A SANDBANK, 267

Bisset, the English knight, resolute to his purpose,
had taken fareweil of his companions, and embarked
for Constantinople, to wield his ponderous battle-axe
in the cause of Baldwin de Courtenay, whose empire
was falling to ruins. But Walter Espec and Guy
Muschamp were on board the king’s vessel, through
the influence of the Lord of Joinville; and there a!so
was Beltran the renegade, who, touched with
remorse, had abandoned his wealth in Egypt, and
was doing penance by labouring as a seaman.

At length the fleet weighed anchor and set sail,
with every prospect of a prosperous voyage. But, ere
long, a somewhat alarming accident occurred. On
Saturday, as the French approached Cyprus, about
vespers, the vessels were suddenly enveloped in a
thick fog, and the ship in which were the king and
queen struck on a sandbank, and was so damaged
that Louis was recommended to leave it without loss
of time. |

‘ Sire,’ said the skipper, ‘if you will believe me,
you must remove from this ship to another. We
well know that, since the keel has suffered so much
damage, all the ribs must be started, and should
there be a high wind, we fear she will be unable to
bear the sea without sinking.’

‘Now,’ said the king, ‘I put it to you on your
faith and loyalty, to tell me truly, if the ship were
your own, and full of merchandise, would you
cea

‘No!’ said the skipper; ‘for we would rather risk
our lives than lose a vessel worth forty or fiity
thousand livres.’