Page 342 - A Knight of the White Cross

in tow. You saw, as well as I did, how completely the plan was carried out.
Ten or twelve of the Turkish ships are a mass of flames, and besides these I

noted that the galley ran down and destroyed several smaller craft filled
with soldiers. The panic in the ships spread to the troops on shore, and

rendered the last part of our task an easy one. I say it from my heart that I
consider it is to Sir Gervaise Tresham that we owe our success, and that,
had it not been for his happy thought, the sun would have gone down on

our dead bodies lying on the summit of the breach, and on the Turkish flag
waving over the fort of St. Nicholas."

Until now none of the defenders of the breach had known how what
seemed to them an almost miraculous change in the fortune of the fight had

come about, and they thronged round Gervaise, shaking his hand, and many
of them warmly embracing him, according to the custom of the time.

"It was but natural that the idea should occur to me," he said, "having
before successfully encountered them with fire ships; and as all on shore,

and especially these knights, aided me with all their power, it took but a
brief time to get the boats in readiness for burning. Much credit, too, is due

to the merchant captains and sailors who volunteered to take charge of the
fire ships and to manoeuver them alongside the Turks."

The grand master and the knights who had borne the brunt of the battle now
retired along the mole to the town, bearing with them their most seriously

wounded comrades, and assisting those whose wounds were less severe.
The twenty knights who had manned the two galleys remained in the fort.
Caretto continued in command, as, although he had suffered several

wounds, he refused to relinquish his post. Gervaise, who had, -- thanks
partly to his skill with his weapons, but still more to the temper of the

splendid suit of armour presented to him by Genoa, -- escaped without a
scratch, volunteered to remain with him until next morning, his principal
motive for making the request being his desire to escape from further

congratulations and praise for the success of his plan. After Caretto's
wounds had been dressed by the knights, and he and Gervaise had partaken

of some food and wine, which they greatly needed, Caretto was persuaded
to lie down for a time, the knights promising to bring him word at once if