Page 115 - A Knight of the White Cross

but he is so now, and was therefore able to raise the sum required. I will go
down to the port with you myself, hand over the ransom, and welcome

Suleiman, whom I know well, back from his captivity."

The transfer was speedily made; a heavy purse was handed to Gervaise, and
Suleiman was a free man.

"Send me word, if you can, when you return to Rhodes," the latter said, as
he bade farewell to the young knight. "I shall be anxious until I hear.

Fortune was with us as we sailed hither, but it may desert you on your
return. Should aught befall you, tell your captors that if they bring you to
me I will pay any ransom that they could, in fairness, require. Should they

refuse to do this, send, if possible, a messenger to me, and on receipt of
your message I will send a trusty man to purchase your freedom. You have

treated me as a friend and an equal, and a friend I shall always remain."

The vessel was to remain four days in port, to discharge her cargo and take

in another, and Suleiman had talked of remaining at Acre until she sailed,
but Gervaise protested strongly against this.

"You have your family, from whom you have been so long separated,
awaiting your return with anxiety, and I pray you to make no stay on my

account. I am well content to remain on board here, and to look at the city
which has so often been the theatre of great deeds -- which Richard the

Lion Heart captured, and which so many of the Hospitallers died to defend.
I was charged by the grand master not to land, and indeed I feel myself that
it would be an act of folly to do so. There are doubtless many on shore who

have relatives and friends now working as slaves among us, and some of
these might well seek to avenge them by slaying one of the Order. I feel

your kindness, but it would be a pain to me to know that you were lingering
here on my account, when you must be longing to embrace your children."

The four days passed rapidly. Gervaise had, at the suggestion of the
governor, laid aside the mantle and insignia of the Order.