Gervaise had charged Ralph to say nothing about the object of his mission, and the general supposition was that he had sailed to endeavour to purchase some bullocks, as the supply of meat was nearly exhausted.  Ralph himself had let drop a few words to this effect, and had indeed been charged by Gervaise to bring off a few oxen if they could be obtained without loss of time.  Gervaise was on deck at midnight, and soon afterwards the beat of oars was heard.  It was a still night, and one of the knights on watch remarked to him, “It seems to me, Sir Gervaise, that the sound is a confused one, and that there must be several vessels rowing.  Shall I call up our companions?  It may be that it is the pirate fleet coming out.”

“You need not do that,” Gervaise replied.  “I am expecting Sir Ralph to bring back with him some fishing boats, for which I think I can find a use.  We should have heard before this if the corsairs had been putting out.  Fosco is in his boat watching the mouth of the inlet, and would have started with the news had there been any stir on board their galleys.”

It was a quarter of an hour before a number of dark objects entered the little bay.  As soon as they did so, they ceased rowing, and the splashes of the anchors as they fell into the water were heard.  Then came the sound of a boat’s oars, and Ralph was soon alongside.

“I see that you have succeeded, Ralph.”

“There is no fear of failing when one is ready to pay the full value of what one wants to get.  I have bought three coasters and eight fishing boats, and have a sufficient store of pitch and oil, with plenty of straw and faggots.  There was no difficulty in getting men to come with me.  As soon as they heard that a fleet of eighteen Moorish galleys was in the next bay, they were ready enough to aid in any plan for their destruction, for they knew well enough that some of them would be sure to make raids all along the coast, sacking and burning, and carrying off men, women, and children, as slaves.  I said I only wanted two men for each craft, but so many were willing to come that I have some thirty more than the number I asked for, and we can divide these among us.  They are strong, active looking fellows.”

“We will keep them here then, Ralph.  You see, there are one-and-twenty of our knights in the three prizes, and as we lost two in the capture, and four others are not fit to put on armour, we have but six-and-twenty, and the addition will be very welcome.  What are they armed with?”

“They have bows and arrows, and long pikes and axes.”

“Good.  Have you managed to collect any more arms?”

“Yes.  The people are all charcoal burners and woodmen in winter, and I was therefore able to get together some thirty or forty axes and hatchets, which will be ample, with the arms we took from the Moors, to equip the ninety Christians.”

“I think we can depend upon these for fighting, Ralph.”