He hurried to D’Aubusson, who was standing a short distance apart from the others, gazing at the Turkish fleet.  A minute later he was running down the hill to the town, accompanied by three or four other knights; they made direct for the outer port, where two galleys were lying in readiness, leapt on board one of them, which already contained its quota of knights, and at once rowed out of the port.  Just as they did so the Turkish galley fired a gun.

“I fear we shall be too late,” Sir John said; “the Turk is gaining fast on the other craft, whatever she may be.  There goes another gun.  Row your hardest!” he shouted down to the slaves.

The Turkish ship did not fire again; the wind was light, and they were going two feet through the water to every one sailed by the other craft.  The galley from Rhodes was still half a mile away when the Turk was close to the boat that was trying to escape.  Sir John and the knights chafed as they saw they would be too late.

“I can’t make out why the boat did not use her oars,” the former said.  “Of course, she could not have kept away from the galley, but if she had rowed it would have made some difference, and we might have been nearly up.”

“I can only see one man on board of her, Sir John,” one of the younger knights said; and two or three others murmured that they were of the same opinion.

“The others must be lying down; she cannot have less than from fifteen to twenty men.  The Turk is close alongside.  They still hold on.  There!  She has gone about and escaped the attempt to run her down.  Now she is heading for us again!  Brave fellows! brave fellows!” Sir John exclaimed, while a cheer broke from those around him; “but they have done for themselves.  They must have seen us coming out, and if they had surrendered might have hoped to have been retaken.  Their chance of getting quarter was truly not great, for expecting —­ as the Turks do —­ to carry off both us and all the inhabitants of the Island, a dozen fishermen would have seemed to them scarcely worth keeping.  However, by holding on they have thrown away any chance they may have had.  The Turks are alongside; they are leaping down into the little craft.  Ah!  Two more galleys have just left their fleet, and are heading here.”

“See, Sir John,” one of the knights exclaimed, “there is a single man standing in the bow of that craft:  he is facing the Moors alone.  See how they crowd there; you can see the weapons flashing in the sun.  They have to press past the mast to get at him, and as yet he seems to hold them all at bay.”

“He has chosen his post well, D’Urville.  The number of his assailants prevents the archers on the Turkish craft using their bows.  Fire those bow guns!” he shouted to the knights forward:  “Take steady aim at the galley.  It will distract their attention.”

“Nobly done indeed!” one of the other knights shouted.  “I have seen him strike down four of the Turks.”