Page 304 - A Knight of the White Cross

"It was not poor aid at all," Gervaise said heartily. "Greatly am I indebted
to you, and sorry indeed am I, that I am unable to reward you now for the

great service that you have rendered me."

"Do not trouble about that, my lord. I am greatly mistaken if I do not find in
the sashes of these three villains sufficient to repay me amply for my share
in this evening's work. And now, my lord, I pray you to linger not a

moment. The gates of the town shut at ten o'clock, and it cannot be long
from that hour now. But first, I pray you, let me bind up your shoulder;

your garment is soaked with blood."

"Fortunately my bernouse will hide that; but it were certainly best to

staunch the blood before I start, for it would be hard for me to get at the
wound myself."

The man took one of the sashes of the corsairs, tore it into strips, and
bandaged the wound; then with another he made a sling for the arm. As he

took off the sashes a leather bag dropped from each, and there was a chink
of metal. He placed them in his girdle, saying, "I shall have time to count

them when I get back."

Gervaise sheathed his sword, and put on the bernouse, pulling the hood

well over his head; then, with a few more words of thanks, started for the
gate, leaving the man to search Hassan's girdle.

The gate was a quarter of a mile distant. Gervaise passed through with the
usual Arabic salutation to the sentry, and with difficulty repressed a shout

of exultation as he left Tripoli behind him.

Following the coast road he walked till daylight; then he left it and lay
down among the sand hills for five or six hours. He calculated that no
pursuit would be begun until midday. His absence was not likely to be

noticed until the gangs began work in the morning, when an alarm would
be given. The sentries at the gates on the previous evening would be

questioned, and when it was found that no one answering to his description
had passed out before these were closed, there would be a rigid search