Page 240 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER XVI

FESTIVITIES

At last the fleet, headed by the galley, to which all the knights had returned,
rowed towards the port. A gun flashed out from the fort at its entrance, and

at once those from all the other batteries responded; bells pealed out again,
and a confused roar of cheering broke from the crowds occupying every

spot from which a view of the harbour could be obtained. The ships in the
port were all decked with flags, and the front windows and balconies of
every house were hung with tapestries and bright curtains. As soon as the

galley entered the port, a state barge, flying the flag of the Republic,
advanced to meet her from the wharf. As she approached, Ralph gave

orders for the oars to be laid in, and the barge was soon alongside. The
knights were already ranged along the poop, and, accompanied by Ralph
and Caretto, Gervaise moved to the gangway to receive the visitors. At

their head was Battista Fragoso, the doge, in his robe of state, and
following him were a body of the highest nobles of Genoa, all brilliant in

gala costume.

"This, my lord duke," Caretto said, "is Sir Gervaise Tresham, a knight

commander of our Order, and the commander of this, their galley. He has
before, as you may well believe from his appointment to so honourable a

post, highly distinguished himself, but what he has before accomplished is
far surpassed by the brilliant action that he has now achieved. He has won a
victory that not only reflects the highest honour upon the Order, but is an

inestimable service to Italy, and has freed her from a corsair fleet that
would have been a scourge to her, both at sea and to the towns and villages

along the coast. Not only has he, with the brave knights under his orders,
annihilated the corsair fleet, burning eleven of their galleys, and capturing
thirteen others, but he has restored to freedom no less than two hundred

Christian captives, among them the cavaliers Giacomo da Vinci, Pietro
Forzi, and myself."

"In the name of the Republic, Sir Gervaise Tresham, and I may say in that
of all Italy, I thank you most heartily for the splendid service that you have