They related how the pirates had suddenly burst upon them, had slaughtered all the men, set fire to the village, and had driven them before them across the island to the ships.

The poor creatures were delighted at their escape from slavery, but at the same time were full of grief at the loss of husbands, fathers, and sons.
Some laughed, others cried; while some thanked God for their rescue others heaped imprecations upon the authors of their misfortunes.
The knights explained to them that for a short time they must remain on board, as half the pirates were still on shore, but that aid would soon arrive that would enable them to clear the island.
Half an hour later Sir John Boswell, with the two young knights, started in a rowing boat, manned by ten of the galley slaves.

The wind had sprung up since the fight ceased, and as it was nearly astern, they anticipated that they would make a good passage, and be at the little islet, named as the place of rendezvous, before nightfall.
Among the many bales of rich merchandise in the hold of the pirate vessels an abundance of wine had been discovered, and of this a tankard had been given to each of the slaves, by Sir Louis's orders, as a token of satisfaction at their work in the morning.
They had gone some two miles when, from one of the inlets in the island they had left a large fishing boat was seen to issue out.
"By St.George!" Sir John exclaimed, "that boat must be full of pirates.
And if they see us, which they cannot help doing, and take it in their heads to chase us, we shall have a hard time of it." The fishing boat for a few minutes kept along the coast, and then suddenly her course was altered, and her head directed towards their boat.
"Now stretch to your oars," Sir John, who spoke some Turkish, said to the slaves.

"Keep ahead of that boat, and I promise you, on my honour as a Christian knight, that I will myself purchase your freedom as soon as we get to Rhodes." With a shout of delight, the galley slaves bent to their oars, and the boat flew along at a greatly increased speed.
"There is but small chance of our getting away," Sir John said quietly.
"At present we must be rowing as fast as they sail; but wind never tires, while there are limits to the powers of muscle and bone.

If those fellows follow us--and I doubt not that they will, for they must be thirsting for vengeance--they will overtake us long before we get to the rendezvous; and even did we reach it, the chances are that we should not find either of the galleys there.