Page 260 - A Knight of the White Cross

cities on the coast of Italy of the danger that threatened them, and in order
that some war galleys might be despatched by Genoa to meet the corsair

fleet. During his absence we discovered the little inlet in which the pirates
lay hidden, waiting doubtless the arrival of the three ships we had captured,

to commence operations. On the return of the knight with the news that it
would be at least a fortnight before Genoa could fit out any galleys, and
fearing that the pirates might at any moment put to sea, we procured some

small Sardinian craft, and fitted them as fire ships; with the captives we had
rescued, and some Sard fishermen, we manned the three prizes, distributing

the knights between them, and at night launched the fire ships against the
corsairs, whose ships were crowded together. Eleven of them were burnt;
six we captured as they endeavoured to make their way out, and took

possession of four others whose crews had run them ashore and deserted
them. None escaped."

Exclamations of astonishment and almost of incredulity broke from the
knights.

"And is it possible, Sir Gervaise, that these thirteen vessels that follow you

are all prizes captured by your galley alone?"

"It is, as I have the honour to tell your Highness. But their capture, except

in the case of the first three, was due almost solely to good fortune and to
the position in which we found them, almost incapable of defence."

"What think you, knights and comrades?" the grand master said to his
companions. "There were some of you who deemed it rash to entrust a

galley to so young a commander and so youthful a crew. What say you
now? Never in the annals of the Order has such a sight been witnessed as

that of thirteen prizes being brought in by a single galley, to say naught of
eleven others destroyed. Caretto, you and your comrades must have had
some share in this marvellous victory."

"By no means," the Italian replied; "beyond having the honour of aiding to

carry out the orders of Sir Gervaise Tresham, the commander of the galley.
The plan was wholly of his own devising, its execution solely due to his