Page 284 - A Knight of the White Cross

"Have you any friends on board the ships that sailed from here, or any
interest in the venture, Ben Tbyn?"

The merchant shook his head. "We Berbers," he said, "are not like the

Moors, and have but little to do with the sea, save by the way of trade. For
myself, I regret that these corsair ships are constantly putting out. Were it
not for them and their doings we might trade with the ports of France, of

Spain, and Italy, and be on good terms with all. There is no reason why,
because our faiths are different, we should be constantly fighting. It is true

that the Turks threaten Europe, and are even now preparing to capture
Rhodes; but this is no question of religion. The Turks are warlike and
ambitious; they have conquered Syria, and war with Egypt and Persia; but

the Moorish states are small, they have no thought of conquest, and might
live peaceably with Europe were it not for the hatred excited against them

by the corsairs."

"In that case I can tell you the truth. Thirteen of those ships were taken into

Rhodes as prizes; the other eleven were burnt. Not one of the fleet
escaped."

Exclamations of surprise broke from Ben Tbyn, his wife, and daughters.

"I am astonished, indeed," the merchant said. "It was reported here that the
Genoese galleys were all laid up, and it was thought that they would be able

to sweep the seas without opposition, and to bring home vast spoil and
many captives, both from the ships they took and from many of the villages
and small towns of the coast. How came such a misfortune to happen to

them? It will create consternation here when it is known, for although it
was not a state enterprise, the sultan himself and almost all the rich Moors

embarked money in the fitting out of the ships, and were to have shares in
the spoil taken. How happened it that so strong a fleet was all taken or
destroyed, without even one vessel being able to get away to carry home

the news of the disaster?"

"Fortune was against them," Gervaise said. "Three ships on their way up
were captured by a galley of our Order, and her commander having