“I wonder whether the Turks will ever be forced to relinquish their hold of the holy places?”

“Who can tell, Sir Giles?” the bailiff, who had come up to the group unobserved, said quietly.  “Certainly not in our time —­ not until the Moslem power, which threatens not only us, but all Europe, has crumbled to dust.  So long as Acre remains in their power there is no hope.  I say not but that by a mighty effort of all Christendom, Palestine might be wrested from the infidels, as it was wrested before; but the past shows us that while men or nations can be stirred to enthusiasm for a time, the fire does not last long, and once again the faithful few would be overwhelmed by the odds that would be brought against them, while Europe looked on impassive, if not indifferent.  No, knights; the utmost that can be hoped for, is that the tide of Moslem invasion westward may be stayed.  At present we are the bulwark, and as long as the standard of our Order waves over Rhodes so long is Europe safe by sea.  But I foresee that this cannot last:  the strongest defences, the stoutest hearts, and the bravest of hearts, cannot in the long run prevail against overpowering numbers.  As at Acre, we may repel assault after assault, we may cause army after army to betake themselves again to their ships; but, as a rock is overwhelmed by the rising tide, so must Rhodes succumb at last, if left by Europe to bear alone the brunt of Moslem invasion.  All that men can do we shall do.  As long as it is possible to resist, we shall resist.  When further resistance becomes impossible, we shall, I trust, act as we did before.

“We were driven from Palestine, only to fortify ourselves at Rhodes.  If we are driven from Rhodes, we shall, I feel assured, find a home elsewhere, and again commence our labours.  The nearer we are to Europe the more hope there is that Christendom will aid us, for they will more generally understand that our defeat would mean the laying open of the shores of the Mediterranean, from Turkey to Gibraltar, to the invasion of the Moslems.  However, comrades, this is all in the future.  Our share is but in the present, and I trust the flag of the Order will float over Rhodes as long, at least, as the lifetime of the youngest of us, and that we may bequeath the duty of upholding the Cross untarnished to those who come after us; and we can then leave the issue in God’s hands.”

All listened respectfully to the words of their leader, although his opinion fell like cold water upon the fiery zeal and high hopes of his hearers.  The possibility of their losing Rhodes had never once entered into the minds of the majority of them.  It was likely that ere long they might be called upon to stand a siege, but, acquainted as they were with the strength of the place —­ its deep and seemingly impassable moat, its massive walls, and protecting towers and bastions —­ it had seemed to them that Rhodes was capable of withstanding