The Knight of Malta — Eugene Sue

This is the story of the famous malta commander. His bravery was proverbial; There was something fatal in the cold audacity he showed in the midst of the greatest perils. His dull equanimity did not desert him more in the middle of the struggles that scary seaman must support against the elements. His courage was approaching the ferocity once the battle, armed with a ponderous mace spiked, he never gave quarter to the pirates. But the fever of massacre ceased when the cries of the combatants, when the sight of blood does the more animated. He then again became calm, humane, though merciless to any act of indiscipline. He had supported the most brilliant battles against the Barbary pirates.