Page 236 - A Knight of the White Cross

the flags were but a ruse, and numbers of them fled at once, with their
families and valuables, to the mountains. It was not until a boat was

lowered, and Ralph, accompanied by three or four other knights, rowed
ashore, that the panic was allayed.

As soon as it was understood that the galley of the knights had not only
captured the thirteen corsairs, but had destroyed eleven others, and had thus

annihilated a fleet that was intended to prey upon the commerce of Italy,
and ravage the western coast, the alarm was succeeded by the wildest

enthusiasm. By the time Ralph had obtained the fresh meat and stores he
came ashore to purchase, the greater part of the population were gathered
on the shore, and a flotilla of boats put out with him, filled with

picturesquely dressed men and women. Some carried flags, others green
boughs, while the ladies had bouquets and baskets of fruit. The galley was

the first attraction, and, mounting her sides, the ladies presented their
offerings of fruit, while the men cheered, and waved their hats; many
musicians came out in the boats, and these played on bagpipes and

three-reeded flutes a succession of airs peculiar to the island.

Gervaise received his visitors on the poop. These were at first altogether
incredulous when told that it was the lad before them who had commanded
the galley, had performed such a remarkable feat, and had freed them from

a terrible danger. The youth of the knights of the Order no less surprised
them, and had not Gervaise assured them that it was altogether contrary to

the rules of the Order for a knight to allow himself to be embraced, many of
the ladies would have taken this form of showing their enthusiasm and
gratitude. The next morning the fleet started for Genoa. The wind was

much stronger than it had been on the previous day, and it was therefore
unnecessary for the oars to be put out, except, indeed, on board the galley.

There, at nightfall, the Christians relieved the slaves for some hours at their
benches, and the next morning the circle of hills round Genoa, with the city
nestling at their feet on the water's edge, and climbing for some distance up

their slopes, was in view. Caretto at once suggested that it would be well to
signal to the fleet to lie to.