Page 109 - A Knight of the White Cross

brother knights betaking themselves to their swords against each other. But
a sound thrashing would have done neither of us harm, and if it had fallen

to his lot to get the largest share of it, it might have done him some good."

"He thinks he is sure of an appointment," one of the others said, "but he has
been so frequently in trouble here that it is likely that the official report,
which is always sent home to the grand prior when the knights return to

England, will be so unfavourable that even the most powerful influence
will fail to obtain him a post. If so, we may have him back here again,

especially if the Turks carry out their threat of assailing us, for an appeal
will be made to all the grand priors for knights to aid in the defence."

That evening Gervaise went again to the palace to receive final instructions.

"The craft in which you are to travel is an Egyptian trader. As at present
war has not been formally declared between us and the sultan, peaceful
traders, as you know, carry on their avocations unmolested either by the

warships of the Turks or by ours; they do not enter our ports without a
special permit, and the crews are never allowed to land, in order that no

detailed account of our fortifications may be taken to the sultan. Moreover,
brawls might arise between them and the native population, or they might
aid slaves to escape. However, you will be altogether safe from interference

from Turkish war vessels, and if overhauled by one of them the safe
conduct will be sufficient to prevent interference with you. But it is not so

with pirates. They will plunder their own countrymen as readily as they will
Christians, and the safe guard of the governor of Syria will be of no use
whatever to you. In this consists the danger of your mission. I cannot send

one of our war galleys on such an errand, and if there are not enough
knights on board to beat off any pirate, the fewer there are the better. I hear

that the craft is a fast sailor, and as the crew will be as anxious to avoid
pirates as you, they will do their best to escape. I leave it to you to take any
route. You can either sail hence direct for Acre, or you can coast along the

shores of Anatolia and Syria, lying up at night in bays.

"Should you be overtaken I do not think it would be of any use for you to
disguise yourself, for some of the crew would be sure to denounce you.