Page 139 - A Knight of the White Cross

here by the helm? My instructions are that he is not to mingle with the other
slaves; and as there are reasons why it is wished that his coming on board

in this manner shall not be known to them, I myself am to take him up to
one of the prisons, or at least to hand him over to the officer sent down

from that prison to take up the captives allotted to it. The matter is of more
importance than it seems to be, or, as you may imagine, I should not be
charged to intercept you on such an errand."

"Of course, I don't understand anything about it, Sir John, but will do as

you ask me."

He went to where Gervaise had crouched down by the bulwark, beckoned

him to follow, and, walking aft, motioned to him to sit down there. Then he
returned to Sir John, and joined the other knights, who were all too anxious

to learn the latest news -- who had left the island, and who had come to it
since they sailed -- to interest themselves in any way with the figure who
had gone aft, supposing him, indeed, to be Sir John's servant, the lantern

suspended over the poop giving too feeble a light for his costume to be
noted.

A quarter of an hour later they anchored in the harbour. Some of the
knights at once went ashore to their respective auberges, but Sir Almeric

and a few others remained on board until relieved of their charge in the
morning, an account being sent on shore of the number of captives that had

been brought in. No thought was given to Gervaise, who slept curled up on
the poop. Sir John Boswell passed the night on board. In the morning an
officer came off with a list of the prisons to which the slaves were to be

sent. Sir John Kendall had seen the officer charged with the distribution,
who had, at his request, not included the prison of St. Pelagius in the list.

A message, however, had been sent to that prison, as well as to the others,
for an officer to attend at the landing stage. In the morning Sir John went

ashore in one of the boats conveying the slaves, of whom some forty had
been captured. Gervaise followed him into the boat, and took his seat by the

others, who were too dispirited at the fate which had befallen them to pay
any attention to him.