At the forecastle the Moors made another stand, but the knights forced their way up, and in two minutes all was over.
"Now to the aid of our comrades!" Gervaise shouted, as the last of the corsairs was struck down.
Ralph's party had indeed cleared the poop of the galley, but they in vain endeavoured to climb up on to that of the third pirate ship, whose superior height gave a great advantage to its defenders.

Gervaise leapt down on to the bow of the galley, followed by the knights, and then ran aft until he could climb into the waist of the pirate.

So intent were the corsairs upon defending the poop that they did not see what was going on elsewhere, and Gervaise had obtained a fair footing before he was noticed.

Then a number of men ran down and attacked his party.

But it was too late, for the whole of the knights had, by this time, leaped on board.