 Chapter 20. of A Night of the White Cross by G. A. Hinty This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 20. Belegered One morning, towards the end of May, 1480, Sir John Boswell was standing with some other knights on St. Stephen's Hill near the city. Having hurried up as soon as a column of smoke from a bonfire lighted by the look out there, gave the news that the Turkish fleet was at last in sight. A similar warning had been given a month previously, but the fleet had sailed past the island being bound for Panakka, which was the rendezvous where Muhammad's great armament was to assemble. There could be but little doubt that the long-expected storm was this time about to burst. The fleet now seen approaching numbered a hundred and sixty large ships, besides a great number of small craft, conveying a force variously estimated at from seventy to a hundred thousand men. To his mighty fleet, Sir John said, And the worst of it is that we know there are more to follow. Still, I doubt not, we shall send them back defeated. Our defenses are all complete. Our recent peace with Egypt has enabled us to fill up our magazines with provisions of all kinds. The inhabitants of the island have had ample warning to move into town, carrying with them everything of value, so the Turks will obtain but little plunder, and will be able to gather no means of subsistence on the island, as every animal has been driven within the walls, and even the unripe corn has been reaped and brought in. However long the siege lasts, we need be in no fear of being reduced to source-strength for food. Look over there, there is a small craft under sail, and it comes not from the direction of Panayka. See, one of the Turkish galleys has separated from the rest, and is making off in that direction. It may be that the little craft contains one or two of our comrades who are late in coming to join us. It may well be so, Sir John, for they have been straggling in by twos and threes for the last month. I will get the Grandmaster's leave to put out in one of the galleys, Sir John said. For, by the way they are bearing, the Turks will put the little craft off before she can gain the port. He hurried to Diabasin, who was standing a short distance apart from the others, gazing at the Turkish fleet. A minute later he was running down the hill to the town, accompanied by three or four other knights. They made direct for the outer port, where two galleys were lying in readiness, left on board one of them, which already contained its quota of knights, and at once rode out of the port. Just as they did so, the Turkish galleys fired a gun. I fear we shall be too late, Sir John said. The Turk is gaining fast on the other craft, whatever she may be. There goes another gun. Row your hardest. He shouted down to the slaves. The Turk's ship did not fire again. The wind was light, and they were going two feet through the water to everyone sailed by the other craft. The galley from Rhodes was still half a mile away when the Turk was close to the boat that was trying to escape. Sir John and the knights chafed as they saw they would be too late. I can't make out why the boat did not use her oars, the former said. Of course she could not have kept away from the galley, but if she had rode it would have made some difference, and we might have been nearly up. I can only see one man on board of her, Sir John, one of the younger knights said, and two or three others murmured they were of the same opinion. The others must be lying down. She cannot have less than from fifteen to twenty men. The Turk is close alongside. They still hold on. There she has gone about and escaped the attempt to run her down. Now she is heading for us again. Brave fellows, brave fellows, Sir John exclaimed, while a cheer broke from those around him. But they have done for themselves. They must have seen us coming out, and if they had surrendered, might have hoped to have been retaken. Their chance of getting quarter was truly not great, for expecting, as the Turks do, to carry off both us and all the inhabitants of the island. A dozen fishermen would have seemed to them scarcely worth keeping. However, by holding on, they have thrown away any chance they may have had. The Turks are alongside. They are leaping down into the little craft. Ah, two more galleys have just left their fleet and are heading here. See, Sir John, one of the knights exclaimed, there is a single man standing in the bow of that craft. He is facing the moors alone. See how they crowd there. You can see the weapons flashing in the sun. They have to press past the mass to get at him, and as yet he seems to hold them all at bay. He has chosen his post well, Jervil. The number of his assailants prevents the archers on the Turkish craft using their bows. Fire those bow guns, he shouted to the knights forward. Take steady aim at the galley. It will distract their attention. Nobly done indeed, one of the other knights shouted, I have seen him strike down four of the Turks. Row men, row! Tis useless, Sir John muttered as he clenched the hilt of his sword. Useless, a Rowland could not long maintain, so unequally fight. A groan broke from those around him, as suddenly the dark mass of the assailants made a forward move, and the single figure was lost to sight. It was but for an instant, a moment later the crowd separated, and a man was seen to spring overboard. They will riddle him with their spears when he comes up. We shall have nothing to do but to avenge him. To your stations, comrades, it is our turn now, and we have no time to lose, for the other two Turks will be up in twenty minutes, and I had orders not to fight if it could be avoided. But we must take this fellow. Five minutes later the galley ran alongside the Turks, to which those who had captured the boat had already hastily returned. The ships discharged their guns into each other, and then as the galley ran alongside, the knights tried to leap on board of her. They were opposed by a dense mass of Turks, for in addition to her usual crew, the Muslim was crowded with troops. For three or four minutes the knights tried, but in vain to get a footing on board. Then Sir John shouted to them to forbear, and gave orders to the rowers at once to push off. A cloud of arrows swept across the poop as they did so, but for the most part these fell harmless from the armor of the knights. For a time the cannon on both sides continued to fire, but as the Christians increased their distance it gradually ceased. They had gone but a hundred yards from the Turk when a head appeared over the stern railing of the poop, and a figure swung itself onto the deck. The man was attired in Turkish garments, but his head was bare, and the exclamation, A Christian broke from the knights. The man strode up to Sir John Boswell. You used to say you would make matters even with me someday, Sir John, and you have more than kept your word. Sir John fell back in pace in astonishment, and then with a shout, By St. George it is Trisham threw his arms round Gervais' neck, while the knights thronged round with exclamations of satisfaction. And it was you whom we saw keep the Turks at bay for three good minutes single-handed, Sir John said, Holding Gervais at arm's length to gaze into his face. Truly it seemed while not impossible that anyone who was liked to be on that craft could have performed so dotty indeed. And how did you escape? It was simple enough, Gervais replied. As soon as I dived I turned and swam along under the boat, and came up by the stern, and then held on by the rudder, sheltered from their sight. I saw that the galley would be up in five minutes, and had no fear of their wasting time to look for me. Directly you came alongside her, I dived again, and rose under your stern. I did not think that you would be able to take her, for all their craft are crowded with troops, so I contended myself with holding on until you were out of reach of their arrows. And then I climbed up. I am delighted to see you again, Gervais. I was feeling very sore at the moment, and I know the others felt the same, and being obliged to shear off without making a capture. But the Grandmaster's orders were strict. We noted your craft pursued by the Turks, and I asked Lee to take out a galley to cut her off. He said, Take one, Sir John, but do not venture an attack against the Turk unless she is likely to fall an easy price to you. Her capture would be of little benefit to us, and would be dearly purchased at the cost of a nice light. Therefore as soon as we engaged her, and I found that she was full of troops, and could not be captured without heavy loss, and that two of her consorts might arrive before we accomplished it, it was plainly my duty to abandon the attempt. Although you may guess it went sorely against the grain to give the order, especially as I knew that a host would be looking on from St. Stephen's Hill. However, your rescue more than makes up for our failure, and thankful indeed am I that I made the suggestion that we should put out to save that little craft. Though I thought it contained but a few fishermen, or some coasting sailors, who had an ignorance that the Turks were at hand, tried to enter roads. One of those looking on with me did indeed suggest that she might have on boarding night or two coming to join us, but I did not give the matter a second thought. And how go things, Sir John, and how are old friends? Ralph Harcourt, and I think all of your comrades in the Santa Barbara, except the three who fell by your side when you were captured, are well. And at present on the island for the last two years, none have been allowed to depart. As do other matters, they go not so well as one could wish. The commanderies have not responded to our call for aid as they should have done. For this, however, they are not all together to blame, for we have been so often threatened with attack, and have so frequently applied for aid in money or men, that they must have begun to doubt whether the danger was really imminent. In other respects we are well prepared. We have obtained large stores of provisions from Egypt, and shall have no ground for uneasiness on that score. The defenses have been greatly strengthened, and no one fears that we shall not be able to beat off an attack. We have destroyed the principal buildings outside the walls, though it would have been better could we have gone much further in this direction. And now let us have your adventures and escape. It is a long story, Sir John, and I must pray you to let me defer it for a time. In the first place, I have two or three wounds that I shall be glad to have bandaged. Why did you not say so at once? Sir John exclaimed, In those dark clothes soaked with water as they are, I did not see the bloodstains, but I ought to have looked for them, for surely no one could have gone through that fight, all together unprotected with arm or two, without being wounded. Come below and we will attend to them. Also order me some wine and foods, Sir John. I have touched nothing save water for twenty-four hours, and before that fasted somewhat strictly. By the time Gervais's wounds, which were not severe, had been bandaged, and he had eaten a hasty meal, the galley was alongside the mole, between the two harbors. He was provided with some clothes, and went with Sir John straight to the English Haberge, where the night consisted that he should at once lie down. I will make your report to the opposite, and will tell him it is by my orders that you are resting. Your wounds are not very deep, but you must have lost a good deal of blood, and were you to exert yourself now, and be pestered with questions. It would probably bring on an attack of fever. There is nothing to do at present, for it must be some days before they can land and bring up their guns. Gervais obeyed the orders not unwillingly, for he felt that he was really weak, and was greatly worn out by want of sleep. Sir John Kendall, at Boswell's request, issued orders that he was on no account whatever to be disturbed, and that no one was to enter his room unless he sounded the bell placed by the bedside. Gervais, indeed falling off to sleep a few minutes after he had laid down, did not awake until the following morning, having no idea that he had slept more than two or three hours. He sounded the bell in order to inquire whether Ralph had returned to the Haberge. He was surprised to find his friend had just risen, and that he himself had been asleep some eighteen hours. A few minutes later, Ralph hurried into the room. Thank God that you are back again, Gervais, he said as he grasped the hand of his friend. I did not return until late in the evening, having been at work with a large body of slaves at the fortifications, and you may guess what joy I felt at the news. You are changed a good deal. I don't suppose you will think so at the end of a day or two, Ralph. I lost a good deal of blood yesterday and have been on short rations, but I shall very soon pick up a kid. They will bring you some broth and wine directly, Gervais. Early as it is, the Grand Master has already sent down to inquire as to your health. I will reply in person as soon as I have had a meal and dressed, and I suppose we must all wait to hear what you have been doing until you return, Gervais. I suppose so, Ralph. Of course, it is a long story, but I must tell you at once that there is nothing very exciting in it, and that it differed little from that of others who have been prisoners among the Moors, say that I was strangely fortunate and suffered no hardships whatever, and now I want to ask you about clothes. Have my things been sold, or are they still in the store? No, the question was raised but a short time since. It was mooted, by the way, by that old enemy of yours, Robert Rivers, who returned here some three months ago with a batch of knights from the English commandaries. Sir John Boswell answered him roundly, I can tell you, and said that they should be kept, were it for another fifty years, for that he would wager his life that you would sooner or later make your escape. I am sorry that fellow has returned, Ralph. Has he got a commander yet? No, I believe that Sir John Kendall sent home so bad a report of him, that even the great influence of his family has not sufficed to obtain his appointment, and that he has been rarely the assistant at one of the smaller manors. Sir John Boswell told me in confidence that he understood that Rivers did not at first volunteer to come out in response to the appeal of the Grand Master, but that the Grand Prior informed him that unless he took this opportunity of retrieving his character, he might give up all hope of never obtaining advancement. Ah, here is your breakfast. An hour later, Gervais presented himself at the palace, clothed in a suit of armor that had been given to him by Genoa. Although he was engaged with several members of the council at the time, the Grand Master ordered him to be at once admitted, as soon as he heard that he was in attendance. Welcome back, Sir Gervais Trisham. He said warmly as he entered. We all rejoice greatly at your return, and I consider it a happy omen for the success of our defense, that so brave and distinguished a knight should at the last moment have arrived to take a share in it. The other's present all shook Gervais cordially by the hand, and congratulated him on his return. You must dine with me this evening. Diabasin went on, and tell us the story of your captivity and escape. At present, as you may suppose, you have too many matters on hand to spare time for ought that is not pressing and important. You will need a few days' rest before you are fit for active service, and by that time we will settle as to what post will best suit you. Twice that day had Gervais to recount his adventures, the first time to Sir John Kendall and the knights of his aburge, the second to the Grand Master. Most of the leading members of the order were assembled at the palace, and among others he was introduced to the Viscount de Montieux, the elder brother of Diabasin, one of the most famous leaders of the day. He had brought with him a considerable body of retainers, and although not a member of the order had offered his services in defense of the town, the council had gratefully accepted the offer, and had unanimously named him commander of the forces. Many other knights and soldiers had come from different parts of Europe, animated alike by the desire to aid in the defense of Christendom against the advance of the Muslims, and to gain credit and honor by taking part in a siege that was sure to be a desperate one. My brother has already spoken of you to me, Sir Gervais, the Viscount said when the young knight was presented to him, although indeed there was still occasion for him to do so. Since the name of the knight who two years ago saved the commerce of Italy from Rune, and with a single galley destroyed or captured a great fleet of over twenty Barbary pirates, and thus for a time put a stop to the depredations of the infidels is known throughout Europe. By the way I am the bearer of a message to you. I took ship at Genoa on my way hither, and stayed two or three days there while she was being got ready for sea. Knowing that I was bound hither a certain very beautiful young lady of noble family, to whom I had the honor of being introduced, prayed me that if you should by any chance have escaped from captivity, and she said that she was convinced that you would, when you heard that Rhodes was threatened, assuredly endeavored to escape and to come hither to take a share in the defense, I was to tell you that she trusted you still bore her gauge, and that she on her part had held fast to the promise she made you. I still have her gauge, Viscount, for though I was for a long time deprived of it, I succeeded in regaining it when I made my escape, Gervais said quietly, and Daemon too at once turned the conversation to another topic. Gervais found that no attempt was to be made to take the offensive against the Turks, and that they were to be permitted to advance against the city without interference. Many of the more fiery spirits among the knights chafed at this prohibition. The records of the past showed that armies as large as that of Muhammad had suffered defeat at the hands of bodies of knights no stronger than that gathered for the defense of Rhodes. The Abbasin however knew that between the undisciplined hordes that gathered in countless numbers to oppose the Crusaders, and the troops of Muhammad, well trained in warfare, who had borne his standard victoriously in numerous battles. There was but little comparison. They were commanded too by Paleologus, a general of great capacity. Under such circumstances, although victory might be possible, the chances of defeat would be far greater, and while victory could only be won at a great sacrifice of life, defeat would mean annihilation to the garrison, and the loss of the city upon whose fortifications such an enormous amount of money and labor had been expended. On the other hand, he felt perfectly confident that the city could be successfully defended, and that at a cost of life, far less than would be attained by a victory in the open field. While the blow that would be inflicted upon the prestige and power of the enemy by being ignominously compelled to retire to their ships after the failure of all their attacks would be as great as if their army had been defeated in the field, therefore the Grand Master with the full assent of his leaders turned a deaf ear to the entreaties of the younger knights, that they might be allowed to make a sortie. He calmly waited behind the formidable defenses he had for the past ten years been occupied and perfected in anticipation of the assault of the Muslim host. Accordingly, after disembarking at their leisure, the Turkish army moved forward and took their post upon St. Stephen's Hill. From this eminence they commanded a full view of the town, the hills sloping gently down to the foot of the walls. In latter times, the first care of a general commanding the defense would have been to construct formidable works upon this commanding position, but the cannon of that period were so cumbersome and slowly worked and so inaccurate in their aim that the advantage of occupying a position that would prevent an enemy from firing down into a town was considered to be more than counterbalanced by the weakening of the garrison, by the abstraction of the force required to man the detached work and by the risk of their being surrounded and cut off without the garrison of the town being able to aid them. That the defense of St. Stephen's Hill was considered unnecessary for the safety of roads is shown by the fact that no attempt had been made to fortify it when, forty years later, the Muslims again besieged the city. There was no shadow of apprehensions felt by the garrison of roads as the great array of their foes was seen moving onto the hill and preparing to pitch its camp. On the summit was the great tent of the Pasha, round this were the marquees of the other commanders, while the encampments of the troops stretched far away among the upper slopes of the hill. Previous to the despatch of the expedition, the Saltan had made preparations for aiding his army by treachery. The agent he had sent to propose a temporary truce had, during his stay on the island, made himself thoroughly acquainted with the outline of the works. A very accurate plan of them had also been obtained from an inhabitant of roads, who had abandoned Christianity and taken service with the Turks. In addition to this, he had arranged with a renegade German known as Metroid Georges, a man of very great ability as an artilleryman and engineer to desert the city and their due all in his power to assist the besiegers, both by affording them information and by giving bad advice to the besieged. On the day after Paleologus, who was himself a renegade Greek, had established his camp. He sent in a herald to summon the city to surrender, at the same time making lavish promises that the lives and property of the native population should be respected, and that they should be allowed to continue to reside there to enjoy the full exercise of their religion and of all other rights they possessed. The Pasha had no real hope that the knights would obey the summons, but he thought that he might excite a spirit of disaffection among the townspeople that would, when the crisis came, greatly hamper the efforts of the defenders, the Rhodians, however, were well satisfied with the rule of the order. The knights, although belonging to the Catholic Church, had allowed the natives of the island, who were of the Greek fame, perfect freedom in the exercise of their religion, and their rule generally had been fair and just. The wealth and prosperity of the island had increased enormously since their establishment there, and the population had no inclination whatever to change their rule for that of the Turks. The summons to surrender being refused, the enemy made a reconnaissance towards the walls. The Abbasin had no longer any reason for checking the order of the knights, and a strong body of horsemen under the command of Demantieu sallied out and drove the Turks back to their camp. Metric Georges, who was acting as the military advisor of the Pasha, saw at once that the weakest point of the defense was Fort St. Nicholas at the extremity of the mold along the neck of land dividing the outer from the inner port. At a short distance away, on the opposite side of the port, stood the church of St. Anthony, and in the gardens of the church a battery was at once erected. The garden was but 300 yards from St. Nicholas, and the danger that would arise from the construction of the battery was at once perceived, and an incessant fire opened upon it from the guns on the wall around the Grand Masters Palace. Numbers of the workmen were killed, but the erection of the battery was pushed on night and day, and there long three of the immense cannon that had been brought from Constantinople, where 16 of them had been cast under the direction of Metric Georges, were placed in position. These cannon were 18 feet in length and carried stone balls of some 26 inches in diameter. Before these were ready to open fire, Gervais had entirely regained his health and strength. The Grand Master, being unwilling to appoint him to a separate command over the heads of knights many years his senior, had attached him to his person in the capacity of what would now be called an aid to camp. I know, Gervais, that I can rely upon your coolness and discretion. I cannot be everywhere myself, and I want you to act as my eyes in places where I cannot be. I know that the knights, so far as bravery and devotion are concerned, will each and every one do his best, and will die at their posts before yielding a foot. But while fighting like paladins, they will think of not else, and however hardly pressed, will admit to sin to me for reinforcements. Nay, even did they think of it, they probably would not sinned, deeming that to do so would be derogatory, and might be taken as an act of cowardice. Now, it is this service that I shall specially look for from you. When a post is attacked, I shall, when my presence is required elsewhere, send you to represent me. I do not, of course, wish you to interfere in any way in the conduct of the defense, in which you will take such share as you can, but you are specifically to observe how matters go, and if you see that the knights are pressed and in sore need of assistance to enable them to hold the post, you will at once bring the news to be, and I will hurry there with reinforcements. No post could have been more in accordance with the desire of dervets. For the portion of the wall defended by the English Lang was far removed from the point selected by the Turks for their first attack. The sea front being defended half by the Lang of Italy and half by that of Castile. Fort St. Nicholas was under the command of the Cavalier Careto, and as soon as the Turkish Battery was completed, Gervais went down there with an order from the Grand Master that he was for the present to consider himself as forming part of the garrison. This was pleasant for both Careto and himself, for the Italian knight had conceived a strong friendship for the young Englishman, and had rejoiced greatly at his return from captivity, but had been so much occupied with his duty of placing the castle in all respects in a state of defense that he had had no opportunity for a private conversation with him since his return to Rhodes. Gervais on his part was no less pleased. Careto had shown so much tact after his release from the Moors, and had so willingly aided him in any capacity allotted to him without the slightest degree in proposing his council unasked, but Gervais had come to like him greatly even before their arrival at Genoa. Circumstances there had brought them closely together and their friendship had been cemented during their voyage to Rhodes. Careto had gone back to Italy, where he had a commandery a few days after Gervais had sailed on his last voyage, and had only returned to Rhodes three months before Gervais escaped from captivity. This is turning the tables, Careto said with a laugh when Gervais presented the Grandmaster's orders. I was under your command last time, and now it seems that you are to be undermined. I suppose you applied to come here in order to have a fresh opportunity of distinguishing yourself. I heard that you had been placed on Diobeson's own staff. Yes, and am on it still, and it is by his orders and not by my own solicitation that I am here. I will tell you what my duties are. The Grandmaster knows the commanders of posts have their hands so whole that they will have no time for sending complete reports to him, and he considers moreover that they might in some cases, however pressed, hesitate to ask for aid until too late for reinforcements to be brought up. My duty will be to let the Grandmaster know how matters are going, and to send to him at once if it seems to me that help is needed. I should of course always send for reinforcements at the request of a commander, but it is only in the event of his being too busy in the heat of the fray do you think about but resisting an attack that I should exercise my own judgment in the matter. Careto nodded. It is a good thought of Diobeson's when one is in the thick of a fight in a breach with the Muslims swarming around. It does not occur to one to draw out of the fray to send off messages. For myself I shall be glad indeed to have that matter off my mind, though it is not everyone I should care to trust with such a responsibility. Some might send off for aid when it was not needed, others might delay so long that help might come too late, but with one so cool-headed as yourself I should not fear any contingency, and now as I am not busy at present let us have a comfortable talk as to what has happened since we last met. I was at the banquet at the Grand Masters on the night when you related your adventures. You had certainly much to tell, but it seems to me for some reason or other you cut short certain details and I could not see why as there seemed no prospect of escape open to you, you did not accept the offer of Suleiman Ali to ransom you. I saw no chance of escape at the moment, but I did not doubt that I could get away from the town whenever I chose, although it was not clear how I should proceed afterwards. It was for this opportunity I was waking and I felt sure that with my knowledge of the language it would come sooner or later. In the next place my captors had fixed an exorbitant sum for my ransom, and I did not wish to impose upon the generosity of Suleiman. There was another reason, a private one. You don't mean to say that you had fallen in love with an Irish damsel, Sir Gervais? Coreto laughed. For shame, Cavalier, as if a Christian knight would care for a Muslim maiden, even where she is fair as the houries of their creed. Christian knights have done so before now, Coreto laughed, greatly amused at the young knight's indignation and doubtless will do so again. Well, I suppose I must not ask what the private matter was, though it must have been something grave indeed to beat you, a slave, to reject the offer of freedom. I know that when I was rowing in their galleys no matter of private business that I can conceive would have stood in my way for a single moment, had a chance of freedom presented itself. It was a matter of honor, Gervais said gravely, in one of which I should speak to no one else, but as you were present at the time there can, I think, be no harm in doing so. At the time that I was captured I was stripped of everything that I had upon me, and of course with the rest of the gauge which the Lady Claudia had given me, and which hung round my neck where she had placed it. It was taken possession of by the captain of the pirates, who, seeing that it borne a Christian emblem, looked upon it as a sort of amulet. I understood what he was saying, but as I was desirous that my knowledge of Turkish should not be suspected, I said nothing. I was very glad that he so regarded it, for had he taken it to be an ordinary trinket he might have parted with it, and I should never have been able to obtain a clue as to the person to whom he sold it. As it was he put it round his neck with a remark that it might bring him better luck than had befallen me. He told me jeeringly months afterwards that it had done so, and that he would never part with it. Given me as it was, I felt that my honor was concerned in its recovery, and that should I ever meet Lady Claudia again, I should feel disgraced indeed, if when she asked whether I still bore her gauge I had to confess that it was lost. But lost from no fault of your own, Coreto put in. The losing was not indeed from any fault of my own, and had the pirate thrown it into the sea I should have held myself free from disgrace. But as it was still in existence, and I knew its possessor, I was bound in honor to recover it. At the time Suleiman Ali's messenger arrived the Corsair was away, and there was no saying when his ship would return. Therefore I decided at once not to accept the offer of freedom. Had it not been for that, I owned that I should have done so, for I knew that I could repay Suleiman with my commandery, which would have accumulated in my absence. But if I had had to wait ten years longer to regain the gauge, I felt that I was in honor bound to do so. It was, in fact, some six months before the Corsair put into that port again. The moment he did so I carried out the plans I had long before determined upon. I obtained a disguise from Ben Abin, and by a ruse succeeded in inducing the pirate to meet me outside the town, believing that I was an Arab cheat who wished to dispose of some valuable slave girls he had brought in. I had with me one of my old galley slaves who had been taken into Ben Abin's employment, and when the pirate came up with two of his crew, and furiously attacked me as soon as I threw off my disguise, it would have gone hard with me, had he not stood by me and killed one of them who was about to attack me in the rear. I slew the other, cast him, and the gauge is in its place again. End of Chapter 20 Read by Peter Strom in Cartagena, Colombia on January 30th, 2019 Chapter 21 of A Night of the White Cross by G. A. Hinty This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 21 The Fort of St. Nicholas Well, you have proved indeed, Coretto said when Gervais finished his story, that you are worthy of the bestowal of a gauge by a fair damsel. I do not think that many knights, however true they might be to the donor, would have suffered months of slavery in order to regain a token, lost by no fault or carelessness of their own, and no lady could have blamed or held them in any way dishonored by the loss. I had a message by Viscount de Montuil from Lady Claudia the other day, saying that she trusted I had kept her gauge. I can assure you that the six months of slavery were cheaply purchased by the pleasure I felt that I still possessed it, and I was glad too to learn that I had not been forgotten by her. Of that you may well assure yourself, Trisham. My commandery is not far from Genoa, and I was frequently with her, but never without her drawing me aside and asking me if I had heard any news of you, and talking over with me the chances there might be of your escape. I can tell you that there are not a few young nobles of Genoa who would give much to be allowed as you are to carry her gauge or wear her colors. You should see her now. I would scarce know her again, so altered and improved as she. There is no fairer face in all Italy. I hope some day to meet her again, Gervais replied, although I owned to knowing it were better that I should not do so. Until she gave me her gauge I had scarcely noticed her. I have, as you know, no experience of women, and had so much on my mind at the time that with the fuss they were making about us, and the question of getting the prizes here, that in truth I paid but slight attention to the fair faces of the dames of Genoa. But the gracious and earnest way in which though scarce more than a child she gave me her gauge, and vowed that no other knight should possess one so long as I lived, struck me so greatly that I owned I gave the matter much more thought than was right or becoming in one of our order. The incident was much more gratifying to me than all the honor paid me by the Republic, and during the long months of my captivity it has recurred to me so frequently that I have in vain endeavored to chase it from my thoughts, as sinful thus to allow myself constantly to think of any women. Do not mistake me, Sir Fabricius, I am speaking to you as to a confessor, and just as I have kept her amulet hidden from all, so is the thought of her a secret I would not part with for my life. I do not for a moment deceive myself the thought that, beyond the fact that her gift has made me feel an interest in me and my fate, she has any sentiment in the matter. Probably indeed she looks back upon the gift as a foolish act of girlish enthusiasm that led her into making a promise that she now cannot but find unpleasantly binding. For it is but natural that among the young nobles of her own rank in country there must be some whom she would see with pleasure wearing her colors. Coretta looked at him with some amusement. Were you not bound by your vows as a knight of the order, how would you feel in the matter? I should feel worse, Gervais said without hesitation. I have often times thought that over, and I see that it is good for me I am so bound. It does not decrease my chances, for as I know there are no chances, but it renders it more easy for me to know that it is so. But why should you say that you have no chances, Trishon? Because it is easy to see that it is so. I am, say, for my commandery and prospects in the order, a penniless young knight, without home or a state, without even a place in my country, and that country not hers. I know that it is not only sinful but mad for me to think so frequently of her. But at least I am not mad enough to think that I can either win the heart or aspire to the hand of one who is, you say, so beautiful, and who is moreover, as I know, the heiress to wide estates. There was a squire of low degree, loved the king's daughter of Hungary, Coretto sang with a laugh. You are not of low degree but of noble family, Gervais. You are not a squire but a knight, and already a very distinguished one. Nor is the young lady, though she be a rich heiress, a king's daughter. At any rate, the squire was not vowed to celibacy. No, no, Sir Fabricius, it is a dream and a pleasant one. But I know perfectly well that it is but a dream, and one that will do me no harm so long as I ever bear in mind that it is so. Many a knight of the order before me has borne a lady's gauge, and carried it valiantly in many a fight, and has been no less true to his vows for doing so. Upon the contrary, he has been all the better a knight, Gervais. It is always good for a knight whether he belongs to the order or not to prize one woman above all others, and to try to make himself worthy of his ideal, as to the vow of celibacy. You know that ere now knights have been absolved from their vows, and we think that after the service you have rendered to Italy by ridding the sea of those corsairs, his holiness would make no difficulty in granting any request that you might make him in that or any other direction. I don't know whether you are aware that, after you sailed from here, letters came from Rome as well as from Pisa, Florence, and Naples, expressive of the gratitude felt for the services that you had rendered, and of their admiration for the splendid exploit that you had performed. No, the Grand Master has had his hands so full of other matters that doubtless an affair so old escaped his memory. Indeed he may have forgotten that I sailed before the letters arrived. Do not forget to jog his memory on the subject, for I can tell you that the letters did not come alone, but were each accompanied by presence worthy of the service you rendered. But as to the vows, as to the vows I feel as I said just now, that I would not free myself of them if I could, for being bound by them I can the more easily and pleasantly enjoy my dream. Besides, what should I do if I left the order, without home, country, or means, and with not to do but to sell my sword to some war-like monarch? Besides Coretto, I love the order and deem it the highest privilege to fight against the Muslims and to uphold the banner of the Cross. As to that you could, like De Montiul and many other knights here, always come out to aid the order in time of need. To the vows I am not foolish enough to suppose that you would ask to be relieved from them, until you had assured yourself that Claudia was also desirous that you should be free. It is absurd, Gervais said almost impatiently. Do not let us talk any more about it, Coretto, or it will end by turning my head in making me presumptuous enough to imagine that the Lady Claudia, who only saw me for three or four days, and that while she was still but a girl, and thinking of me seriously since. I do not know Claudia's thoughts, Coretto remarked dryly, but I do know that last year she refused to listen to at least a score of excellent offers for her hand, including one from a son of the dog himself, and that without any reasonable cause assigned by her to the great wonderment of all, seeing that she does not appear to have any leaning whatever a life in a nunnery. At any rate, if at some future time you should pluck a part of Grace to tell her you love her and she refuses you, you will at least have the consolation of knowing that you are not the only one by a long way, whose suit has been rejected. And now as to our affairs here, me thinks that tomorrow that battery will open fire upon us. It seems completed. Yes, I think they are nearly ready, Gervais said, turning his mind resolutely from the subject they had been discussing. From the palace wall I saw before I came down here, large numbers of men rolling huge stones down towards the church. Our guns were firing steadily, but could they load them ten times as fast as they do? They would hardly be able to stop the work, so numerous are those engaged upon it. Yes, we shall soon learn something of the quality of their artillery. The tower is strong enough to resist ordinary guns, but it will soon crumble under the blows of such enormous missiles. Never have I seen or heard in Europe of cannon of such size, but indeed, in this matter the Turks are far ahead of us, and have ever since cannon were first cast, made them of much larger size than we in Europe have done. However there is one comfort. They may destroy this fort, but they have still to cross the water, and this under the fire of the guns on the palace walls, when they once land their great battery must cease firing, and we shall be able to meet them on equal terms in the breach. Fight as hard as they may, I think we can hold our own, especially as reinforcements come down to us more quickly than they can be brought across the water. The next morning at daybreak the deep boom of a gun announced to the city that the great battering cannon had begun their work. In the fort the sleeping knights sprang to their feet at the concussion that seemed to shake it to its center. They would have rushed to the walls but Coretto at once issued orders that no one should show himself on the battlements unless under special orders. There is nothing whatever to be done until the Turks have breached the wall, and are ready to advance to attack us. Every sword will be needed when that hour comes, and each man owes it to the order of useless brisk, until the hour when he is required to do his share of the fighting. The time required to reload the great cannon was considerable, but at regular intervals they hurled their heavy missiles against the wall, the distance being so short that every ball struck it. After some twenty shots had been fired, Coretto, accompanied by Gervais, went out by a small gate on the eastern side of the tower by round by the foot of the wall to see what effect the shots had produced on the solid masonry. Coretto shook his head. It is as I feared, he said. No stones ever quarried by man could long resist such tremendous blows. In some places you see the stones are starred and cracked. In others the shock seems to have pulverized the spot where it struck, but where still the whole face of the wall is shaken. There are cracks between the stones, and some of these are partly bulged out and partly driven in. It may take some time before a breach is affected, but sooner or later the wall will surely be demolished. I will go up and make my report to the Grand Master. Do so, Gervais. I almost wonder that he has not himself come down to see how the wall is resisting. Gervais, on reaching the palace, heard that Diabason was at present engaged in examining no less a person than Maitre George's, the right hand of Paleologus, who had soon after daybreak presented himself before the wall on the other side of the town, declaring that he had left the Turkish service and craving to be admitted. News had been sent at once to Diabason, who dispatched two of the senior knights with orders to admit him with all honor. This had been done, and the Grand Master with some of his counsel were now closeted with the newcomer. Several of the knights were gathered in the courtyard discussing the event. There was no question that if the renegade came in good faith, his defection would be a serious blow to the assailants, and that his well known skill and experience would greatly benefit the defenders. For my part, Sir John Boswell, who formed one of the detachment which the English Lang as well as all the others contributed to form the garrison of the palace, said, I would have hung the fellow up by the neck over the gateway, and he should never have set foot within the walls. Thank you that a man who has denied his faith and taken service with his enemies is to be trusted whatever oaths he may take. You must remember Boswell, another said, that hitherto Georges has not fought against the Christians, but has served Muhammad in his wars with other infidels. I am not saying a word in defense of his having become a renegade, yet even a renegade may have some sort of heart, and now that he has been called upon to fight against Christians he may well have repented of his faults, and determined to sacrifice his position and prospects rather than aid in the attack on the city. We shall see, as for me I regard a renegade as the most contemptible of wretches, and have no belief that they have either a heart or conscience. When Matred Georges came out from the palace laughing and talking with the two knights who had entered with him, it was evident that he was well pleased with his reception by the Grand Master, who had assigned to him a suite of apartments in the guest house. In reality, however, Diabasin had no doubt that his object was a treacherous one, and that like Demetrius who had come under the pretense of bringing about a truce, his object was to find out the weak points and to supply the Turks with information. Georges had in his conversation with him laid great stress on the strength of the Turkish army, the excellent quality of the troops, and the enormous battering train that had been prepared, but every word he spoke but added to the Grand Master's suspicions, for if the man considered that the capture of the city was morally certain, it would be simply throwing away his life to enter it as a deserter. The Grand Master was, however, too politic to betray any doubt of Georges' sincerity, where he treated as a traitor, Paleologus might find another agent to do the work. It was therefore better to feign a belief in his story, to obtain all the information possible from him, and at the same time to prevent his gaining any knowledge of affairs that would be of the slightest use to the Turks. Instructions were therefore given to the two knights that, while Georges was to be treated with all courtesy, he was to be strictly watched, though in such a manner that he should be in ignorance of it, and that whenever he turned his steps in the direction of those parts of the defenses where fresh works had been recently added, and preparations made of which it was desirable the Turks should be kept safe. He was to be met as if by accident, by one of the knights told off for the purpose, and his steps diverted in another direction. Georges soon made himself popular among many of the knights. He had no suspicions of his real character. He was a man of exceptional figure, tall, strong, splendidly proportioned, with a handsome face and gallant bearing. He was extremely well informed on all subjects, had traveled widely, had seen many adventures, was full of anecdote, and among the younger knights, therefore, he was soon regarded as a charming companion. His very popularity among them aided Diabasin's plans as Georges was generally the center of a group of listeners, and so had but few opportunities of getting away quietly to obtain the information he sought, Gervais delivered his report to the Grand Master. I am free now, Diabasin said, and will accompany you to St. Nicholas. I have been detained by the coming of this man, Georges. He is a clever nave, and I doubt not, has come as a spy. However, I have taken measures that he shall learn nothing that can harm us. No lives have been lost at the tower, I hope. No, sir, Coretto has forbidden to show themselves on the walls. He has done well. This is no time for rash exposure, and where there is not to be gained it is a grave fault who run risks. On arriving at the end of the mole, Diabasin, accompanied by Coretto, made an investigation of the effect of the Turks' fire. Tis worse than I expected, he said. When we laid out our fortifications, the thought that such guns as these would be used against them never entered our minds. Against ordinary artillery the walls would stand a long battering, but it is clear that we shall have to depend more upon our swords than upon our walls for our defense. Fortunately, although the Turks have indeed chosen the spot where our walls are most open to the assaults of their battery, they have to cross the water to attack the breach when it is made, and will have to fight under heavy disadvantage. Trisham was last night saying to me that it seemed to him it would not be a difficult matter for one who spoke Turkish well to issue at night on the other side of the town, and to make his way round to the battery, disguised of course as a Turkish soldier, and then, mixing with the artillery men, to drive a spike into one of the touch holes, he said that he would gladly volunteer for the task. Diabasin shook his head decidedly. It would be too dangerous, and even where a spike driven in, the Turks would have no great difficulty in extracting it, for the tubes are so big that a man might crawl in and drive the spike up from the inside. Moreover, could one or more of the guns be disabled permanently? Others would be brought down and set in their place so that nothing would be gained but a very short delay, which would be of no advantage to us, and certainly would in no way justify the risking of the life of so distinguished a young knight. The bombardment of St. Nicholas continued for some days. A breach was cast forming in the wall, and a slope composed of the fallen rubbish extended from the front of the breach to the water's edge. The Grand Master was frequently on the spot, and as this was at present the sole object of attack, the garrison was strengthened by as many knights as could be sheltered within its walls. At night the shattered masonry that had fallen inside was carried out, and with it a new work thrown to strengthen the defense on that side should the enemy land between the town and the fort. Small batteries were planted wherever they could sweep the approaches to the breach, and planks thotted with nails were sunk into the shallow water of the harbor to impede the progress of those who might attempt to swim or wade across. For the time, therefore, the functions of Gervais were in abeyance, and the garrison was at the defense's. At daybreak on the 9th of June a great number of vessels and boats, crowded with soldiers, bore down on St. Nicholas. As they approached, every gun on the fortifications that could be brought to bear upon them opened fire. But in a dense mass they advanced. Some made their way to the rocks and landed the soldiers there. Others got alongside the mole, and the troops leaping out waded to the foot of the breach. On its crest, Diabason himself had taken up his station beside him stood Pareto and around them the most distinguished knights of the order. With wild shouts the Turks rushed up the breach and swarmed thickly up the ruined masonry and tell at its summit they encountered the steel-clad line of the defenders. For hours the terrible struggle continued as fast as the head of the Turkish column broke and melted away against the obstacle they tried in vain to penetrate. Fresh reinforcements took the place of those who had fallen and in point of valor and devotion the Muslims showed himself a worthy antagonist of the Christian. It was not only at the breach that the conflict raged at other points the Turks well provided with ladders fixed them against the walls desperately strove to obtain a footing there. From the breach clouds of dust rose from under the feet of the combatants mingling with the smoke of the cannon on the ramparts the fort and Turkish ships and at times entirely hid from the sight of the anxious spectators on the walls of the town and fortress and of the still more numerous throng of Turks on St. Stephen's Hill the terrible struggle that continued without a moment's intermission. The combatants now fought in comparative silence the knights exhausted and worn out by their long efforts beneath the blazing sun still showed an unbroken front but it was only occasionally that the battle cry of the order rose in the air as a fresh body of assailants climbed up the corpse's strewn breach the yell of the Muslims rose less frequently they sacrificed their lives as freely and devotedly as those who led their first onset had done but as the hours wore on the assurance of victory died out in a doubt as to whether it was possible to break through the line of their terrible foes gained ground the Abyssin himself although in spite of the remonstrances of the knight always in the thickest of the fray was yet ever watchful and quickly perceived where the defenders were hotly pressed and where support was most needed Gervais fought by his side so that when necessary he could carry his orders to a little body of knights drawn up in reserve and dispatched them to any point where aid was needed the cannons still continued their fire on both sides a fragment of one of the stone balls from a basilisk struck off the Abyssin's helmet he selected another from among the fallen knights and resumed his place in the line still the contest showed no signs of terminating the Turkish galleys ever brought up reinforcements while the defenders grew fewer and more exhausted during a momentary pause while a fresh body of Turks were landing Gervais said to the grandmaster if you will give me leave sir I will go out at the watergate swim up the inner harbor and in a very short time will turn a few of the craft lying there into fire ships and tow them out with a couple of galleys at any rate we can fire all these craft that have grounded and create a panic among the others well thought of Gervais I will write an order on one of my tablets do you take my place for a minute with drawing behind the line the grandmaster sat down on a fragment of stone and drawing a tablet from a pouch in his girdle he wrote on it in all things carry out the instructions of sir Gervais Trisham he is acting by my orders and authority and has full power in all respects he handed the slip of parchment to Gervais who hurried to the watergate in the inner harbor threw off his helmet and armor issued out at the gate and plunged into the sea he swam out some distance in order to avoid the missiles of the Turks who were trying to scale the wall from the mole and then directed his course to St. Michael's which guarded the inner entrance to the fort he had fastened the parchment in his hair and as some of the garrison of the tower noticing his approach came down to assist him he handed it to them and was at once taken to the commander of St. Michael answering as he went the anxious questions as to how matters stood at the breach aid is sorely needed the Turks have gained no foot of ground as yet but many of the knights are killed and most of the others are utterly exhausted with heat and labor unless aid reaches them speedily the tower with all its defenders will be lost the instant the commander knew what was required he bade six of the knights embark with Gervais in a boat moored behind the tower and row up the harbor to the spot where the shipping was all massed together protected by the high ground of the fortress from the Turkish fire Gervais waved his hand as he neared the end of the harbor to the officer on the walls the six knights who were with him ran off to tell the master of the galleys to prepare two of them to leave the port instantly Gervais explained to the officer in charge of the wall at that point the plan that he was charged to carry out and asked for twenty knights to assist him it will leave us very weak along here the officer said then let me have ten and sin for another ten from other parts of the wall here's the grandmasters order giving me full power and authority it is all important that no single moment shall be wasted you shall have twenty of mine the officer said and I will draw ten from the Lang next to us to fill their places in a few minutes the quay was a scene of bustle and activity Gervais picked out ten of the smallest vessels the knights went among the other ships seized all goods and stores that would be useful as combustibles and compelled the crews to carry them on board the craft had chosen as fire ships then barrels were broken open old sails and faggots saturated with oil and pitch and in little more than a quarter of an hour after his arrival Gervais had the satisfaction of seeing that the ten boats were all filled with combustibles and ready to be set on fire he now called for volunteers from the sailors and a number of them at once came forward including many of the captains he placed one of these in command of each fire ship four of the sailors the galleys will tell you out he said and take you close to the enemy ships we shall range you five abreast and when I give the word the one at the end of the line will steer for the nearest Turk and with ores and poles get alongside the captain will then light the train of powder in the hold throw the torch among the straw and see that if possible the men fasten her to the Turk but if this cannot be done it is not essential for in the confusion the enemy will not be able to get out of the way of the fire ship as it drives down against her at the last moment you will take to your boats and row back here we will protect you from the assault of any of the Turkish ships having made sure that all the captains understood the orders Gervais took command of one of the galleys the senior night going on board the other the ten fire ships were now pulled out until five were ranged abreast behind each craft Gervais requested the commander of the other galleys to lie off the point of St. Nicholas until he had got rid of his five fire ships then to advance and launch his craft against the Turks the smoke of the guns lay so heavy on the water and the combatants were so intent upon the struggle at the breach that Gervais steered his galle into the midst of the Turkish vessels laden with troops ready to disembark without intracting any notice then standing upon the taffrail he signaled to the two outside boats to throw off their ropes and make for the Turkish ship nearest to them this they did and it was not until a sheet of flame rose alongside that the enemy awoke to the sense of danger the other three fire ships were almost immediately cast off two of them were equally successful but the Turks managed to thrust off the third she drifted however through the shipping and presently brought up alongside one of the vessels fast aground with but ten nights Gervais could not attack one of the larger vessels crowded with troops but there were many fishing boats that had been pressed into the service and against one of these Gervais ordered the men to steer the galley a shout to the rowers made them redouble their efforts a yell of dismay arose from the Turkish troops as they saw the galley bearing down upon them and frantic efforts were made to row out of her way these were in vain for her sharp prow struck them amid ships cutting the boat almost in two and she sank like a stone the galley without a pause making for another boat looking back Gervais saw that his consort was already in the midst of the Turks among whom the wildest confusion prevailed each ship trying to extricate herself from the mass upon which the batteries of the fortress now concentrated their efforts the fresh columns of flame had already shot up and satisfied that all was going well Gervais continued his attack upon the smaller craft six of whom were overtaken and sunk three or four of the larger vessels endeavored to lay themselves alongside the galley but her speed was so superior to theirs that she easily evaded the attempts and sweeping round rejoined the other galley which had just issued from among the Turks who were already in full retreat the defenders of Saint Nicholas reanimated by the sight of the discomforture of the Turkish fleet with a loud shout rushed down from the spot which they had held for so many hours drove their assailants before them and flung themselves upon the crowd assembled at the foot of the breach these had already suffered terribly from the fire of the batteries again and again they had striven to storm the mound of rubbish and had each time been repulsed with the loss of their bravest leaders seeing themselves abandoned by the ships a panic seized them and as the knights rushed down upon them they relinquished all thoughts of resistance and dashed into the shallow water many were drowned in the attempt to swim across the deep channel in the middle some succeeded while others made their escape in the boats in which they had been brought ashore from the ships the struggle was over for the breach and the knights leapt out as soon as the boats grounded and waiting ashore joined the group that had so long and gallantly sustained the unequal fight fatigue, exhaustion and wounds were forgotten in the triumph of the moment and they crowded round the grandmaster and caretto to whose joint exertions the success of the defense was so largely due do not thank me comrades no man has today fought better than the rest every man has shown himself worthy of the fame of our order the mead of praise for our success is first due to Sir Gervais Trisham at the moment when I began to doubt whether we could much longer withstand the swarms of fresh foes who continued to pour against us while we were overcome by heat and labour Sir Gervais who had throughout been fighting at my side offered to swim into the port to fit out a dozen of the merchant craft there as fire ships and to tow them round into the midst of the Turkish vessels behind the two galleys that were lying ready for service I remembered how he had before destroyed the Corsair fleet at Sardinia with fire ships and the proposal seemed to me as an inspiration sent from heaven at this moment of our great peril I wrote him an order giving him full authority to act in my name and in a time that seemed to me incredibly short I saw him round the point with the fire ships in tow you saw as well as I did how completely the plan was carried out 412 of the Turkish ships are a mass of flames and besides these I noted that the galley ran down and destroyed several smaller craft filled with soldiers the panic in the ships spread to the troops on shore and rendered the last part of our task an easy one I say it from my heart that I consider it to Sir Gervais Trisham and that had it not been for his happy thought the sun would have gone down on our dead bodies lying on the summit of the breach and on the Turkish flag waving over the fort of St. Nicholas until now none of the defenders of the breach had known how what seemed to them an almost miraculous change in the fortune of the fight had come about and they thronged round Gervais and many of them warmly embracing him according to the custom of the time it was but natural that the idea should occur to me he said having before successfully encountered them with fire ships and as all on shore and especially these knights aided me with all their power it took but a brief time to get the boats in readiness for burning much credit too is due to the merchant captains and sailors who volunteer to take charge of the fire ships and maneuver them alongside the Turks the grandmaster and the knights who had borne the brunt of the battle now retired along the mole to the town bearing with them their most seriously wounded comrades and assisting those whose wounds were less severe the twenty knights who had manned the two galleys remained in the fort Pareto continued in command as although he had suffered several wounds he refused to relinquish his post Gervais who had thanks partly to his skill with weapons but still more to the temper of the splendid suit of armor presented to him by Genoa escaped without a scratch volunteered to remain with him until next morning his principal motive for making the request being his desire to escape from further congratulations and praise for the success of his plan after Pareto's wounds had been dressed by the knights and he and Gervais had partaken of some food and wine which they greatly needed Pareto was persuaded to lie down for a time the knights promising to bring him word at once if they perceived any movement whatever on the part of the enemy Gervais remained with him feeling now the excitement was over that he sorely needed rest after his exertions in the full heat of the summer sun it has been a great day Gervais and I only hope that when again I go into battle with the infidel I shall have you at hand to come forward at the critical moment with some master stroke to secure victory Claudia will be pleased indeed when she hears how the knight who bears her gauge has again distinguished himself she will look on the gay and idle young fops of Genoa with greater disdain than ever now you need not say anything in protest the more so as I feel grievously weak and disposed for sleep End of Chapter 21 Read by Peter Strom in Manezeleis Columbia on February 5th, 2019