Page 234 - A Knight of the White Cross

take the prizes to Rhodes. Underlying all the arguments was another reason
which Ralph laughingly stated.

"It is all very well to bring forward one argument after another, but not one

of you has the courage to say what I am sure all of you have at the bottom
of your hearts. You know very well that you want to go to Genoa to enjoy a
triumph. The Rhodians are all very well, but there are very many more fair

faces at Genoa. Fie, Sir Knights! Such a spirit is little in accordance with
the vows of the Order. Are we not bound to humility? And here you are all

longing for the plaudits of the nobles and ladies of Genoa!"

Some of the young knights laughed, others coloured hotly.

"They need not be ashamed of the feeling," Caretto said. "Is it not the

ardent desire of all true knights to do gallant deeds, and do they not value
above all things the guerdon of applause from the fair eyes of ladies. Your
comrades have performed the gallant deeds, and well deserve the reward.

Now, Sir Gervaise, if not for this reason, at any rate for the others that have
been brought forward, I suppose we are all agreed that we sail for Genoa.

For our part we are heartily glad that such is your decision. We, and the
young knights of our langue, have many friends there, and in their name I
am sure I can promise you a reception as hearty and sincere as that which

we shall ourselves receive."

It was settled that the rescued captives should be divided equally among the
thirteen prizes, and that three knights should go in each. The Moorish
captives were also divided equally among them, to aid with the sails, and to

row a few oars, in case of a dead calm setting in. The commands were
distributed according to seniority, the three rescued Italian knights

remaining on board the Santa Barbara with Gervaise.

The Sards were anxious to return to their villages, in order to carry the

news that several hundreds of Moorish pirates had landed.

"We shall have great trouble with them," one of the young fishermen, who
spoke a little Italian, said to Gervaise. "There are always a great number of