With a shout of delight, the galley slaves bent to their oars, and the boat flew along at a greatly increased speed.

“There is but small chance of our getting away,” Sir John said quietly.  “At present we must be rowing as fast as they sail; but wind never tires, while there are limits to the powers of muscle and bone.  If those fellows follow us —­ and I doubt not that they will, for they must be thirsting for vengeance —­ they will overtake us long before we get to the rendezvous; and even did we reach it, the chances are that we should not find either of the galleys there.  We must hold on as long as we can, and as a last resource must run ashore.  Unfortunately there are no large islands on our way.  Nor have we any hope of assistance from our friends behind.  The inlet looks east, and they will know nothing of our danger; nor, if they did, could they help us.  The galley is short handed now, and there are the captured ships to look after, and the captives we rescued.  We have only ourselves to depend on.”

At the end of an hour’s rowing the boat astern had gained little; but the exertions of the rowers were telling severely upon them.  They were still doing their best, but their breath came in short gasps, the rowing was getting short and unsteady, and there was a sensible decrease in the speed of the boat.  Three miles ahead of them was an islet about half a mile in diameter.  In some parts it was covered with foliage, but elsewhere it was bare rock.

“That must be our goal,” Sir John said.  “They will be close to us by the time we get there.”  Then he said to the rowers, “Stop for a minute to get breath.  We will land at that islet ahead, and I shall hold to my promise if we get there in time.  Those of you who like can remain in the boat until your countrymen come up; those who choose can leave the boat and hide yourselves as best you may.  I leave the choice to yourselves.  If we are overtaken and fall, I cannot keep my promise, and it will be best then for you to remain in the boat.”

For three or four minutes the slaves bent forward over their oars; but as soon as Sir John gave the word they straightened themselves up and began rowing again.  The rest had done them good, and they again fell into a long, steady stroke.

“Shall we buckle on our armour again?” Sir Ralph Harcourt asked; for they had not put it on when they left the ship, as the heat was very great.

“I think we had better don our mail shirts only.  In climbing about that rock ahead of us, the less weight we carry the better, and with this heat I would rather fight unprotected than in casque and armour.  Besides, there can be little doubt that, if they come upon us, it will be our last battle.  That craft behind is crowded with men, and, armour or no armour, it will come to the same in the end.  If it were not that we have a mission to fulfil, and that it is of all things important to send the galleys to aid our friends, I would say let us choose a spot at the foot of the rocks there, where they cannot attack us in the rear, and there fight it out as becomes knights of the Cross; but as it is our duty above all things to carry this message, we must strive to preserve our lives, and must, if we can, conceal ourselves from these paynims.”