their escape from the blazing mass of ships and all of these were captured almost as easily as the first had been as soon as it seemed that all the remainder were involved in the flames boats were lowered and sent on board the prizes to take possession save for the wounded on the decks they were entirely deserted by their crews as those who had run below as soon as they found that their captors had left the vessels dropped into the water and made their way either by swimming or with the assistance of oars to the shore there remained only the slaves chained to their benches a few of these have been killed by broad sides but the guns had been aimed at the poops and four castles where the corsairs were clustered together and consequently the number of galley slaves who had fallen was comparatively small in none of the galleys was the proportion of christians anything like so large as that in the three prizes first taken the greater portion being men of inland tribes who had been captured in warfare or malefactors who instead of being executed had been sold to the corsairs nevertheless in the six galleys some 70 christians were found and at once free it was terrible to think that in the galleys that had been destroyed a large number of christians must have perished in the flames and gerbet's expressed bitter regret that he had not considered that his attack by fire ships must necessarily involve the loss of so many christian lives it can't be helped ralph said as gerbet's poured out his feelings to him too very many of them death must have been welcome and if we had not attacked them as we did and they sailed for italy hundreds if not thousands of christians would have been killed and as many more carried away into captivity so you see the balance is all in favor of the course we adopted gerbet's admitted this but nevertheless his regret at the fate of so many unfortunate captives quite overpowered for the time his satisfaction at the complete success that had been achieved the victory had been almost a bloodless one on the park of the assailants a few of the knights had received wounds two among the christian crews had been killed and four sards while two score had received wounds more or less serious as unlike the knights they had no defensive armor while waiting for daylight to appear all their wounds were dressed and bandaged by the knights in the morning the captured galleys were towed out and anchored a short distance away and then gerbet's rode up to the head of the inlet followed by the other three ships they found that 11 of the corsairs had been burned and to their satisfaction they discovered four uninjured galleys lying there deserted saved by the slaves seeing the fate of their comrades who had first issued out the commanders had instead of trying to escape rode quietly to the head of the inlet the movement being covered by the flame and smoke and had their landed having laden themselves with stores for their support on shore this was a great satisfaction to the knights for not only did it swell the list of prizes but it reduced by over 30 the number of christian slaves who had perished in the flames taking the galley in tow they rode out of the inlet whose banks were strewn with half charred timbers oars and relics of the fight as soon as they had anchored by the side of their first prizes a council was held aboard the santa barbara it was clearly impossible to take 13 prizes to roads for there would be about three or four nights to each and were they to fall in with but one orange pirate they might suffer great disaster while sure they meet with a storm they would fare badly in need as they could not depend upon the rescue christians for the management of the sails and oars in heavy weather at the same time all were most anxious that the prizes should be carried to roads never save as the result of some great battle had such a fleet of captured galleys been brought in and the knights were prepared to endure all dangers rather than part with one of them finally after much discussion it was determined that they should make for genoa front ends the rescue captives would be able to find their way to their homes the great majority were italyans and spaniards the former could proceed by land or sea to their respective homes while the spaniards would have no long time to wait before a vessel of their own nationality entered the port even if one were not lying there when they arrived moreover in any case it would be necessary to dispatch a vessel to genoa in order that it might be known that the danger was averted and that there was no longer any necessity for getting the galleys ready for sea the chief ostensible reason however for going to genoa was that there would be no difficulty in engaging as many sailors as might be necessary to take the prizes to roads underlying all the arguments was another reason which routs laughingly stated it is all very well to bring forward one argument after another but not one of you has the courage to say what I'm sure all of you have at the bottom of your hearts you know very well that you want to go to genoa to enjoy a triumph the rhodians are all very well but there are very many more fair faces at genoa five sir knights such a spirit is little in a corns with the vows of the order are we not bound to humility and here you are all longing for the plaudits of the nobles and ladies of genoa some of the young knights laughed others colored hotly they need not be ashamed of the feeling careto said is it not the urgent desire of all true knights to do gallant deeds and do they not value above all things the garden of applause from the fair eyes of ladies your comrades have performed the gallant deeds and well deserve the reward now sir gurveys if not for this reason at any rate for the others that have been brought forward I suppose we are all agreed that we sail for genoa for our part we are heartily glad that such is your decision we and the young knights of our lane have many friends there and in their name I'm sure I can promise you a reception as hearty and sincere as that which we shall ourselves receive it was settled that the rescue captives should be divided equally among the 13 prizes and that three nights should go in each the moorish captives were also divided equally among them to aid with the sales and to row a few oars in case of a dead calm setting in the commands were distributed according to seniority the three rescued italian knights remaining on board the santa barbara with gurveys the sards were anxious to return to their villages in order to carry the news that several hundreds of moorish pirates had landed we shall have great trouble with them one of the young fisherman who spoke at the light talion said to gurveys there are always a great number of swine and herds of goats of among the forests on the hills we must send up a drive in as many of these as possible and of course we shall send messengers to tempeh but it will need a very large force to combat these pirates who will be able to come down and plunder and destroy and then retire to the hills when it will be hard to dislodge them i am sorry indeed that such trouble should have been caused to you gurveys replied but i am afraid that i can give you no assistance we shall hunt them down in time the sard said confidently there are many villages scattered about tempeh and what with us fishermen and the woodmen and charcoal burners we shall soon get a strong body together besides we know the mountains and they do not i should say that you have best avoided pitched battle with them but keep on harassing them by night and day cutting off all who separate themselves from the main body until at last they are completely worn out we shall deal with them sir night we are all hunters for there are wild boars and stags in the forest and wolves too and wild sheep on the higher mountains every man among us can use his bow skillfully and wield pike and hatchet the hunt will not be unprofitable either for we can get a good price for all we take alive to work in the mines an hour later one of the galleys started with the sards for their villages in the bay of tempeh after landing them she was to rejoin the rest of the fleet at their former anchorage at madalina by nightfall all were gathered there in the next morning they set out for genoa the wind was light but in their anxiety to return home as soon as possible the release captives all volunteered to take their former places on the benches and the vessels were kept going at a fair rate of speed two days rowing took them to bastia where their approach created unbounded excitement until the banner of the order was seen floating through the stern of the santa barbara while smaller flags that had been hastily manufactured flew from the mastic heads of the 13 prices even then the inhabitants feared to put out believing that the flags were but a ruse and numbers of them flooded once with their families and valuables to the mountains it was not until a boat was lowered and routh accompanied by three or four other nights rode ashore that the panic was allayed as soon as it was understood that the galley of the nights had not only captured the 13 corsairs but had destroyed 11 others and had thus annihilated a fleet that was intended to prey upon the commerce of italy and ravaged the western coast the alarm was succeeded by the wildest enthusiasm by the time routh had obtained the fresh meat and stores he came ashore to purchase the greater part of the population was gathered on the shore and a flotilla of boats put out with him filled with picturesquely dressed men and women some carried flags others green bows while the ladies had bouquets and baskets of fruit the galley was the first attraction and mounting her sides the ladies presented their offerings of fruit while the men cheered and waved their hats many musicians came out in the boats and these played on bagpipes and three reeded foods a succession of airs peculiar to the island gervais received his visitors on the poop these were at first altogether incredulous when told that it was the lab before them who had commanded the galley had performed such a remarkable feat and had freed them from a terrible danger the youth of the knights of the order no less surprised them and had not gervais assured them that it was altogether contrary to the rules of the order for a knight to allow himself to be embraced many of the ladies would have taken this form of showing their enthusiasm and gratitude the next morning the fleet started for genoa the wind which much stronger than it had been on the previous day and it was therefore unnecessary for the oars to be put out except indeed on board the galley there at nightfall the christians relieved the slaves for some hours at their benches and the next morning the circle of hills round genoa with the city nextling at their feet on the water's edge and climbing for some distance up their slopes was in view careto at once suggested that it would be well to signal to the fleet to lie to if we do not do so he said they will assuredly think that it is the course our fleet advancing to attack and burn the vessels in port and you may be saluted as you approach by a shower of cannonballs if you will permit me sir gervais i will go forward in one of the prizes and explain matters and will return here in a short time thank you sir for brishius as such miss chance as you mentioned might indeed very well occur we will lower sail and lie here until you return while careto was away the knights and crew breakfasted and the former put on their armor and gassed a tire in readiness for the landing gervais although with much inward vexation considered it necessary to do the same i do wish he said to ral who was smiling at his rueful face that you could for today take my place and let me pass as lieutenant i should not mind at all gervais but you must put up with the disagreeables as well as the advantages of being commander and must submit to be honored and feted here as well as getting no end of credit at roads you will have the satisfaction of well deserving it for i'm sure the plan of attacking them with fire ships would never have occurred to anyone else and if it had not been for that we should have had the mortification of seeing them sail off without being able to move a finger to interfere with them if one were fighting for fame and honor all that would be true enough but members of an order whose sole object is to defend christian them from the muslims should strive only to do their duty and care nothing for such things as honor and glory human nature is human nature and i don't see any reason why one should despise honor and glory when they come to one in the course of duty i fancy you will think so too gervais in course of time i am quite sure that among the 50 knights there is not one who does not feel well content that he has not only done his duty to the order but has gained a share in the credit and honor that will certainly be given to all who have taken a part in so crushing a defeat of the corsairs as for myself i do not for any moment pretend that i am not sensible of the fact that as second in command of the galley my chances of obtaining promotion in the order are very greatly improved it was nearly two hours before careto returned it is well indeed that i went in he said to gervais for i found the city in an uproar the alarm bells of the churches were calling all citizens to arms and troops were being hurried down to the forts and batteries rumor had of course exaggerated the strength of the fleet and half the population believed that the safety of the city itself was ministered by the approach of a mighty squadron as soon as my news was brooded abroad and they learned that the fleet consisted solely of prizes captured from the moors by a galley of the order alarm quickly changed into delight the sharp angry clang of the bells was succeeded by peels of gladness and the joy of the citizens that being relieved from the cloud of anxiety that had hung over the city since my last visit was unbounded i went at once to the council chamber where i found many of the leading citizens already assembled having been summoned in hot haste as soon as our approach was made out at first they were almost incredulous when i told them that every ship of the pirate fleet had been either destroyed or captured and that the fleet in the offing consisted entirely of your galley and the 13 corsairs she had captured as soon as they really grasped the fact they sent off messengers to the churches to order the joy bells to be run and to the dockyard to arrest all work upon the galleys then i had to give them a short account of the surprise and destruction of the corsair fleet and finally they begged me to ask you to delay your entry to the port for a couple of hours in order that they might have time to prepare a suitable reception for you i suppose there is no hub for it gerbet said is there anything else that we ought to do i should decorate the galley with all the flags on board should set everyone to work to make great flags with the cross of the order to hoist to the mast head of the prizes instead of the little things that are not flying and under them we will hoist the flags of the corsairs among which are those of tribally tunas and algears i do not know but there is what else we can do end of chapter 15 read by peter strong in carnajana columbia on january 29th 2019