A Knight of the White Cross_ A

and hills, and they did not see her until she hoisted her sails and shot out from the land. They were, however, three miles distant from the land at the time, and the wind was blowi

had put out her sweeps. The trader kept up her sails until certain that she could be no long

she must have gone on, the boats were got in, the sails hoisted again, and, taking advantage of every light flaw of wind, they proceeded on their course. In the morning the sails of the galley c

t and the letter from the grand master to the pasha. Going to the residence of the governor, he handed these to him,

the aga, and sending me the amount which Suleiman's son had offered. The young man was not of age when his father was captured, but he is so now, and was therefore

a heavy purse was handed to Gerv

y desert you on your return. Should aught befall you, tell your captors that if they bring you to me I will pay any ransom that they could, in fairness, require. Should they refuse to do this, send

o and take in another, and Suleiman had talked of remaining at Ac

ich Richard the Lion Heart captured, and which so many of the Hospitallers died to defend. I was charged by the grand master not to land, and indeed I feel myself that it would be an act of folly to do so. There are doubtless many on shore who have relatives and frie

, at the suggestion of the governor, laid

feguard is not violated. Sailors are a turbulent race, and were you recognised here they might make a tumult, and slay yo

ed them, and they reached Rhodes without any adventure. Gervaise went at once to the palace, and handed over the pur

have been uneasy about you. Have you fu

ay east, but escaped in the darkness. Save for that, the voyage has been wholly

send out many cruisers. Every life now is precious, and no amount of spoil that can be brought in will counter balance the loss of those who fall. However, I may find some mission on which you can be employed. I know that you love an active lif

, Gervaise was very heartily

ade that you would be captured; but I, for my part, was confident that your good fortune would not des

enture with the pirate, and then describ

ay anythi

e requested that I would not wear the mantle of the Order while in port, as sailors were a turbulent race, and it might lead to an attack upon me; and as he was responsible to the pasha that his safe conduct should be respected, it would be necessary, if I declined to follow his advice, to keep a strong body of soldiers on board

rder. We helped to win it, and we were the last to defend it. We have heard so much about the fortress, and it has been so often described to me

le to make Rhodes impregnable, but nature did nothing for us; there nature has done everything, and the castle looks as if it could defy the assaults of an army, however large. And indeed, it was not wrested from us by force. The knights, when the city walls were stormed and the town filled with their foes fought their way down to the water's

l ever be forced to relinquish

oes not last long, and once again the faithful few would be overwhelmed by the odds that would be brought against them, while Europe looked on impassive, if not indifferent. No, knights; the utmost that can be hoped for, is that the tide of Moslem invasion westward may be stayed. At present we are the bulwark, and as long as the standard of our Order waves over Rhodes so long is Europe safe by sea. But I foresee that this cannot last: the strongest defences, the stoutest hearts, and the bravest of

, for they will more generally understand that our defeat would mean the laying open of the shores of the Mediterranean, from Turkey to Gibraltar, to the invasion of the Moslems. However, comrades, this is all in the future. Our share is but in the present, a

assaults, however numerous the foe, however oft repeated the invasion. The bailiff was, as all knew, a man of dauntless courage, of wide experience and great judgment, and that he should believe that Rhodes would, although not in their time, inevitably fall, brought home to them for the first time the fact that their fortress was but an outpost of Europe, and one placed so distant from it that Christendom, in the hour of peril, might be unable to furnish them with aid. As the bailiff walked away, there was silence for a short time, and

gainst it, though I am sure there is much to be said; but if the bailiff, or the chaplain, or ind

s good as long as I am in the flesh; beyond that I have no concern. But what are we staying here for, wasting our time? It is the hour for those of us who are going, to be starting for the ball given by Signor Succhi; as he is one of the richest merchants in the town, it will be a gay on

e other young knigh

ing of doing, Gerva

f, praying him to send it off by the first vessel that may put in here on her way to Acre. If I do not do it now it may be neglecte

w what shall we do with ourselves? What do you say to

s everything is quiet. You have plenty of light and music, and it is pleasant to see families sitting together and enjoying themselves; and if one is disposed for a cup of wine or of cool sherbet, t

years by myself without making an acquaintance, and I do not pledge myself to join in these intimacies of yours. However, I shall

ph said, with a smile; "and though we are pledged to cel

ise l

have scarcely as much as spoken to a woman since I entered the Hous

to women. It is one of the great duties of chivalry. And you must

women, to admire their beauty, and possibly even to wear the colour of some one, for that seems to be the fas

their way along one of the broad paths that led over the flat roo

lph said, stopping at one of the walls, so

ttered here and there. Lamps were hung to cords stretched above it, while others were arranged among the flowers. In the centre a large carpet was spread, and on this some eight or te

ken with more or less fluency by all the knights, among whom it served as a general medium of communication. "Are you wa

he rose and walked across to Ralph. "You are welcome,

os, if you will also extend your hospita

merchant said. "I

r feet as they went up to the carpet, and greeted Ralph with a warmth

id. "I thought I knew all the knights of the Order by sight, from seeing th

e streets, it is the last thing he would think of doing. I consider myself a good and conscientious young knight, but I am as nothing in that respect to my friend. I used to look upon him as my little brother, fo

Gervaise laughed. "As you have, he says, known him for some time, you m

h an affectation of gravity. "I always tell him that I cannot believe anything he says, and I am

and Gervaise seated themselves. Wine, sherbet, and cakes, were then handed ro

h were knighted together for your valour in that affair with the ships of Hassan Ali. We come from Lesbos. It is no

rtresses of Europe, but it seems to me that no other can well be s

opean potentates. Yes, Rhodes is wonderfully strong. That great fosse would seem as if it could defy the efforts of an army to cross; and yet the past has shown that even the stronges

Gervaise said, "and thinking that it

ere at Acre?" the merch

ansomed. Of course I had a safe conduct, and I was glad

young a knight should have been chosen. Assuredly, even the senior knights of the Order would rejoice

studying hard, and can now speak the language fluently; and as this was a necessity on such a mission, and the few knights w

to Turkey, possess. Do you intend, may I ask, to make Rhodes your home? I ask because I su

y a commandery at home, but I did not enter the Order with any idea of gaining office or dignity. I de

ts have been made to render the town secure, it is clear that in the matter of knights to defend them there is very much left to be desired. It is all very well to say that the knights from all parts of Europe would flock hither to defend it; but the journey would be a long one, and would occupy much time, and they would probably not receive news that the Turks had sailed until the place was already invested. Then it would be difficult, if not altogether impossible, for ships with reinforcements to make their way thr

er the manors and estates of the society throughout Europe, while one-fifth, at most, are here performing the duties to which all are sworn. Of the revenues of the estates themselves, a mere fraction fin

hed and chatted with the ladies and friends of their host. After they had left, with the promise that it would not be long b

alk with him just as you enjoyed talking nonsense to his daughters and list

I don't know whether he is a relative of the family, or a business connection of the merchant's, or a s

hen he appeared to be sitting carelessly sipping his sherbet, he was really trying to listen to what Vrados was saying to me. He could not do

t to listen for, mo

h; but I am certain that

ore sensibly than most of us," Ralph laugh

r spies at Constantinople, and probably the sultan has his spies here;

of any kind. We drop in upon a man who is one of our most respected merchants, whose family has been established here many years, whose interests must be the same as those of the Order; and because a guest of

of the merchant, and that his presence here is perfectly legitimate and natural, than that he should be a spy. Still, there is a chance, if it be but one out of a thousand, that he may be the latter. I don't think that I am at all of a suspicious natu

ugged his

t troubling their heads for a moment as to where people come from or what their business is here, still less whether they are spies.

h, but in going to the merchant's with you this evening. I have had no experience whatever of what you call society, and, so far from it giving me pleasure to talk to strangers, especially to women, it seems to me that such talk is annoying to me, at any rate at present. When I get to your age, possibly my ideas may change. I don't for a moment wish to judge you or others; you apparentl

a war with France. The vow of poverty is long since obsolete. Many of our chief officials are men of great wealth, and indeed, a grand master, or the bailiff of a langue, is expected to spend, and does spend, a sum vastly exceeding his allowance from the Order. The great body of knights are equally lax as to some of their other vows, and carry this to a length that, as you know, has caused grave scandal. But I see not tha

ith the great danger hanging over us, it would be better if, in the first place, we were all to spend less time in idleness or amusement, and to dev

about with my nose in the air, snuffing danger like a hunting dog in pursuit of