“That will check them a bit.  Now let us be off,” Sir John Boswell said, and they at once started.  After crossing a hundred yards of bare rock they stood at the edge of another slope into a deep valley, beyond which rose the central hill of the island.  The valley ran right across, and was filled with trees extending to the sea at either end.  Running rapidly down, the knights were within the shelter of the wood before the Moslems had reached the brow behind them.  A minute later they heard the shouts of their enemies.  Once in the wood they turned to the left, and in a few minutes stood on the sea shore.  It was a little bay some two hundred yards across, and at either point the cliffs rose abruptly from the water.

“We shall have to swim round the point,” Sir John said.

“Take off your mail shirts.  We will make our way along the rocks as far as we can, and then drop them into the sea, otherwise they will know that we have taken to the water.”

They hurried along the rocks, and were able to make their way to within fifty yards of the point; then, throwing their mail shirts into the sea, they plunged in.  All knew the importance of getting round before any of the pirates, who would be searching the valley, came down on the shore, and they swam their hardest until they rounded the corner.  The wood rang with the shouts of their pursuers, but no yell had risen from the water’s edge.  A hundred yards farther, and they were able to land, and were in a short time in the shelter of the trees that fringed the water to the point where they had left the boat.  There was no longer any occasion for speed, and they made their way through the thick bushes and undergrowth quietly, until they recovered breath after their exertions.  They had gone a few hundreds yards when from the bushes the slaves suddenly rose up.

“All has gone well,” Sir John said to them in their own language.  “The pirates are searching for us on the other side of the hill.  There are not likely to be many of them left here.  We shall soon be in possession of our boat again.”

Followed by the slaves, they made their way forward until they stood at the edge of the wood.  Five or six pirates were standing on the shore.

“I expect they have been left there,” Harcourt said, “to prevent the slaves from carrying off the boat.  They must have seen them run into the wood.  They won’t reckon on our being with them.”

Drawing their swords, the three knights rushed out, followed by the slaves.  They had but a hundred yards to run.  The pirates, on seeing them, raised a yell and drew their scimitars; but the sight of the knights rushing upon them, when they had expected but a few unarmed rowers, was too much for their courage, and when their assailants were still fifty yards away they turned and fled.  The fishing craft had been run ashore but a few yards from their boat.

“Get her afloat, Harcourt, and bring her to the stern of the fisherman.  Now, Tresham, follow me.”