Orders were given to the rowers to quicken their pace, and in little over an hour they were alongside the hull.  As soon as the vessels were close enough for those on the poop of the galley to look down on to the deck of the other craft, it was seen that Ralph’s suppositions were correct.  Two bodies lay stretched upon it.  One was crushed under the fallen mast; the other lay huddled up in a heap, a cannon ball having almost torn him asunder.  The knights leapt on to the deck as soon as the galley ran alongside.  Gervaise made first for the man lying beneath the mast; as he came up to him, the sailor opened his eyes and murmured, “Water!” Gervaise called out to one of the servants to bring water from the galley, and, as soon as it came, poured some between the man’s lips, and the knights by their united efforts lifted the mast from across his body.  It was evident, however, that he had but a short time to live, and the dew of death was on his face.  After a few minutes he rallied a little, and looked gratefully at his rescuers.

“You have been attacked by pirates,” Gervaise said.  “Was there one galley, or two?”

“Three galleys,” the man replied in a faint whisper.

“Do you know where they were from?”

“Tripoli.”

“How long ago?”

“It was about three hours after sunrise when we saw them coming up,” the man said, his voice gaining in strength, as some wine they gave him took effect.  “It was useless to fight, and I hauled down our flag, but in spite of that one of the pirates fired a broadside, and one of the shot hit the mast and brought it down, and I was crushed under it.  They boarded us, took off all the crew as captives, and emptied the hold; I knew that I was done for, and begged them to kill me; but they paid no attention.  I know a little of their language, and as I lay there I caught something of what they were saying; they are bound for the Island of Sardinia, where they have a rendezvous, and are to join a great gathering of their consorts.  I don’t know the name of the place, but it is on the east coast.  More water!”

Gervaise knelt to pour some water between his lips, when he gave a sudden cry, a shudder ran through his frame, and he was dead.

“Let us return on board, gentlemen,” Gervaise said, rising to his feet.  “We can do nothing here.”

As soon as he regained the deck of the galley, he signed to Ralph to follow him below.

“Now, Ralph,” he said, “this is one of those cases in which we have to decide whether we ought or ought not to be prudent.  From what that poor fellow said, the pirates have about five hours’ start of us, and as they can have no idea that they are pursued, we can doubtless overtake them before they reach Sardinia.  The question is, ought we to pursue them at once, or ought we to coast along until we find Visconti’s galley?  Three of these Tripoli pirates, crowded as they always are with men, would prove serious opponents, yet we might engage them with a fair hope of victory.  But we may be seriously disabled in the fight, and should be, perhaps, unable to carry the news to Genoa that there are many pirate ships gathering on the coast of Sardinia to prey upon their commerce.”