“We might be days, or even weeks, before we light upon Visconti’s galley, Gervaise, and even when we found it, he might not consider himself justified in leaving the coast where he is stationed.  Besides, while we are spending our time looking for him, the pirates will be committing terrible depredations.  It must be a big expedition, under some notorious pirate, or they would never venture so far north.”

“Then you think that I should be justified in pursuing them alone.  It is a fearful responsibility to have to decide.”

“I think so, Gervaise.  There is no saying what misfortunes might happen if we did not venture to do so.”

“Very well then, so be it.  But before deciding finally on so grave a matter, I will lay it before the company.”

“There is no doubt as to what their decision will be,” Ralph said, with a smile.

“Perhaps not, Ralph; but as they will be called upon to risk their lives in a dangerous enterprise, it is as well that they should have a say in the matter.”

When they returned on to the poop, there was an expression of eagerness and excitement on the faces of the young knights which showed how anxiously they had been awaiting the result of the conference below.  Gervaise stepped on to a bench, and motioned to them to close up round him.

“Comrades,” he said, “although the responsibility of whatever course may be taken must rest upon my shoulders, yet I think it but right that, as a general before a battle often calls a council of war to assist him with its advice, so I should lay before you the two courses open to us, and ask your opinion upon them.  Sir Ralph Harcourt and I are of one mind in the matter, but as the decision is a grave one we should be loath to act upon it without your concurrence.”

He then repeated the alternatives as he had laid them before Ralph.  “Now,” he went on, “as you see, there is grave danger, and much risk in the one course; but if successful its advantages are obvious.  On the other hand, the second plan is more sure, more prudent, and more in accordance with the instructions I have received.  I ask you to let me know frankly your opinion on the subject.  If your view agrees with ours, although it will not relieve me from the responsibility of deciding, it will at least, in the event of things turning out badly, be a satisfaction to know that the course had your approval, and that it was your desire, as well as ours, that we should undertake it.  First, then, let all who are in favour of following the pirates go to the starboard side of the deck, while those who are in favour of joining Visconti, and laying this serious matter we have discovered before him, move to the larboard side.”

There was a rush of the knights to the right, and not one moved to the other side.

“Your decision is the same as ours,” Gervaise said.  “To the north, then!  If there is great peril in the adventure, there is also great honour to be gained.”