Boy Crusaders: A Story of the Days of Louis IX. Page 9

  CHAPTER VIII.

  EASTWARD.

  IT was July, as I have intimated, when the ship 'Hilda,' which carriedWalter Espec and Guy Muschamp, left the shores of England; and, soonafter having lost sight of land, both began to experience a little ofthat vague fear of 'the blue above and the blue below,' which, in thethirteenth century, made some of the boldest feudal warriors, when theyembarked, invoke the protection of the saints in Paradise.

  'On my faith, good Walter,' remarked Guy, with less than his wontedgaiety, for the ship was beginning to toss, and he was beginning to feelrather sea sick, 'I cannot but think that the man is a great fool, who,having wronged any of his neighbours, or having any mortal sin on hisconscience, puts himself in such peril as this; for, when he goes tosleep at night, he knows not if in the morning he may not find himselfunder the waves.'

  'May the saints preserve us from such a fate,' replied Walter,thoughtfully; 'yet I own I feel so uneasy that I can hardly believemyself a descendant of the kings of the north who made the ocean theirhome, and called the tempest their servant, and never felt so joyous aswhen they were treading the pine plank, and giving the reins to theirgreat sea horses.'

  'On my faith,' said Guy, who was every moment becoming moreuncomfortable,'I cannot but marvel much at the eccentricity of theirtastes, and could almost wish myself back to the castle of Wark.'

  'Nevertheless,' replied Walter, 'we must bear in mind that, having takenthe Cross and vowed to combat the Saracens, it beseems us not, asChristians and gentlemen, to look backward.'

  At the time when this conversation took place, the sea was comparativelycalm, and the weather most favourable; and the skipper, naturallyoverjoyed with his good fortune in both respects, predicted a speedyvoyage. In this, however, he was in some measure disappointed. Manycircumstances occurred to retard the progress of the Saxon Earl and hiscompanions towards Cyprus; and, what with prolonged calms, and contrarywinds, and foul weather, it was late in autumn ere they neared theisland where the King of France and his chivalry had, for theirmisfortune, resolved on passing the winter.

  So far all was well, and the Boy Crusaders, now recovered from theirsickness, rejoiced in the anticipation of soon reaching Cyprus. But thedangers of the voyage were not yet over, and one evening, about vespers,while Walter and Guy were regaling their imaginations with the prospectof being speedily in the company of the warriors of France, the marinersfound that they were unpleasantly close to a great mountain of Barbary.Not relishing their position--for they had the fear of the Saracens ofBarbary before their eyes--the mariners pressed on, and during the nightmade all the sail they could, and flattered themselves that they had runat least fifty leagues. But what was their surprise when day broke, tofind that they were still off the mountain which they fancied they musthave left behind. Great, moreover, was their alarm as they thought ofthe piratical natives; and, albeit they laboured hard all that day andall that night to make sail, when the sun rose next morning--it wasSaturday--the mountain, from which they were so anxious to escape, wasstill near at hand. All on board expressed their alarm on discoveringthat the mariners deemed their position perilous; and the Earl, onlearning how matters stood, appeared on deck, and summoned the master ofthe ship.

  'In wonder's name, skipper,' said he, sternly, 'how happens this?'

  'In truth, my lord earl,' replied the skipper, much perplexed, 'I cannottell how it happens; but this I know, that we all run great risk of ourlives.'

  'In what way?'

  'From the Saracens of Barbary, who are cruel and savage, and who are aslikely as not to come down in swarms and attack us.'

  The idea of captivity and chains occurred to every one who listened, andeven the Earl changed countenance. At that moment, however, one of thechaplains stepped forward. He was a discreet churchman, and his wordswere ever treated with high respect.

  'My lord earl and gentlemen,' said the chaplain; 'I never remember anydistress in our parish, either from too much abundance or from want ofrain, or from any other plague, but that God delivered us from it, andcaused everything to happen as well as could have been wished, when aprocession had been made three times with devotion on a Saturday.'

  'Wherefore,' suggested the Earl, 'you would have us do likewise, asdeeming the ceremony likely to deliver us from our peril?'

  'Even so,' continued the churchman. 'I recommend, noble Earl, that, asthis day is Saturday, we instantly commence walking in procession roundthe masts of the ship.'

  'By all means,' replied the Earl, 'let us forthwith walk in processionas you recommend. Worse than foolish would it be on our parts to neglectsuch a ceremony. A simple remedy, on my faith, for such an evil.'

  Accordingly, the skipper issued orders through the ship; and all onboard were assembled on deck, and, headed by the priests, solemnlywalked in procession round the masts, singing as they walked; and,however it came to pass, the ceremony seemed to have the effect whichthe chaplain had prognosticated. From that moment everything wentsmoothly. Almost immediately afterwards they lost sight of the mountain,and cast all fear of the Saracens of Barbary to the winds; and ere longthey had the gratification of hearing the cry of 'Land,' and of seeingbefore their eyes the far-famed island of Cyprus.

  It was latest autumn, however; and Cyprus did not look by any means sobright and beautiful as the Boy Crusaders had, during the voyage,anticipated. Indeed, clouds rested over the range of mountains thatintersects the island lengthways. The rain had fallen somewhat heavily,and the aspect of the place was so decidedly dismal and disheartening,that, as the two squires landed, their countenances expressed muchdisappointment.

  'Now, by St. John of Beverley,' exclaimed Guy, giving expression to hisfeelings, 'I marvel much that this lovely queen, Venus, of whomminstrels have sung so much, should, when she doubtless had her freechoice as to a residence, have so highly favoured this place.

  'Tastes differ,' replied Walter, rather gloomily. 'Certainly, had I mychoice of a residence, I should fix my abode elsewhere.'

  'But what have we here?' cried Guy, as he pointed to countless casks ofwine piled high, one on the other, and to huge heaps of wheat, barley,and other grains, which the purveyors of King Louis had some time beforeprepared for his grand enterprise. 'Beshrew me, if, at a distance, I didnot imagine the casks of wine to be houses, and the heaps of cornmountains.'

  'Anyhow,' observed Walter, 'the sight of the wine and the corn shouldgive us comfort; for it is clear that the King of France, howeversaintly, does not forget that men have mouths, nor mean his army to dieof hunger or thirst.'

  'On my faith,' said Guy, 'I have a strong desire to catch a glance ofthis miracle of saintliness. I marvel if he rides about Cyprus on aSpanish steed, magnificently harnessed, as chronicles tell of RichardCoeur de Lion doing, dressed in a tunic of rose-coloured satin, and amantle of striped and silver tissue, brocaded with half moons, and ascarlet bonnet brocaded with gold, and wearing a Damascus blade with agolden hilt in a silver sheath--oh, what a fine figure the English kingmust have cut!'

  'However,' said Walter, 'I fancy King Louis is not quite so splendid inhis appearance as Coeur de Lion was. But we shall see him ere long.'

  'Ay,' cried Guy; 'we must have a peep at the royal saint. Meanwhile,good Walter, one thing is certain--that we are in Cyprus.'