Page 90 - A Knight of the White Cross

eighty men made their way down the hill. On reaching the beach they were
disarmed, divided equally between the galleys, and distributed among the

rowers, filling up the places of those who had been killed by the fire of the
Moslems, and of the men drafted into the prizes. They begged for food and

water before they began work, and, on being questioned, admitted that their
surrender was due principally to the fact that they had been unable to find
food of any sort on the island, and that after searching all over it no spring

of water could be discovered.

"In that case," Sir John Boswell said, "I have no doubt they have all
surrendered. I before thought it probable that a good many of them would
have remained hidden, trusting to be able to make a raft after we had left,

and so get away, believing rightly enough that we should be disinclined to
search every foot of the island for them. As it is, I doubt not, all are here."

The little fleet anchored that night at the rendezvous, and after two more
days' rowing reached Rhodes, where the appearance of the three galleys,

followed by their five prizes, was greeted with great acclamation. The
news, however, that twenty-seven knights had fallen, and that thirteen or

fourteen others were very gravely wounded, damped the satisfaction that
every one had at first felt. D'Aubusson came down as soon as they reached
the mole, and was greatly affected when he received Ricord's report.

"It is an unfortunate loss indeed, Sir Louis," he said, "though it may be that

the victory is not too dearly purchased. I do not speak of the captured ships,
nor of the spoil they contain, nor even of the slaves you have brought us,
welcome though all may be, but of the effect that the defeat and capture of

these craft of Hassan Ali's will have. It is plain that the preparations the
sultan is making, and the belief that Rhodes is doomed, have so encouraged

the infidels that they are becoming really formidable at sea. This blow will
show them that the Order has yet power to sweep the sea of pirates. Since,
however, this adventure has taught us that a single leader like Hassan sails

with at least nine ships under his orders, it is clear that in future our galleys
must not adventure singly among the islands. It was fortunate indeed that

first Santoval, and then Piccolomini, arrived to your assistance. How was it
that they happened to come up so opportunely?"