Page 314 - A Knight of the White Cross

inhabitants of the Island, a dozen fishermen would have seemed to them
scarcely worth keeping. However, by holding on they have thrown away

any chance they may have had. The Turks are alongside; they are leaping
down into the little craft. Ah! Two more galleys have just left their fleet,

and are heading here."

"See, Sir John," one of the knights exclaimed, "there is a single man

standing in the bow of that craft: he is facing the Moors alone. See how
they crowd there; you can see the weapons flashing in the sun. They have

to press past the mast to get at him, and as yet he seems to hold them all at
bay."

"He has chosen his post well, D'Urville. The number of his assailants
prevents the archers on the Turkish craft using their bows. Fire those bow

guns!" he shouted to the knights forward: "Take steady aim at the galley. It
will distract their attention."

"Nobly done indeed!" one of the other knights shouted. "I have seen him
strike down four of the Turks."

"Row, men, row! 'Tis useless!" Sir John muttered, as he clenched the hilt of
his sword. "Useless! A Roland could not long maintain so unequal a fight."

A groan broke from those around him as suddenly the dark mass of the

assailants made a forward move, and the single figure was lost to sight. It
was but for an instant; a moment later the crowd separated, and a man was
seen to spring overboard.

"They will riddle him with their spears when he comes up; we shall have

nothing to do but to avenge him. To your stations, comrades! It is our turn
now, and we have no time to lose, for the other two Turks will be up in
twenty minutes, and I had orders not to fight if it could be avoided: but we

must take this fellow."

Five minutes later the galley ran alongside the Turk, to which those who
had captured the boat had already hastily returned. The ships discharged