The deck was wide enough for each to have fair play for his sword, and in vain the pirates strove to obtain a footing.
At last Sir Marmaduke Lumley fell, severely wounded by an arrow from a Moslem marksman, and before the others could close the gap a score of pirates leapt on to the deck.
"Fall back, comrades, fall back; but keep together!" Sir John Boswell shouted, as he cleft the skull of one of the pirate officers who sprang at him.

"Sir Louis will soon finish his work, and be here to our aid.
Ah!" he exclaimed, looking over his shoulder, as he retired a step, "Provence and Germany are overmatched too." This was indeed the case.

Stoutly as they fought the knights were unable to guard the whole of the line of bulwark, and the Moslems had already obtained a footing on the deck.

The discipline of the knights stood them in good stead.

Drawing closely together as they retreated, they made a stand on the opposite side of the deck, and were here joined by Sir John Boswell and his companions.