Page 273 - A Knight of the White Cross

stiffening. The corsair did not return until night set in; he was accompanied
by an Arab, whose dress and appearance showed that he was a person of

importance. The other slaves had all been sent below, but Gervaise still
remained on deck, as the mate had not cared to risk another conflict by

giving him orders in the absence of the captain. As the pirate stepped on
deck he ordered some torches to be brought.

"This is the Christian I spoke of," he said to the Arab, pointing to Gervaise,
who was leaning carelessly against the bulwark.

"He is, as you see, capable of hard work of any kind; his strength is
prodigious, for it took ten of my best men to bind him this morning."

"Why did you wish to bind him?" the Arab asked coldly; "you told me that

although so strong he was of a quiet disposition, and would make a good
household slave."

"I struck a slave girl who stood in my way," the captain said, "and he came
at me so suddenly that I had to call upon the men to bind him. He threw one

of them overboard, and with his naked hands knocked down two others;
and, as I have told you, it took all the efforts of eight or ten more before
they could overcome him."

The Arab took a torch from one of the sailors, walked across to Gervaise,

who was naked from the waist upwards, his upper garments having been
torn into shreds in the struggle, and examined him closely.

"And then you beat him," he said, turning to the captain.

"Certainly I beat him. Do you think that a slave is to mutiny on board my
ship, and escape unpunished?"

The Arab, without replying, again inspected Gervaise.

"You ask a large sum for him," he said.