Page 66 - A Knight of the White Cross

they drove the Moslems before them, and the combat would soon have
terminated had not a shout been raised by one of the overseers of the slaves.

One of the other ships had rowed alongside the galley, and the crew were
already leaping on board it. At the same moment another ship came up

alongside that they had boarded, while the fourth was maneuvering to bring
up under her stern.

"Sir John Boswell," Sir Louis shouted, "do you and your countrymen, with
the knights of Spain, finish with these miscreants; knights of Germany and

Provence keep back the boarders; knights of Auvergne follow me," and he
leapt down into the galley.

The English and Spanish knights redoubled their exertions. The Moslems
endeavoured to rally, seeing that help was at hand, and that but a small

body were now opposed to them, but their numbers availed little. The ten
knights kept their line, and, hewing their way forward, pressed them so
hotly that the Turks broke and sprang over the bulwarks into the sea. Then

the knights looked round. A fierce fight was going on between those of
Germany and Provence and the enemy, who strove desperately to board

from the ship alongside. The other vessel was now almost touching the
stern, and her crew were swarming to her side in readiness to leap on board
as soon as the vessels touched.

"We will keep them at bay there," Sir John Boswell shouted. "Do you, Don

Pedro, and your comrades, aid Ricord. When his foes are finished with, you
can come back to help us."

Then, with the four English knights, he ran along the deck, and reached the
stern just in time to hurl backwards the Moslems, who had already obtained

a footing. For a time the five knights kept back the surging mass of their
foes. The deck was wide enough for each to have fair play for his sword,
and in vain the pirates strove to obtain a footing.

At last Sir Marmaduke Lumley fell, severely wounded by an arrow from a

Moslem marksman, and before the others could close the gap a score of
pirates leapt on to the deck.