“Now,” he said, as soon as silence was a little restored, “the knights of the langues on board the prizes will send at once to the coaster on the left of the other two.  Sir Ralph will go there now, and supply each with materials for making the mantles for the Christians; he has brought thread, and fish bone needles.  You will see that the stuff is cut up into suitable lengths, and handed over to your crews, and that each man makes up his mantle.  There can be but little sewing required for these sleeveless gowns, nor need it be carefully done.  The great thing is that the white crosses shall be conspicuous.  As soon as you have set them to work, you will examine the state of the arms, see how many more are needed to complete the list, and then send off to Sir Ralph, who will furnish as many as are required:  the fishermen have brought their own weapons.  See that the slaves are all well fed today, and, before evening, inspect well their fetters, so that you may be free from all anxiety as to an attempt by them to escape during the conflict.

“The rest of you will go on board these native craft, and see that the combustibles are fairly distributed among them, the wood and straw soaked with pitch and oil, as also the sails and ropes, and that the decks are well coated; this is a most important duty.  Get some torches made also, so that there shall be two on board each craft; these are to be lighted the last thing before we get to the point, and will be thrown down into the straw and faggots in the hold, by the fishermen when they get close to the corsairs.  All this can be prepared before our morning meal, and when you assemble here I hope to receive your reports that everything is in readiness.  One of the other coasters has some bullocks on board.  Sir Ralph will send one to each of the prizes, and one to us.  They had better be killed and cut up at once, in order that the crews may have two good meals today of fresh meat.  See that the galley slaves have their share.”

No time was lost in carrying out the orders.  Ralph, as soon as the cloth, arms, and meat were distributed, went round in a boat to see that the combustibles were properly laid for firing, and everything done to insure that the flames should spread rapidly.  The Sards shared in the work, and rations and wine were distributed to them; and when the knights sat down to their meal on board the galley, they were able to report that everything was in perfect readiness, and that the work of sewing the mantles was making good progress.

The day passed slowly to the young knights, all of whom were burning with excitement at the thought of the coming fray.  The released Christians were no less exultant at the prospect of taking vengeance for the sufferings they had so long endured, and the scene on board all four ships was most animated.