Page 222 - A Knight of the White Cross

a posture of defence, and to the villagers to fly with their wives and
families into the interior as soon as they saw galleys of doubtful appearance

approaching. I was there but four hours, and then started for Genoa."

"There was almost a panic there too, as the members of the council were
mostly merchants, and were filled with dismay for the safety of their ships
and goods at sea. Of course, there was no thought that the corsairs, however

strong, would venture an attack upon Genoa itself. I told them that you had
captured three of the corsairs with a single galley, and that if they could

send you ten others you would probably be able to make head against the
pirates; but, as I have told you, Genoa is at peace with all the world; her
war galleys are laid up, and most of them would need repair and recaulking

before they would be fit to send to sea. Although they maintained that no
more than a week should elapse before they would be ready to sail I am

right sure that it will be double that time before they are fitted out.

"Of course, in Genoa I was well known, though my family estates lie near

Mantua, and my acquaintances flocked round me and urged me to stay until
the galleys were ready for sea. This I would not hear of, and, six hours after

my arrival, started again. We made the voyage to Corsica at a good speed,
but since then we have had the oars constantly out to help the sails. The
men have well earned their pay, I can assure you. It is enough to make one

mad with rage to think that these pirates will be able to harry the coast of
Italy at their pleasure; for there can be little chance that they will abide

quiet much longer at this rendezvous."

"It is annoying, indeed," Gervaise agreed; and a murmur of disappointment

ran round the assembled knights. "However, we have the consolation that
we have done all we could, and I am sure that we shall do so in the future."

Gervaise had charged Ralph to say nothing about the object of his mission,
and the general supposition was that he had sailed to endeavour to purchase

some bullocks, as the supply of meat was nearly exhausted. Ralph himself
had let drop a few words to this effect, and had indeed been charged by

Gervaise to bring off a few oxen if they could be obtained without loss of
time. Gervaise was on deck at midnight, and soon afterwards the beat of