Page 274 - A Knight of the White Cross

"I should ask twice as much," the captain replied, "if it were not for the
regulation that one slave from each cargo brought in belongs to the sultan,

and his officers would as a matter of course choose this fellow, for the
others are merely such as are sold in the market every day. This man is one

of the accursed Order of Rhodes, and would fetch a ransom many times
greater than the sum I ask for him, only I have not the time to wait for
months until the affair could be arranged."

"And, moreover, Hassan," the Arab said grimly, "it has doubtless not

escaped you that as the Sultan of Turkey is fitting out an expedition to
destroy the community of Rhodes, the chance of their ransoming their
comrade is a very slight one."

"Threatened men live long," the captain said. "The sultan has been talking

of attacking them for years, and something has always happened to prevent
his carrying out his intention. It may be the same again."

"I will take him," the Arab said shortly. "Here is a purse with the sum you
named; count it, and see that it is right." As he stood apart while the pirate

counted out the money, the eight released slaves came up in a body, and
one of them, bowing low before the merchant, said,

"My lord, we have long been slaves of the Christian knights at Rhodes, and
have worked in their galleys. We were rescued the other day when this

knight was taken prisoner. Our life has been a hard one. We have borne
toil, and hardship, and blows, the heat of the sun by day, and the damp by
night, but we would humbly represent to you that since we were placed in

the galley commanded by this knight our lot has been made bearable by his
humanity and kindness. He erected an awning to shade us from the sun's

rays, and to shelter us from the night dews. He provided good food for us.
He saw that we were not worked beyond our strength, and he forbade us
being struck, unless for good cause. Therefore, my lord, now that

misfortune has fallen upon him, we venture to represent to you the kindness
with which he has treated us, in the hope that it may please you to show

him such mercy as he showed to us."