"Row your hardest." The slaves bent to their oars, and they were soon alongside the galley, which lay two or three hundred yards from the shore.

Those on board had noticed the young knights running down the hill, and, marking the speed at which the boat was rowing, concluded at once that they must have observed one of the pirate's ships.
"Do you see anything of them, Sir Ralph ?" the commander shouted, as they came close.
"We have seen no ships, Sir Louis, but there is smoke coming up from a bay in an island four or five miles away to the southwest.

It seems to us that it is far too extensive a fire to be the result of an accident, for there was no smoke until within two or three minutes of the time we left, and before we started it was rising from several points, and we both think that it must come from a village that has been attacked by pirates." The commander rapidly issued his orders, and in two or three minutes the anchor was weighed, the boat hoisted on deck, and the oars in motion.
"Stretch to your oars!" Ricord shouted to the slaves.

"Hitherto we have exacted no toil from you, but you have to work now, and woe be to him who does not put out his full strength." Grateful for the unusual leniency with which they had been treated, the slaves bent to their oars, and the galley sped rapidly through the water.

On rounding the end of the island there was an exclamation of satisfaction from the knights as they saw wreaths of white smoke rising from the distant island.
"There can be no doubt that it is a village in flames," Sir Louis said; "and from the suddenness with which it broke out, it is clear that it must have been fired at several points.