Page 57 - A Knight of the White Cross

their vows, to relieve sufferings of any kind among Christians, they seemed
to regard their captives rather in the light of brute beasts than human

beings. The slaves were struck on the smallest provocation, and even the
killing of a slave was considered a very venial offence, and punished only

because the slave was of value to the Order.

It was true that edicts were from time to time published by the council,

enjoining fair treatment of slaves, and it was specially ordered that those
employed as servants in the auberges were not to be struck. The lot of these

servants was, indeed, very much easier than that of those engaged on the
public works, and such occupation was therefore considered a privilege, the
servants being for the most part selected from among the captives of

superior rank.

For the next six months Gervaise worked at various duties in the town. He
was employed for a fortnight in the infirmary, then for a while he was
transferred to the galleys; but for the most part he was with the slaves

working on the fortifications. At the end of that time he was, to his great
delight, informed by the bailiff that he was one of the six knights of the

langue told off to join a galley that was on the point of sailing. Among
those going in her was Sir Ralph Harcourt, one of his companions on the
journey from England.

"So you are to go with us, Gervaise," the young knight said, "to try your

luck for the first time against the infidels. This is my third voyage, and I
hope that it will be more fortunate than its predecessors, for, beyond
picking up two or three small craft, which did not venture upon resistance,

we gained neither honour nor booty. I regard you as having specially good
fortune, and besides being glad that we shall be together, I expect that you

will bring good luck to us, and that we shall meet with foes worth
contending with. The corsairs have been very active of late, and have
captured many prizes, while, on the other hand, our galleys have been

unfortunate, and have but seldom come upon the miscreants."

"How many knights will there be on board?"