50 THE DOY CRUSADERS.

home, and called the tempest their servant, and
never felt so joyous as when they were treading the
pine plank, and giving the reins to their ereat sea
. horses.’

‘On my faith,’ said Guy, who was every moment
becoming more uncomfortable, *I cannot but marvel
much at the eccentricity of their tastes, and could
almost wish myself back to the castle of Wark.’

‘Nevertheless,’ replied Walter, ‘we must bear in
mind that, having taken the Cross and vowed to
combat the Saracens, it beseems us not, as Christians
and gentlemen, to look backward.’

At the time when this conversation took place, the
sea was comparatively calm, and the weather most
favourable; and the skipper, naturally overjoyed with
his good fortune in both respects, predicted a speedy
voyage. In this, however, he was in some measure
disappointed. Many circumstances occurred to retard
the progress of the Saxon Earl and his companions
towards Cyprus; and, what with prolonged calms, and
contrary winds, and foul weather, it was late in
autumn ere they neared the island where the King
of France and his chivalry had, for their misfortune,
resolved on passing the winter.

So far all was well, and the Boy Crusaders, now
recovered from their sickness, rejoiced in the antici-
pation of soon reaching Cyprus. But the dangers of
the voyage were not yet over, and one evening, about
vespers, while Walter and Guy were regaling their
imaginations with the prospect of being speedily in
the company of the warriors of France, the mariners
found that. they were unpleasantly close to a great