Page 86 - A Knight of the White Cross

from her side, and, immediately hauling in the sheets of the big sail, began
at once to draw away, while her three consorts made for the mouth of the

bay.

"Back to your galley, comrades," Piccolomini shouted, "or with this brisk
wind they will escape us."

The knights at once crossed on to their own craft, the oars were got out, and
the chase began. A minute or two later Don Santoval followed them, but

soon gave up, as so large a number of the oars had been broken when the
two pirate ships ran alongside him, that it would have been hopeless to
pursue. The wind was blowing freshly, and was rapidly increasing in

strength, so that, in spite of the efforts of the galley slaves, the pirates
gradually drew away, running straight before the wind, and aiding the

effects of the sails with oars. Seeing the hopelessness of the chase,
Piccolomini abandoned it, after rowing for two miles, and returned to the
island. The other two galleys were lying beside each other, and Piccolomini

had his craft steered alongside them.

"Thanks, Piccolomini, for arriving so opportunely," Santoval, who was
seated on the deck leaning against the bulwarks, said, as his fellow
commander leapt on board, and came towards him.

"Would that I had arrived sooner, Santoval, for I see that you have been

grievously wounded!"

"Ay. One of the paynims' cannonballs has carried off both my legs below

the knee. The leech has been searing the wounds with a hot iron, and says
that he thinks I shall get over it; but if so I fear that my fighting days are

past, unless, indeed, I fight seated on a chair. However, I ought not to
grumble. I have lost many brave comrades, and others are wounded more
sorely than I am."

Sir Louis Ricord now joined them. He embraced Piccolomini warmly.