Page 221 - A Knight of the White Cross

coarse flour for their use for at least a fortnight was obtained before sunset.

As soon as darkness fell, Ralph and two of the French knights started in one
of the prizes. Late on the following afternoon a sail was seen coming from

the north, and before the sun set they were able to make her out to be the
craft in which Caretto had sailed. The anchor of the galley was at once got
up, and she rowed out to meet the boat and conduct her into the little bay. It

was almost dark when they came within hailing distance.

"What news do you bring, Sir Fabricius?"

"Bad news, I regret to say. I do not think that Genoa will be able to send out

any galleys for at least a fortnight. There have been civil dissensions, and
fighting between rival factions, and in consequence her ships are all

dismantled and laid up. Crews will have to be collected for them, repairs
executed, and officers chosen; a fortnight will be the earliest time in which
they can be here. Pisa has no war galleys, and unless the Pope sends some

out directly he gets the news, the corsairs will have it their own way. Have
you discovered them?"

"Yes; they lie but a few miles from here. There were fifteen or sixteen of
them two days ago, and two others joined them that night. You have lost no

time indeed. We had scarce begun to expect you, Sir Fabricius," he added,
as the knight and his two comrades stepped on board.

"I have done my best," the knight said angrily. "But I am in a rage with my
ill success. All I have accomplished is that no merchant vessels will put to

sea at present. At Ostia they would only send off a message to Rome, to ask
for orders. At Pisa the authorities at first treated my story as a fiction, and, I

believe, took me for an impostor; but on the news spreading, some knights
came forward and recognised me. Then we had a meeting of the council.
All talked, wrangled, and protested. They said that it was absurd to suppose

that they could, at a moment's notice, fit out ships to cope with a fleet of
corsairs; and their sole idea was to man the forts, and to repel an attack.

However, mounted messengers were sent off at once, up and down the
coast, to give warning to the inhabitants of the towns to put themselves into