Page 119 - A Knight of the White Cross

"We were driven from Palestine, only to fortify ourselves at Rhodes. If we
are driven from Rhodes, we shall, I feel assured, find a home elsewhere,

and again commence our labours. The nearer we are to Europe the more
hope there is that Christendom will aid us, for they will more generally

understand that our defeat would mean the laying open of the shores of the
Mediterranean, from Turkey to Gibraltar, to the invasion of the Moslems.
However, comrades, this is all in the future. Our share is but in the present,

and I trust the flag of the Order will float over Rhodes as long, at least, as
the lifetime of the youngest of us, and that we may bequeath the duty of

upholding the Cross untarnished to those who come after us; and we can
then leave the issue in God's hands."

All listened respectfully to the words of their leader, although his opinion
fell like cold water upon the fiery zeal and high hopes of his hearers. The

possibility of their losing Rhodes had never once entered into the minds of
the majority of them. It was likely that ere long they might be called upon
to stand a siege, but, acquainted as they were with the strength of the place

-- its deep and seemingly impassable moat, its massive walls, and
protecting towers and bastions -- it had seemed to them that Rhodes was

capable of withstanding all assaults, however numerous the foe, however
oft repeated the invasion. The bailiff was, as all knew, a man of dauntless
courage, of wide experience and great judgment, and that he should believe

that Rhodes would, although not in their time, inevitably fall, brought home
to them for the first time the fact that their fortress was but an outpost of

Europe, and one placed so distant from it that Christendom, in the hour of
peril, might be unable to furnish them with aid. As the bailiff walked away,
there was silence for a short time, and then Sir Giles Trevor said cheerfully,

"Well, if it lasts our time we need not trouble our heads as to what will take
place afterwards. As the bailiff says, our duty is with the present, and as we

all mean to drive the Turks back when they come, I do not see that there is
any occasion for us to take it to heart, even if it be fated that the Moslems
shall one day walk over our tombs. If Christendom chooses to be supine, let

Christendom suffer, say I. At any rate, I am not going to weep for what
may take place after I am turned into dust."