This, scenting a trap, he feared to do, nor could they put out to sea without provisions.
"Cannot Sir Hugh Lozelle see to it ?" asked Rosamund.
"Doubtless, if he will," answered Hassan, grinding his teeth; "but he swears that he is powerless." So there they bode day after day, baked by the sweltering summer sun and rocked to and fro on the long ocean rollers till their hearts grew sick within them, and their bodies also, for some of them were seized with a fever common to the shores of Cyprus, of which two died.

Now and again some officer would come off from the shore with Lozelle and a little food and water, and bargain with them, saying that before their wants were supplied the prince Hassan must visit the Emperor and bring with him the fair lady who was his passenger, whom he desired to see.
Hassan would answer no, and double the guard about Rosamund, for at nights boats appeared that cruised round them.

In the daytime also bands of men, fantastically dressed in silks, and with them women, could be seen riding to and fro upon the shore and staring at them, as though they were striving to make up their minds to attack the ship.
Then Hassan armed his grim Saracens and bade them stand in line upon the bulwarks, drawn scimitar in hand, a sight that seemed to frighten the Cypriotes--at least they always rode away towards the great square tower of Colossi.
At length Hassan would bear it no more.

One morning Lozelle came off from Limazol, where he slept at night, bringing with him three Cyprian lords, who visited the ship--not to bargain as they pretended, but to obtain sight of the beauteous princess Rosamund.

Thereon the common talk began of homage that must be paid before food was granted, failing which the Emperor would bid his seamen capture the ship.