A Knight of the White Cross_ A

ly impressed with the importance of the Order and the honour of their own position, and were constantly in contact with stately knights and grave officials, their manners conform

s at the various royal castles in which Margaret of Anjou and her son had been assigned apartments during their exile. Even at St. John's house

eing considered one of the most important parts of a knight's education that he should have a thorough acquaintance, not only with the laws of chivalry, but with the brave deeds both of f

s whatever of poverty on their part. It was true that they all lived and fed together in the auberges of their respective langues, and that they possessed no houses or establishments of their own; but the magnificence of their armour and attire, and the lavish expenditure of some upon their pleasures, contrasted strangely with the poverty to which they had vowed themselves. It was true that in many cases the means to support the expenditure was derived from the shares the knights received of the plu

being present at Rhodes, they had many advantages in the way of making themselves popular among the electors. The emoluments of some of these provincial bailiwicks were large; and as the bailiffs at Rhodes were generally elected by seniority-although younger knights who had greatly distinguished themselves were sometimes chosen-they were usually glad to res

e appointments. As it was known, however, that Gervaise intended to remain permanently in the Island, his progress was watched with particular attention by his instructors; and, seeing his own earnestness in the matter, they took special pains with his training. The bailiff of Auvergne continued to take much interest in him, inquiring often from the officers in charge of the pages, and from his instructors, of his conduct and progress, and occasionally sending for him to his auberge and talking with him as to his life and progress. Just before his pageship terminated, he said to him, "I was rather puzzled at first, Gervaise, as to what we should do with you when your term of office concluded, but I am so no longer, for, although you are some two years younger than the professed knights who come out here, you are better fitted than the majority to take your place in the naval expeditions, and t

asions. The next day Gervaise took the oaths of the Order in the Church of St. John. The aged master himself received the vows, and formally inducted him as a professed knight of the Order, Peter D'Aubusson and the bailiff of the English langue acting as his sponsors, vouching that he was of nobl

with the bailiff of the English langue to the auberge, and took up his quarters there. By his frequent visits he was well known to all the members, and in a day or two felt as much at home as he had done in the pages' room in the palace. A week was given to him before he was assigned to any special duty, and he was glad

laving in a Turkish galley he would feel a satisfaction at seeing those who had been his tyrants suffering the same fate, he was well aware that this would not be the case, and that his own sufferings would only make him sympathise more deeply with those of others. He had found, soon after his arrival on the Island, that it was best to keep his feelings on this subject to himself. Wh

loyed as servants in the auberges were not to be struck. The lot of these servants was, indeed, very much easier than that of those engaged on the publi

or the most part he was with the slaves working on the fortifications. At the end of that time he was, to his great delight, informed by the bailiff that he was one of the six kn

r three small craft, which did not venture upon resistance, we gained neither honour nor booty. I regard you as having specially good fortune, and besides being glad that we shall be together, I expect that you will bring good luck to us,

hts will there

ne, and we could wish no better, for he has proved himself a good seaman and a brave captain. Two other galleys are to start with us. We are to cruise separately u

other three

nd Adam Tedbond-all, as you know,

message from D'Aubusson, reques

hear from your bailiff that you have bee

at sea. In truth, it is grievous to me to witness the suff

strengthening our fortifications. They have naught to complain of in the way of food. Still, I would myself gladly see their lot alleviated; but we could not afford to keep so great a number of captives in idleness;

em working under the fear of the whip. It is necessary, I know, that such work should be done, but I own that I

work could be obtained without the use of harshness and severity. We ourselves are prepared at any moment to sacrifice our lives for the good of the Order and for the great cause, and it would be wrong, nay, sinful, not to use the means that have been placed ready to our hand. Now, Sir Gervaise, I wish you a pleasant voyage. You will find the life somewhat hard, after your three years' residence at the palace, bu

. The knights occupied the great cabins in the poop. There were two tiers of these; the upper one contained the little cabin of the commander, while the rest of the space on this deck, and that below it, was used by the knights in common. In th

se learnt that they were to cruise between the mainland and the islands. Some of

n, was infested by pirates, fitted out, for the most part, on the mainland. These, when in force, openly kept the sea, attacking the Christian merchant ships, but when cruising alone they hid in unfrequented bays, or behind uninhabited islets, until they could pounce upon a passing ship whose size promised an easy capture. The Order of St. Joh

said, as they stood together on the po

toiling at the fortifications! There is only one drawback to my pleasure. I wish that we ca

under such circumstances!" Ralph said, laughing.

een brought in since I have been at Rhodes carry masts and sails, as well as oars, and, as I unde

risk wind were blowing, the mast and sails would but check her progress when the oars were out, and at any rate constrain her to travel only before the wind. I know your weakness about the slaves, Gervaise; but as we could neither build ou

say you. Still I would rather that we were gliding

re starting, tell the slave overseers that so long as the rowers did fair work they were not to use the

able to enjoy the voyage all the more, now you

ccasion for speed; often they lay all day in some bay, where they could approach near enough to the shore to lie in the shade of trees, while two or three of the knights ascended a hill and kept watch there for the appearance of any vessels of a suspicious character. One morning, after passing the night at anchor, Harcourt and Gervaise were despatched just before sunrise to take a look round before the galley got und

vaise? Yes, I see it; it is

be it is but a hut that has accidentally caught fire, but i

hat it is a village which has been attacked by pirates who have landed on the

run and they st

owers of the boat that had brough

ds from the shore. Those on board had noticed the young knights running down the hill, and, marking the sp

, Sir Ralph?" the commander

that it is far too extensive a fire to be the result of an accident, for there was no smoke until within two or three minutes of the time we left

two or three minutes the anchor was weighed, t

rto we have exacted no toil from you, but you have to work n

d the galley sped rapidly through the water. On rounding the end of the island there was an exclamati

the suddenness with which it broke out, it is clear that it must have been fired

e top of the hill we should assure

ight, and row round behind it. There are two others almost adjoining it. Once past these, 'tis not more than half a mile to that island stretching away south. Once round that, we shall be beyond the one from which we see the smoke rising, and can come down on its south

and orders were given to

commander said. "We may have a long chase

oard, everything was made in readiness for a fight: the knights buckled on their armour, the cooks set cauldrons of pitch over the fire, the cannoneers loaded her eight guns. It was an hour and a half after their start before they rou

he island with their booty and captives, and even if they made straight away after having fired the village, their ship could have gone no great d

hard. We may have a chase yet, and need all their strength, for most of these pirates are fast craft

miles long, the shore being for the most part steep, but here and there falling gradually to the water's

w the flames. "That cannot have been lighted long, and we are pretty

the woods. There was a sharp point just before they reached the southeastern extremity of the island, and as the galley shot past this, a shout of exultation rose from the knights, for, near the mouth of an inlet th

smoke shot out from the side of one of them, followed almost immediately by a general discharge of their cannon. One ball tore along the waist of the galley, killing six of the rowers, and several oars on both sides were broken. Two balls passed through the cabins in the poop. But there was no pause in th

brought up alongside the largest of them and a broadside poured into

by their armour and long shields from the blows of their enemies' scimitars and daggers, their long, cross handled swords fell with irresistible force on turbaned head and coat-of-mail, and, maintaining regular order and advancing like a wall of steel along the deck, they drove the Moslems before them, and the combat would

ts of Spain, finish with these miscreants; knights of Germany and Provence keep ba

ept 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 Prove

. "Do you, Don Pedro, and your comrades, aid Ricord. When

Moslems, who had already obtained a footing. For a time the five knights kept back the surging mass of their foes.

n arrow from a Moslem marksman, and before the others co

of the pirate officers who sprang at him. "Sir Louis will soon finish his work, and be here to our aid. Ah

n vain endeavoured to break their line. Again and again they flung themselves upon the knights, only to be beaten off with heavy loss. At length a loud cheer arose from the galley, and Sir Louis Ricord, with the knights of Auvergne and Spain having cleared the galley of their foes, and carried the pirate that had grappled with her, sprang on to the deck of the ship, and fell upon the throng that were attacking the knights there, oblivious of what was going on elsewhe