by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER VII A FIRST COMMAND
The first news that the knights heard on their return from theirexpedition was that the Grand Master Orsini was seriously ill, and that,at his advanced age, the doctors feared there was little hope of hisrallying. Gervaise felt a keen regret on hearing that the kind andgentle old man, who had been for three years his master, was at thepoint of death. Nevertheless, it was generally felt among the knightsthat, in view of the dangers that threatened Rhodes, it was for the goodof the Order that a strong and capable man, whom all respected, and whopossessed their entire confidence, should at such a time be investedwith absolute power.
D'Aubusson had, indeed, for some years been the real head of thecommunity, but every question had, if only as a matter of form, tobe referred to the grand master, in order to obtain his approval andsignature. In the state of feebleness to which he had for some monthspast fallen, much time was frequently lost before he could be made tounderstand the questions referred to him. Moreover, orders of D'Aubussoncould be appealed against, his views thwarted, and his authorityquestioned; and it was therefore felt that, much as they all respectedthe old grand master, it would be an advantage to the Order when thesupreme authority passed into the hands of D'Aubusson.
Four days after the return of the expedition Orsini died. A few hourslater the grand council was convened, and D'Aubusson unanimouslyelected grand master of the Order. The ceremony of the funeral of hispredecessor was an imposing one. Every knight of the Order in Rhodes waspresent, together with a number of the leading natives of the Island;and although Gervaise had, since his arrival on the Island, seen manystately ceremonies, this far surpassed anything he had previouslybeheld.
Gervaise had, at one of his first interviews with D'Aubusson after hisarrival at the Island, been advised by him to acquire some knowledge ofTurkish.
"There are but few knights of the Order who speak the language," hesaid. "As a rule, while young men are ready to devote any amount of timeto acquiring dexterity in all martial exercises, they will bestow nolabour in obtaining knowledge that may be fully as useful to them asskill in arms. In our dealings with the Turks, one or other party hasto employ an interpreter, and it is often by no means certain that thesemen convey the full meaning of the speeches they translate. Again, wehave large numbers of Turkish slaves, and it is highly to be desiredthat the knights should be able to give their orders to these men intheir own language. Lastly, a knight who has been taken prisoner by theTurks--and even the bravest might meet with such a misfortune--wouldfind it an alleviation of his lot, and might be able to plan and carryout his escape, did he speak Turkish well. I should strongly counsel youto acquire a knowledge of the tongue."
Gervaise had intended to follow the advice of the grand prior, but theduties of his office as page, and the time required for his militaryexercises and his studies with the chaplain, had rendered it well nighimpossible, during the first three years, to turn his attention tolearning Turkish. As soon as his pageship was at an end, and he foundthat his duties included supervision of Turkish slaves, he felt the wantof a knowledge of the language, and from that time devoted an hour a dayto its study, employing one of the servants of the auberge, who was aman of rank and education at home, to instruct him.
While he conscientiously spent this amount of time at the work, it wasthe most disagreeable portion of this day's labour. The events, however,that had taken place during the expedition had impressed him greatlywith the utility of a knowledge of Turkish, for had it not been for SirJohn Boswell's possessing some acquaintance with the language, it wouldhave been impossible to communicate with the rowers of their boat, orto have arranged the plan by which they had escaped the pirates. He hadthen and there determined that as soon as he returned to Rhodes he wouldtake the matter up in a very different spirit to that in which he beforeapproached it. He had on the way home spoken to Sir John, who had highlyapproved of the determination.
"I myself, when I was a young knight of eighteen, was taken captive,twenty-six years ago, at the time when the Egyptian fleet appearedbefore Rhodes. Our galleys advanced to attack them, but under cover ofnight they retired, and proceeding to the mainland took shelter underthe guns of a Turkish fort. We attacked them there; it was a desperateengagement, but without any decisive advantage on either side. We lostno less than sixty knights, the Egyptians seven hundred men; and theirfleet returned to Egypt. I and three others who were left wounded on thedeck of one of their ships we had boarded, but failed to capture, werecarried to Egypt, and remained there captive for six months, when wewere ransomed by the Order.
"During that time I learnt enough of their language, which is akin toTurkish, to be able to make myself understood and to understand what wassaid to me. I have kept up that much for intercourse with the slavesand servants at Rhodes, and have found it very useful. I consider, then,that you will do well to acquire their tongue; it will be useful notonly to yourself, but to others, and when we get back I will, if youlike, ask the bailiff to free you from all duty in order that you maydevote yourself to it."
The head of the langue at once granted Sir John's request.
"I would," he said, "that more of our young knights would give a portionof their time to study; but most of them look to returning home whentheir term of service here has expired. Many think only of amusement,and all imagine that advancement is best achieved by valour. Tresham hasalready distinguished himself very greatly; so much so, that I thinkit would be well if he did not go on another expedition for a time, butstayed here while others have the opportunity of doing the same. Were weto send him out with the next galleys that start, I should be accused offavouritism, and the lad, who is now deservedly popular with all, wouldbe regarded with envy, and possibly even with dislike.
"At the same time, after what he has done I should have difficulty inrefusing, were he to volunteer to sail in the next galley that sets out.The desire, then, on his part to learn Turkish is in all ways opportune.It will, too, in the long run be of great advantage to him in the Order,will give him weight, and bring him into prominence. I do not thinkthere are six in the Order who can fairly translate a Turkish document;there are but two who could write a reply in the same language. Informhim, then, that from the present time he will be excused from all work,except, of course, to join in ceremonials when all are required to bepresent; and if you, Sir John, will pick out from among the servitorshere one who is well instructed and educated, and capable of writing aswell as reading his language, I will similarly relieve him of all otherwork, and place him at the disposal of young Tresham. Tell the lad thatI hope he will persevere until he obtains a complete knowledge of thetongue. You can mention to him what I have said as to my opinion of theadvantage the knowledge of it will be to him in the Order."
Gervaise accordingly devoted himself to study. His instructor was a Turkof fine presence. He had been a large landowner in Syria, and helda high official position in the province, but had been captured in agalley on his way to Constantinople, whither he was proceeding on anofficial mission. He was delighted with his new post. Gervaise, both asthe youngest member of the community, and from the kind manner inwhich he always spoke to the servants,--all of whom had acquired someknowledge of English,--was a general favourite among them, and the Turkwas glad that he was to be thrown with him. Still more he rejoiced atbeing appointed his instructor, as it relieved him from all menial workwhich, although preferable to that to which the bulk of the slaves werecondemned, yet galled his spirit infinitely.
Now that he had entered upon the work with the approbation of hissuperior, and a conviction of its great utility, Gervaise set to workwith the same zeal and ardour which he had exhibited in his militaryexercises. During the heat of the day he sat in the shade reading andwriting with his instructor. In the cool of the morning and afternoonhe walked with him on the walls, or in the country beyond them. Aftersunset he sat with him in an unfrequented corner of the roof, all thetime conversing with him, either of his own country, or that of hisinstructor.
At first this was difficult, and he had to eke out the Turkish wordshe had acquired with English; but it was not long before there was nonecessity for this. His intercourse for ten or twelve hours a day withthis Turk, and the pains taken by his instructor, caused him to acquirethe language with extreme rapidity. Of course, he had to put up witha great deal of banter from the younger knights upon his passion forstudy. Sometimes they pretended that his mania, as they considered it,arose from the fact that he was determined to become a renegade, and wasfitting himself for a high position in the Turkish army. At other timesthey insisted that his intention was to become a Turkish dervish, or towin a great Turkish heiress and settle in Syria. But as he always boretheir banter good temperedly, and was ready occasionally to join them inthe sport when assaults-at-arms were carried on, they soon became tiredof making fun of him.
After nine months' constant work, the young knight's studies wereabruptly stopped by the receipt of a letter from the Pasha of Syria,offering a considerable sum for the ransom of his instructor. Therequest was at once acceded to, as it was the policy of the knights toaccept ransoms for their prisoners, both because the sums so gainedwere useful, and because they were themselves compelled sometimes to payransom for members of the Order. Suleiman Ali was, it was arranged, tobe put on board an Egyptian craft bound for Acre, a safe conduct havingbeen sent for the vessel and her crew, and for a knight, who was toreceive the ransom from the pasha.
"At any rate, Sir Gervaise," the Turk said, when the young knightexpressed great regret at his leaving them, "our position as instructorand pupil would have come to an end shortly. For the last three monthsthere has been but little teaching between us; we have talked, and thathas been all, save that for a short time each day you read and wrote.But there has been little to teach. You speak the native language nowas fluently as I do, and would pass anywhere as a Syrian, especiallyas there are slight differences of speech in the various provinces. Ibelieve that in Syria you would not be suspected of being anything buta native, and assuredly you would be taken for a Syrian elsewhere.You have learnt enough, and it would be but a waste of time for you, aknight and a soldier, to spend another day in study."
On the following day Gervaise was, to his surprise, sent for by thegrand master. Except on the occasion of a few public ceremonies, hehad not seen D'Aubusson since he had been elected to his presenthigh dignity, and the summons to attend at the palace therefore cameunexpectedly.
"We have become quite strangers, Tresham," the grand master saidcordially when he entered. "I have not forgotten you, and have severaltimes questioned your bailiff concerning you. He tells me that youhave become quite an anchorite, and that, save at your meals and for anoccasional bout-at-arms, you are seldom to be seen. I was glad tohear of your devotion to study, and thought it better to leave youundisturbed at it. Yesterday evening I sent for your instructor. He isa man of influence in Syria, and I wished to learn how he was affectedtowards us, now that he is about to return there. We talked for sometime, and I then asked him what progress you had made, and was surprisedand pleased to find that in his opinion you could pass anywhere as anative, and that you were perfectly capable of drawing up and writingany document I might desire to send to the sultan or any of hisgenerals. This is far more than I had expected, and shows how earnestlyyou must have worked. Your knowledge may prove of much assistance to theOrder, and believe me, the time you have spent in acquiring it may proveof much greater advantage to you in your career than if you had occupiedit in performing even the most valiant deeds, and that at some futuretime it will ensure your appointment to a responsible office here. Itwas partly to assure you of my approbation that I sent for you, partlyto inform you that I have appointed you to proceed with Suleiman Ali asthe knight in charge of the vessel, and to receive the ransom agreed on,upon your handing him over. The office is an honourable one and one oftrust, and it is the first fruits of the advantages you will gain byyour knowledge of Turkish. No, do not thank me. I am selecting youbecause you are better fitted than any knight I can spare for themission, and also, I may say, because the choice will be pleasingto Suleiman Ali, whose goodwill I am desirous of gaining. Before nowTurkish provinces have thrown off their allegiance to the sultan. Theyhave, I must admit, been usually reconquered, but such might not bealways the case; and if such an event happened in Syria, this man'sinfluence and goodwill might be of great advantage to us, as it mightwell suit us to ally ourselves with Syria against Constantinople. I amglad to say that I found him at least as well disposed as any man couldbe who had been some years in slavery. He admitted that, for a slave,he had been kindly and gently treated, and added that any unpleasantmemories he might have retained had been obliterated by the nine monthsof pleasant companionship spent with you."
When Gervaise returned to dinner at the auberge, and informed RalphHarcourt and the other young knights that he had been appointed to takecharge of the vessel in which Suleiman Ali was to be conveyed toAcre, the statement was at first received with incredulity. It seemedincredible that the youngest knight in the langue should be chosen forsuch a mission, involving as it did a separate command. Even the olderknights, when the news was passed down the table, were surprised.
"I must say that I am astonished at the grand master's choice. SirGervaise Tresham doubtless distinguished himself greatly some monthssince, but from that time he has not been out with the galleys, or,indeed, done anything that would seem to recommend him for so marked afavour as a separate command."
"I don't know, Wingate," Sir John Boswell said. "It seems to me thatwhen a young knight of seventeen eschews all pleasure, refrains fromvolunteering for service at sea, and spends his whole time in study, hedoes distinguish himself, and that very greatly. Of the three or fourhundred young knights here I doubt if one other would have so acted.Certainly, none to my knowledge have done so. Yet I do not supposethat D'Aubusson selected him for this duty as a reward for so much selfdenial and study, but because by that self denial and study he is morefitted for it than any of us here, save some three or four knights inthe other langues, all of whom are in too high a position to be employedin so unimportant a duty. He can speak Turkish--not a few score ofwords and sentences such as I can, but, as Suleiman Ali tells me, like anative. Were one of us chosen for this mission, it would be necessary tosend an interpreter with him; and every one knows how hard it is to dobusiness in that manner. It seems to me that the grand master has actedwisely in putting aside all question of seniority, and employing theknight who is better suited than any other for it."
"You are right, Boswell," the bailiff said. "I really have beenastonished at the manner in which Tresham has given himself up to study.It would have been a natural thing had he, after gaining so much credit,been anxious and eager to gain more. When you spoke to me about hisdetermination to learn Turkish, I thought he would speedily tire of it,and that when the next galley sailed, his name would be among the listof volunteers for the service. I am sure, comrades, that there are few,if any, among us who would not infinitely prefer fighting the Moslemsto spending our whole time in learning their language; and I for oneconsider the fact that he has for nine months laboured so incessantlyand assiduously that he has come, as Boswell says, to speak it likea native, is even more to his credit than the deed for which he wasknighted."
This conversation took place at the upper end of the table, and was notheard at the lower end where the younger knights were seated.
"I am not chosen from favour," Gervaise said hotly, to one of hiscompanions who had asserted that this was so. "I am simply chosenbecause I can speak Turkish."
"How much Turkish can you speak?" one of them laughed. Gervaise turnedto the Turkish servant behind them, and said, in his language, "Hassan,Sir Giles Trevor wishes to know how well I speak Turkish. You have heardme talking with Suleiman Ali. Will you give him your opinion about it?"
The man turned gravely to Sir Giles Trevor.
"My lord," he said, in English, "Sir Gervaise Tresham, he speaks Turkishs
ame as I do. If he dress up in Turk clothes I suppose him Turk, notknow he Christian by his speech."
Exclamations of surprise broke from the young knights.
"Well, you have earned the appointment, Tresham," Ralph Harcourt saidheartily. "You always told me when I asked you that you were getting on,but I had not the least idea that you were getting on like this. And canyou read and write the Turkish language?"
"Well enough for practical purposes, Ralph. At any rate, I wrote acomplimentary letter this morning from the grand master to the governorof Syria, and the bailiff of Spain, who was, as you know, for ten yearsa prisoner among the Turks, read it through at D'Aubusson's request,to see that there was no error in it, and was good enough to pass itwithout alteration."
"I would give a good deal," Sir Giles Trevor said, "if I could followyour example, and shut myself up for nine months with an infidel tostudy his language; but I could not do it if my life depended on it. Ishould throw myself off the wall at the end of the first fortnight."
"I don't pretend that I can do what Tresham has done," Ralph Harcourtsaid. "I always hated our lessons with the chaplain, who gave me thecharacter of having the thickest head of any of his pupils; but Ivow"--and he kissed the handle of his dagger--"I will spend half an houra day in trying to learn something of Turkish. Of course, I know thatsuch time will not be enough to learn a great deal; but if one could getup just enough to be able to give orders to the slaves, to questionthe captain of a vessel one has captured, and to make them understanda little, if by bad luck one fell into their hands, it would be quiteenough for me. I am sure sometimes one is quite at a loss how to passthe hours when the sun is at its hottest, and if one tried one ought tobe able to pick up a little without much trouble. Look at the servants;there is not one of them but speaks a little English. And if an infidelcan learn enough English to get on with, without any regular study, Ican't see why we shouldn't be able to learn enough Turkish in the sameway."
Two or three of the other young knights declared that they too woulddevote a short time during the heat of the day to learning Turkish, andthey agreed to begin together forthwith with one of the servants, whospoke English most fluently. Robert Rivers was not present, for he hadreturned to England six months before, to take up his residence at theHouse in Clerkenwell, in order that he might bring to bear the interestof his many powerful friends to secure for him an appointment ascommander of one of the estates of the Order in England. His departurehad caused general satisfaction among the other knights, whom hisarrogance and ill temper had frequently irritated. Gervaise especiallywas glad at his leaving the Island, for after he received the honourof knighthood, Rivers made a point of always addressing him with anaffectation of deference and respect that often tried his temper to theutmost.
"It is well that Rivers has gone," Ralph said, laughing, "for I don'tknow how he would have supported the chagrin your appointment would havegiven him. He was devoured with jealousy as it was, but this would havebeen a trial beyond bearing."
"I am heartily glad he has gone," Gervaise said gravely. "I have put upwith a great deal from him, but I don't think I could have stood muchmore. If our vows had not forbidden our fighting I should have calledhim to account long ago; but the only thing else to do was for meto lodge a formal complaint before the bailiff, of his continuallyoffensive bearing and manner, which I could not bring myself to do, andindeed there was no special matter that would have seemed to justify me,no single speech that in itself would warrant such grave action on mypart. I used to wish over and over again that we could but meet in somequiet spot in England, both unarmed, and could there settle the matterin good English fashion, with our fists, or even with a couple ofquarterstaffs."
The others laughed.
"That would be a very unknightly form of contest."
"I care not for that," Gervaise replied. "It would be a verysatisfactory one anyhow, and quite serious enough for the occasion. Hissneers and petty insults were not sufficient to justify the drawing ofblood, and there has been enough of that shed for the last twenty yearsin England without two brother knights betaking themselves to theirswords against each other. But a sound thrashing would have done neitherof us harm, and if it had fallen to his lot to get the largest share ofit, it might have done him some good."
"He thinks he is sure of an appointment," one of the others said, "buthe has been so frequently in trouble here that it is likely that theofficial report, which is always sent home to the grand prior when theknights return to England, will be so unfavourable that even the mostpowerful influence will fail to obtain him a post. If so, we may havehim back here again, especially if the Turks carry out their threat ofassailing us, for an appeal will be made to all the grand priors forknights to aid in the defence."
That evening Gervaise went again to the palace to receive finalinstructions.
"The craft in which you are to travel is an Egyptian trader. As atpresent war has not been formally declared between us and the sultan,peaceful traders, as you know, carry on their avocations unmolestedeither by the warships of the Turks or by ours; they do not enter ourports without a special permit, and the crews are never allowed to land,in order that no detailed account of our fortifications may be takento the sultan. Moreover, brawls might arise between them and the nativepopulation, or they might aid slaves to escape. However, you will bealtogether safe from interference from Turkish war vessels, and ifoverhauled by one of them the safe conduct will be sufficient to preventinterference with you. But it is not so with pirates. They will plundertheir own countrymen as readily as they will Christians, and the safeguard of the governor of Syria will be of no use whatever to you. Inthis consists the danger of your mission. I cannot send one of our wargalleys on such an errand, and if there are not enough knights on boardto beat off any pirate, the fewer there are the better. I hear thatthe craft is a fast sailor, and as the crew will be as anxious to avoidpirates as you, they will do their best to escape. I leave it to you totake any route. You can either sail hence direct for Acre, or you cancoast along the shores of Anatolia and Syria, lying up at night in bays.
"Should you be overtaken I do not think it would be of any use for youto disguise yourself, for some of the crew would be sure to denounceyou. Should the worst happen, and you are captured by pirates, you willof course in the first place show them your safe conduct, and if I findthat you do not return I shall send at once to the governor of Syria,complaining of your capture when furnished with his safeguard, andrequesting him to order a search for you to be made at every port on thecoast, with instructions that you are to be at once released, and eithersent to him for return hither, or placed on board a craft bound for anyChristian port; while you, on your part, will endeavour to acquaintthe Turkish authorities with the fact that you have been seized whiletravelling with a safe conduct from the governor of Syria.
"But, more than from any efforts on your part or mine, I rely uponSuleiman Ali, who will, I am sure, as soon as he is set on shore, loseno time in acquainting the pasha of your capture, and in calling uponhim to interfere in your favour. In that case, the worst that couldbefall you would be a temporary detention, unless, indeed, the piratesshould take you to Egypt. As that country is friendly with us atpresent, since Egypt dreads the ever increasing power of the Turks, itwill be but a question of ransom, for I have secret agents there whowill inform me without delay of the arrival of a Christian captive."
"I understand, sir, and will do my best in the matter. If I am capturedI trust that an opportunity of escape will soon present itself, for Ishould, if taken, conceal from my captors the fact that I understandtheir language, and should thus, if I could evade my guard, have everychance of escaping, as in a native dress I could meet and converse withthose hunting for me, without their having a suspicion of my being thewhite slave for whom they were in search."
"Once at Acre you will be safe. But do not land unless it is absolutelynecessary, for you might fall a victim to the fanaticism of itsinhabitants, and no knight has ever
set foot on shore there since theill fated day when the Moslems wrested it from us, bathed the ruinedwalls with the best blood of our Order and the Templars', and destroyedthe last hope of our ever recovering the Holy Sepulchre."
The next morning at daybreak Gervaise and Suleiman Ali went on board theEgyptian trader, and sailed for Acre. The current of opinion had changedat the auberge when the knights came to think over the mission on whichGervaise was about to start, and the slight feeling of jealousy withwhich the younger knights had received the news was entirely dissipated.While it did not seem to them that there was any chance of hisdistinguishing himself, they perceived, as they thought it over, theconsiderable danger there was of capture by pirates, and Ralph and someof his companions came down to the mole to see him off, with feelings inwhich envy bore no part whatever.
"I see now, Gervaise, that it is truly no holiday excursion on which youare starting. I should envy you greatly were you going in command of anarmed galley, prepared to beat off any craft that might try to overhaulyou; but, going alone as you are, it is a very different thing. Shouldpirates meet you, you could offer no resistance, and your position wouldbe a perilous one indeed. However, I think you are born to good luck,and am confident that your patron saint will look after you, andtherefore expect to see you back here in a fortnight's time at theoutside."
"I hope so with all my heart, Ralph. It will be no fault of mine if Itarry."
"Will you keep the open sea, or skirt the land, Tresham?" one of theothers asked.
"I shall keep the open sea. The grand master left me to choose mycourse; but I think there is more danger by the coast--where pirates maybe hiding in unfrequented bays, in readiness to pounce upon a passingcraft--than in the open sea, where we should have at least the advantagethat we could not be taken by surprise, and might make a race of it. Butthe sun will be up in a few minutes, and my orders were to set out atsunrise, so I must say goodbye at once."
As soon as the vessel was under way, Gervaise took a seat on the poop bythe side of Suleiman Ali, and related to him the conversation he had hadwith the grand master.
"The risk that you will run has not escaped me," the Turk said, "andindeed, I now regret that you were chosen as my escort. I almost wishthat my son had not purchased my freedom at the present time, since itinvolves the risk of you losing yours. There is no doubt that the seaswarms with pirates; the sultan is too busy with his own struggles forEmpire to bestow any attention upon so small a matter. The pashas andthe officers of the ports have not the power, even had they the will,to put down piracy in their districts, and indeed are, as often as not,participators in the spoils. Your Order, which, years back, scoured theseas so hotly that piracy well nigh ceased, have now for forty yearsbeen obliged to turn their attention chiefly to their own defence. Theypossess a comparatively small fleet of galleys, and their wealth isexpended on their fortress.
"What with Egypt and the sultan their hands are too full for them to actas the police of the sea, and the consequence is that from every port,bay, and inlet, pirate craft set out--some mere rowboats, some, likethose under the command of Hassan Ali, veritable fleets. Thus thehumblest coasters and the largest merchant craft go alike in fear ofthem, and I would that the sultan and Egypt and your Order would for twoor three years put aside their differences, and confine their efforts tosweeping the seas of these pests, to storming their strongholds, and toinflicting such punishment upon them as that, for a very long time tocome, peaceful merchants might carry on their trade without fear.
"I heard you tell the captain that he was to steer straight for Acre,and I think you are right in avoiding the coast, where the most harmlesslooking fishing boat may carry a crowd of pirates hidden in her hold. Atthe same time, if you will take my advice you will head much more tothe south, so as to be out of the regular track of ships making fromConstantinople or the islands to Acre. You may meet pirates anywhere,but they are assuredly thicker along the more frequented routes. Thesafest plan of all would probably be to bear south, and strike theEgyptian coast well to the east of the mouth of the Nile. Thence, tillyou get to Palestine, the country is utterly barren and uninhabited,while, running up the coast to Palestine, there are, save at Jaffa, noports to speak of until you arrive at Acre; and besides, the inhabitantsthere, even if pirates, would not venture to disregard the pasha'ssafe conduct. I do not by any means say that such a course would beabsolutely safe. You may meet with vessels on your way south, anddoubtless some of them cruise off the barren coast I speak of, tointercept traders to and from Egypt and Acre, and other Syrian ports;for the trade carried on is considerable, and, although of the samereligion, the Turks are disposed to view the Egyptians as enemies ratherthan as friends, and would have even less hesitation in plundering themthan in robbing their own countrymen."
"I think that your suggestion is a good one, and will follow it, at anyrate. The course is a good deal longer, but that is comparatively oflittle moment. The great thing is to carry you safely to Acre."
"And to get back with equal safety," Suleiman said, with a smile.
"That is quite as important in my eyes; in fact, of the two, I would farrather that we were captured on our voyage thither, for in that case Imight be able to arrange for the ransom of both of us."