Page 190 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER XIII

THE FIRST PRIZES

After leaving the slaves, Gervaise joined his companions on the poop. They
were engaged in an animated discussion as to whether it was advisable to

grant indulgences to slaves. The majority approved of the steps Gervaise
had taken, but some asserted that these concessions would only lead them

to look for more, and would create discontent among the crews of other
galleys not so favoured.

"Well, comrades," said Gervaise, "I think that so far I am better qualified
than any of you to give an opinion; but it may be that it will fall to the lot of

some of you to be a slave in Turkish hands. In that case, I can affirm with
certainty, that you will keenly appreciate any alleviation, however small, of
your lot. You must remember that the one feeling of the slave is dull

despair. Death is the only relief he has to look forward to. Do you think that
a man so feeling can do his best, either at an oar or at any other kind of

work? I am sure it would not be so in my case. But if you brighten his life a
little, and show him that he is not regarded as merely a brute beast, and that
you take some interest in him, he will work in a different spirit. Even

viewed from a merely monetary point of view it must pay well to render
him as content as possible with his lot. You know how great is the mortality

among the slaves -- how they pine away and die from no material malady
that can be detected, but simply from hopelessness and weariness of life,
aided, undoubtedly, in the case of the galley slaves, by sleeping in the damp

night air after an exposure all day to the full heat of the sun. This brings an
answer to your second objection. Undoubtedly it might cause discontent

among the slaves of other galleys when they hear that others are treated
better than themselves. But I hope that if, on our return, we bring back all
our slaves in good condition and health, the contrast between their

appearance and that of the slaves in most other galleys will be so marked
that the admiral may consider it would be well to order awnings to be fixed

to all the vessels of the Order, and even to grant to all slaves, when away on
voyages, the little indulgences I have given them here. The expense would
be very trifling, and it would certainly add a great deal to the average life of