Page 81 - A Knight of the White Cross

"That is good news indeed, Boswell," Don Santoval said; "and I would I
had been there to take part in so gallant a fight. It is well you found us here,

for with four prizes on hand, and with half his strength dead or disabled,
Ricord must be in sore need of aid. We will start tomorrow morning at

daybreak. As all the ships were taken, there is little fear of any of the other
pirates hearing news of what has happened."

"I don't know," Sir John replied. "There were, as I told you, some two
hundred pirates left on the island. About half those, we know, seized a

fishing boat and escaped, for they chased us, and we have had as narrow an
escape from death as has ever fallen to my lot, though I have been in over a
score of hard fought battles. The rest may well have taken another fishing

boat and made off also, for we saw several craft along the shores of the
island. If so, they may have made for Hassan Ali's rendezvous, wherever

that may be, just as I made here, and by this time some of his ships may be
on the way there."

"By St. Anthony, this alters the situation gravely!" Don Santoval said.
"Fellow knights, we must lose no time in going to Ricord's assistance. The

slaves have had a long row today, but they must start on another. Let them
have a good meal to strengthen them, and a cup of wine each. Whatever
their scruples at other times, they never refuse wine when there is heavy

work to be done, knowing full well that a draught of it helps them mightily
in their labours. Your men must have rowed well, Sir John, to have brought

you here so quickly?"

"I have promised them their freedom," Sir John said; "and they shall have

it, even if I have to pay their value into the treasury. As I told you, we were
hotly pursued, for the craft with her sail went faster than we with our oars;

and, knowing the importance of bringing the news here, I encouraged them
by promising them their freedom, should we get away. Not only did they
row right manfully, but they proved faithful in our extremity, and, when all

seemed lost, stuck to us instead of deserting and joining the pirates."

"But how did you get away, Sir John, if their craft outsailed you?"