“Certainly, Ralph.  The slaves will have rowed nearly eighteen hours, with only two hours’ rest.  They must have some hours, at least, of sleep before we go on.  As you and I have been up all night, we will turn in also.  We will send a boat ashore to try and find out from the natives they may come across whether any vessels, bearing the appearance of Moorish corsairs, have been seen passing up the coast, and also to find out what bays and inlets there are where they would be likely to anchor.  Some of the Italian knights had best go with the boat, for though I believe these people speak a different dialect to those of the mainland, they would have more chance of understanding them than any of the others.”

The sun had risen when the little fleet came to an anchor close to the cape.  A boat was at once prepared to go ashore, and Gervaise begged Fabricius Caretto, the senior of the rescued Italian knights, to endeavour to find out whether a swift sailing craft of some kind could be hired.  If so, he was to secure her on any terms, and come off in her at once to the galley.

Gervaise had already talked the matter over with Ralph, and they agreed that a strongly manned craft of this kind would go faster than any of those they had taken, and that, moreover, it would be a pity to weaken their force by sending one of the prizes away.  Having seen them off, Gervaise retired to the cabin and threw himself down for a short sleep, leaving the knights who had been off watch during the night, to see that all went well.  In two hours he was roused.  A native craft had come alongside with Sir Fabricius Caretto.

“I think she is just the craft for us,” the knight said, as Gervaise came on deck.  “She belongs to a large fishing village just round the point to the left.  There were several boats there, but the villagers all said that this was the speediest vessel anywhere along the coast.  She belongs to two brothers, who, with four men, constitute her regular crew; but I have arranged for twelve others to go in her, in order that they may row her along at a good pace if the wind falls light.”

“Are your companions come off yet?”

“No; but we can hoist a flag for their recall.”

“Do so.  I shall be greatly obliged if you will undertake this mission to the seaports.  It needs one of name and rank to speak with the nobles and officials authoritatively.”

“I will gladly do so, Sir Gervaise.  Give me your instructions, and you can rely upon my carrying them out.”

“I thank you greatly, Sir Fabricius, and shall be glad if you will take with you any two of the knights you may select.  I have to write letters for you to deliver to the authorities at Naples, Pisa, and Genoa.  I shall write but briefly, and leave you to explain matters more fully.  I shall merely say that I have intelligence of the arrival here of a fleet of Moorish corsairs, of whose strength I am