Page 161 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER XI

IN COMMAND OF A GALLEY

William Neave, the governor of the prison, looked astonished indeed when,
upon his opening the door, the grand master and the bailiff of the English

langue, with the twelve knights behind them, entered. He had been puzzled
when, four days before, he had received an order from the grand master that

Ahmet, a servitor in the auberge of the English langue, should be permitted
to pass the night in his house, with authority to move freely and without
question, at any hour, in the courtyard of the gaol, and to depart at any

hour, secretly and without observation, by the private gate. Still more had
he been surprised when he received the message that the grand master

would pay him a secret visit at eleven o'clock at night.

"Let no word be spoken until we are in your apartments," D'Aubusson said

in a low voice, as he entered. "But first lead four of these knights and post
them so that none can enter the gaol from the house. If there are more than

four doors or windows on that side, you must post a larger number. It is
imperative that there shall be no communication whatever between your
servants and the gaol."

As soon as this was done, the rest of the party were taken to the governor's

rooms.

"I can now explain to you all," the grand master said, "the reason of our

presence here. I have learned that at twelve tonight there will be a general
rising of the slaves in this prison, and that, aided by treachery, they will free

themselves from their fetters, overpower and slay such of the guards in
their rooms as have not been bribed, throw open the gates, make their way
down to the port, burn all the shipping there, and make off in the six galleys

manned by them, having first overpowered the sentries in the three forts
commanding the entrance, and spiked the guns."

Exclamations of astonishment burst from the knights, who now, for the first
time, learnt the reason of their being called out. The governor listened with