Page 68 - A Knight of the White Cross

CHAPTER V

SCOURGES OF THE SEA

Breathless and faint from their tremendous exertions, the knights removed
their helmets.

"By St. Mary," Sir Louis said, "this has been as hard a fight as I have ever

been engaged in, and well may we be content with our victory! Well
fought, my brave comrades! Each of these vessels must have carried twice
our number at least, and we have captured four of them; but I fear the cost

has been heavy."

Seven knights had fallen, struck down by sword, arrow, or thrust of spear.
Of the rest but few had escaped unwounded, for, strong as was their
armour, the keen Damascus blades of the Moslems had in many cases cut

clean through it, and their daggers had found entry at points where the
armour joined; and, now that the fight was over, several of the knights sank

exhausted on the deck from loss of blood.

But the dressing of wounds formed part of a knight of St. John's training.

Those who were unwounded unbuckled the armour and bandaged the
wounds. Others fetched wine and water from the galley. The chains of the

galley slaves were removed, and these were set to clear the decks of the
Moslem corpses. The anchors were dropped, for what little wind there was
drifted them towards the shore. They had learned from a dying pirate that

the vessels were part of the fleet of Hassan Ali, a fact that added to the
satisfaction felt by the knights at their capture, as this man was one of the

most dreaded pirates of the Levant. They learnt that he himself had not
been present, the expedition being under the command of one of his
lieutenants, who had fallen in the fight.

"Now, comrades, let us in the first place take food; we have not broken our

fast this morning. Then let us consider what had best be done, for indeed
we have got as much in our hands as we can manage; but let us leave that
till we eat and drink, for we are faint from want of food and from our