 CHAPTER 18 A KIND MASTER When the boat reached the shore, the Arab handed a long bernose to Gervais, signed to him to pull the hood well over his head, and then led the way through the streets, until he stopped at a large house, standing in a quiet quarter of the town. He struck on the door with his hand, and it was at once opened by a black slave. Call Muley, the Arab said. The slave hurried away, and returned in a minute with a man somewhat past middle age, and dressed in a style that indicated that he was a trusted servant. Muley, his master said, I have bought this Christian who has been brought in by Hassan the Corsair. He is one of the knights who are the terrors of our coasts, but is from what I hear of a kind and humane disposition. I am told that he was a commander of one of their galleys, and though I should not have believed it had I only Hassan's word, I have heard from others that it was so. My wife has long desired to have a Christian slave, and as Allah has blessed my efforts, it was but right that I should gratify her. Though in truth I do not know what work I shall set him to do at present. Let him first have a bath, and see that he is clad decently. Then let him have a good meal. I doubt if he has had one since he was captured. He has been sorely beaten by the Corsair, and from no fault of his own, but only because he opposed the man's brutality to a child slave. If any of his wounds need ointment, see that he has it. When all is ready, bring him to the door of my apartments in order that I may show to my wife that I have gratified her whim. Then he motioned to Gurves to follow Muley, who was the head of his household. Gurves resisted the impulse to thank his new master, and followed in silence. He was first taken to a bathroom, furnished with an abundance of hot and cold water. Muley uttered an exclamation as, on Gurves throwing off his burnos, he saw that his flesh was a mass of bruises. After filling the bath with hot water, he motioned to Gurves to get in, and lie there until he returned. It was some time before he came back, bringing a pot of ointment and some bandages. It was only on the body that the wounds needed dressing, for here the blows had fallen on the naked skin. When he had dressed them, Muley went out and returned with some Turkish garments, consisting of a pair of baggy trousers of yellow cotton, a white shirt of the same material, and a sleeveless jacket of blue cloth embroidered with yellow trimmings, a pair of yellow slippers completed the costume. Muley now took him into another room, where he set before him a dish of rice with a meat gravy, a large piece of bread, and a wooden spoon. Gurves ate the food with a deep feeling of thankfulness for the fate that had thrown him into such good hands. Then, after taking a long draught of water, he rose to his feet and followed Muley into the entrance hall. The latter stopped at a door on the opposite side, knocked at it, and then motioned to Gurves to take off his slippers. The door was opened by the Arab himself. Enter, he said courteously, and led Gurves into an apartment where a lady and two girls were sitting on a divan. They were slightly veiled, but as Gurves afterwards learned, bin a bin was not a moor, but a berber, a people who do not keep their women in close confinement as do the moors, but allow them to go abroad freely without being entirely muffled up. Kaja, the merchant said, This is the Christian slave I purchased today. You have for a long time desired one, but not until now have I found one who would, I thought, satisfy your expectations. What thank you of him? He is a noble-looking youth, truly Isaac, with his fair wavy hair, his gray eyes, and white skin. Truly all my neighbors will envy me such a possession. I have often seen Christian slaves before, but they have always been broken down and dejected-looking creatures. This one bears himself like a warrior, rather than a slave. He is a warrior, he is one of those terrible knights of Rhodes whose very name is a terror to the Turks, and whose galleys are feared, even by our boldest corsairs. He must be of approved valor, for he was commander of one of these galleys. The girls looked with amazement at dervets. They had often heard tales of the capture of ships that had sailed from Tripoli by the galleys of the Christian knights, and had pictured those fierce warriors as of almost supernatural strength and valor. That this youth whose upper lip was but shaded with a slight mustache should be one of them, struck them as being almost incredible. He does not look ferocious, father, one of them said. He looks pleasant and good-tempered, as if he could injure no one. And yet, this morning, daughter, he braved, unarmed, the anger of Hassan the Corsair, on the deck of his own ship, and when the pirate called upon his men to seize him, he threw one overboard, struck two more onto the deck, and it needed eight men to overpower him. I hope he won't get angry with us, the younger girl exclaimed. Dervets could not suppress a laugh, and then turning to the merchant, said in Turkish, I must ask your pardon for having concealed from you my knowledge of your tongue. I kept the secret from all on board the Corsair, and meant to have done the same here, deeming that if none knew that I spoke the language, it would greatly aid me should I ever see an opportunity of making my escape. But, Ben of Ben, you have behaved so kindly to me, that I feel it would not be honorable to keep it a secret from you, and to allow you and the ladies to talk freely before me, thinking that I was altogether ignorant of what you were saying. You have acted well and honorably, Ben of Ben said, putting a hand on his shoulder kindly. We have heard much of the character of the order, and that though valiant in battle, your knights are courteous and chivalrous, deeming a deceitful action to be unworthy of them, and binding themselves by their vows to sucker the distressed, and to be pitiful to the weak. We have heard that our wounded are tended by them in your hospitals, with as much care as men of their own race and religion, and that in many things the knights were to be admired, even by those who were their foes. I see now that these reports were true, and that although as you say, it might be of advantage to you that none should know you speak Arabic, yet it is from a spirit of honorable courtesy you have now told us that you do so. I did not tell you, wife, he went on turning to earth, that the reason why he bearded Hassan today was because the corsair brutally struck a little female captive. Thus you see, he at the risk of his life, and when himself a captive, carried out his vows to protect the defenseless, and now why, there's one thing you must know. For some time at any rate you must abandon the idea of exciting the envy of your friends by exhibiting your Christian captive to them. As you are aware, the Sultan has the choice of any one slave he may select from each batch brought in, and assuredly he would choose this one. Did it come to his ears, or to the ears of one of his officers, that a Christian knight had been landed? For this reason Hassan sold him to me for a less sum than he would otherwise have demanded, and we must for some time keep his presence here a secret. My idea is that he shall remain indoors until we move next week into our country house, where he will be comparatively free from observation. Certainly Isaac I would not on any account that he should be handed over to the Sultan, for he would either be put into the galleys or have to labor in the streets. I will tell Mulee to order the other slaves to say nothing outside of the fresh arrival, so for the present there is no fear of its being talked about in the town. Hassan will, for his own sake, keep silent on the matter. I have not yet asked your name, he went on turning to Gervais. My name is Gervais Treishan, but it will be easier for you to call me by my first name only. Then, Gervais, it were well that you retired to rest at once, for I am sure that you sorely needed. He touched a bell on the table and told Mulee when he appeared to conduct Gervais to the place where he was to sleep, which was, he had already ordered, apart from the quarters of the other slaves. The young fellow is a mass of bruises, Ben, a Ben, said to his wife, when the door closed behind Gervais. Hassan beat him so savagely after they had overpowered and bound him, that he well nigh killed him, an exclamation of indignation burst from the wife and daughters. Mulee has seen to his wounds, he went on, and he will doubtless be cured in a few days, and a now wife, that your wish is gratified, and I have purchased a Christian slave for you. May I ask what you are going to do with him? I am sure I do not know, she said in a tone of perplexity. I have thought of having him to hand round coffee when my friends call, and perhaps work in the garden, but I did not think that he would be anything like this. That is no reason why he should not do so, Ben, a Ben, said. These Christians, I hear, treat their women as if they were superior beings, and feel it no dishonor to wait upon them. I think you cannot do better than carry out your plan. It is certain there is no sort of work that he would prefer to it. Therefore, let it be understood that he is to be your own personal attendant, and that when you have no occasion for his services, he will work in the garden. Only do not for the present let any of your friends see him. They would spread the news like wildfire, and in a week every soul in the town would know that you had a good-looking Christian slave, and the Sultan's officer would be sending for me to ask how I obtained him. We must put a turban on him. Anyone who caught a glimpse of that hair of his, however far distant, would know that he was a Frank. We might stain his face in hands with walnut juice, Kaja said. He would pass as a Nubian. Some of them are tall and strong. A very good thought-wife. It would be an excellent disguise. So shall it be. He touched the bell again. Tell Muley I would speak with him. Muley, he went on when the steward appeared, Have you sent ought to any of the servants touching the Christian? No, my lord. You gave me no instructions about it, and I thought it better to wait until the morning when I could ask you. You did well. We have determined to stain his skin, and at present he will pass as a Nubian. This will avoid all questions and talk. But, my lord, they will wonder that he cannot speak their tongue. He must pass among them as a mute, but indeed he speaks Arabic as well as we do, Muley. The man uttered an exclamation of surprise. He had intended to conceal his knowledge. Ben Abin went on. Which would have been politic, but when he found that my intentions were kind, He told us that he knew our tongue, and now revealed his knowledge, As he thought it would be dishonorable to listen to our talk, Leaving us under the impression that he could not understand us. Truly these Christians are strange men, Muley said. This youth who has not yet grown the hair on his face Is nevertheless commander of a war galley. He is ready to risk his life on behalf of a slave, And can strike down men with his unarmed hand. He is as gentle in his manner as a woman, And now it seems he can talk Arabic, and although it was in his power to keep this secret, He tells it rather than overhear words that are not meant for his ear. Truly they are strange people, the Franks. I will prepare some stain in the morning, my lord, And complete his disguise before any of the others see him. The next morning Muley told Gervais that his master thought it would be safer And more convenient for him to pass as a dumb Nubian slave. Gervais thought the plan an excellent one, and he was soon transformed. Muley shaving that part of the hair that would have shown below the turban, And then staining him a deep brownish black from the waist upwards, Together with his feet and his legs up to his knee, And darkening his eyebrows, eyelashes, and mustache. Save that your lips lack the thickness, And your nose is straighter than those of Nubians. No one would doubt but that he were one of that race, And this is of little consequence as many of them are of mixed blood, And although retaining their dark color have features that in their outline Resimpled those of the Arabs, Now I will take you to Bin Abin, So that he may judge whether any fervor change is required Before the servants and slaves see you. That is excellent. The merchant said when he had carefully inspected Gervais, I should pass you myself without recognizing you. Now you can take him into the servants' quarters, Muley, And tell them that he is a new slave whom I have purchased, And that henceforth it will be his duty to wait upon my wife, To whom I have presented him as her special attendant, And that he will accompany her and my daughters when they go abroad To make their purchases or visit their friends. Give some reason if you can think of one, Why you have bestowed him in a chamber separate from the rest, Gervais at once took up his new duties, And an hour later carrying a basket followed him into the town. It was strange to him thus to be walking among the fanatical moors, Who had they known the damage that he had inflicted upon their galleys, Would have torn him in pieces. None gave him however more than a passing look. Nubian slaves were no uncommon sight in the town, And in wealthy Moorish families were commonly employed in places of trust, And especially as attendants in the harems. The ladies were now as closely bailed as the Moorish women, It being only in the house that they followed the Berber customs. Gervais had learned from Muley that Bin e Bin Was one of the richest merchants in Tripoli, Trading direct with Egypt, Syria, and Constantinople, Besides carrying on a large trade with the Berber tribes in the interior. He returned to the house with his basket full of provisions, And having handed these over to the cook, He went to the private apartments, As Kaja had requested him to do. He or she and her daughters asked him innumerable questions As to his country and its customs, And then about roads and the order to which he belonged. Their surprise was great when they heard that the knives were bound to celibacy. But why should they not marry if they like? Why should they not have wives, children, and homes like other people? Kaja asked. It is that they may devote their whole lives to their work. Their home is the convent at Rhodes, Or at one of the commanderies scattered over Europe, Where they take charge of the estate of the order. But why should they not marry then, Gurves? At Rhodes there might be danger for women and children. But when they return to Europe to take charge of the estates, Surely they would do their duty no worse for having wives. Gurves smiled. I did not make the rules of the order, lady, But I have thought myself that although, So long as they are doing military work at the convent, It is well that they should not marry. Yet there is no good reason why, When established in commanderies at home, They should not, like other knights and nobles, Marry if it pleases them. In the evening the merchant returned from his stores, Which were situated down by the port. Soon after he came in he sent for Gurves. There is a question I had intended to ask you last night, He said. But it escaped me. More than two months since, Their sail from this port and others many vessels. Not the ships of this state, But Corsairs, In all more than twenty ships started, With the intention of making a great raid Upon the coast of Italy. No word has since been received of them, And their friends here are becoming very uneasy. The more so as we hear that neither at Tunis Nor outjeers has any news been received. Have you heard at roads of a Moorish fleet Having been ravaging the coast of Italy? Have you any friends on board the ships That sailed from here, Or any interest in the venture been a bin? The merchant shook his head. We burbers, he said, Are not like the Moors, And have but little to do with the sea, Saved by the way of trade, For myself I regret that these Corsairships Are constantly putting out. Were it not for them and their doings, We might trade with the ports of France, Of Spain and Italy, And be on good terms with all. There is no reason why, Because our faiths are different, We should be constantly fighting. It is true that the Turks threaten Europe, And are even now preparing to capture roads, But this is no question of religion, But Turks are warlike and ambitious, They have conquered Syria, And war with Egypt and Persia, But the Moorish states are small, They have no thought of conquest, And might live peaceably with Europe, Were it not for the hatred excited against them By the Corsairs. In that case I can tell you the truth, Thirteen of those ships were taken into roads as prizes, The other eleven were burnt, Not one of the fleet escaped. Exclamations of surprise broke from Ben Abin, His wife and daughters. I am astonished indeed, the merchant said. It was reported here that the Genoese galleys Were all laid out, And it was thought that they would be able To sweep the seas without opposition, And to bring home vast spoil and many captives, Both from the ships they took and from many of the villages And small towns of the coast. How came such a misfortune to happen to them? It will create consternation here when it is known, For although it was not a state enterprise, The Sultan himself in almost all the rich Moors Embarked money in the fitting out of the ships, And were to have shares in the spoil taken. How happened it that so strong a fleet Was all taken or destroyed, Without even one vessel being able to get away To carry home news of the disaster? Fortune was against them, Gervais said. Three ships on their way up were captured By a galley of our order, And her commander hadn't obtained news Of the whereabouts of the spot Where the corsairs were to rendezvous, Found them all lying together in a small inland, And launched against them a number of fishing boats Fitted out as fire ships. The corsairs packed closely together Were unable to avoid them, And as I told you, eleven of their ships were burned, Four were run ashore to avoid the flames, While six trying to make their way out Were captured by the galley, Aided by the three prizes that were taken, And which the knights had caused To be manned by sards. The ways of Allah the all seen are wonderful, The merchant said. It was indeed a marvelous feat For one galley thus to destroy a great fleet. It was the result of good fortune Rather than skill and valor, Gervais said. Nay, nay, let praise be given where it is due. It was a marvelous feat, And although there is good or bad fortune In every event, Such a deed could not have been performed, And would not even have been thought of By a great commander, Who was the knight who thus with one galley alone Destroyed a strongly manned fleet From which great things had been looked for. Gervais hesitated. It was a young knight, he said, Of but little standing in the order, And whose name is entirely unknown Outside its ranks. By this time it must be well known, Then I then said, And it will soon be known Throughout Christendom, And will be dreaded by every more. What was it? Gervais again hesitated. I would not have told you the story at all, Been a bin, had I supposed you would have cared To inquire into the matter. Of course I will tell you the name If you insist upon it, But I would much rather you did not ask. But why, The merchant asked in surprise, If I hear it not from you, I shall assuredly hear it ere long from others, For it will be brought by traders Who are in communication with Italy. I cannot understand why you should thus hesitate About telling me the name of this commander, When known it will doubtless be cursed By thousands of Moorish wives and mothers. But we Berbers are another race, None of our friends or kindred were on board the fleet, And we traders have rather reason to rejoice, For in the first place, So severe a lesson will keep the corsairs in their ports, For a long time, And in the second, Had the fleet succeeded according to general expectation, So great a store of European goods Would have been brought home That the market would have been flooded, And the goods in our storehouses Would have lost all their value. What reason, then, Can you possibly have in refusing to tell me the name Of the commander who has won for himself, Such credit and glory? Gervais saw that Ben Ibn was seriously annoyed At what he deemed his unaccountable obstinacy. I will tell you, Ben Ibn, Rather than excite your displeasure, Though I would much have preferred not to do so, For you speak so much more highly of the affair than it merits. I had myself the honor of being in command of that galley. The ladies broke into exclamations of surprise, While the merchant regarded him with great displeasure. I have thought you truthful, he said, But this passes all belief. Does tell me that a beardless youth could with one galley Overcome a great fleet, Commanded by the most noted captains on our coast? I thought that you would not believe me, Gervais said quietly, And therefore would have much preferred to keep silence, Knowing that I had no means of supporting my claim. That was not the only reason, The other was, that already a great deal too much Has been said about an affair, In which, as I have told you, I owed everything to good fortune, And am heartily sick of receiving What I consider altogether undue praise. Ah, he exclaimed suddenly, The thought has just occurred to me of a way By which you can obtain confirmation of my story, And as I value your good opinion, And will not be regarded as a boaster and a liar, I entreat you to take it. I heard you tell the eight men who were rowers In my boat when I was captured, To call upon you today, That you might do something for them. They came this morning to my store, The merchant said. They told me their wishes, I promised them that I would make inquiry About ships sailing east, And they are to come to me again tomorrow. Then, sir, I beseech you to suffer me to go, Down with you to your stores and meet them there. The galley of which I was in command At the time I was captured, Is the same as that in which a few weeks before I fought the corsairs, And were with me at that time, I begged them for my sake to maintain An absolute silence as to that affair, And I have no doubt that they have done so, For in the fury the news would excite, They might fall victims to the first outburst, Though, of course, holy innocent In any share in the misfortune. Did you question them without my being present? They might still keep silent, Fearing to injure me, But if, before you begin to do so, Tell them that they can speak the truth With reference to me, they will, I am sure, Confirm my story, Incredible as it may now appear to you. That is a fair offer, The merchant said gravely, And I accept it, for it may be That I have been too hasty, And I trust it may prove so. I would rather find myself to be in fault Than that the esteem with which you have Inspired me should prove to be misplaced. We will speak no further on the subject now. I have not yet asked you how it is That you come to speak our language so well. Gervais related how he had studied With Suleiman Ali, And had escorted him to Syria And received his ransom. I had hoped, he said, That the Courser would have taken me to Syria, For there I could have communicated With Suleiman, Who would, I am sure, Have given me such shelter and aid As he was able in the event of My making my escape from slavery And finding myself unable to leave by sea. The next day Gervais went with Ben I've been to his stores. The eight men arrived shortly afterwards, And the merchant and the presence of Gervais questioned them as to whether They knew anything of a misfortune That was said to have befallen some Ships that had sailed for the coast Of Italy. The men surprised at the question, Glanced at Gervais, who said, Tell Ben I've been the truth, It will do neither you nor me any harm, And will be mentioned by him to no one else. Accordingly the story was told, Ben I've been listened gravely. It was the will of Allah, He said when it was concluded, I have wronged you, Gervais, But your tale seemed too marvelous to be true. Do not speak of this to others, He went on to the four men. Now as to yourselves, For the four of you who desired To return to Syria, I have taken passage in a trader That sails to Morrow, And will touch at Joppa an acre. Here is money to provide yourselves With garments and to carry you To your homes. For you, he said to two who Are natives of the town, I can myself find employment here, And if your conduct is good, You will have no reason to regret Taking service with me. The two of you who desired To go to Smyrna, I will give passage there in a ship That will sail next week. In the meantime, Here is money for your present ones. Two days later, The merchant's family moved to his house Two miles outside the town, And here Gervais remained for six months. His life was not an unpleasant one. He was treated with great kindness By the merchant and his wife. His duties were best slight, And he had no more labor to perform In the garden than he cared to do. Nevertheless, he felt that he would Rather have fallen into the hands Of a less kind master, For it seemed to him that it would Be an act almost of treachery To escape from those who treated Him as a friend. Moreover, at the country house, He was not in a position to frame Any plans for escape, Had he decided upon attempting it. Nor could he have found out When Hassan made one of his occasional Visits to the port. Funny, you mean the merchant returned From the town, accompanied by one Of the Sultan's officers and four soldiers. Bin I Bin was evidently Much depressed and disturbed. He told Muley as he entered To fetch Gervais. When the latter, in obedience to the order Came in from the garden. The officer said in Italian, It having come to the ears Of the Sultan my master That the merchant Bin I Bin Has been jured contrary to the law To purchase a Christian slave Brought secretly into the town. He has declared the slave to be forfeited And I am commanded to take him At once to the slave's quarter. I am at the Sultan's orders, Gervais said bowing his head. My master has been a kind one And I am grateful to him For his treatment of me. Gervais, although taken aback By this sudden change in his fortunes Was not so cast down as he might Otherwise have been. He would now be free to carry out Any plan for escape that he might devise. By his being I dressed in Italian It was evident to him That his knowledge of Turkish was Unsuspected. When among the other slaves He had always maintained his character Of a mute. The Turkish family that he had spoken At all. He had no doubt that his betrayal Was due to one of the gardeners Who had several times shown him signs Of ill-will. Being doubtless, jealous of the Immunity he enjoyed from hard labor And who must he thought have crept up And overheard some conversation But in that case it was singular That the fact of his knowledge Of Turkish had not been mentioned. Gervais afterwards learned that He would then find a heavy sum For his breach of the regulations. He was now placed between the soldiers And marched down to the town Without being allowed to exchange A word with the merchant. On his arrival there he was taken To the slaves' quarter. Here his clothes were stripped from him And he was given in their place A ragged shirt and trousers. And then turned into a room Where some fifty slaves were lying. Of these about half were Europeans The rest malefactors who had been Condemned to labor. The appearance of all was miserable In the extreme. They were clothed in rags And the faces of the Europeans had A dull, hopeless look That told a like of their misery And of their despair of any escape From it. They looked up listlessly as he entered And then an Italian said Cospetto Conrad But I know not whether your place Is in the Muslims across there. As far as your color goes I should put you down as Anubian. But your hair Is of a hue that consorts But badly with that of your flesh. I am an Englishman. Gervais replied. But I have been passing under a disguise Which has unfortunately been detected. So you see here I am. The mystery explained. His questioner had no further interest In the matter. Gervais said to himself At least not easy without aid. And with these Muslims here It is clear that nothing can be done. They were roused at daybreak And sat down and looked round him. The room, although large, was roughly built. And had doubtless been erected With a view to its present purpose There were only a few windows And these were small, strongly barbed And twelve feet above the floor. Not easy to get out of them. Gervais said to himself They were roused at daybreak next morning And were taken out to their work Under the guard of six armored moors. Two overseers Provided with long whips Accompanied them. The work consisted of cleaning the streets And working on the roads And at times of carrying stones For the use of the masons employed In building an addition to the palace Of the Sultan. This was the work to which the gang Was set that morning. A long before the vigor with which Gervais worked And the strength he displayed In moving the heavy stones Attracted the attention of the overseers And of the head of the masons. That is a rare good fellow You have got there. That black with the curious hair The latter said, What is the man I never saw of unlike him? He is a Christian One of the overseers said He was snuggled into the town And sold to Bin Ibin the Berber Who to conceal the matter died him black But it got to the ears of the Sultan And he had him taken from the Berber And brought here. I have no doubt the merchant Has been squeezed rarely. Well, that is a good fellow To work, the other said. He has just moved a stone Single handed That it would have taken half a dozen Of the others to lift. I wish you would put him regularly On this job. Anyone will do to sweep the streets But a fellow like that Will be of real use here Especially when the wall rises A bit higher. It makes no difference to me The overseer said I will give orders when I go down That he shall be always sinned up With whichever gang comes here. The head mason Who was the chief official of the work Soon saw that Gervais Not only possessed strength But knowledge of the manner in which The work should be done. Accustomed as he had been To direct the slaves at work On the fortifications at Rhodes He had learned the best methods Of moving massive stones And setting them in the places That they were to occupy. At the end of the day the head mason Told one of the slaves who spoke Italian To inquire of Gervais Whether he had ever been employed Before. Gervais replied that he had been engaged In the construction of large buildings I thought so The officer said to the overseer The way he uses his lever Shows that he knows what he is doing Most of the slaves are worth nothing But I can see That this fellow will prove a treasure To us. Gervais returned to the prison Well satisfied with his day's work The labor, hard though it was Was an absolute pleasure to him. There was moreover nothing degrading In it and while the overseers Had plied their whips freely on the backs Of many of his companions He had not only escaped But had he felt succeeded In pleasing his masters The next morning when the gangs were drawn Up in the yard before starting for work He was surprised at being ordered To leave the one to which he belonged And to fall in with another And was greatly pleased when he found This took its way to the spot At which they were at work on the previous day At the end of the week When the work of the day was finished The head mason came down to the prison And spoke to the governor A few minutes afterwards Gervais was called out The governor was standing in the courtyard With an interpreter This officer tells me That you are skilled in masonry The governor said And has desired that you shall Point it overseer of the gang Whose duty it is to move the stones Saying he is sure That with half the slaves now employed You would get as much work done As at present Have you anything to say? I thank you, my lord, and this officer Gervais replied I will do my best, but I would submit To you that it would be better If I could have the same slaves always with me Instead of their being changed every day I could then instruct them in their work I would also submit That it were well to pick men with some strength For this labor For many are so weak that they are well Not useless in the moving of heavy weights Lastly, I would humbly submit To you that if men are to do good work They must be fed This work is as heavy as that in the galleys And the men there employed Receive extra rations to strengthen them And I could assuredly Obtain far better results Of the gang employed upon this labor Were to receive a somewhat larger supply of food The fellow speaks boldly The governor said to the head mason When the reply was translated There is reason in what he says, my lord Many of the slaves, though fit for the light labor Of cleaning the streets Are of very little use to us And even the whip of the drivers Cannot give more than a momentary effort from them If you can save 25 men's labor For other work It will pay to give more food to the other 25 I should let this man pick out his gang He has worked in turn with all of them And must know what each can do Besides, it is necessary that he should have men Who can understand his orders Gervais accordingly was allowed to pick out his gang And he chose those whom he had observed To be the strongest and most handy at the work You will be responsible, the governor said to him For the masons being supplied with stone And if you fail, you will be punished And put to other labor So far from there being any falling off in the work The head mason found that even though the walls begin to rise And the labor of transporting the stones Into their positions became greater The masons were never kept standing The men finding their position improved Both in the matter of food And in the immunity they enjoyed from blows Worked cheerfully and well Gervais did not content himself with giving orders But worked at the heaviest jobs And little by little introduced many of the appliances Used by the skilled masons of roads And transporting and lifting heavy stones Gradually his own position improved He was treated as an overseer And was permitted to sleep under an arcade That ran along one side of the yard Instead of being confined in the close and stifling cell His die had long since worn off One day as he was going up with his gang Under charge of the usual guards to the building He saw Hassan, who grinned maliciously Ah, ah, Christian dog, he said You threatened me and I have not forgotten it The last time I was here I made it known To an officer of the Sultan That bin I bin had a Christian slave Who had been smuggled in And here you are I hope you like the change Look, I have still got your amulet It has brought me better luck than it did you I have been fortunate ever since And no money could buy it from me He had been walking close to Gervais as he spoke And one of the guards pushed him roughly aside Time passed on, one day on his return from work A well-dressed moor met him As the gang broke up in the courtyard I have permission to speak to you He said to Gervais and drew him aside No, O Christian, that I have received a letter From Suleiman Ali of Syria He tells me that he has heard from bin I bin The Berber, that you are a slave And has asked me to inquire of the Sultan The price that he will take for your ransom Expressing his willingness to pay whatever may be demanded And charging me to defray the sum And to make arrangements by which you may return to Europe This I am willing to do Knowing Suleiman Ali by report as a wealthy man And an honorable one I saw the Sultan yesterday He told me that I should have an answer this morning As to the ransom that he would take When I went to him again today He said that he had learned from the governor of the prison And from the head mason That you were almost beyond price That you had been raised to the position Of the superintendent of the slaves Employed in the building of his palace And that you were a man of such skill That he would not part with you at any price Until the work was finished After that he would sell you But he named it price three-fold That of which the very best white slave in Tripoli Would be valued However, from the way in which Suleiman Ali wrote I doubt not that he would pay it Great as it is For he speaks of you in terms of affection And I would pay the money Could I be released at once As it is, however, I shall write to him And there will be ample time for an answer To be received from him Before the building is finished Truly I am deeply grateful to my good friend Suleiman Ali But for reasons of my own I am not desirous of being ransomed at present Especially at such a cost Which I should feel bowed in honor To repay to him Therefore I pray you to write to him Saying that while I thank him for my heart For his kindness I am not able to avail myself of it In the first place, I am well treated here And my position is not an unpleasant one Secondly, the sum required for ransom Is altogether preposterous Thirdly, I am not without hopes That I may someday find other means Of freeing myself Without so great a sacrifice And lastly, that I have a reason Which I cannot mention Why at present I would not quit triply Even were I free tomorrow You can tell him that this is the reason Which most of all weighs with me Do not, however, I pray you Let the Sultan know that I have refused To be ransomed For he might think I was meditating and escape And would order extra precautions To be taken to prevent my doing so Will you also see been I been And thank him for me For having written to Suleiman Ali On my behalf End of Chapter 18 Read by Peter Strong In Cartagena, Colombia On January 30th, 2019 Chapter 19 Of A Night of the White Cross By G. A. Henty This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 19 Escape Gradually, a greater amount of liberty Was given to Gervais Escape from triply was deemed impossible Especially as he was supposed to be Entirely ignorant of Arabic He was indeed scarcely regarded now As a slave by the head mason And instead of being clad in rags Was dressed like other overseers He was no longer obliged to walk With the gang to and from the palace And was at last granted permission To go into the town and for an hour Or two after his work was over Instead of returning direct to the prison The first time this permission Was given to him He placed himself on the road By which been I been would leave the town Choosing a quiet spot Where the meeting would not be observed Gervais had for some time Taken to staining his face Hands and legs with walnut juice Beginning with a weak solution And very gradually increasing The strength until he had reached A shade approximating to that Of the lighter colored portion Of the population The head mason had on one occasion Noticed it and said This sun is darkening your skin, Gervais Until you might verily pass as a moor Gervais detected an expression Of doubt in the tone the officer Had spoken to the interpreter And replied at once It is not altogether the sun Since I have obtained permission To my work alone I have taken to slightly darkening my skin In order to go to and fro on the last And free from the insults That the boys and beggars hurl at Christians The master mason nodded approvingly When the answer was translated to him It is a wise step, he said For truly the hatred of Christians Is very strong among the lower classes Especially since it became known That the galleys that sailed from here Nearly two years ago were With all the fleet from which so much was expected Utterly destroyed It is well then that you should pass unnoticed For were there a tumult in the street You might lose your life And I should lose the best labor Overseer I ever had Thus then as Gervais walked through the streets On the first occasion of obtaining his liberty He attracted no attention whatever When he saw Ben of Ben approaching He stepped out to meet him The merchant looked in his face For a moment they all to recognize him Then he exclaimed suddenly It is Gervais, ah my son I am indeed rejoiced to see you We have spoken of you so often at home And sorely did my wife and daughters Grieve when you were torn from us I did not dare to send any message to you For the sultan pretended great anger Against me and used the opportunity To squeeze me hardly But I have frequently made inquiries About you and was glad indeed to find That even in prison you received promotion Had it been otherwise had I found That you were in misery I would have endeavored whatever the risk To aid you to escape I have indeed nothing to complain of And was sorry to learn that you Had suffered on my account Have you ever learned how it came about That I was denounced? No indeed I would have given much to know And assuredly the dog, whoever he was Should have been made to suffer It was Hassan the villain met me When I was with the gang And boasted that it was he Who had sent me there He had told the news to some official Who had of course repeated it to the sultan In the palace he concealed his own share In the matter, otherwise he too would Next time he returned here Have to pay for his part in it I will make him pay more heavily Than the sultan would Been I been, said sternly I will speak to my friends among the merchants And henceforth no berber will buy Off from him, and we have hitherto Been his best customers But let us not waste our time Speaking of this wretch How comes it that you are walking freely In the streets of Tripoli I can see that your face is stained Although you are no longer a nubian Gervais told him how it was That he was free to walk in the city After his work was done I shall now, he went on Be able to carry out any plan of escape That may occur to me But before I leave As I shall certainly do ere long I mean to settle my score with Hassan And I pray you to send one of the men Who were with me in the galley And whom you took into your employment Directly you hear that his ship is in harbour Do not give him either a note or a message Bid him simply place himself in the road Between the prison gate and the palace And look fixedly at me as I pass I shall know it is a signal That Hassan is in the port Can I aid you in your flight? I will willingly do so All that I shall need is the garb of a peasant Gervais said I might buy one unnoticed But in the first place I have no money And in the second, when it is known that I have escaped The trader might recall the fact that one of the slave or seers Had purchased a suit of him The dress of an Arab would be the best The merchant said That I will procure and hold in readiness for you On the day when I send you word That Hassan is here I will see that the gate of my garden Is unbarred at night And will place the garments down just behind it You mean I suppose to travel by land? I shall do so for some distance Where I have to steal a boat from the port It would be missed in the morning And I be overtaken I shall therefore go along the coast For some distance And get a boat at one of the villages Choosing my time when there is a brisk wind And when I may be able to get well beyond Any risk of being overtaken Now, bin I bin, I will leave you It were better that we should not meet again Lest some suspicion might fall upon you Of having aided in my escape I cannot thank you too much For all your past kindness And shall ever bear a grateful remembrance Of yourself and your family Perhaps it were better so Bin I bin said For if the Moors can find any excuse For plundering us, they'd do so Have you heard the news That the Sultan of Turkey's Expedition for the capture of roads Is all but complete And will assuredly sail Before many weeks have passed? I have not heard it, Gurves replied And trust that I may be in time To bear my share in the defense However, the blow has been so often threatened That it may be some time before it falls May Allah bless you, my son And take you safely back to your friends Be assured that you shall have noticed As soon as I know that Hasan has returned And you shall have the bundle With all that is needful behind my gate Another two months passed Gurves looked in vain For bin I bin's messenger As he went to and from the palace And shaved terribly at the delay When for Akhi knew the Turkish fleet Might already have brought Muhammad's army to Rhodes At last, as he came back from work He saw with intense satisfaction One of the men whose face he recognized Leaning carelessly against the wall The man gave no sign of recognition But looked at him earnestly for a minute And then sauntered off up the street Gurves went up into the town as usual Walked about until it became quite dark And then went to the gate And led into the merchant's garden He found that it was unfastened And opening it went in And closed it behind him As he did so he started For a voice close by said Master, it is I The messenger whom you saw two hours since Bin I bin bade me say That he thought you might require some service And knowing that I could be trusted Bade me wait for you here He thought that you might possibly Need a messenger to hasten The very thing Gurves exclaimed I had been puzzling myself in vain As to how I could get speech with him In some quiet place But with your assistance that will be easy But first let me put on this disguise This was easily affected Even in the dark A loose flowing robe of white cotton Gurt in at the waist A long burnouse with hood to cover the head A sage with a dagger And a scimitar completed the disguise Here is a pouch The man said With money for your journey And a long sword Which he says you can hang at your back Beneath your burnouse Gurves gave an exclamation of pleasure By its length and weight He was sure that the weapon must have been The property of a Christian knight Shall I carry the message this evening The man asked It is early still And it were best that you should not linger In the city Where there is sure to be a strict search For you in the morning But perhaps he may recognize your face It is blackened, my lord And I am dressed as you were When with bin I bin Let us settle our plans then Before we sally out from here We could not find a safer place For talking What message thank you would be the most likely To tempt hasten to come ashore You do not know what spoil he has brought No, besides If a merchant wanted to buy He would go on board to inspect hasten's wares We must have something to sell It must be something tempting And something that must be disposed of secretly I might tell him that my employer And I would mention some merchant Whose name would carry great weight with him Has received from the interior A large consignment of slaves Among whom are three or four girls Who would fetch high prices in Egypt And as he believes They have been captured from a tribe Within the limits of the sultan's territory He is anxious to get rid of them And will either dispose of them All cheaply in a lot Or will hand them over to him To take to Egypt to sell Giving him a large commission For carrying them there And disposing of them I do not like tempting Even an enemy by stories True, Gervais said doubtfully I have no scruples that way The man said with a laugh And it is I who shall tell the story And not you Gervais shook his head Could you not say that you came from one Who owes him a heavy debt And desires to pay him I do not think that would bring him A shore, hasten doubtless trades For ready money And must be well aware that no one here Can be greatly in his debt No, my lord, leave the matter in my hands I will think of some story Before I go on board that will fetch him a shore But first we must settle Where I am to bring him There are some deserted spots near the wall On the east side of town I know where you mean, Gervais agreed Let us go in that direction At once, for the sooner you are Off the better In half an hour a spot was fixed On, near some huts that had fallen Into ruin Gervais seated himself on a sand heap While the man hurried away The moon had just risen It being but three days since it was at its full The night was quiet Sounds of music, laughter And occasional shouts came faintly from the town Seated where he was Gervais could see the court And the ships lying there Half an hour later he saw He both were off to one of them Which he had already singled out From its size and general appearance Seeing that of Hassan Ten minutes later he saw it returning At that distance separate figures Could not be made out But it seemed to him that it loomed larger Than before, and he thought that Certainly won if not more persons For whom returning with his messenger Presently he heard men approaching Then Hassan's voice Came distinctly to his ears How much farther are you Going to take me? Remember I warned you I found that my journey repaid me It would be bad for you It is but a few yards farther, my lord There is my master The sheik of the Binaikalis Awaiting you Gervais rose to his feet As Hassan and two of his crew came up Now The former said roughly Where have you bestowed these Captives you want to sell me? Will you please to follow me Into this courtyard? Gervais said He had while waiting Reconordered the neighborhood And found an enclosure with the wall Still perfect, and had determined To bring Hassan there In order to prevent him from taking to flight Hassan entered it unsuspectingly Followed by his two men Gervais fell back in little So as to place himself between Them and the entrance Then he threw back the hood Do you recognize me Hassan? He said sternly I am the captive whom you beat Almost to death I told you that someday I would kill you But even now I am willing to forgive you And to allow you to depart in peace If you will restore the amulet You took from me The coarser gave a howl of rage Christian dog He exclaimed You thought to lead me into a trap But you have fallen into one yourself You reckon that I should come alone But I suspected There was something hidden behind The story of that black And so brought two of my crew with me Upon him men Cut him down So saying he drew a scimitar And sprang furiously upon Gervais The latter stepped back into the center Of the gateway So as to prevent the men Who had also drawn their swords Passing to attack him from behind And on the clasp of his burnouse And allowed it to fall to the ground If he addressed Hassan And his longsword flashed in the moonlight As the coarser sprang forward Hassan was a good swordsman And his ferocious bravery Had rendered him one of the most dreaded Of the Marsh rovers Inferior in strength to Gervais He was as active as a cat And he leapt back with the spring Of a panther avoiding the sweeping blow With which Gervais had hoped to finish The conflict at once The latter found himself therefore Engaged in desperate fight With his three assailants So furiously did they attack him That foot by foot he was forced To give ground As he stepped through the gateway One of the pirates sprang past him But as he did so a figure Leaped out from behind the wall And plunged a dagger into his back While at the same moment By cutting down another pirate But as he did so He himself received a severe wound On the left shoulder from Hassan Who before he could again raise his weapon Sprang upon him And tried to hurl him to the ground Gervais' superior weight Saved him from falling Though he staggered back some paces Then his heel caught against a stone And he fell, dragging Hassan To the ground with him Tightly clasped in each other's arms They rolled over and over Gervais succeeded at last In getting the upper hand But as he did so Hassan twisted his right arm free Snatched the dagger from Gervais' girdle And struck furiously at him Gervais, who had half risen to his knees Was unable to avoid the blow But threw himself forward His weight partly pinning The corsair's shoulder to the ground And the blow passed behind him Inflicting but a slight wound In the back Then with his right hand Which was now free He grasped Hassan by the throat With a grip of iron The pirate struggled convulsively For a moment Then his left hand released his grasp Of his opponent's wrist A minute later, Gervais rose to his feet The pirate was dead Gervais stooped and raised The fallen man's head from the ground Felt for the chain Pulled up Claudius' gauge Then he turned to his guide I have to thank you for my life He said, holding out his hand to him It would have gone hard with me If that fellow had attacked me from behind I had not bargained for three of them I could not help it, my lord It was not until Hassan had Stepped down into the boat That I knew he was going to take Anyone with him Then he suddenly told two of his men To take their places by him Saying to me as he did so I know not whether this message is a snare But mind, if I see any signs of treachery Your life at any rate will pay the forfeit I knew not what to do And indeed could do nothing But knowing my lord's valor I thought that even against these odds You might conquer with such poor aid As I could give you It was not poor aid at all Gervais said heartily Greatly am I indebted to you Indeed am I that I am unable to reward you now For the great service that you have rendered me Do not trouble about that, my lord I am greatly mistaken If I do not find in the sashes of these three villains Sufficient to repay me amply for my share In this evening's work And now, my lord, I pray you to linger Not a moment The gates of the town shut at ten o'clock And it cannot be long from that hour now But first I pray you Let me bind up your shoulder Your garment is soaked with blood Fortunately, my burnals will hide that But it were certainly best to staunch the blood Before I start For it would be hard for me To get at the wound myself The man took one of the sashes Of the corsairs Torred into strips And bandaged the wound Then with another He made a sling for the arm As he took off the sashes A leather bag dropped from each And there was a chink of metal He placed them in his girdle saying I shall have time to count them when I get back Gervais sheathed his sword And put on the burnals Pulling the hood well over his head Then with a few more words of thanks Started for the gate Leaving the man to search Hassen's girdle The gate was a quarter of a mile distant Gervais passed through With the usual air of exalutation To this entry End with difficulty Repressed a shout of exultation As he left triply behind him Following the coast road He walked till daylight Then he left it and lay down Among the sandhills for five or six hours He calculated that no pursuit Would be begun until midday His absence was not likely To be noticed until the gangs Began work in the morning When an alarm would be given The sentries at the gates On the previous evening Would be questioned And when it was found That no one answering to his description Had passed out before these were closed There would be a rigid search Throughout the city and port The vessels would all be examined And the boatman questioned As to whether any crack was missing Not until the search proved Absolutely fruitless Would it be seriously suspected That he had, either by passing Through the gates in the skies Or by skilling the walls Made for the interior That he could speak Arabic And it would be so hopeless and undertaking For anyone unacquainted with the language To traverse the country without Being detected That the moors would be slow to believe That he had embarked upon such adventure However, when all searched for him In the town and in the vessels Of the port proved fruitless Doubtless mounted men would be Dispatched in all directions Some would take the coast roads While others would ride into the interior Or the head men of the villages To be on the lookout for an escaped slave After a sleep of five hours Gurves pursued his journey He had walked for eight hours And calculated that he must be Fully thirty miles from Tripoli And that not until evening Would searchers overtake him After walking four miles He came to a large village There he purchased a bag of dates Sat down on a stone bench By the roadside to eat them And entered into conversation With two or three moors who sauntered up To these he represented That he belonged to a party of his tribe Who had encamped for the day At a short distance from the village In order to rest their horses Before riding into Tripoli Whether they were proceeding to exchange Skins of animals taken in the chase And some young horses For cotton clothes, knives And other articles of barter With the tribes beyond them To lay well in front of the mosque He retraced his steps until beyond the village Then struck out into the country Made a detour Came down into the road again And continued his journey eastward He walked until nightfall And then again lay down He was now fully fifty miles from Tripoli And hoped that he was beyond the point Which horsemen from that point Would think of pursuing their search It was likely that they would not Have gone beyond the village They halted on the previous day For when they learned from the inhabitants That no stranger save an Arab had entered it They would content themselves With warning the head man To be on the watch for any stranger Unable to speak their tongue And would not consider it necessary To push their steps further For four days, Gervais continued His journey. At each village Through which he passed He added to his stock of dates Until he had as many as he could carry The house without attracting observation He also purchased a large Water bottle, which he slung Around his neck. At this time The sea laid to his left Like a sheet of glass And he knew that until a change Of weather occurred, it was useless For him to attempt to escape by boat. On the fifth day There were signs of a change He saw a dark line far out at sea He came across the water rapidly And presently a gentle breeze Began to blow from the northwest It gradually increased In strength, and when in the afternoon He stopped at a village To wait for a breaking upon the shore After repeating his usual Story, he sauntered down To the water's edge There were several boats hauled up And a hundred yards out Two or three larger cracks were lying at anchor He entered into conversation With some of the fishermen And his questions as to the boats And to believe him, all together Ignorant of the sea. The craft Were, they told him, used sometimes For fishing, but they often Made voyages to towns along the coast With things and other produce. Each boat carried a single Short mast, to the top of which Was attached a long tapering spar On which the sail was furled. Gervais knew that these Small falukas were generally Fast sailors and fair sea boats And resolved to seize one of them Trusting that when once The sail was shaken out, he would be able To manage it single-handed. Accustomed to boats, he picked out That which he thought would be the fastest And then walked away for half a mile And lay down to sleep Until the village was silent for the night. He had with him some Ogent cakes he had bought there A string of fish he had purchased From the boatman. And with these And the dates he thought he could manage Four or five days at least. In addition to water, he could only hope That he should find a supply on board the boat. When he judged it to be About ten o'clock, he went down To the shore again, took off his clothes And made them into a bundle Then wading out into the water To within fifty yards of the faluca Swam off to it, towing The bundle behind him. He had no difficulty in climbing on board And after dressing himself In the clothes he had worn at Tripoli And had kept on beneath Of a tire, he pulled the head Rope until the craft was nearly over the anchor. He then loosened the line That brailed up the sail, got the stone That served as an anchor on board, hauled The sheet apt and took His place at the tiller. The wind had dropped a good deal with the sun But there was still sufficient air To send the light craft fast Through the water. He steered out for A time. And then when he thought Himself a good mile from the shore Headed east, by the appearance Of the water as it glanced past From five to six miles an hour And when the sun rose at five o'clock Believed that he was nearly forty miles On his way. He now fastened The tiller with a rope And proceeded to overhaul the craft. It was dept over forward only And he crept into the cabin Which was little more than three feet high. The first thing his eye lit on Was a bulky object hanging Against the side and covered with A thick black blanket of Arab Infacture. Lifting this he saw As he expected that the Object beneath it was a large Water-skin well filled. The blanket had evidently been placed Over it to keep it cool, when the Sun streamed down on the deck above It. There was also a large bag Of dates and another of flat cakes And he guessed that these had all Been put on board the evening before In readiness for a start in the morning. This relieved him of his Chief anxiety, for he had been Unable to think of any plan For replenishing his supply Or to concoct a likely tale that Were he obliged to go on shore Would account for his being alone In a craft of that size. The wind increased again after Sunrise, and being unable To reef the sail single-handed He managed partially to braille it Up. All day the craft flew Along with the wind on the quarter Making six or seven miles an hour And he felt that by morning He would be well beyond pursuit. On the run he passed several Craft engaged in fishing, But these gave him no uneasiness. He had in the morning with some old Sales he found, constructed Three rough imitations of human figures One with the air of dress And another with the burnouse And had placed them against the bulwarks So that at a short distance it would Appear that there were three men on board Feeling confident that The deception would not be noticed He kept his course without swerving And passed some of the fishing boats With inhaling distance, waving His hand and shouting the usual Arab salutation to their crews. During the day he contended Himself with eating some dates And a oatmeal cake or two. But at sunset he added to this Two or three fish that he had Split open and hung up to drying The sun and wind. There was Charcoal on board, and a flat Stone served as a hearth At the bottom of the boat. But he had no means of lighting a fire For this the fisherman would have brought Off when they came on board in the morning After he had finished his meal And taken his place again at the tiller He altered his course, hitherto He had been steering to the south Of east, following the line of coasts But he now saw before him The projecting promontory of Cape Meserata, which marks The western entrance of the great Gulf of Sidra. And he now Directed his course two points north Of east, so as to strike The opposite promontory, known As Grenna, more than a hundred miles Away. The wind fell Much lighter, and he shook Out the sail to its full extent All night he kept at his post But finding the wind perfectly Steady, he lashed the tiller So as to keep the boat's head In the direction in which he was Steering, and dozed for some Hours, waking up occasionally To assure himself that she Was keeping her course. At sunrise he indulged in a Wash in seawater, and felt Freshened and revived. He now kept a sharp lookout for Distant sails, for he was out Of the ordinary course a coaster would take And would have attracted the attention Of any coarser coming out from the Land. The sea, however, Remained clear of ships. All day the faluca made rapid progress For although the wind freshened Gervais did not lessen sail as before. Being now accustomed to the boat And confident of her powers As soon as the wind died away Again after sunset, he laid down For a good sleep, feeling This was an absolute necessity And knowing that before morning He should be obliged to keep a sharp Lookout for land. He slept Longer than he intended, for the day Was breaking when he opened his eyes He sprang to his feet, and saw The land stretching ahead of him at The distance, as he thought of some Fifteen miles, and at once Put the helm down, and bore more To the north. He judged From what he had heard on the coast That he must be nearly off Cape Tejonis, behind which lies The town of Benghisi, and was Confirmed in the belief on finding Half an hour later that the coast Which had run nearly north and south Trended sharply away to the Northeast. All day long He kept about the same distance Of the land, and at night instead Of keeping on his course brailed Up the sail entirely, and allowed The vessel to drift, as he knew That before morning he should lose The coast if he continued as he was Going. He slept without moving Until daylight, and then saw To his satisfaction by means Of landmarks he had noticed the evening Before, that the boat had drifted But a few miles during the night As the day went on, he saw That the coastline was now east And felt that he must be off the most Northerly point of the promontory. He accordingly laid His course to the northeast, which Would take him close to Cape Salomon, The most easterly point Of Crete, and from 250 To 300 miles Distance. For 24 hours He sailed quietly on. The wind dropping lighter and Lighter, then it suddenly Died out altogether. For some hours there was not a breath To stir the surface of the water, And the heat was stifling. Gervais slept for some time, When he awoke the same stillness Reigned. But there was a change In the appearance of the sky. Its brightness was dulled By a faint mist. While Although the sea was of a glassy Smoothness, there was an Imperceptible swell that caused The fluka to sway uneasily. Gervais had sufficient experience Of the lant to know that these Signs were ominous of a change, And he at once set to work To prepare for it. Although He saw that it would be difficult For him unaided to hoist the long Spar back into its place, He decided to lower it. This was not difficult, as its Weight brought it down onto the deck As soon as he slackened the halyards. He unhooked it from the block, And then lashed the sail securely To it. When he had done this He looked round. A bank Of dark clouds lay across the Horizon to the northwest, And in a short time he could see That this was rising rapidly. Before taking down the spar and Sail, he had deliberated as to Whether it would be better to run Before the coming gale, or to lie To. And had decided on the latter Alternative. As were it To continue to blow long, he Might be driven onto the Egyptian Coast. Moreover, the flukas bow Was much higher out of the water And he thought that she would ride over The waves with greater safety Than she would did they sweep down Upon her stern. He had heard that the Greeks, when caught in a sudden gale In small boats, often lashed the Orest together, threw them overboard With a rope attached, and rode To them safely through a sea that Would otherwise have overwhelmed them. After much consideration as To what had best be done, he Took the anchor rope, which was Some sixty yards in length, Then to each end of the spar, and Then lashed the middle of the rope to The bow of the flukka. Then Using an oar as a lever, he With great labor managed to launch The spar over the bow, with The sail still attached to it. When he had completed this, he Looked round at the state of the weather. The clouds had risen so fast That their edge was nearly overhead Spanning the sky like a great arch. Ahead of him it seemed Almost as black as night. He had not been out in many of the gales That at times sweep the eastern waters Of the Mediterranean with terrible Violence, but had seen enough Of them to know that it was no ordinary One that he was about to encounter. He looked over the bow. The spar at present was lying In contact with the stem. With An oar he pushed it across so as To be at right angles with the craft. And then, there being nothing Else to do, sat down and waited For the storm to burst. In a short time he heard A dull moaning sound. A puff of wind struck the boat. But in a few seconds died out. It was sufficient to give the light Craft, stern away. And she drifted backwards, the rope Tightening until the spar lay Across her bows, some twenty yards Away. The dull moaning Had grown louder. And now ahead of him he saw a white Line. It approached with Extraordinary rapidity. Knowing the fury with which it would Burst upon him, he left down And stood at the entrance to the cabin With his head just above the deck. With a deafening roar the wind Struck the boat, which staggered As if she had on her full course Struck on a rope, while a Shower of spray flew over her. Half-blinded it deafened, the Gervais crawled into the cabin, Closed the door and lay down There. Whatever happened, There was nothing he could do. It was soon conscious that the spar And sail were doing their work, For the boat still lay head to wind. The noise overhead and around Was deafening. Above the howl of the wind Could be heard the creaking of the timbers And the boat seemed to shiver As each fresh gust struck her. In half an hour he looked out again. There was as yet but little sea The force of the wind seemed To flatten the water. And the instant a way lifted Its head, it was cut off As if by a knife and carried away In spray. The boat herself Was moving rapidly through the water Dragging the spar behind her And Gervais almost trembled At the thought of the speed At which she would have flown along Had it not been for the restraint Of the floating anchor. Gradually The sea got up. But the light Craft rode easily over it. And Gervais, after commending His safety to God, lay down And was soon fast asleep. In the motion of the vessel He slept soundly for many hours. When he awoke he opened the cabin door And looked out. A tremendous Sea was running. But he thought The wind, although so strong That he could scarcely lift his head But the shelter of the bulwark Was less violent than it had been When it first broke upon him. He saw to his satisfaction That the falooka breasted the waves Lively. And that although enveloped In spray, she took no green water Far and sail acted not only as a floating anchor But as a breakwater In the white crested waves Which came on as if they would break upon the boat Seemed robbed Of half their violence by the obstruction To their course And passed under the falooka without breaking For forty-eight hours The gale continued. At the end Of that time it ceased almost As suddenly as it had begun The sun shone brightly out The clouds cleared entirely away It was some hours before the sea Went down sufficiently For gerbets to attempt to get the Sparrowed deck again. It was a heavy task, Taxing his strength through the utmost. But after a deal of labour It was got on board, and then Raised to its position at the mast head. The sail was shaken out And the falooka, again, Put on her course. End of Chapter 19 Read by Peter Strom in Cartagena, On January 30th, 2019.