Page 184 - A Knight of the White Cross

placed. 'Lastly,' he said, in a less serious tone, 'you must remember that this
is an experiment, and, as some think, a somewhat rash one. Never before

did a galley, manned entirely from among the youngest of our knights, put
to sea; and you may be sure that, unless successful, the experiment is not

likely to be ever repeated. You have been selected from among many other
candidates, and you have not only to justify the choice, but to uphold the
reputation and honour of the young knights of your Order, by all of whom

your doings will be regarded with special interest, as reflecting credit not
only upon yourselves individually, but as representatives and champions of

them all.'

"I could see that his words had a great effect. He had placed me beside him,

and I marked their faces as he spoke. Each face lit up at his appeal, and I do
not think there was one but silently registered a vow to do all in his power

to prove himself worthy of the confidence placed in him and his
companions by the grand master and admiral. I had before no shadow of
fear that everything would not go well. I knew almost all of them

personally, and if I myself had had the selection from among the whole
body of knights in the convent, I could not have made a choice that would

have suited me better. It seems to me that in each auberge the bailiff has
endeavoured to pick out the seven young knights whom he considered
would most worthily support the honour of the langue. Still, confident as I

was before, I feel more so now, after the admiral's address to us."

"I had no fear either, Ralph, though doubtless the admiral's words will carry
great weight with them. It was thoughtlessness rather than anything else
that I dreaded; but now that the admiral himself has spoken to them, there is

no fear that anything will occur to give us trouble. I have particularly
noticed that when we have been on board, and have been laughing and

chatting together before we got under way, their manner changed directly
the first order was given, and that all the commands were carried out with
as much goodwill and alacrity as if they were under Ricord himself."

On the following morning the knights all went on board the Santa Barbara.

Their baggage was carried down by slaves, and by the personal servants
from each auberge who were to go as their attendants during the voyage.