Page 202 - A Knight of the White Cross

of the corsairs who still held the forward end of the poop.

The discharge of the cannon at such close quarters had wrought terrible
havoc among them, and the pirates, with but slight resistance, turned, and

either ran down the ladder or leapt into the water. The knights followed
them forward among the benches of the rowers, who cheered loudly in
many tongues as they passed them. At the forecastle the Moors made

another stand, but the knights forced their way up, and in two minutes all
was over.

"Now to the aid of our comrades!" Gervaise shouted, as the last of the
corsairs was struck down.

Ralph's party had indeed cleared the poop of the galley, but they in vain

endeavoured to climb up on to that of the third pirate ship, whose superior
height gave a great advantage to its defenders. Gervaise leapt down on to
the bow of the galley, followed by the knights, and then ran aft until he

could climb into the waist of the pirate. So intent were the corsairs upon
defending the poop that they did not see what was going on elsewhere, and

Gervaise had obtained a fair footing before he was noticed. Then a number
of men ran down and attacked his party. But it was too late, for the whole
of the knights had, by this time, leaped on board. Their assailants were

forced back, and, pressing close upon them, the knights gained the poop
before the main body of the pirates were aware of their coming.

Warned by the shouts and shrieks of their comrades that they had been
taken in the rear, the Moslems who were defending the side of the poop

wavered for a moment. Ralph took advantage of their hesitation, and sprang
on board, his companions pouring in after him. There was a stern and

desperate fight. The Moslems fought with the fury of despair, disdaining to
ask or accept quarter. A few leapt overboard, preferring death by drowning
to that by the swords of the Christians; but the great majority died fighting

to the last. A shout of triumph rose from the knights as the last of the
Moslems fell.