Page 141 - A Knight of the White Cross

"The galley came in last night," Gervaise said, "but they did not land us
until this morning. I wish they had killed me rather than that I should have

been brought here to work as a slave."

"One always thinks so at first," the man said. "But somehow one clings to
life. We shall die when Allah wills it, and not before."

"What is the matter with your foot?" Gervaise asked.

"I was with the gang quarrying stones, and a mass of rock fell upon it. I
have been in the infirmary for weeks, and I own that the Christian dogs
treated me well. A slave has his value, you see. I am nearly cured now, but

I shall never walk well again. I expect they will put me in one of their
accursed galleys."

"How long have you been here?"

"Seven years; it seems a lifetime. However, there is hope yet. They don't
tell us much, but we hear things sometimes, and they say that the sultan is

going to sweep them out of Rhodes as they were swept out of Acre. When
will it be?"

"I know not. I am from Syria, but even there they are making preparations.
The sultan has had troubles in the East, and that has delayed him, but he

will be here before long, and then we shall see. It will be our turn then."

"It will, indeed!" one of the others exclaimed. "Oh, to see these dogs

brought down, and suffering as we have suffered, toiling at oars in one of
our galleys, or at the fortifications of one of our castles! It will make

amends for all our suffering. Had you a hard fight with them?"

"No. We were but a small craft, and it was vain to attempt resistance. I

would gladly have fought, but the sailors said it would only throw away
their lives. There was but little on board, and they allowed the vessel to go

free with those of the sailors who were too old to be made useful for hard
work."