“This is delightful, Ralph,” Gervaise said, as they stood together on the poop, looking back at the receding city.

“What a pleasant change it is from standing in the broiling sun watching those poor wretches toiling at the fortifications!  There is only one drawback to my pleasure.  I wish that we carried sails, and were moved along by the breeze, instead of by the exertions of the slaves.”

“Much chance we should have of catching a pirate under such circumstances!” Ralph said, laughing.  “You might as well set a tortoise to catch a hare.”

“I don’t say that we should not be obliged to carry rowers, Ralph; but all the prizes that have been brought in since I have been at Rhodes carry masts and sails, as well as oars, and, as I understand, for the most part cruise about under sail, and only use the oars when chasing or fleeing.”

“That is so; because, you see, in most cases the crew themselves have to row, and I have no doubt if we had no slaves to do the work we should soon take to masts and sails also; but for speed the rowing galleys are the best, for unless a brisk wind were blowing, the mast and sails would but check her progress when the oars were out, and at any rate constrain her to travel only before the wind.  I know your weakness about the slaves, Gervaise; but as we could neither build our fortifications nor row our galleys without them, I cannot go as far as you do in the matter, though I own that I am sometimes sorry for them.  But you must remember that it is the fault of their people, and not of ours, that they are here.”

“All that is true enough, Ralph, and I cannot gainsay you.  Still I would rather that we were gliding along with sails instead of being rowed by slaves.”

“At any rate, Gervaise, you will not see them ill treated, for I myself heard Ricord, just before we were starting, tell the slave overseers that so long as the rowers did fair work they were not to use their whips, and that only if we were in chase of a pirate were they to be urged to their utmost exertions.”

“I am right glad to hear it, Ralph, and shall be able to enjoy the voyage all the more, now you have told me that such orders have been issued.”

For a fortnight they cruised about among the islands.  Several times boats rowed out from the shore to the galley with complaints of outrages by pirates under a notorious corsair named Hassan Ali, who had landed, burnt villages, killed many of the inhabitants, and carried off the rest as slaves; but no one could give any clue to aid them in their search for the corsairs.  The time passed very pleasantly.  There was no occasion for speed; often they lay all day in some bay, where they could approach near enough to the shore to lie in the shade of trees, while two or three of the knights ascended a hill and kept watch there for the appearance of any vessels of a suspicious character.  One morning, after passing the night at anchor, Harcourt