r craft.
The galley from Rhodes was still half a mile away when the Turk was
close to the boat that was trying to escape. Sir John and the knights
chafed as they saw they would be too late.

"I can't make out why the boat did not use her oars," the former said.
"Of course, she could not have kept away from the galley, but if she had
rowed it would have made some difference, and we might have been nearly
up."

"I can only see one man on board of her, Sir John," one of the younger
knights said; and two or three others murmured that they were of the
same opinion.

"The others must be lying down; she cannot have less than from fifteen
to twenty men. The Turk is close alongside. They still hold on. There!
She has gone about and escaped the attempt to run her down. Now she is
heading for us again! Brave fellows! brave fellows!" Sir John exclaimed,
while a cheer broke from those around him; "but they have done
for themselves. They must have seen us coming out, and if they had
surrendered might have hoped to have been retaken. Their chance of
getting quarter was truly not great, for expecting--as the Turks
do--to carry off both us and all the inhabitants of the Island, a dozen
fishermen would have seemed to them scarcely worth keeping. However, by
holding on they have thrown away any chance they may have had. The Turks
are alongside; they are leaping down into the little craft. Ah! Two more
galleys have just left their fleet, and are heading here."

"See, Sir John," one of the knights exclaimed, "there is a single man
standing in the bow of that craft: he is facing the Moors alone. See how
they crowd there; you can see the weapons flashing in the sun. They have
to press past the mast to get at him, and as yet he seems to hold them
all at bay."

"He has chosen his post well, D'Urville. The number of his assailants
prevents the archers on the Turkish craft using their bows. Fire those
bow guns!" he shouted to the knights forward: "Take steady aim at the
galley. It will distract their attention."

"Nobly done indeed!" one of the other knights shouted. "I have seen him
strike down four of the Turks."

"Row, men, row! 'Tis useless!" Sir John muttered, as he clenched the
hilt of his sword. "Useless! A Roland could not long maintain so unequal
a fight."

A groan broke from those around him as suddenly the dark mass of the
assailants made a forward move, and the single figure was lost to sight.
It was but for an instant; a m