These may be all carried on board one ship, and the others must be burnt, for it is clear that, as there are four of them, we cannot take them to Rhodes; and even with one and our galley we should fare but ill, if we fell in with two or three more of Hassan's ships." "But how about the pirates on shore, Sir Louis ?" a knight asked.

"There were very many who could not get off to their ships during the fight, and scores must have swum ashore.

I should say that there must be full two hundred, and it will be a grievous thing for the islanders if we leave them there." "It is certain," the commander said, "that we are not strong enough to attack them, for were we to land, a party would have to be left on board, or the pirates might elude our search, seize some fishing boats, and regain possession.

Certainly, we are in no position to divide our forces." "Methinks," Sir John Boswell said, "that the best plan would be to send a boat, manned with ten galley slaves, taking two or three of us to the rendezvous, to fetch hither the other two galleys.

With their aid we might take all the four ships safe into port, after first clearing the island of these pirates.