Page 201 - A Knight of the White Cross

time, however, no forward movement could be made, so furious were the
attacks upon them, led by the pirate chief. Several times breaches were

made in the front rank, but the knights behind each time bore back the
assault, and restored the line. The knights had won their way half along the

poop when a yell of exultation rose from the corsairs as the third of their
vessels rowed up on the other side of the galley, and her crew sprang on
board it. Gervaise called the knights of the second line from their places,

and ranged them along the bulwark, to prevent the Moors from boarding
from the poop of the galley.

Then for a moment he looked round. The prize was creeping up, and was a
length or two away, coming up alongside. Its approach was also noticed by

the pirates, who, with wild shouts, flung themselves upon their opponents.
Gervaise sprang forward to take the place of a young Italian knight, who

staggered back, with his helmet cleft by a heavy blow from the keen
yataghan of the pirate captain. The corsair, shouting his war cry of "Allah!"
sprang with the bound of a wild cat upon Gervaise; his weapon descended

on his uplifted guard, and shore right through the stout blade. With a shout
of triumph, the corsair raised his arm to repeat the blow; but Gervaise in

turn sprang forward, and struck with all his force with the pommel of his
sword on the forehead of his opponent. The latter fell as if shot, his weapon
dropping from his hand beside him.

Dismayed at the fall of their leader, his followers recoiled for a moment.

Another tall pirate sprang forward to take his place, and, shouting to them
to follow, was about to throw himself upon Gervaise, when a gun crashed
out close alongside. A storm of iron swept away the front line of Moors,

and the shout of "St. John!" "St. John!" rose above the din. It was one of the
bow guns of the prize, and as she swept along gun after gun poured its

contents among the pirates.

"Do you clear the galley, Ralph. We can manage here now," Gervaise said,

as Ralph leapt on board. The latter, followed by his party of knights, rushed
across the poop, and sprang on to the galley among the pirates, who had

been striving in vain to break through the line of defenders. Gervaise called
to his party to follow him, and, taking the offensive, fell upon the remnant