Page 306 - A Knight of the White Cross

stranger unable to speak their tongue, and would not consider it necessary
to push their steps farther.

For four days Gervaise continued his journey. At each village through

which he passed he added to his stock of dates, until he had as many as he
could carry under his bernouse without attracting observation. He also
purchased a large water bottle, which he slung round his neck.

All this time the sea lay to his left like a sheet of glass, and he knew that

until a change of weather occurred, it was useless for him to attempt to
escape by boat. On the fifth day there were signs of a change. He saw a
dark line far out at sea; it came across the water rapidly, and presently a

gentle breeze began to blow from the northwest; it gradually increased in
strength, and when, in the afternoon, he stopped at a village, the waves

were breaking upon the shore.

After repeating his usual story, he sauntered down to the water's edge.

There were several boats hauled up, and a hundred yards out two or three
larger craft were lying at anchor. He entered into conversation with some of

the fishermen, and his questions as to the boats led them to believe him
altogether ignorant of the sea. The craft were, they told him, used
sometimes for fishing, but they often made voyages to towns along the

coast with dates and other produce. Each boat carried a single short mast, to
the top of which was attached a long tapering spar, on which the sail was

furled.

Gervaise knew that these small feluccas were generally fast sailors and fair

sea boats, and resolved to seize one of them, trusting that when once the
sail was shaken out he would be able to manage it single handed.

Accustomed to boats, he picked out that which he thought would be the
fastest, and then walked away for half a mile, and lay down to sleep until
the village was silent for the night. He had with him some oaten cakes he

had bought there, a string of fish he had purchased from the boatmen, and
with these and the dates he thought he could manage for four or five days at

least. As to water, he could only hope that he should find a supply on board
the boat. When he judged it to be about ten o'clock he went down to the