Page 197 - A Knight of the White Cross

there will be no chance of their changing it. Do you think they will row all
night?"

"I should not think so. If the land were nearer they might keep on until they

make it, but as they have had no wind since daylight, they will lie on their
oars until morning. You see, at sunset they will still be some eighty miles
from Cape Carbonara, and the slaves could not possibly row that distance

without rest; so that if we keep on we may take them by surprise."

"That is what I have been thinking, Ralph, but it would be well not to attack
them until nearly daybreak. We should capture one galley easily enough;
but the others, being ignorant of our force, might make off in different

directions, and we might lose both of them. If, on the other hand, we could
fall upon them a short time before daylight, we should be able to keep them

in sight, and, even if they separated, they would soon come together and
continue their course, or, as I hope, when they see that we are alone, bear
up and fight us. I think that our best plan will be to row on until it is dark,

then give the slaves six hours' rest, and after that go on quietly. If we can
make them out, which we may do if they have lights on board, we will stop,

and wait until it is the hour to attack them. If we miss them, we will row on
to Sardinia and lie up, as we proposed, until they come along."

"I think that will be a very good plan, Gervaise."

Before sunset the three pirate ships could be clearly made out from the
deck, but the pilot judged them to be fully ten miles away. Half an hour
later the slaves were told to cease rowing. Gervaise had ordered the cooks

to prepare them a good meal, and this was at once served, together with a
full ration of wine. As soon as they had consumed it, they were told to lie

down and sleep, as at one o'clock the galley would be again under way.

The knights' supper was served below, as lights on the poop might be made

out, should a lookout be placed by the corsairs in their tops.

"We had better follow the example of the galley slaves," Gervaise said,
rising as soon as the meal was finished, "and, with the exception of Spain,