Page 216 - A Knight of the White Cross

for weeks without so much as a shepherd getting sight of them from the
cliffs. Moreover, it is the nearest point for cutting off ships coming down

between Corsica and the mainland, and they can, besides, snap up those
proceeding from the south to Marseilles, as these, for the most part, pass

between Sardinia and Corsica."

At eight o'clock the boat was seen coming round the point.

"Any news, Fosco?" Gervaise asked, as it approached the galley.

"None, Sir Gervaise. They have heard nothing of pirates, nor seen anything
of them."

Exclamations of disappointment broke from the knights.

"That makes it all the more likely," Gervaise said, "that they are lying in
one of the inlets to the north. You see, lower down they kept comparatively

close to the shore, being careless who might notice them; but as they
approached their rendezvous, they would be more careful, and might either

pass along at night, or keep far out. If they had not been anxious to conceal
their near presence, they would have been likely to put into this bay in
search of plunder and captives; for Tempe, one of the largest of the

Sardinian towns, lies but a short distance away, and there must be a
considerable amount of traffic."

"There are four or five small craft lying there," Fosco, who had by this time
stepped on board, put in, "and a considerable number of fishing boats.

When I came upon the ships in the dark, I thought at first that I had lighted
on the pirates, but on letting the boat drift closely by them I soon saw they

were not corsair galleys."

"Shall we get up anchor and go into the bay?" Ralph asked.

"It were safer not to do so, Ralph. Possibly one of the craft lying there

might be presently captured by them, and they might learn from her crew of
the presence of a galley of the Order there. Therefore I think it best to