Page 364 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER XXIII

THE REWARD OF VALOUR

Gervaise knew nothing at the time of the final result of the battle, for as
soon as the knights had burst through the circle of his opponents, he sank

insensible on the body of the grand master. When he came to himself, he
was lying on a bed in the hospital of the Order. As soon as he moved,

Ralph Harcourt, who was, with other knights, occupied in tending the
wounded, came to his bedside. "Thank God that you are conscious again,
Gervaise! They told me that it was but faintness and loss of blood, and that

none of your wounds were likely to prove mortal, and for the last twelve
hours they have declared that you were asleep: but you looked so white that

I could not but fear you would never wake again."

"How is the grand master?" Gervaise asked eagerly. Ralph shook his head.

"He is wounded sorely, Gervaise, and the leech declares that one at least of

his wounds is mortal; still, I cannot bring myself to believe that so great a
hero will be taken away in the moment of victory, after having done such
marvels for the cause not only of the Order, but of all Christendom."

"Then you beat them back again from the breach?" Gervaise said.

"That was not all. They were in such confusion that we sallied out, captured
their camp, with the pasha's banner and an enormous quantity of spoil, and

pursued them to their harbour. Then we halted, fearing that they might in
their desperation turn upon us, and, terribly weakened as we were by our

losses, have again snatched the victory from our grasp. So we let them go
on board their ships without interference, and this morning there is not a
Turkish sail in sight. The inhabitants are well nigh mad with joy. But elated

as we are at our success, our gladness is sorely damped by the state of the
grand master, and the loss of so many of our comrades, though, indeed, our

langue has suffered less than any of the others, for the brunt of the attacks
on St. Nicholas and the breach did not fall upon us, still we lost heavily
when at last we hurried up to win back the wall from them."