Page 142 - A Knight of the White Cross

No further questions were asked. The men seemed to have no interest save
in their own misery, and Gervaise soon left them, and, sitting down in a

shady corner, presently dropped off to sleep.

In the evening all came in from their various work. The officer man who
had brought Gervaise in went up to the overseer of the galley slaves and
informed him that he had told off the new slave -- pointing to Gervaise -- to

his gang.

"He was brought in by the galley that arrived last night," he said; "he was
the only slave sent up here. I hear that he had been set aside to be appointed
a servitor, but there are no vacancies, so they sent him here till one should

occur; and I was ordered to make him useful in other ways in the
meantime."

"I am two or three hands short," the overseer said. "I wish now I had sent in
an application yesterday, for if I had done so, no doubt they would have

sent me some more men. However, this fellow will make up an even
number, and he is strong and active, though at present he looks sulky

enough under his bad fortune."

A few of the slaves spoke to Gervaise as they were waiting for food to be

brought them, but the majority dropped upon the rushes, too exhausted with
toil and heat to feel an interest in anything. The food consisted of rye bread,

with thin broth, brought in a great iron vessel. Each slave had a horn, which
was used for soup or water, and which, when done with, he had, by the rule
enforced among themselves, to take out to the fountain in the courtyard and

wash, before it was added to the pile in the corner of the room.

The cool of the evening aided the meal in restoring the energies of the
slaves. Several gathered round Gervaise, and asked questions as to what he
knew of the prospects of an early invasion of Rhodes; but as soon as the

officer left the room, closing and locking the door after him, the slaves
became for the most part silent. A few men sat in groups together, talking

in undertones, but the greater number threw themselves down on the
rushes, either to sleep or to think alone. Gervaise was struck by the manner