Page 217 - A Knight of the White Cross

remain where we are till nightfall, and then to proceed and anchor on the
north side of the Island of Madalena, if we can find a sheltered cove where

we could not be seen either from the land or by passing ships."

During the day there was a good deal of discussion among the knights as to
whether the corsairs might not already have sailed away. It was evident that
if all their ships had arrived, there would be no motive for delay. Three

ships they knew would never join them, and others might have been
detained, from some cause or another. There could be no doubt that the

pirates had already ample force for capturing as many merchant vessels as
they might come across. But it might be intended to carry out some more
daring project -- to sack and burn towns along the coast, carry off the

leading people for ransom, and fill the vessels with slaves -- the attack
being made simultaneously on several unprotected towns. A vast amount of

plunder could thus be reaped, together with captives of even greater money
value. Were this their plan, they would doubtless delay until all those who
had promised to join in the expedition had arrived. The balance of opinion,

then, was that the corsairs were still in hiding.

By daybreak next morning they were moored in a sheltered little bay to the
north of Madalena, the galley lying inside the prizes, so as to be concealed
as much as possible from view of any craft that might happen to pass the

mouth of the bay. Fosco started as soon as darkness fell in the evening, and
returned early in the morning.

"They are there," he shouted, as he neared the galley, "hidden in a deep
inlet that runs into one of the narrow bays."

"How many are there of them?"

"Seventeen or eighteen, I could not say which. They are all moored side by
side."

By this time Fosco's boat had reached the galley.