Page 290 - A Knight of the White Cross

The appearance of all was miserable in the extreme; they were clothed in
rags, and the faces of the Europeans had a dull, hopeless look that told alike

of their misery and of their despair of any escape from it. They looked up
listlessly as he entered, and then an Italian said, "Cospetto, comrade; but I

know not whether your place is with us, or with the Moslems across there.
As far as colour goes I should put you down as a Nubian; but your hair is of
a hue that consorts but badly with that of your flesh."

"I am an Englishman," Gervaise replied; "but I have been passing under a

disguise which has unfortunately been detected, so you see here I am."

The mystery explained, his questioner had no further interest in the matter,

and Gervaise, picking out a vacant place on the stone floor, sat down and
looked round him. The room, although large, was roughly built, and had

doubtless been erected with a view to its present purpose. There were only
a few windows; and these were small, strongly barred, and twelve feet
above the floor.

"Not easy to get out of them," Gervaise said to himself "at least, not easy

without aid; and with these Moslems here it is clear that nothing can be
done."

They were roused at daybreak next morning, and were taken out to their
work under the guard of six armed Moors, two overseers, provided with

long whips, accompanied them. The work consisted of cleaning the streets
and working on the roads, and at times of carrying stones for the use of the
masons employed in building an addition to the palace of the sultan. This

was the work to which the gang was set that morning, and it was not long
before the vigour with which Gervaise worked, and the strength he

displayed in moving the heavy stones, attracted the attention of the
overseers and of the head of the masons.

"That is a rare good fellow you have got there, that black with the curious
hair," the latter said. "What is the man? I never saw one like him."