Page 182 - A Knight of the White Cross

"I need not warn you to act with prudence as well as courage, for you have
proved that you possess both qualities. Do not allow yourself to be carried

away by the impetuosity of your knights; it is more often the duty of a
commander to restrain than to encourage his crew, and with such young

blood as you have under your command the necessity will be greater than
usual. Be kind to your slaves, but be ever watchful; yet this I need not tell
you. Maintain a strict but not over severe discipline. You are all knights and

comrades of the Order, and equals when on shore, but on board you are the
captain and they are your soldiers. I have this afternoon had a meeting of

your knights, and have urged upon them very strongly that, having
volunteered to serve under you, they must obey your orders as promptly
and willingly as if you were the senior knight of the Order, and that it

behooves them specially upon the present occasion, when the crew is
composed entirely of young knights, to show themselves worthy of the

honour that has been done to them by entrusting a galley of the Order to
their charge. I told them I should regard your report of their individual
conduct with the same attention and respect with which I should that of any

other commander, and that they might greatly make or mar their future
prospects in the Order by their conduct during the cruise. I am convinced,

from what I know of you, that you will exercise no undue harshness, but
will act with tact and discretion, as well as firmness."

"I will try to do so, your Excellency. I feel that it is a heavy responsibility
and will spare no pains to justify the unmerited honour that has been

bestowed upon me."

"You have seen that the taking in of stores is complete, and that nothing is

wanting for the voyage?"

"Yes, sir. I stood by while the overseer of stores checked off every sack and
barrel as it came on board. The water is to be brought off this evening, and
as I was unable to be present, Sir Ralph Harcourt is there to count the

barrels and see that all are full."

"Goodbye, Sir Gervaise," the grand master said, as the interview
terminated.