“They need not be ashamed of the feeling,” Caretto said.  “Is it not the ardent desire of all true knights to do gallant deeds, and do they not value above all things the guerdon of applause from the fair eyes of ladies.  Your comrades have performed the gallant deeds, and well deserve the reward.  Now, Sir Gervaise, if not for this reason, at any rate for the others that have been brought forward, I suppose we are all agreed that we sail for Genoa.  For our part we are heartily glad that such is your decision.  We, and the young knights of our langue, have many friends there, and in their name I am sure I can promise you a reception as hearty and sincere as that which we shall ourselves receive.”

It was settled that the rescued captives should be divided equally among the thirteen prizes, and that three knights should go in each.  The Moorish captives were also divided equally among them, to aid with the sails, and to row a few oars, in case of a dead calm setting in.  The commands were distributed according to seniority, the three rescued Italian knights remaining on board the Santa Barbara with Gervaise.

The Sards were anxious to return to their villages, in order to carry the news that several hundreds of Moorish pirates had landed.

“We shall have great trouble with them,” one of the young fishermen, who spoke a little Italian, said to Gervaise.  “There are always a great number of swine, and herds of goats, up among the forests on the hills.  We must send up and drive in as many of these as possible, and of course we shall send messengers to Tempe; but it will need a very large force to combat these pirates, who will be able to come down and plunder and destroy, and then retire to the hills, whence it will be hard to dislodge them.”

“I am sorry indeed that such trouble should have been caused to you,” Gervaise replied; “but I am afraid that I can give you no assistance.”

“We shall hunt them down in time,” the Sard said confidently.

“There are many villages scattered about Tempe, and what with us fishermen, and the woodmen and charcoal burners, we shall soon get a strong body together.  Besides, we know the mountains, and they do not.”

“I should say that you had best avoid a pitched battle with them, but keep on harassing them by night and day, cutting off all who separate themselves from the main body, until at last they are completely worn out.”

“We shall deal with them, Sir Knight.  We are all hunters, for there are wild boars and stags in the forest, and wolves too, and wild sheep on the higher mountains.  Every man among us can use his bow skillfully, and wield pike and hatchet.  The hunt will not be unprofitable, either, for we can get a good price for all we take alive, to work in the mines.”