CHAPTER V SCOURGES OF THE SEA.
Breathless and faint from their tremendous exertions, the knights removed their helmets.
"By St.Mary," Sir Louis said, "this has been as hard a fight as I have ever been engaged in, and well may we be content with our victory! Well fought, my brave comrades! Each of these vessels must have carried twice our number at least, and we have captured four of them; but I fear the cost has been heavy." Seven knights had fallen, struck down by sword, arrow, or thrust of spear.

Of the rest but few had escaped unwounded, for, strong as was their armour, the keen Damascus blades of the Moslems had in many cases cut clean through it, and their daggers had found entry at points where the armour joined; and, now that the fight was over, several of the knights sank exhausted on the deck from loss of blood.
But the dressing of wounds formed part of a knight of St.John's training.

Those who were unwounded unbuckled the armour and bandaged the wounds.

Others fetched wine and water from the galley.

The chains of the galley slaves were removed, and these were set to clear the decks of the Moslem corpses.