Page 185 - A Knight of the White Cross

The grand master had advanced Gervaise a sum equal to half a year's
income of his commandery, and with this he had purchased a stock of the

best wines, and various other luxuries, to supplement the rations supplied
from the funds of the Order to knights when at sea. Gervaise had to go

round early to the admiral to sign the receipt for stores and to receive his
final orders in writing. All were, therefore, on board before him and, when
he arrived, were drawn up in military order to receive him.

Every knight was in full armour, and as, at a word from Ralph, they drew

their swords and saluted the young commander, Gervaise felt with a thrill
of pleasure and of confidence that with such a following he need not fear
any encounter with a pirate force, unless in overwhelming numbers.

The young knights were all, with the exception only of Ralph Harcourt,

between the ages of seventeen and nineteen, and their young faces, free in
most cases even from the suspicion of a moustache, looked almost those of
boys. But there was no mistaking the ardour and enthusiasm in their faces,

and the lack of breadth and weight, that years alone would give to them,
was compensated by skill in their weapons, acquired by long and severe

training, and by the activity and tireless energy of youth.

"Knights and comrades," Gervaise said as, after walking through the double

line to the end of the poop he turned and faced them, "I am proud indeed to
command so gallant a body of knights. The success of our expedition

depends upon you rather than upon me, and as I feel assured of your warm
cooperation I have no fear as to what the result will be, if Dame Fortune
will but favour us by throwing in our way some of those scourges of the sea

in search of whom we are about to set out. Many of us have already
encountered them, and, fighting side by side with older knights, have borne

our share of the work, while those who have not done so will, I am sure, do
equally well when the opportunity arrives. We shall not this voyage have
the encouragement and confidence inspired by the presence of those who

have long and valiantly borne the standard of the Order; but, on the other
hand, we have to show that we are worthy of the confidence reposed in us,

and that the young knights of the Order can be trusted to emulate the deeds
of those who have rendered the name of the Hospitallers a terror to the