Page 233 - A Knight of the White Cross

had been burnt, and to their satisfaction, they discovered four uninjured
galleys lying there, deserted, save by the slaves.

Seeing the fate of their comrades who had first issued out, the commanders

had, instead of trying to escape, rowed quietly to the head of the inlet, the
movement being covered by the flame and smoke, and had there landed,
having laden themselves with stores for their support on shore. This was a

great satisfaction to the knights, for not only did it swell the list of prizes,
but it reduced by over thirty the number of Christian slaves who had

perished in the flames. Taking the galleys in tow, they rowed out of the
inlet, whose banks were strewn with half charred timbers, oars, and relics
of the fight.

As soon as they had anchored by the side of their first prizes, a council was

held on board the Santa Barbara. It was clearly impossible to take thirteen
prizes to Rhodes, for there would be but three or four knights to each, and
were they to fall in with but one Moorish pirate, they might suffer great

disaster, while, should they meet with a storm, they would fare badly
indeed, as they could not depend upon the rescued Christians for the

management of the sails and oars in heavy weather. At the same time, all
were most anxious that the prizes should be carried to Rhodes. Never, save
as the result of some great battle, had such a fleet of captured galleys been

brought in, and the knights were prepared to endure all dangers rather than
part with one of them. Finally, after much discussion, it was determined

that they should make for Genoa. From thence the rescued captives would
be able to find their way to their homes. The great majority were Italians
and Spaniards; the former could proceed by land or sea to their respective

homes, while the Spaniards would have no long time to wait before a vessel
of their own nationality entered the port, even if one were not lying there

when they arrived. Moreover, in any case it would be necessary to despatch
a vessel to Genoa, in order that it might be known that the danger was
averted, and that there was no longer any necessity for getting the galleys

ready for sea.

The chief ostensible reason, however, for going to Genoa was that there
would be no difficulty in engaging as many sailors as might be necessary to