I shall be sorry if they escape, for they are as ruthless a set of villains as sail the seas." The galley had traversed half the remaining distance when the sound of a gun was faintly heard.

For a moment there was an absolute hush on the poop; then three or four shots in rapid succession were heard.
"Some more pirate ships must have come up," the commander exclaimed.
Then he shouted down to the slaves, "Row, men--row for your lives! Overseer, do not spare your lash if any hang back from their work." The galley had been travelling fast before, but her speed greatly increased as the slaves rowed their hardest.

Fast as she was travelling, the impatience of the knights was extreme.

They walked up and down the deck, making vows of candles that should be burnt at the shrine of St.
John if they arrived in time to take a share in the fight, stopping at times to listen to the sound of artillery, which was now so frequent as to show that a severe engagement was being fought.

Many of the younger knights ran down to the waist and double banked the oars, and in a shorter time than it seemed possible the galley arrived at the mouth of the bay.
A desperate fight was going on.