At three in the morning all on board the galley were astir.

A ration of bread and meat was served out to the slaves, and the boat was soon afterwards under way.

The rowers of the English knight's boat had been warmly commended by the commander and placed in charge of the overseer, with instructions that they were to be treated as free men.

As soon as the galley slaves set to work, however, they seated themselves on the benches and double banked some of the oars, anxious to please the knights.

With the exception of those whose turn it was to be on watch, most of the knights slept until daybreak.
"At the rate we are rowing, Gervaise," Harcourt said, as they went up on to the poop together, "it will not take us very long to join our friends.