Page 227 - A Knight of the White Cross

An enthusiastic cheer broke from the knights. They saw at once that, lying
as the corsairs were, side by side, the destruction of many of them was

certain.

"He has also brought fishermen," Gervaise went on, "two or three of whom
will go in each fire ship, having a boat towing behind, in which they will
escape as soon as the craft are alongside the galleys. The galley and the

three prizes will take their post at the mouth of the inlet. The fire of our
guns will add to the confusion among the pirates, and we shall endeavour to

fall upon any galleys that may extricate themselves from the mass, and try
to make their escape. Sir Ralph has brought back materials for making
ninety mantles of the Order, for the Christians on board the three prizes,

and thirty fishermen to bring the crew of our galley up to its full strength.
The light of the flames will suffice to show the pirates that, as they will

believe, four vessels, manned by knights of the Order, are barring the
entrance. Many will, we may calculate, jump overboard and swim ashore
rather than face us, and we shall be able, at any rate, to capture three or four

of their craft, for, as they come out, one by one, we can all close round
them; and with nearly fifty knights, ninety released captives, burning for

vengeance, and some fifty or sixty fishermen, for those from the fire ships
will, of course, join us -- we shall make short work of them, and may even
hope to entirely destroy their fleet."

Again a joyous shout rose from the knights. This would indeed be an

exploit that all might be proud to share in, and, breaking the ranks in which
they had stood while Gervaise addressed them, they crowded round him
with exclamations of enthusiasm and devotion.

"Now," he said, as soon as silence was a little restored, "the knights of the

langues on board the prizes will send at once to the coaster on the left of the
other two. Sir Ralph will go there now, and supply each with materials for
making the mantles for the Christians; he has brought thread, and fish bone

needles. You will see that the stuff is cut up into suitable lengths, and
handed over to your crews, and that each man makes up his mantle. There

can be but little sewing required for these sleeveless gowns, nor need it be
carefully done. The great thing is that the white crosses shall be