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<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Lion of Saint Mark, by G. A. Henty</h1>
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This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
<p>Title: The Lion of Saint Mark</p>
<p>       A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century</p>
<p>Author: G. A. Henty</p>
<p>Release Date: January 18, 2006  [eBook #17546]</p>
<p>Language: English</p>
<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LION OF SAINT MARK***</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Martin Robb</h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr class="full" />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1>The Lion of St. Mark:</h1>

<h2>A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century<br />
<br /><br />
by G. A. Henty.</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<hr />
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<table align="center" summary="Table of Contents">
<caption class="toc">Contents<br />&nbsp;</caption>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"></td>
<td class="rtoc"><a href="#Preface">Preface.</a></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch1">Chapter&nbsp;1:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">Venice.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch2">Chapter&nbsp;2:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">A Conspiracy.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch3">Chapter&nbsp;3:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">On The Grand Canal.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch4">Chapter&nbsp;4:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">Carried Off.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch5">Chapter&nbsp;5:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">Finding A Clue.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch6">Chapter&nbsp;6:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Hut On San Nicolo.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch7">Chapter&nbsp;7:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">On Board A Trader.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch8">Chapter&nbsp;8:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">An Attack By Pirates.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch9">Chapter&nbsp;9:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Capture Of The Lido.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch10">Chapter&nbsp;10:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">Recaptured.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch11">Chapter&nbsp;11:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Antium.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch12">Chapter&nbsp;12:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">In Mocenigo's Power.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch13">Chapter&nbsp;13:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Pirates' Raid.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch14">Chapter&nbsp;14:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The End Of The Persecutor.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch15">Chapter&nbsp;15:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Battle Of Pola.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch16">Chapter&nbsp;16:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Recapture Of The Pluto.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch17">Chapter&nbsp;17:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">An Ungrateful Republic.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch18">Chapter&nbsp;18:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Release Of Pisani.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch19">Chapter&nbsp;19:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Siege Of Chioggia.</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td class="ltoc"><a href="#Ch20">Chapter&nbsp;20:</a></td>
<td class="rtoc">The Triumph Of Venice.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><a id="Preface">Preface.</a></h2>

<p>Of all the chapters of history, there are few more interesting
or wonderful than that which tells the story of the rise and
progress of Venice. Built upon a few sandy islands in a shallow
lagoon, and originally founded by fugitives from the mainland,
Venice became one of the greatest and most respected powers of
Europe. She was mistress of the sea; conquered and ruled over a
considerable territory bordering on the Adriatic; checked the
rising power of the Turks; conquered Constantinople; successfully
defied all the attacks of her jealous rivals to shake her power;
and carried on a trade relatively as great as that of England in
the present day. I have laid my story in the time not of the
triumphs of Venice, but of her hardest struggle for existence--when
she defended herself successfully against the coalition of Hungary,
Padua, and Genoa--for never at any time were the virtues of Venice,
her steadfastness, her patriotism, and her willingness to make all
sacrifice for her independence, more brilliantly shown. The
historical portion of the story is drawn from Hazlitt's History of
the Republic of Venice, and with it I have woven the adventures of
an English boy, endowed with a full share of that energy and pluck
which, more than any other qualities, have made the British empire
the greatest the world has ever seen.</p>

<p>G. A. Henty.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch1">Chapter 1</a>: Venice.</h2>

<p>"I suppose you never have such nights as these in that misty
island of yours, Francisco?"</p>

<p>"Yes, we have," the other said stoutly. "I have seen just as
bright nights on the Thames. I have stood down by Paul's Stairs and
watched the reflection of the moon on the water, and the lights of
the houses on the bridge, and the passing boats, just as we are
doing now.</p>

<p>"But," he added honestly, "I must confess that we do not have
such still, bright nights very often, while with you they are the
rule, though sometimes even here a mist rises up and dims the
water, just as it does with us."</p>

<p>"But I have heard you say that the stars are not so bright as we
have them here."</p>

<p>"No, I do not think they are, Matteo. I do not remember now, but
I do know, when I first came here, I was struck with the brightness
of the stars, so I suppose there must have been a difference."</p>

<p>"But you like this better than England? You are glad that your
father came out here?"</p>

<p>Francis Hammond did not answer at once.</p>

<p>"I am glad he came out," he said after a pause, "because I have
seen many things I should never have seen if I had stayed at home,
and I have learned to speak your tongue. But I do not know that I
like it better than home. Things are different, you see. There was
more fun at home. My father had two or three apprentices, whom I
used to play with when the shop was closed, and there were often
what you would call tumults, but which were not serious. Sometimes
there would be a fight between the apprentices of one ward and
another. A shout would be raised of 'Clubs!' and all the 'prentices
would catch up their sticks and pour out of the shops, and then
there would be a fight till the city guard turned out and separated
them. Then there used to be the shooting at the butts, and the
shows, and the Mayday revels, and all sorts of things. The people
were more merry than you are here, and much more free. You see, the
barons, who are the same to us that your great families are to you,
had no influence in the city. You are a nation of traders, and so
are we; but in London the traders have the power, and are absolute
masters inside their own walls, caring nothing for the barons, and
not much for the king. If anyone did wrong he got an open and fair
trial. There was no fear of secret accusations. Everyone thought
and said as he pleased. There was no Lion's Mouth, and no Council
of Ten."</p>

<p>"Hush! hush! Francisco," the other said, grasping his arm. "Do
not say a word against the council. There is no saying who may be
listening."</p>

<p>And he looked nervously round to see if anyone was within
earshot.</p>

<p>"There it is, you see," his companion said. "So long as we have
a safe conscience, in London we are frightened at nothing, whereas
here no one can say with certainty that he may not, before tomorrow
morning, be lying in the dungeons of St. Mark, without the
slightest idea in the world as to what his crime has been."</p>

<p>"There, there, Francisco," Matteo said uneasily. "Do talk about
other things. Your notions may do very well in England, but are not
safe to discuss here. Of course there are plenty here who would
gladly see a change in some matters, but one cannot have
everything; and, after all, when one has so much to be proud of,
one need not grumble because everything is not just as one would
like."</p>

<p>"Yes, you have much to be proud of," Francis Hammond agreed. "It
is marvellous that the people of these scattered islets should be
masters of the sea, that their alliance should be coveted by every
power in Europe, that they should be the greatest trading community
in the world. If I were not English I should like to be
Venetian."</p>

<p>The speakers were standing at the edge of the water in front of
the Palace of St. Mark. In the piazza behind them a throng of
people were walking to and fro, gossiping over the latest news from
Constantinople, the last rumour as to the doings of the hated rival
of Venice, Genoa, or the purport of the letter which had, as
everyone knew, been brought by the Bishop of Treviso from the pope
to the seignory.</p>

<p>The moon was shining brightly overhead, and glittering in the
waters of the lagoon, which were broken into innumerable little
wavelets by the continual crossing and recrossing of the gondolas
dotting its surface. There was a constant arrival and departure of
boats from the steps, fifty yards to the right of the spot where
the speakers were standing; but where they had stationed
themselves, about halfway between the landing steps and the canal
running down by the side of the ducal palace, there were but few
people about.</p>

<p>Francis Hammond was a lad between fifteen and sixteen years old.
His father was a merchant of London. He was a man of great
enterprise and energy, and had four years before determined to
leave his junior partner in charge of the business in London, and
to come out himself for a time to Venice, so as to buy the Eastern
stuffs in which he dealt at the headquarters of the trade, instead
of paying such prices as the agents of the Venetian traders might
demand in London.</p>

<p>He had succeeded beyond his expectations. In Venice there were
constantly bargains to be purchased from ships returning laden with
the spoils of some captured Genoese merchantman, or taken in the
sack of some Eastern seaport. The prices, too, asked by the traders
with the towns of Syria or the Black Sea, were but a fraction of
those charged when these goods arrived in London. It was true that
occasionally some of his cargoes were lost on the homeward voyage,
captured either by the Genoese or the Moorish pirates; but even
allowing for this, the profits of the trade were excellent.</p>

<p>The English merchant occupied a good position in Venice. The
promptness of his payments, and the integrity of his dealings, made
him generally respected; and the fact that he was engaged in trade
was no drawback to his social position, in a city in which, of all
others, trade was considered honourable, and where members of even
the most aristocratic families were, with scarcely an exception,
engaged in commerce. There were many foreign merchants settled in
Venice, for from the first the republic had encouraged strangers to
take up their residence there, and had granted them several
privileges and advantages.</p>

<p>Between Venice and England there had always been good feeling.
Although jealous of foreigners, England had granted the Venetians
liberty to trade in London, Southampton, and some other towns as
far back as the year 1304; and their relations had always been
cordial, as there were no grounds for jealousy or rivalry between
the two peoples; whereas the interference of France, Germany,
Austria, and Hungary in the affairs of Italy, had frequently caused
uneasiness to Venice, and had on several occasions embroiled her
with one or other of the three last named powers. France had as yet
taken a very minor part in the continual wars which were waged
between the rival cities of Italy, and during the Crusades there
had been a close alliance between her and Venice, the troops of the
two nations fighting together at the siege of Constantinople, and
causing the temporary overthrow of the Greek Empire of the
East.</p>

<p>The rise of Venice had been rapid, and she owed her advancement
to a combination of circumstances. In the first place, her insular
position rendered her almost impervious to attack, and she had
therefore no occasion to keep on foot any army, and was able to
throw all her strength on to the sea, where Genoa was her only
formidable rival. In the second place, her mercantile spirit, and
her extensive trade with the East, brought in a steady influx of
wealth, and her gold enabled her to purchase allies, to maintain
lengthy struggles without faltering, and to emerge unscathed from
wars which exhausted the resources, and crippled the powers, of her
rivals.</p>

<p>The third source of her success lay in the spirit of her
population. Like Rome in her early days, she was never cast down by
reverses. Misfortune only nerved her to further exertions, and
after each defeat she rose stronger than before. But the cause
which, more than all, contributed to give to Venice her ascendancy
among the cities of Italy, was her form of government. Democratic
at first, as among all communities, it had gradually assumed the
character of a close oligarchy, and although nominally ruled by a
council containing a large number of members, her destinies were
actually in the hands of the Doge, elected for life, and the
Council of Ten, chosen from the great body of the council. Thus she
had from the first been free from those factions which were the
bane of Genoa and Florence. Some of the great families had from
time to time come more prominently to the front than others, but
none had attained predominant political power, and beyond a few
street tumults of slight importance, Venice had not suffered from
the popular tumults and uprisings which played so prominent a part
in the history of her rivals.</p>

<p>Thus, undisturbed by discord at home, Venice had been able to
give all her attention and all her care to her interests abroad,
and her affairs, conducted as they were by her wisest citizens,
with a single eye to the benefit of the state, had been
distinguished by a rare sagacity. Her object had been single and
uniform, to protect her own interests, and to prevent any one city
on the mainland attaining such a preponderance as would render her
a dangerous neighbour. Hence she was always ready to ally herself
with the weaker against the stronger, and to aid with money and men
any state struggling against an ambitious neighbour. Acting on this
principle she by turns assisted Padua against Verona, and Verona
against Padua, or either of them when threatened by the growing
power of Milan, and at the end of a war she generally came out with
an increased territory, and added importance.</p>

<p>It is probable that no community was ever governed, for hundreds
of years, with such uniform wisdom and sagacity as was Venice; but
the advantage was not without drawbacks. The vigilance of the
Council of Ten in repressing plots, not unfrequently set on foot by
the enemies of the republic, resulted in the adoption of a hateful
system of espionage. The city was pervaded with spies, and even
secret denunciations were attended to, and the slightest expression
of discontent against the ruling authorities was severely punished.
On the other hand, comparatively slight attention was paid to
private crime. Assassinations were of frequent occurrence, and
unless the victim happened to be very powerfully connected, no
notice was taken when a man was found to be missing from his usual
place, and his corpse was discovered floating in the lagoon.
Consequently crimes of this kind were, in the great majority of
cases, committed with impunity, and even when traced, the authors,
if possessed of powerful protectors, seldom suffered any greater
punishment than temporary banishment.</p>

<p>After standing for some time on the Piazzetta, the two lads
turned and, entering the square of Saint Mark, mingled with the
crowd. It was a motley one. Nobles in silks and satins jostled with
fishermen of the lagoons. Natives of all the coasts and islands
which owned the sway of Venice, Greeks from Constantinople, Tartar
merchants from the Crimea, Tyrians, and inhabitants of the islands
of the Aegean, were present in considerable numbers; while among
the crowd, vendors of fruit and flowers from the mainland, and of
fresh water or cooling drinks, sold their wares. The English lad's
companion--Matteo Giustiniani--belonged to one of the leading
families of Venice, and was able to name to Francis most of the
nobles and persons of importance whom they passed.</p>

<p>"There is Pisani," he said. "Of course you know him. What a
jolly, good-tempered looking fellow he is! The sailors would do
anything for him, and they say he will have command of the next
fleet that puts to sea. I wish I was going with him. There is sure
to be a fierce fight when he comes across the Genoese. His father
was one of our greatest admirals.</p>

<p>"That noble just behind him is Fiofio Dandolo. What a grand
family they have been, what a number of great men they have given
to the republic! I should like to have seen the grand old Doge who
stormed the walls of Constantinople, and divided the Eastern empire
among the crusading barons. He was a hero indeed.</p>

<p>"No; I don't know who that young noble in the green velvet cap
and plum coloured dress is. O yes, I do, though; it is Ruggiero
Mocenigo; he has been away for the last two years at
Constantinople; he was banished for having killed Polo Morosini--he
declared it was in fair fight, but no one believed him. They had
quarrelled a few days before over some question of the precedence
of their families, and Morosini was found dead at the top of the
steps close to the church of Saint Paolo. Some people heard a cry
and ran up just as Mocenigo leapt into his gondola, but as it rowed
off their shouts called the attention of one of the city guard
boats which happened to be passing, and it was stopped. As his
sword was still wet with blood, he could not deny that he was the
author of the deed, but, as I said, he declared it was in fair
fight. The Morosinis asserted that Polo's sword was undrawn, but
the Mocenigo family brought forward a man, who swore that he was
one of the first to arrive, and pick up the sword and place it in
its scabbard to prevent its being lost. No doubt he lied; but as
Mocenigo's influence in the council was greater than that of the
Morosini, the story was accepted. However, the public feeling was
so strong that they could not do less than sentence Ruggiero to two
years' banishment. I suppose that has just expired, and he has
returned from Constantinople. He had a bad reputation before this
affair took place, but as his connections are so powerful, I
suppose he will be received as if nothing had happened. There are
plenty of others as bad as he is."</p>

<p>"It's a scandalous thing," Francis Hammond said indignantly,
"that, just because they have got powerful connections, men should
be allowed to do, almost with impunity, things for which an
ordinary man would be hung. There ought to be one law for the rich
as well as the poor."</p>

<p>"So there is as far as the state is concerned," his companion
replied. "A noble who plots against the state is as certain of a
place in the lowest dungeons as a fisherman who has done the same;
but in other respects there is naturally some difference."</p>

<p>"Why naturally?" Francis retorted. "You belong to a powerful
family, Giustiniani, and my father is only a trader, but I don't
see that naturally you have any more right to get me stabbed in the
back, than I have to get you put out of the way."</p>

<p>"Naturally perhaps not," Matteo laughed; "but you see it has
become a second nature to us here in Venice. But seriously I admit
that the present state of things has grown to be a scandal, and
that the doings of some of our class ought to be put down with a
strong hand."</p>

<p>"Well, I shall say goodnight now," the English boy said. "My
father doesn't like my being out after ten. He keeps up his English
habits of shutting up early, and has not learned to turn night into
day as you do here in Venice."</p>

<p>"The bell has just tolled the hour, Francis," his father said as
he entered.</p>

<p>"I didn't think it was quite so late, father; the Piazza is
crowded. I really do not think there is one person in Venice who
goes to bed so early as we do. It is so pleasant in the moonlight
after the heat of the day."</p>

<p>"That is true enough, Francis, but men are meant to sleep at
night and to work in the day. I think our fathers carried this too
far when they rang the curfew at eight; but ten is quite late
enough for any honest man to be about in the streets, and the hours
of the early morning are just as pleasant and far more healthy than
those of the evening, especially in a place like this where the
mists rise from the water, to say nothing of the chance of meeting
a band of wild gallants on their way homewards heated with wine, or
of getting a stab in the back from some midnight assassin. However,
I do not blame Venice for enjoying herself while she can. She will
have more serious matters to attend to soon."</p>

<p>"But she is at peace with every one at present, father. I
thought when she signed the treaty with Austria after a year's
fighting, she was going to have rest for a time."</p>

<p>"That was only the beginning of the trouble, Francis, and the
council knew it well; that was why they made such terms with
Austria as they did. They knew that Austria was only acting in
accord with Hungary, and Padua, and Genoa. The others were not
ready to begin, so Austria came on her own account to get what
booty and plunder she could. But the storm is gathering, and will
burst before long. But do not let us stand talking here any longer.
It is high time for you to be in bed."</p>

<p>But though Francis retired to his room, it was more than an hour
before he got into bed. His window looked down upon one of the
canals running into the Grand Canal. Gondolas lighted by lanterns,
or by torches held by servitors, passed constantly backwards and
forwards beneath his window, and by leaning out he could see the
passing lights of those on the Grand Canal. Snatches of song and
laughter came up to him, and sometimes the note of a musical
instrument. The air was soft and balmy, and he felt no inclination
for sleep.</p>

<p>Francis thought over what his father had said of the probability
of war, as he sat at his window, and wished that he were a couple
of years older and could take part in the struggle. The Venetian
fleet had performed such marvels of valour, that, in the days when
military service was almost the sole avenue to distinction and
fortune, the desire to take part in a naval expedition, which
promised unusual opportunities of gaining credit and renown, was
the most natural thing possible for a boy of spirit.</p>

<p>Francis was a well built lad of nearly sixteen. He had, until he
left London when about twelve years old, taken his full share in
the rough sports which formed so good a training for the youths of
England, and in which the citizens of London were in no way behind
the rest of the kingdom. He had practised shooting with a light bow
and arrows, in company with boys of his own age, in the fields
outside the city walls; had engaged in many a rough tussle with
light clubs and quarterstaffs; and his whole time--except for an
hour or two daily which he had, as the son of a well to do citizen,
spent in learning to read and write--had been occupied in games and
exercises of one kind or other.</p>

<p>Since his arrival in Venice he had not altogether discontinued
his former habits. At his earnest solicitation, his father had
permitted him to attend the School of Arms, where the sons of
patricians and well-to-do merchants learned the use of sword and
dagger, to hurl the javelin, and wield the mace and battleaxe; and
was, besides, a frequenter of some of the schools where old
soldiers gave private lessons in arms to such as could afford it;
and the skill and strength of the English lad excited no slight
envy among the young Venetian nobles. Often, too, he would go out
to one of the sandy islets, and there setting up a mark, practise
with the bow. His muscles too, had gained strength and hardness by
rowing. It was his constant habit of an evening, when well away
from the crowded canals in the gondola, with Giuseppi, the son and
assistant of his father's gondolier, to take an oar, for he had
thoroughly mastered the difficult accomplishment of rowing well in
a gondola; but he only did this when far out from the city, or when
the darkness of evening would prevent his figure from being
recognized by any of his acquaintances, for no Venetian of good
family would demean himself by handling an oar. Francis, however,
accustomed to row upon the Thames, could see no reason why he
should not do the same in a gondola, and in time he and his
companion could send the boat dancing over the water, at a rate
which enabled them to overtake and distance most pair-oared
boats.</p>

<p>After breakfast next morning he went down to the steps, where
Beppo and Giuseppi, in their black cloth suits with red sashes
round their waists, were waiting with the gondola in which Mr.
Hammond was going out to Malamocco, to examine a cargo which had
the day before arrived from Azoph. Giuseppi jumped ashore.</p>

<p>"I have heard of just the gondola to suit you, Messer Francisco,
and you can get her a bargain."</p>

<p>"What is she like, Giuseppi?"</p>

<p>"She belongs to a man out at Lido. She was built for the race
two years ago, but her owner fell sick and was unable to start. He
has not got strong again, and wants to sell his boat, which is far
too light for ordinary work. They say she is almost like an
eggshell, and you and I will be able to send her along grandly. She
cost four ducats, but he will sell her for two."</p>

<p>"That is capital, Giuseppi. This gondola is all well enough for
my father, but she is very heavy. This evening we will row over to
Lido and look at her."</p>

<p>A few minutes later Mr. Hammond came down. Beppo and his son
took off their jackets, and in their snow white shirts and black
trousers, set off by the red scarf and a red ribbon round their
broad hats, took their places on the bow and stern. Mr. Hammond sat
down on the cushions in the middle of the boat, and with an easy,
noiseless motion the gondola glided away from the stairs. Francis,
with a little sigh, turned away and strolled off for a couple of
hours' work with the preceptor, with whom he had continued his
studies since he came to Venice.</p>

<p>This work consisted chiefly of learning various languages, for
in those days there was little else to learn. Latin was almost
universally spoken by educated men in southern Europe, and Greeks,
Italians, Spaniards, and Frenchmen were able to converse in this
common medium. French Francis understood, for it was the language
in use in the court and among the upper classes in England. Italian
he picked up naturally during his residence, and spoke it with the
facility of a native. He could now converse freely in Latin, and
had some knowledge of German. At the same school were many lads of
good Venetian families, and it was here that he had first made the
acquaintance of Matteo Giustiniani, who was now his most intimate
friend.</p>

<p>Matteo, like all the young nobles of Venice, was anxious to
excel in military exercises, but he had none of the ardour for
really hard work which distinguished his friend. He admired the
latter's strength and activity, but could not bring himself to
imitate him, in the exercises by which that strength was attained,
and had often remonstrated with him upon his fondness for
rowing.</p>

<p>"It is not seemly, Francisco, for a gentleman to be labouring
like a common gondolier. These men are paid for doing it; but what
pleasure there can be in standing up working that oar, till you are
drenched with perspiration, I cannot understand. I don't mind
getting hot in the School of Arms, because one cannot learn to use
the sword and dagger without it, but that's quite another thing
from tugging at an oar."</p>

<p>"But I like it, Matteo; and see how strong it has made my
muscles, not of the arm only, but the leg and back. You often say
you envy me my strength, but you might be just as strong if you
chose to work as I do. Besides, it is delightful, when you are
accustomed to it, to feel the gondola flying away under your
stroke."</p>

<p>"I prefer feeling it fly away under some one else's stroke,
Francisco. That is pleasant enough, I grant; but the very thought
of working as you do throws me into a perspiration. I should like
to be as strong as you are, but to work as a gondolier is too high
a price to pay for it."</p>

<p>That evening, Francis crossed the lagoon in the gondola with
Giuseppi, to inspect the boat he had heard of. It was just what he
wanted. In appearance it differed in no way from an ordinary
gondola, but it was a mere shell. The timbers and planking were
extremely light, and the weight of the boat was little more than a
third of that of other craft. She had been built like a working
gondola, instead of in the form of those mostly used for racing,
because her owner had intended, after the race was over, to plank
her inside and strengthen her for everyday work. But the race had
never come off, and the boat lay just as she had come from the
hands of her builder, except that she had been painted black, like
other gondolas, to prevent her planks from opening. When her owner
had determined to part with her he had given her a fresh coat of
paint, and had put her in the water, that her seams might close
up.</p>

<p>"I don't like parting with her," the young fisherman to whom she
belonged said. "I tried her once or twice, and she went like the
wind, but I got fever in my bones and I am unlikely to race again,
and the times are hard, and I must part with her."</p>

<p>Francis and Giuseppi gave her a trial, and were delighted with
the speed and ease with which she flew through the water. On their
return Francis at once paid the price asked for her. His father
made him a handsome allowance, in order that he might be able to
mix, without discomfort, with the lads of good family whom he met
at his preceptor's and at the schools of arms. But Francis did not
care for strolling in the Piazza, or sitting for hours sipping
liquors. Still less did he care for dress or finery. Consequently
he had always plenty of money to indulge in his own special
fancies.</p>

<p>As soon as the bargain was completed, Giuseppi took his place in
the old gondola, while Francis took the oar in his new acquisition,
and found to his satisfaction that with scarcely an effort he could
dart ahead of his companion and leave him far behind. By nightfall
the two gondolas were fastened, side by side, behind the gaily
painted posts which, in almost all Venetian houses, are driven into
the canal close to the steps, and behind which the gondolas
belonging to the house lie safe from injury by passing craft.</p>

<p>"I have bought another gondola, father," Francis said the next
morning. "She is a very light, fast craft, and I got her
cheap."</p>

<p>"I don't see what you wanted another gondola for, Francis. I do
not use mine very much, and you are always welcome to take it when
I do not want it."</p>

<p>"Yes, father, but you often use it in the evening, and that is
just the time when one wants to go out. You very often only take
Beppo with you, when you do not go on business, and I often want a
boat that I could take with Giuseppi. Besides, your gondola is a
very solid one, and I like passing people."</p>

<p>"Young people always want to go fast," Mr. Hammond said. "Why, I
can't make out. However, Francis, I am not sorry that you have got
a boat of your own, for it has happened several times lately, that
when in the evening I have gone down intending to row round to the
Piazzetta, I have found the boat gone, and have had to walk. Now I
shall be able to rely on finding Beppo asleep in the boat at the
steps. In future, since you have a boat of your own, I shall not be
so particular as to your being in at ten. I do not so much mind
your being out on the water, only you must promise me that you will
not be in the streets after that hour. There are frequent broils as
the evening gets on, not to mention the danger of cutthroats in
unfrequented lanes; but if you will promise me that you will never
be about the streets after half past nine, I will give you leave to
stay out on the water till a later hour; but when you come in late
be careful always to close and bar the door, and do not make more
noise than you can help in coming up to your room."</p>

<p>Francis was much pleased with this concession, for the
obligation to return at ten o'clock, just when the temperature was
most delightful and the Grand Canal at its gayest, had been very
irksome to him. As to the prohibition against being in the streets
of Venice after half past nine, he felt that no hardship whatever,
as he found no amusement in strolling in the crowded Piazza.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch2">Chapter 2</a>: A Conspiracy.</h2>

<p>"Who are those ladies, Matteo?" Francis asked his friend one
evening, as the latter, who was sitting with him in his gondola,
while Giuseppi rowed them along the Grand Canal, half rose and
saluted two girls in a passing gondola.</p>

<p>"They are distant cousins of mine, Maria and Giulia Polani. They
only returned a short time since from Corfu. Their father is one of
the richest merchants of our city. He has for the last three years
been living in Corfu, which is the headquarters of his trade. The
family is an old one, and has given doges to Venice. They are two
of our richest heiresses, for they have no brothers. Their mother
died soon after the birth of Giulia."</p>

<p>"They both look very young," Francis said.</p>

<p>"Maria is about sixteen, her sister two years younger. There
will be no lack of suitors for their hands, for although the family
is not politically powerful, as it used to be, their wealth would
cause them to be gladly received in our very first families."</p>

<p>"Who was the middle-aged lady sitting between them?"</p>

<p>"She is only their duenna," Matteo said carelessly. "She has
been with them since they were children, and their father places
great confidence in her. And he had need to, for Maria will ere
long be receiving bouquets and perfumed notes from many a young
gallant."</p>

<p>"I can quite fancy that," Francis said, "for she is very pretty
as well as very rich, and, as far as I have observed, the two
things do not go very often together. However, no doubt by this
time her father has pretty well arranged in his mind whom she is to
marry."</p>

<p>"I expect so," agreed Matteo.</p>

<p>"That is the worst of being born of good family. You have got to
marry some one of your father's choice, not your own, and that
choice is determined simply by the desire to add to the political
influence of the family, to strengthen distant ties, or to obtain
powerful connections. I suppose it is the same everywhere, Matteo,
but I do think that a man or woman ought to have some voice in a
matter of such importance to them."</p>

<p>"I think so, too, at the present time," Matteo laughed; "but I
don't suppose that I shall be of that opinion when I have a family
of sons and daughters to marry.</p>

<p>"This gondola of yours must be a fast one indeed, Francisco, for
with only one rower she keeps up with almost all the pair oared
boats, and your boy is not exerting himself to the utmost,
either."</p>

<p>"She can fly along, I can tell you, Matteo. You shall come out
in her some evening when Giuseppi and I both take oars. I have had
her ten days now, and we have not come across anything that can
hold her for a moment."</p>

<p>"It is always useful," Matteo said, "to have a fast boat. It is
invaluable in case you have been getting into a scrape, and have
one of the boats of the city watch in chase of you."</p>

<p>"I hope I sha'n't want it for any purpose of that sort," Francis
answered, laughing. "I do not think I am likely to give cause to
the city watch to chase me."</p>

<p>"I don't think you are, Francisco, but there is never any
saying."</p>

<p>"At any rate it is always useful to be able to go fast if
necessary, and if we did want to get away, I do not think there are
many pair-oared gondolas afloat that would overtake us, though a
good four oar might do so. Giuseppi and I are so accustomed to each
other's stroke now, that though in a heavy boat we might not be a
match for two men, in a light craft like this, where weight does
not count for so much, we would not mind entering her for a race
against the two best gondoliers on the canals, in an ordinary
boat."</p>

<p>A few evenings later, Francis was returning homewards at about
half past ten, when, in passing along a quiet canal, the boat was
hailed from the shore.</p>

<p>"Shall we take him, Messer Francisco?" Giuseppi asked in a low
voice; for more than once they had late in the evening taken a
fare.</p>

<p>Francis rowed, like Giuseppi, in his shirt, and in the darkness
they were often taken for a pair-oared gondola on the lookout for a
fare. Francis had sometimes accepted the offer, because it was an
amusement to see where the passenger wished to go--to guess whether
he was a lover hastening to keep an appointment, a gambler on a
visit to some quiet locality, where high play went on unknown to
the authorities, or simply one who had by some error missed his own
gondola, and was anxious to return home. It made no difference to
him which way he rowed. It was always possible that some adventure
was to be met with, and the fare paid was a not unwelcome addition
to Giuseppi's funds.</p>

<p>"Yes, we may as well take him," he replied to Giuseppi's
question.</p>

<p>"You are in no hurry to get to bed, I suppose?" the man who had
hailed them said as the boat drew up against the wall of the
canal.</p>

<p>"It does not make much difference to us, if we are well paid, to
keep awake," Giuseppi said.</p>

<p>Upon such occasions he was always the spokesman.</p>

<p>"You know San Nicolo?"</p>

<p>"Yes, I know it," Giuseppi said; "but it is a long row--six
miles, if it's a foot."</p>

<p>"You will have to wait there for an hour or two, but I will give
you half a ducat for your night's work."</p>

<p>"What do you say, partner?" Giuseppi asked Francis.</p>

<p>"We may as well go," the lad replied after a moment's pause.</p>

<p>The row was certainly a long one, but the night was delightful,
and the half ducat was a prize for Giuseppi; but what influenced
Francis principally in accepting was curiosity. San Nicolo was a
little sandy islet lying quite on the outside of the group of
islands. It was inhabited only by a few fishermen; and Francis
wondered that a man, evidently by his voice and manner of address
belonging to the upper class, should want to go to such a place as
this at this hour of the night. Certainly no ordinary motives could
actuate him.</p>

<p>As the stranger took his place in the boat, Francis saw by the
light of the stars that he was masked; but there was nothing very
unusual in this, as masks were not unfrequently worn at night by
young gallants, when engaged on any frolic in which they wished
their identity to be unrecognized. Still it added to the interest
of the trip; and dipping his oar in the water he set out at a slow,
steady stroke well within his power. He adopted this partly in view
of the length of the row before them, partly because the idea
struck him that it might be as well that their passenger should not
suspect that the boat was other than an ordinary gondola. The
passenger, however, was well satisfied with the speed, for they
passed two or three other gondolas before issuing from the narrow
canals, and starting across the broad stretch of the lagoon.</p>

<p>Not a word was spoken until the gondola neared its destination.
Then the passenger said:</p>

<p>"You row well. If you like the job I may employ you again."</p>

<p>"We are always ready to earn money," Francis said, speaking in a
gruff voice quite unlike his own.</p>

<p>"Very well. I will let you know, as we return, what night I
shall want you again. I suppose you can keep your mouths shut on
occasion, and can go without gossiping to your fellows as to any
job on which you are employed?"</p>

<p>"We can do that," Francis said. "It's no matter to us where our
customers want to go, if they are willing to pay for it; and as to
gossiping, there is a saying, 'A silver gag is the best for keeping
the mouth closed.'"</p>

<p>A few minutes later the bow of the gondola ran up on the sandy
shore of San Nicolo. The stranger made his way forward and leapt
out, and with the words, "It may be two hours before I am back,"
walked rapidly away.</p>

<p>"Why, Messer Francisco," Giuseppi said when their passenger was
well out of hearing, "what on earth possessed you to accept a fare
to such a place as this? Of course, for myself, I am glad enough to
earn half a ducat, which will buy me a new jacket with silver
buttons for the next festa; but to make such a journey as this was
too much, and it will be very late before we are back. If the
padrone knew it he would be very angry."</p>

<p>"I didn't do it to enable you to earn half a ducat, Giuseppi,
although I am glad enough you should do so; but I did it because it
seemed to promise the chance of an adventure. There must be
something in this. A noble--for I have no doubt he is one--would
never be coming out to San Nicolo, at this time of night, without
some very strong motive. There can be no rich heiress whom he might
want to carry off living here, so that can't be what he has come
for. I think there must be some secret meeting, for as we came
across the lagoon I saw one or two beats in the distance heading in
this direction. Anyhow, I mean to try and find out what it all
means."</p>

<p>"You had better not, sir," Giuseppi said earnestly. "If there is
any plot on foot we had best not get mixed up in it. No one is too
high or too low to escape the vengeance of the council, if found
plotting against the state; and before now gondolas, staved in and
empty, have been found drifting on the lagoons, and the men who
rowed them have never been heard of again. Once in the dungeons of
Saint Mark it would be of no use to plead that you had entered into
the affair simply for the amusement. The fact that you were not a
regular boatman would make the matter all the worse, and the maxim
that 'dead men tell no tales' is largely acted upon in Venice.</p>

<p>"I think, sir, the best plan will be to row straight back, and
leave our fare to find his way home as best he may."</p>

<p>"I mean to find something out about it if I can, Giuseppi. A
state secret may be dangerous, but it may be valuable. Anyhow,
there can be no great risk in it. On the water I think we can show
our heels to anyone who chases us; and once in Venice, we are
absolutely safe, for no one would suspect a gondola of Mr. Hammond,
the English merchant, of having any connection with a hired craft
with its two gondoliers."</p>

<p>"That is true enough, sir; but I don't like it for all that.
However, if you have made up your mind to it, there is nothing more
to be said."</p>

<p>"Very well. You stay here, and I will go and look round. You had
better get the gondola afloat, and be ready to start at the
instant, so that, if I should have to run for it, I can jump on
board and be off in a moment."</p>

<p>Francis made his way quietly up to the little group of huts
inhabited by the fishermen, but in none of them could he see any
signs of life--no lights were visible, nor could he hear the murmur
of voices. There were, he knew, other buildings scattered about on
the island; but he had only the light of the stars to guide him,
and, not knowing anything of the exact position of the houses, he
thought it better to return to the boat.</p>

<p>"I can find no signs of them, Giuseppi."</p>

<p>"All the better, Messer Francisco. There are some sorts of game,
which it is well for the safety of the hunter not to discover. I
was very glad, I can tell you, when I heard your whistle, and made
out your figure returning at a walk. Now you are back I will take
an hour's nap, and I should advise you to do the same."</p>

<p>But Francis had no thought of sleep, and sat down at his end of
the gondola, wondering over the adventure, and considering whether
or not it would be worth while to follow it up another night. That
it was a plot of some sort he had little doubt. There were always
in Venice two parties, equally anxious perhaps for the prosperity
of the republic, but differing widely as to the means by which that
prosperity would be best achieved, and as to the alliances which
would, in the long run, prove most beneficial to her. There were
also needy and desperate men ready enough to take bribes from any
who might offer them, and to intrigue in the interest of Padua or
Ferrara, Verona, Milan, or Genoa--whichever might for the time be
their paymasters.</p>

<p>Francis was English, but he had been long enough in Venice to
feel a pride in the island city, and to be almost as keenly
interested in her fortunes as were his companions and friends; and
a certain sense of duty, mingled with his natural love of
adventure, decided him to follow up the chance which had befallen
him, and to endeavour to ascertain the nature of the plot which
was, he had little doubt, being hatched at San Nicolo.</p>

<p>In a very few minutes the regular breathing of Giuseppi, who had
curled himself up in the bottom of the boat, showed that he had
gone to sleep; and he did not stir until, an hour and a half after
the return of Francis, the latter heard the fall of footsteps
approaching the gondola.</p>

<p>"Wake up, Giuseppi, here comes our fare!"</p>

<p>Francis stood up and stretched himself as the stranger came
alongside, as if he too had been fast asleep.</p>

<p>"Take me back to the spot where I hailed you," the fare said
briefly, as he stepped into the boat and threw himself back on the
cushions, and without a word the lads dipped their oars in the
water and the gondola glided away towards Venice.</p>

<p>Just as they reached the mouth of the Grand Canal, and were
about to turn into it, a six-oared gondola shot out from under the
point, and a voice called out:</p>

<p>"Stop, in the name of the republic, and give an account of
yourselves!"</p>

<p>"Row on," the passenger exclaimed, starting up. "Ten ducats if
you can set me safely on shore."</p>

<p>Had the lads been real gondoliers, it is probable that even this
tempting offer would not have induced them to disregard the order
from the galley, for they would have run no slight risk in so
doing. But Francis had no desire to be caught, and perhaps
imprisoned for a considerable time, until he was able to convince
the council that his share of the night's work had been merely the
result of a boyish freak. With two strokes of his oar, therefore,
he swept the boat's head round, thereby throwing their pursuers
directly astern of them; then he and Giuseppi threw their whole
weight into the stroke, and the boat danced over the water at a
pace very different to that at which it had hitherto proceeded.</p>

<p>But, fast as they went, the galley travelled somewhat faster,
the rowers doing their utmost in obedience to the angry orders of
their officer; and had the race been continued on a broad stretch
of water, it would sooner or later have overhauled the gondola. But
Francis was perfectly aware of this, and edged the boat away
towards the end of the Piazzetta, and then, shooting her head
round, dashed at full speed along the canal by the side of the
ducal palace, the galley being at the time some forty yards
behind.</p>

<p>"The first to the right," Francis said, and with scarce a pause
in their speed, they turned off at right angles up the first canal
they came to. Again and again they turned and twisted, regardless
of the direction in which the canals took them, their only object
being to gain on their pursuers, who lost considerably at each
turn, being obliged always to check their speed, before arriving at
each angle, to allow the boat to go round.</p>

<p>In ten minutes she was far behind, and they then abated their
speed, and turned the boat's head in the direction in which they
wished to go.</p>

<p>"By San Paolo," the stranger said, "that was well done! You are
masters of your craft, and sent your boat along at a pace which
must have astonished those fellows in that lumbering galley. I had
no reason to fear them, but I do not care to be interfered with and
questioned by these jacks-in-office of the republic."</p>

<p>A few minutes later they reached the place where he embarked,
and as he got out he handed the money he had promised to
Giuseppi.</p>

<p>"Next Thursday night," he said, "at half past ten."</p>

<p>"It seems a dangerous sort of service, signor," Giuseppi said
hesitatingly. "It is no joke to disobey the officers of the
republic, and next time we may not be so fortunate."</p>

<p>"It's worth taking a little risk when you are well paid," the
other said, turning away, "and it is not likely we shall run
against one of the state galleys another night."</p>

<p>"Home, now, Giuseppi," Francis said, "we can talk about it
tomorrow. It's the best night's work you ever did in your life, and
as I have had a grand excitement we are both contented."</p>

<p>During the next few days Francis debated seriously with himself
whether to follow up the adventure; but he finally decided on doing
so, feeling convinced that there could be no real danger, even were
the boat seized by one of the state galleys; as his story, that he
had gone into the matter simply to discover whether any plot was
intended against the republic, would finally be believed, as it
would be beyond the bounds of probability that a lad of his age
could himself have been concerned in such a conspiracy. As to
Giuseppi, he offered no remonstrance when Francis told him that he
intended to go out to San Nicolo on the following Thursday, for the
ten ducats he had received were a sum larger than he could have
saved in a couple of years' steady work, and were indeed quite a
fortune in his eyes. Another such a sum, and he would be able, when
the time came, to buy a gondola of his own, to marry, and set up
housekeeping in grand style. As for the danger, if Francis was
willing to run it he could do the same; for after all, a few
months' imprisonment was the worst that could befall him for his
share in the business.</p>

<p>Before the day came Matteo Giustiniani told Francis a piece of
news which interested him.</p>

<p>"You remember my cousin Maria Polani, whom we met the other
evening on the Grand Canal?"</p>

<p>"Of course I do, Matteo. What of her?"</p>

<p>"Well, what do you think? Ruggiero Mocenigo, whom I pointed out
to you on the Piazza--the man who had been banished for two
years--has asked for her hand in marriage."</p>

<p>"He is not going to have it, I hope," Francis said indignantly.
"It would be a shame, indeed, to give her to such a man as
that."</p>

<p>"That is just what her father thought, Francisco, and he refused
Ruggiero pretty curtly, and told him, I believe, he would rather
see her in her grave than married to him; and I hear there was a
regular scene, and Ruggiero went away swearing Polani should regret
his refusal."</p>

<p>"I suppose your cousin does not care much about his threats,"
Francis said.</p>

<p>"I don't suppose he cares much about them," Matteo replied; "but
Ruggiero is very powerfully connected, and may do him damage, not
to speak of the chance of his hiring a bravo to stab him on the
first opportunity. I know my father advised Polani to be very
cautious where he went at night for a time. This fellow, Ruggiero,
is a dangerous enemy. If he were to get Polani stabbed, it would be
next to impossible to prove that it was his doing, however strong
the suspicion might be; for mere suspicion goes for nothing against
a man with his influence and connections. He has two near relations
on the council, and if he were to burn down Polani's mansion, and
to carry off Maria, the chances are against his being punished, if
he did but keep out of the way for a few months."</p>

<p>As in England powerful barons were in the habit of waging
private wars with each other, and the carrying off a bride by force
was no very rare event, this state of things did not appear, to
Francis, as outrageous as it would do to an English lad of the
present day, but he shook his head.</p>

<p>"Of course one understands, Matteo, that everywhere powerful
nobles do things which would be regarded as crimes if done by
others; but, elsewhere, people can fortify their houses, and call
out and arm their retainers, and stand on their guard. But that
here, in a city like this, private feuds should be carried on, and
men stabbed when unconscious of danger, seems to me
detestable."</p>

<p>"Of course it isn't right," Matteo said carelessly, "but I don't
know how you are going to put a stop to it; and after all, our
quarrels here only involve a life or two, while in other countries
nobles go to war with each other, and hundreds of lives, of people
who have nothing to do with the quarrel, may be sacrificed."</p>

<p>This was a light in which Francis had hardly looked upon the
matter before, and he was obliged to own that even private
assassination, detestable as it was, yet caused much less suffering
than feudal war. Still, he was not disposed entirely to give in to
his friend's opinion.</p>

<p>"That is true, Matteo; but at the same time, in a war it is fair
fighting, while a stab in the back is a cowardly business."</p>

<p>"It is not always fair fighting," Matteo replied. "You hear of
castles being surprised, and the people massacred without a chance
of resistance; of villages being burned, and the people butchered
unresistingly. I don't think there is so much more fairness one way
than the other. Polani knows he will have to be careful, and if he
likes he can hire bravos to put Ruggiero out of the way, just as
Ruggiero can do to remove him. There's a good deal to be said for
both sides of the question."</p>

<p>Francis felt this was so, and that although he had an abhorrence
of the Venetian method of settling quarrels, he saw that as far as
the public were concerned, it was really preferable to the feudal
method, of both parties calling out their retainers and going to
war with each other, especially as assassinations played no
inconsiderable part in the feudal struggles of the time.</p>

<p>On the Thursday night the gondola was in waiting at the agreed
spot. Francis had thought it probable that the stranger might this
time ask some questions as to where they lived and their usual
place of plying for hire, and would endeavour to find out as much
as he could about them, as they could not but suspect that he was
engaged in some very unusual enterprise. He had therefore warned
Giuseppi to be very careful in his replies. He knew that it was not
necessary to say more, for Giuseppi had plenty of shrewdness, and
would, he was sure, invent some plausible story without the least
difficulty, possessing, as he did, plenty of the easy mendacity so
general among the lower classes of the races inhabiting countries
bordering on the Mediterranean. Their fare came down to the gondola
a few minutes after the clock had tolled the half hour.</p>

<p>"I see you are punctual," he said, "which is more than most of
you men are."</p>

<p>Francis was rowing the bow oar, and therefore stood with his
back to the passenger, and was not likely to be addressed by him,
as he would naturally turn to Giuseppi, who stood close behind him.
As Francis had expected, as soon as they were out on the lagoon the
passenger turned to his companion and began to question him.</p>

<p>"I cannot see your faces," he said; "but by your figures you are
both young, are you not?"</p>

<p>"I am but twenty-two," Giuseppi said, "and my brother is a year
younger."</p>

<p>"And what are your names?"</p>

<p>"Giovanni and Beppo Morani."</p>

<p>"And is this boat your own?"</p>

<p>"It is, signor. Our father died three years ago, leaving us his
boat."</p>

<p>"And where do you usually ply?"</p>

<p>"Anywhere, signor, just as the fancy seizes us. Sometimes one
place is good, sometimes another."</p>

<p>"And where do you live?"</p>

<p>"We don't live anywhere, signor. When night comes, and business
is over, we tie up the boat to a post, wrap ourselves up, and go to
sleep at the bottom. It costs nothing, and we are just as
comfortable there as we should be on straw in a room."</p>

<p>"Then you must be saving money."</p>

<p>"Yes; we are laying money by. Some day, I suppose, we shall
marry, and our wives must have homes. Besides, sometimes we are
lazy and don't work. One must have some pleasure, you know."</p>

<p>"Would you like to enter service?"</p>

<p>"No, signor. We prefer being our own masters; to take a fare or
leave it as we please."</p>

<p>"Your boat is a very fast one. You went at a tremendous rate
when the galley was after us the other night."</p>

<p>"The boat is like others," Giuseppi said carelessly; "but most
men can row fast when the alternative is ten ducats one way or a
prison the other."</p>

<p>"Then there would be no place where I could always find you in
the daytime if I wanted you?"</p>

<p>"No, signor; there would be no saying where we might be. We have
sometimes regular customers, and it would not pay us to disappoint
them, even if you paid us five times the ordinary fare. But we
could always meet you at night anywhere, when you choose to
appoint."</p>

<p>"But how can I appoint," the passenger said irritably, "if I
don't know where to find you?"</p>

<p>Giuseppi was silent for a stroke or two.</p>

<p>"If your excellency would write in figures, half past ten or
eleven, or whatever time we should meet you, just at the base of
the column of the palace--the corner one on the Piazzetta--we
should be sure to be there sometime or other during the day, and
would look for it."</p>

<p>"You can read and write, then?" the passenger asked.</p>

<p>"I cannot do that, signor," Giuseppi said, "but I can make out
figures. That is necessary to us, as how else could we keep time
with our customers? We can read the sundials, as everyone else can;
but as to reading and writing, that is not for poor lads like
us."</p>

<p>The stranger was satisfied. Certainly every one could read the
sundials; and the gondoliers would, as they said, understand his
figures if he wrote them.</p>

<p>"Very well," he said. "It is probable I shall generally know,
each time I discharge you, when I shall want you again; but should
there be any change, I will make the figures on the base of the
column at the corner of the Piazzetta, and that will mean the hour
at which you are to meet me that night at the usual place."</p>

<p>Nothing more was said, until the gondola arrived at the same
spot at which it had landed the passenger on the previous
occasion.</p>

<p>"I shall be back in about the same time as before," the fare
said when he alighted.</p>

<p>As he strode away into the darkness, Francis followed him. He
was shoeless, for at that time the lower class seldom wore any
protection to the feet, unless when going a journey over rough
ground. Among the gondoliers shoes were unknown; and Francis
himself generally took his off, for coolness and comfort, when out
for the evening in his boat.</p>

<p>He kept some distance behind the man he was following, for as
there were no hedges or inclosures, he could make out his figure
against the sky at a considerable distance. As Francis had
expected, he did not make towards the village, but kept along the
island at a short distance from the edge of the water.</p>

<p>Presently Francis heard the dip of oars, and a gondola ran up on
the sands halfway between himself and the man he was following. He
threw himself down on the ground. Two men alighted, and went in the
same direction as the one who had gone ahead.</p>

<p>Francis made a detour, so as to avoid being noticed by the
gondoliers, and then again followed. After keeping more than a
quarter of a mile near the water, the two figures ahead struck
inshore. Francis followed them, and in a few minutes they stopped
at a black mass, rising above the sand. He heard them knock, and
then a low murmur, as if they were answering some question from
within. Then they entered, and a door closed.</p>

<p>He moved up to the building. It was a hut of some size, but had
a deserted appearance. It stood between two ridges of low sand
hills, and the sand had drifted till it was halfway up the walls.
There was no garden or inclosure round it, and any passerby would
have concluded that it was uninhabited. The shutters were closed,
and no gleam of light showed from within.</p>

<p>After stepping carefully round it, Francis took his post round
the angle close to the door, and waited. Presently he heard
footsteps approaching--three knocks were given on the door, and a
voice within asked, "Who is there?"</p>

<p>The reply was, "One who is in distress."</p>

<p>The question came, "What ails you?"</p>

<p>And the answer, "All is wrong within."</p>

<p>Then there was a sound of bars being withdrawn, and the door
opened and closed again.</p>

<p>There were four other arrivals. The same questions were asked
and answered each time. Then some minutes elapsed without any fresh
comers, and Francis thought that the number was probably complete.
He lay down on the sand, and with his dagger began to make a hole
through the wood, which was old and rotten, and gave him no
difficulty in piercing it.</p>

<p>He applied his eye to the orifice, and saw that there were some
twelve men seated round a table. Of those facing him he knew three
or four by sight; all were men of good family. Two of them belonged
to the council, but not to the inner Council of Ten. One, sitting
at the top of the table, was speaking; but although Francis applied
his ear to the hole he had made, he could hear but a confused
murmur, and could not catch the words. He now rose cautiously,
scooped up the sand so as to cover the hole in the wall, and swept
a little down over the spot where he had been lying, although he
had no doubt that the breeze, which would spring up before morning,
would soon drift the light shifting sand over it, and obliterate
the mark of his recumbent figure. Then he went round to the other
side of the hut and bored another hole, so as to obtain a view of
the faces of those whose backs had before been towards him.</p>

<p>One of these was Ruggiero Mocenigo. Another was a stranger to
Francis, and some difference in the fashion of his garments
indicated that he was not a Venetian, but, Francis thought, a
Hungarian. The other three were not nobles. One of them Francis
recognized, as being a man of much influence among the fishermen
and sailors. The other two were unknown to him.</p>

<p>As upwards of an hour had been spent in making the two holes and
taking observations, Francis thought it better now to make his way
back to his boat, especially as it was evident that he would gain
nothing by remaining longer. Therefore, after taking the same
precautions as before, to conceal all signs of his presence, he
made his way across the sands back to his gondola.</p>

<p>"Heaven be praised, you are back again!" Giuseppi said, when he
heard his low whistle, as he came down to the boat. "I have been in
a fever ever since I lost sight of you. Have you succeeded?"</p>

<p>"I have found out that there is certainly a plot of some sort
being got up, and I know some of those concerned in it, but I could
hear nothing that went on. Still, I have succeeded better than I
expected, and I am well satisfied with the night's work."</p>

<p>"I hope you won't come again, Messer Francisco. In the first
place, you may not always have the fortune to get away unseen. In
the next place, it is a dangerous matter to have to do with
conspiracies, whichever side you are on. The way to live long in
Venice is to make no enemies."</p>

<p>"Yes, I know that, Giuseppi, and I haven't decided yet what to
do in the matter."</p>

<p>A quarter of an hour later, their fare returned to the boat.
This time they took a long detour, and, entering Venice by one of
the many canals, reached the landing place without adventure. The
stranger handed Giuseppi a ducat.</p>

<p>"I do not know when I shall want you again; but I will mark the
hour, as agreed, on the pillar. Do not fail to go there every
afternoon; and even if you don't see it, you might as well come
round here at half past ten of a night. I may want you
suddenly."</p>

<p>Before going to sleep that night, Francis thought the matter
over seriously, and finally concluded that he would have no more to
do with it. No doubt, by crossing over to San Nicolo in the
daytime, he might be able to loosen a plank at the back of the hut,
or to cut so large an opening that he could hear, as well as see,
what was going on within; but supposing he discovered that a plot
was on hand in favour of the enemies of Venice, such as Padua or
Hungary, what was he to do next? At the best, if he denounced it,
and the officers of the republic surrounded the hut when the
conspirators were gathered there, arrested them, and found upon
them, or in their houses, proofs sufficient to condemn them, his
own position would not be enviable. He would gain, indeed, the
gratitude of the republic; but as for rewards, he had no need of
them. On the other hand, he would draw upon himself the enmity of
some eight or ten important families, and all their connections and
followers, and his life would be placed in imminent danger. They
would be all the more bitter against him, inasmuch as the discovery
would not have been made by accident, but by an act of deliberate
prying into matters which concerned him in no way, he not being a
citizen of the republic.</p>

<p>So far his action in the matter had been a mere boyish freak;
and now that he saw it was likely to become an affair of grave
importance, involving the lives of many persons, he determined to
have nothing further to do with it.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch3">Chapter 3</a>: On The Grand Canal.</h2>

<p>Giuseppi, next morning, heard the announcement of the
determination of Francis, to interfere no further in the matter of
the conspiracy at San Nicolo, with immense satisfaction. For the
last few nights he had scarcely slept, and whenever he dozed off,
dreamed either of being tortured in dungeons, or of being murdered
in his gondola; and no money could make up for the constant terrors
which assailed him. In his waking moments he was more anxious for
his employer than for himself, for it was upon him that the
vengeance of the conspirators would fall, rather than upon a young
gondolier, who was only obeying the orders of his master.</p>

<p>It was, then, with unbounded relief that he heard Francis had
decided to go no more out to San Nicolo.</p>

<p>During the next few days Francis went more frequently than usual
to the Piazza of Saint Mark, and had no difficulty in recognizing
there the various persons he had seen in the hut, and in
ascertaining their names and families. One of the citizens he had
failed to recognize was a large contractor in the salt works on the
mainland. The other was the largest importer of beasts for the
supply of meat to the markets of the city.</p>

<p>Francis was well satisfied with the knowledge he had gained. It
might never be of any use to him, but it might, on the other hand,
be of importance when least expected.</p>

<p>As a matter of precaution he drew up an exact account of the
proceedings of the two nights on the lagoons, giving an account of
the meeting, and the names of the persons present, and placed it in
a drawer in his room. He told Giuseppi what he had done.</p>

<p>"I do not think there is the least chance of our ever being
recognized, Giuseppi. There was not enough light for the man to
have made out our features. Still there is nothing like taking
precautions, and if--I don't think it is likely, mind--but if
anything should ever happen to me--if I should be missing, for
example, and not return by the following morning--you take that
paper out of my drawer and drop it into the Lion's Mouth. Then, if
you are questioned, tell the whole story."</p>

<p>"But they will never believe me, Messer Francisco," Giuseppi
said in alarm.</p>

<p>"They will believe you, because it will be a confirmation of my
story; but I don't think that there is the least chance of our ever
hearing anything further about it."</p>

<p>"Why not denounce them at once without putting your name to it,"
Giuseppi said. "Then they could pounce upon them over there, and
find out all about it for themselves?"</p>

<p>"I have thought about it, Giuseppi, but there is something
treacherous in secret denunciations. These men have done me no
harm, and as a foreigner their political schemes do not greatly
concern me. I should not like to think I had sent twelve men to the
dungeons and perhaps to death."</p>

<p>"I think it's a pity you ever went there at all, Messer
Francisco."</p>

<p>"Well, perhaps it is, Giuseppi; but I never thought it would
turn out a serious affair like this. However, I do wish I hadn't
gone now; not that I think it really matters, or that we shall ever
hear anything more of it. We may, perhaps, some day see the result
of this conspiracy, that is, if its objects are such as I guess
them to be; namely, to form a party opposed to war with Hungary,
Padua, or Genoa."</p>

<p>For some days after this Francis abstained from late excursions
in the gondola. It was improbable that he or Giuseppi would be
recognized did their late passenger meet them. Still, it was
possible that they might be so; and when he went out he sat quietly
among the cushions while Giuseppi rowed, as it would be a
pair-oared gondola the stranger would be looking for. He was sure
that the conspirator would feel uneasy when the boat did not come
to the rendezvous, especially when they found that, on three
successive days, figures were marked as had been arranged on the
column at the corner of the Piazzetta.</p>

<p>Giuseppi learned indeed, a week later, that inquiries had been
made among the gondoliers for a boat rowed by two brothers,
Giovanni and Beppo; and the inquirer, who was dressed as a retainer
of a noble family, had offered five ducats reward for information
concerning it. No such names, however, were down upon the register
of gondoliers licensed to ply for hire. Giuseppi learned that the
search had been conducted quietly but vigorously, and that several
young gondoliers who rowed together had been seen and
questioned.</p>

<p>The general opinion, among the boatmen, was that some lady must
have been carried off, and that her friends were seeking for a clue
as to the spot to which she had been taken.</p>

<p>One evening Francis had been strolling on the Piazza with
Matteo, and had remained out later than he had done since the night
of his last visit to San Nicolo. He took his seat in the gondola,
and when Giuseppi asked him if he would go home, said he would
first take a turn or two on the Grand Canal as the night was close
and sultry.</p>

<p>There was no moon now, and most of the gondolas carried torches.
Giuseppi was paddling quietly, when a pair-oared gondola shot past
them, and by the light of the torch it carried, Francis recognized
the ladies sitting in it to be Maria and Giulia Polani with their
duenna; two armed retainers sat behind them. They were, Francis
supposed, returning from spending the evening at the house of some
of their friends. There were but few boats now passing along the
canal.</p>

<p>Polani's gondola was a considerable distance ahead, when Francis
heard a sudden shout of, "Mind where you are going!"</p>

<p>Then there was a crash of two gondolas striking each other,
followed by an outburst of shouts and cries of alarm, with, Francis
thought, the clash of swords.</p>

<p>"Row, Giuseppi!" he exclaimed, leaping from his seat and
catching up the other oar; and with swift and powerful strokes the
two lads drove the gondola towards the scene of what was either an
accident, or an attempt at crime.</p>

<p>They had no doubt which it was when they arrived at the spot. A
four-oared gondola lay alongside that of the Polanis, and the
gondoliers with their oars, and the two retainers with their
swords, had offered a stout resistance to an armed party who were
trying to board her from the other craft, but their resistance was
well nigh over by the time Francis brought his gondola
alongside.</p>

<p>One of the retainers had fallen with a sword thrust through his
body, and a gondolier had been knocked overboard by a blow from an
oar. The two girls were standing up screaming, and the surviving
retainer was being borne backwards by three or four armed men, who
were slashing furiously at him.</p>

<p>"Quick, ladies, jump into my boat!" Francis exclaimed as he came
alongside, and, leaning over, he dragged them one after the other
into his boat, just as their last defender fell.</p>

<p>With a fierce oath the leader of the assailants was about to
spring into the gondola, when Francis, snatching up his oar, smote
him with all his strength on the head as he was in the act of
springing, and he fell with a heavy splash into the water between
the boats.</p>

<p>A shout of alarm and rage rose from his followers, but the
gondolas were now separated, and in another moment that of Francis
was flying along the canal at the top of its speed.</p>

<p>"Calm yourselves, ladies," Francis said. "There is no fear of
pursuit. They will stop to pick up the man I knocked into the
canal, and by the time they get him on board we shall be out of
their reach."</p>

<p>"What will become of the signora?" the eldest girl asked, when
they recovered a little from their agitation.</p>

<p>"No harm will befall her, you may be sure," Francis said. "It
was evidently an attempt to carry you off, and now that you have
escaped they will care nothing for your duenna. She seemed to have
lost her head altogether, for as I lifted you into the boat she
clung so fast to your garments that I fancy a portion of them were
left in her grasp."</p>

<p>"Do you know where to take us? I see you are going in the right
direction?" the girl asked.</p>

<p>"To the Palazzo Polani," Francis said. "I have the honour of
being a friend of your cousin, Matteo Giustiniani, and being with
him one day when you passed in your gondola, he named you to
me."</p>

<p>"A friend of Matteo!" the girl repeated in surprise. "Pardon me,
signor, I thought you were two passing gondoliers. It was so dark
that I could not recognize you; and, you see, it is so unusual to
see a gentleman rowing."</p>

<p>"I am English, signora, and we are fond of strong exercise, and
so after nightfall, when it cannot shock my friends, I often take
an oar myself."</p>

<p>"I thank you, sir, with all my heart, for my sister and myself,
for the service you have rendered us. I can hardly understand what
has passed, even now it seems like a dream. We were going quietly
along home, when a large dark gondola dashed out from one of the
side canals, and nearly ran us down. Our gondolier shouted to warn
them, but they ran alongside, and then some men jumped on board,
and there was a terrible fight, and every moment I expected that
the gondola would have been upset. Beppo was knocked overboard, and
I saw old Nicolini fall; and then, just as it seemed all over, you
appeared suddenly by our side, and dragged us on board this boat
before I had time to think."</p>

<p>"I am afraid I was rather rough, signora, but there was no time
to stand on ceremony. Here is the palazzo."</p>

<p>The boat was brought up by the side of the steps. Francis leapt
ashore and rang the bell, and then assisted the girls to land. In a
minute the door was thrown open, and two servitors with torches
appeared. There was an exclamation of astonishment as they saw the
young ladies alone with a strange attendant.</p>

<p>"I will do myself the honour of calling tomorrow to inquire if
you are any the worse for your adventure, signora."</p>

<p>"No, indeed," the eldest girl said. "You must come up with us
and see our father. We must tell him what has happened; and he will
be angry indeed, did we suffer our rescuer to depart without his
having an opportunity of thanking him."</p>

<p>Francis bowed and followed the girls upstairs. They entered a
large, very handsomely furnished apartment where a tall man was
sitting reading.</p>

<p>"Why, girls," he exclaimed as he rose, "what has happened? you
look strangely excited. Where is your duenna? and who is this young
gentleman who accompanies you?"</p>

<p>"We have been attacked, father, on our way home," both the girls
exclaimed.</p>

<p>"Attacked?" Signor Polani repeated. "Who has dared to venture on
such an outrage?"</p>

<p>"We don't know, father," Maria said. "It was a four-oared
gondola that ran suddenly into us. We thought it was an accident
till a number of men, with their swords drawn, leaped on board.
Then Nicolini and Francia drew their swords and tried to defend us,
and Beppo and Jacopo both fought bravely too with their oars; but
Beppo was knocked overboard, and I am afraid Nicolini and Francia
are killed, and in another moment they would have got at us, when
this young gentleman came alongside in his gondola, and dragged us
on board, for we were too bewildered and frightened to do anything.
One of them--he seemed the leader of the party--tried to jump on
board, but our protector struck him a terrible blow with his oar,
and he fell into the water, and then the gondola made off, and, so
far as we could see, they did not chase us."</p>

<p>"It is a scandalous outrage, and I will demand justice at the
hands of the council.</p>

<p>"Young sir, you have laid me under an obligation I shall never
forget. You have saved my daughter from the worst calamity that
could befall her. Who is it to whom I am thus indebted?"</p>

<p>"My name is Francis Hammond. My father is an English merchant
who has, for the last four years, established himself here."</p>

<p>"I know him well by repute," Polani said. "I trust I shall know
more of him in the future.</p>

<p>"But where is your duenna, girls?"</p>

<p>"She remained behind in the gondola, father; she seemed too
frightened to move."</p>

<p>"The lady seemed to have lost her head altogether," Francis
said. "As I was lifting your daughters into my gondola, in a very
hasty and unceremonious way--for the resistance of your servitors
was all but overcome, and there was no time to be lost--she held so
tightly to their robes that they were rent in her hands."</p>

<p>Signor Polani struck a gong.</p>

<p>"Let a gondola be manned instantly," he said, "and let six of
you take arms and go in search of our boat. Let another man at once
summon a leech, for some of those on board are, I fear, grievously
wounded, if not killed."</p>

<p>But there was no occasion to carry out the order concerning the
boat, for before it was ready to start the missing gondola arrived
at the steps, rowed by the remaining gondolier. The duenna was
lifted out sobbing hysterically, and the bodies of the two
retainers were then landed. One was dead; the other expired a few
minutes after being brought ashore.</p>

<p>"You did not observe anything particular about the gondola,
Maria, or you, Giulia?"</p>

<p>"No, father, I saw no mark or escutcheon upon it, though they
might have been there without my noticing them. I was too
frightened to see anything; it came so suddenly upon us."</p>

<p>"It was, as far as I noticed, a plain black gondola," Francis
said. "The men concerned in the affair were all dressed in dark
clothes, without any distinguishing badges."</p>

<p>"How was it you came to interfere in the fray, young gentleman?
Few of our people would have done so, holding it to be a dangerous
thing, for a man to mix himself up in a quarrel in which he had no
concern."</p>

<p>"I should probably have mixed myself up in it, in any case, when
I heard the cry of women," Francis replied; "but, in truth, I
recognized the signoras as their gondola passed mine, and knew them
to be cousins of my friend Matteo Giustiniani. Therefore when I
heard the outcry ahead, I naturally hastened up to do what I could
in the matter."</p>

<p>"And well you did it," Polani said heartily. "I trust that the
man you felled into the water is he who is the author of this
outrage. I do not think I need seek far for him. My suspicions
point very strongly in one direction, and tomorrow I will lay the
matter before the council and demand reparation."</p>

<p>"And now, signor, if you will permit me I will take my leave,"
Francis said. "The hour is late, and the signoras will require rest
after their fright and emotion."</p>

<p>"I will see you tomorrow, sir. I shall do myself the honour of
calling early upon your father, to thank him for the great service
you have rendered me."</p>

<p>Signor Polani accompanied Francis to the steps, while two
servants held torches while he took his seat in the gondola, and
remained standing there until the barque had shot away beyond the
circle of light.</p>

<p>"We seem fated to have adventures, Giuseppi."</p>

<p>"We do indeed, Messer Francisco, and this is more to my liking
than the last. We arrived just at the nick of time; another half
minute and those young ladies would have been carried off. That was
a rare blow you dealt their leader. I fancy he never came up again,
and that that is why we got away without being chased."</p>

<p>"I am of that opinion myself, Giuseppi."</p>

<p>"If that is the case we shall not have heard the last of it,
Messer Francisco. Only someone of a powerful family would venture
upon so bold a deed, as to try to carry off ladies of birth on the
Grand Canal, and you may find that this adventure has created for
you enemies not to be despised."</p>

<p>"I can't help it if it has," Francis said carelessly. "On the
other hand, it will gain for me an influential friend in Signor
Polani, who is not only one of the richest merchants of Venice, but
closely related to a number of the best families of the city."</p>

<p>"His influence will not protect you against the point of a
dagger," Giuseppi said. "Your share in this business cannot but
become public, and I think that it would be wise to give up our
evening excursions at present."</p>

<p>"I don't agree with you, Giuseppi. We don't go about with
torches burning, so no one who meets us is likely to recognize us.
One gondola in the dark is pretty much like another, and however
many enemies I had, I should not be afraid of traversing the
canals."</p>

<p>The next morning, at breakfast time, Francis related to his
father his adventure of the previous evening.</p>

<p>"It is a mistake, my son, to mix yourself up in broils which do
not concern you; but in the present instance it may be that your
adventure will turn out to be advantageous to your prospects.
Signor Polani is one of the most illustrious merchants of Venice.
His name is known everywhere in the East, and there is not a port
in the Levant where his galleys do not trade. The friendship of
such a man cannot but be most useful to me.</p>

<p>"Upon the other hand, you will probably make some enemies by
your interference with the plans of some unscrupulous young noble,
and Venice is not a healthy city for those who have powerful
enemies; still I think that the advantages will more than balance
the risk.</p>

<p>"However, Francis, you must curb your spirit of adventure. You
are not the son of a baron or count, and the winning of honour and
glory by deeds of arms neither befits you, nor would be of
advantage to you in any way. A trader of the city of London should
be distinguished for his probity and his attention to business; and
methinks that, ere long, it will be well to send you home to take
your place in the counting house under the eye of my partner, John
Pearson.</p>

<p>"Hitherto I have not checked your love for arms, or your
intercourse with youths of far higher rank than your own; but I
have been for some time doubting the wisdom of my course in
bringing you out here with me, and have regretted that I did not
leave you in good hands at home. The events of last night show that
the time is fast approaching when you can no longer be considered a
boy, and it will be better for you to turn at once into the groove
in which you are to travel, than to continue a mode of life which
will unfit you for the career of a city trader."</p>

<p>Francis knew too well his duty towards his father to make any
reply, but his heart sank at the prospect of settling down in the
establishment in London. His life there had not been an unpleasant
one, but he knew that he should find it terribly dull, after the
freedom and liberty he had enjoyed in Venice. He had never,
however, even to himself, indulged the idea that any other career,
save that of his father, could be his; and had regarded it as a
matter of course that, some day, he would take his place in the
shop in Cheapside.</p>

<p>Now that it was suddenly presented to him as something which
would shortly take place, a feeling of repugnance towards the life
came over him. Not that he dreamt for a moment of trying to induce
his father to allow him to seek some other calling. He had been
always taught to consider the position of a trader of good
standing, of the city of London, as one of the most desirable
possible. The line between the noble and the citizen was so
strongly marked that no one thought of overstepping it. The
citizens of London were as proud of their position and as tenacious
of their rights as were the nobles themselves. They were ready
enough to take up arms to defend their privileges and to resist
oppression, whether it came from king or noble; but few indeed,
even of the wilder spirits of the city, ever thought of taking to
arms as a profession.</p>

<p>It was true that honour and rank were to be gained, by those who
rode in the train of great nobles to the wars, but the nobles drew
their following from their own estates, and not from among the
dwellers in the cities; and, although the bodies of men-at-arms and
archers, furnished by the city to the king in his wars, always did
their duty stoutly in the field, they had no opportunity of
distinguishing themselves singly. The deeds which attracted
attention, and led to honour and rank, were performed by the
esquires and candidates for the rank of knighthood, who rode behind
the barons into the thick of the French chivalry.</p>

<p>Therefore Francis Hammond had never thought of taking to the
profession of arms in his own country; though, when the news
arrived in Venice of desperate fighting at sea with the Genoese, he
had thought, to himself, that the most glorious thing in life must
be to command a well-manned galley, as she advanced to the
encounter of an enemy superior in numbers. He had never dreamed
that such an aspiration could ever be satisfied--it was merely one
of the fancies in which lads so often indulge.</p>

<p>Still, the thought that he was soon to return and take his place
in the shop in Chepe was exceedingly unpleasant to him.</p>

<p>Soon after breakfast the bell at the water gate rang loudly, and
a minute later the servant entered with the news that Signor Polani
was below, and begged an interview. Mr. Hammond at once went down
to the steps to receive his visitor, whom he saluted with all
ceremony, and conducted upstairs.</p>

<p>"I am known to you by name, no doubt, Signor Hammond, as you are
to me," the Venetian said, when the first formal greetings were
over. "I am not a man of ceremony, nor, I judge, are you; but even
if I were, the present is not an occasion for it. Your son has
doubtless told you of the inestimable service, which he rendered to
me last night, by saving my daughters, or rather my eldest
daughter--for it was doubtless she whom the villains sought--from
being borne off by one of the worst and most disreputable of the
many bad and disreputable young men of this city."</p>

<p>"I am indeed glad, Signor Polani, that my son was able to be of
service to you. I have somewhat blamed myself that I have let him
have his own way so much, and permitted him to give himself up to
exercises of arms, more befitting the son of a warlike noble than
of a peaceful trader; but the quickness and boldness, which the
mastery of arms gives, was yesterday of service, and I no longer
regret the time he has spent, since it has enabled him to be of aid
to the daughters of Signor Polani."</p>

<p>"A mastery of arms is always useful, whether a man be a
peace-loving citizen, or one who would carve his way to fame by
means of his weapons. We merchants of the Mediterranean might give
up our trade, if we were not prepared to defend our ships against
the corsairs of Barbary, and the pirates who haunt every inlet and
islet of the Levant now, as they have ever done since the days of
Rome. Besides, it is the duty of every citizen to defend his native
city when attacked. And lastly, there are the private enemies, that
every man who rises but in the smallest degree above his fellows is
sure to create for himself.</p>

<p>"Moreover, a training in arms, as you say, gives readiness and
quickness, it enables the mind to remain calm and steadfast amidst
dangers of all sorts, and, methinks, it adds not a little to a
man's dignity and self respect to know that he is equal, man to
man, to any with whom he may come in contact. Here in Venice we are
all soldiers and sailors, and your son will make no worse merchant,
but rather the better, for being able to wield sword and
dagger.</p>

<p>"Even now," he said with a smile, "he has proved the advantage
of his training; for, though I say it not boastfully, Nicholas
Polani has it in his power to be of some use to his friends, and
foremost among them he will henceforward count your brave son, and,
if you will permit him, yourself.</p>

<p>"But you will, I trust, excuse my paying you but a short visit
this morning, for I am on my way to lay a complaint before the
council. I have already been round to several of my friends, and
Phillipo Giustiniani and some six others, nearest related to me,
will go with me, being all aggrieved at this outrage to a family
nearly connected. I crave you to permit me to take your son with
me, in order that he may be at hand, if called upon, to say what he
knows of the affair."</p>

<p>"Assuredly it is his duty to go with you if you desire it;
although I own I am not sorry that he could see, as he tells me, no
badge or cognizance which would enable him to say aught which can
lead to the identification of those who would have abducted your
daughter. It is but too well known a fact that it is dangerous to
make enemies in Venice, for even the most powerful protection does
not avail against the stab of a dagger."</p>

<p>"That is true enough," the merchant said. "The frequency of
assassinations is a disgrace to our city; nor will it ever be put
down until some men of high rank are executed, and the seignory
show that they are as jealous of the lives of private citizens, as
they are of the honour and well being of the republic."</p>

<p>Francis gladly threw aside his books when he was told that
Signor Polani desired him to accompany him, and was soon seated by
the side of the merchant in his gondola.</p>

<p>"How old are you, my friend?" the merchant asked him, as the
boat threaded the mazes of the canals.</p>

<p>"I am just sixteen, signor."</p>

<p>"No more!" the merchant said in surprise. "I had taken you for
well-nigh two years older. I have but just come from the Palazzo
Giustiniani, and my young kinsman, Matteo, tells me that in the
School of Arms there are none of our young nobles who are your
match with rapier or battleaxe."</p>

<p>"I fear, sir," Francis said modestly, "that I have given up more
time to the study of arms than befits the son of a sober
trader."</p>

<p>"Not at all," the Venetian replied. "We traders have to defend
our rights and our liberties, our goods and our ships, just as much
as the nobles have to defend their privileges and their castles.
Here in Venice there are no such distinctions of rank as there are
elsewhere. Certain families, distinguished among the rest by their
long standing, wealth, influence, or the services they have
rendered to the state, are of senatorial rank, and constitute our
nobility; but there are no titles among us. We are all citizens of
the republic, with our rights and privileges, which cannot be
infringed even by the most powerful; and the poorest citizen has an
equal right to make himself as proficient in the arms, which he may
be called upon to wield in defence of the state, as the Doge
himself. In your country also, I believe, all men are obliged to
learn the use of arms, to practise shooting at the butts, and to
make themselves efficient, if called upon to take part in the wars
of the country. And I have heard that at the jousts, the champions
of the city of London have ere now held their own against those of
the court."</p>

<p>"They have done so," Francis said; "and yet, I know not why, it
is considered unseemly for the sons of well-to-do citizens to be
too fond of military exercises."</p>

<p>"The idea is a foolish one," the Venetian said hotly. "I myself
have, a score of times, defended my ships against corsairs and
pirates, Genoese, and other enemies. I have fought against the
Greeks, and been forced to busy myself in more than one serious
fray in the streets of Constantinople, Alexandria, and other ports,
and have served in the galleys of the state. All men who live by
trade must be in favour of peace; but they must also be prepared to
defend their goods, and the better able they are to do it, the more
the honour to them.</p>

<p>"But here we are at the Piazzetta."</p>

<p>A group of nobles were standing near the landing place, and
Signor Polani at once went up to them, and introduced Francis to
them as the gentleman who had done his daughter and their kinswoman
such good service. Francis was warmly thanked and congratulated by
them all.</p>

<p>"Will you wait near the entrance?" Signor Polani said. "I see
that my young cousin, Matteo, has accompanied his father, and you
will, no doubt, find enough to say to each other while we are with
the council."</p>

<p>The gentlemen entered the palace, and Matteo, who had remained
respectfully at a short distance from the seniors, at once joined
his friend.</p>

<p>"Well, Francis, I congratulate you heartily, though I feel quite
jealous of you. It was splendid to think of your dashing up in your
gondola, and carrying off my pretty cousins from the clutches of
that villain, Ruggiero Mocenigo, just as he was about to lay his
hands on them."</p>

<p>"Are you sure it was Ruggiero, Matteo?"</p>

<p>"Oh, there can't be any doubt about it. You know, he had asked
for Maria's hand, and when Polani refused him, had gone off
muttering threats. You know what his character is. He is capable of
any evil action; besides, they say that he has dissipated his
patrimony, in gaming and other extravagances at Constantinople, and
is deep in the hands of the Jews. If he could have succeeded in
carrying off Maria it would more than have mended his fortunes, for
she and her sister are acknowledged to be the richest heiresses in
Venice. Oh, there is not a shadow of doubt that it's he.</p>

<p>"You won't hear me saying anything against your love of prowling
about in that gondola of yours, since it has brought you such a
piece of good fortune--for it is a piece of good fortune, Francis,
to have rendered such a service to Polani, to say nothing of all
the rest of us who are connected with his family. I can tell you
that there are scores of young men of good birth in Venice, who
would give their right hand to have done what you did."</p>

<p>"I should have considered myself fortunate to have been of
service to any girls threatened by violence, though they had only
been fishermen's daughters," Francis said; "but I am specially
pleased because they are relatives of yours, Matteo."</p>

<p>"To say nothing to their being two of the prettiest girls in
Venice," Matteo added slyly.</p>

<p>"That counts for something too, no doubt," Francis said
laughing, "though I didn't think of it.</p>

<p>"I wonder," he went on gravely, "whether that was Ruggiero whom
I struck down, and whether he came up again to the surface. He has
very powerful connections, you know, Matteo; and if I have gained
friends, I shall also have gained enemies by the night's work."</p>

<p>"That is so," Matteo agreed. "For your sake, I own that I hope
that Ruggiero is at present at the bottom of the canal. He was
certainly no credit to his friends; and although they would of
course have stood by him, I do not think they will feel, at heart,
in any way displeased to know that he will trouble them no longer.
But if his men got him out again, I should say you had best be
careful, for Ruggiero is about the last man in Venice I should care
to have as an enemy. However, we won't look at the unpleasant side
of the matter, and will hope that his career has been brought to a
close."</p>

<p>"I don't know which way to hope," Francis said gravely. "He will
certainly be a dangerous enemy if he is alive; and yet the thought
of having killed a man troubles me much."</p>

<p>"It would not trouble me at all if I were in your place," Matteo
said. "If you had not killed him, you may be very sure that he
would have killed you, and that the deed would have caused him no
compunction whatever. It was a fair fight, just as if it had been a
hostile galley in mid-sea; and I don't see why the thought of
having rid Venice of one of her worst citizens need trouble you in
any way."</p>

<p>"You see I have been brought up with rather different ideas to
yours, Matteo. My father, as a trader, is adverse to fighting of
all kinds--save, of course, in defence of one's country; and
although he has not blamed me in any way for the part I took, I can
see that he is much disquieted, and indeed speaks of sending me
back to England at once."</p>

<p>"Oh, I hope not!" Matteo said earnestly. "Hitherto you and I
have been great friends, Francis, but we shall be more in future.
All Polani's friends will regard you as one of themselves; and I
was even thinking, on my way here, that perhaps you and I might
enter the service of the state together, and get appointed to a war
galley in a few years."</p>

<p>"My father's hair would stand up at the thought, Matteo; though,
for myself, I should like nothing so well. However, that could
never have been. Still I am sorry, indeed, at the thought of
leaving Venice. I have been very happy here, and I have made
friends, and there is always something to do or talk about; and the
life in London would be so dull in comparison. But here comes one
of the ushers from the palace."</p>

<p>The official came up to them, and asked if either of them was
Messer Francisco Hammond, and, finding that he had come to the
right person, requested Francis to follow him.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch4">Chapter 4</a>: Carried Off.</h2>

<p>It was with a feeling of considerable discomfort, and some awe,
that Francis Hammond followed his conductor to the chamber of the
Council. It was a large and stately apartment. The decorations were
magnificent, and large pictures, representing events in the wars of
Venice, hung round the walls. The ceiling was also superbly
painted. The cornices were heavily gilded. Curtains of worked
tapestry hung by the windows, and fell behind him as he entered the
door.</p>

<p>At a table of horseshoe shape eleven councillors, clad in the
long scarlet robes, trimmed with ermine, which were the
distinguishing dress of Venetian senators, were seated--the doge
himself acting as president. On their heads they wore black velvet
caps, flat at the top, and in shape somewhat resembling the flat
Scotch bonnet. Signor Polani and his companions were seated in
chairs, facing the table.</p>

<p>When Francis entered the gondolier was giving evidence as to the
attack upon his boat. Several questions were asked him when he had
finished, and he was then told to retire. The usher then brought
Francis forward.</p>

<p>"This is Messer Francisco Hammond," he said.</p>

<p>"Tell your story your own way," the doge said.</p>

<p>Francis related the story of the attack on the gondola, and the
escape of the ladies in his boat.</p>

<p>"How came you, a foreigner and a youth, to interfere in a fray
of this kind?" one of the councillors asked.</p>

<p>"I did not stop to think of my being a stranger, or a youth,"
Francis replied quietly. "I heard the screams of women in distress,
and felt naturally bound to render them what aid I could."</p>

<p>"Did you know who the ladies were?"</p>

<p>"I knew them only by sight. My friend Matteo Giustiniani had
pointed them out to me, on one occasion, as being the daughters of
Signor Polani, and connections of his. When their gondola had
passed mine, a few minutes previously, I recognized their faces by
the light of the torches in their boat."</p>

<p>"Were the torches burning brightly?" another of the council
asked; "because it may be that this attack was not intended against
them, but against some others."</p>

<p>"The light was bright enough for me to recognize their faces at
a glance," Francis said, "and also the yellow and white sashes of
their gondoliers."</p>

<p>"Did you see any badge or cognizance, either on the gondola or
on the persons of the assailants?"</p>

<p>"I did not," Francis said. "They certainly wore none. One of the
torches in the Polani gondola had been extinguished in the fray,
but the other was still burning, and, had the gondoliers worn
coloured sashes or other distinguishing marks, I should have
noticed them."</p>

<p>"Should you recognize, were you to see them again, any of the
assailants?"</p>

<p>"I should not," Francis said. "They were all masked."</p>

<p>"You say you struck down the one who appeared to be their leader
with an oar, as he was about to leap into your boat. How was it the
oar was in your hand instead of that of your gondolier?"</p>

<p>"I was myself rowing," Francis said. "In London, rowing is an
amusement of which boys of all classes are fond, and since I have
been out here with my father I have learned to row a gondola; and
sometimes, when I am out of an evening, I take an oar as well as my
gondolier, enjoying the exercise and the speed at which the boat
goes along. I was not rowing when the signora's boat passed me, but
upon hearing the screams, I stood up and took the second oar, to
arrive as quickly as possible at the spot. That was how it was that
I had it in my hand, when the man was about to leap into the
boat."</p>

<p>"Then there is nothing at all, so far as you know, to direct
your suspicion against anyone as the author of this attack?"</p>

<p>"There was nothing," Francis said, "either in the gondola
itself, or in the attire or persons of those concerned in the fray,
which could give me the slightest clue as to their identity."</p>

<p>"At any rate, young gentleman," the doge said, "you appear to
have behaved with a promptness, presence of mind, and courage--for
it needs courage to interfere in a fray of this sort--beyond your
years; and, in the name of the republic, I thank you for having
prevented the commission of a grievous crime. You will please to
remain here for the present. It may be that, when the person
accused of this crime appears before us, you may be able to
recognize his figure."</p>

<p>It was with mixed feelings that Francis heard, a minute or two
later, the usher announce that Signor Ruggiero Mocenigo was
without, awaiting the pleasure of their excellencies.</p>

<p>"Let him enter," the doge said.</p>

<p>The curtains fell back, and Ruggiero Mocenigo entered with a
haughty air. He bowed to the council, and stood as if expecting to
be questioned.</p>

<p>"You are charged, Ruggiero Mocenigo," the doge said, "with being
concerned in an attempt to carry off the daughters of Signor
Polani, and of taking part in the killing of three servitors of
that gentleman."</p>

<p>"On what grounds am I accused?" Ruggiero said haughtily.</p>

<p>"On the ground that you are a rejected suitor for the elder
lady's hand, and that you had uttered threats against her father,
who, so far as he knows, has no other enemies."</p>

<p>"This seems somewhat scanty ground for an accusation of such
gravity," Ruggiero said sneeringly. "If every suitor who grumbles,
when his offer is refused, is to be held responsible for every
accident which may take place in the lady's family, methinks that
the time of this reverend and illustrious council will be largely
occupied."</p>

<p>"You will remember," the doge said sternly, "that your previous
conduct gives good ground for suspicion against you. You have
already been banished from the state for two years for
assassination, and such reports as reached us of your conduct in
Constantinople, during your exile, were the reverse of
satisfactory. Had it not been so, the prayers of your friends, that
your term of banishment might be shortened, would doubtless have
produced their effect."</p>

<p>"At any rate," Ruggiero said, "I can, with little difficulty,
prove that I had no hand in any attempt upon Signor Polani's
daughters last night, seeing that I had friends spending the
evening with me, and that we indulged in play until three o'clock
this morning--an hour at which, I should imagine, the Signoras
Polani would scarcely be abroad."</p>

<p>"At what time did your friends assemble?"</p>

<p>"At nine o'clock," Ruggiero said. "We met by agreement in the
Piazza, somewhat before that hour, and proceeded together on foot
to my house."</p>

<p>"Who were your companions?"</p>

<p>Ruggiero gave the names of six young men, all connections of his
family, and summonses were immediately sent for them to attend
before the council.</p>

<p>"In the meantime, Messer Francisco Hammond, you can tell us
whether you recognize in the accused one of the assailants last
night."</p>

<p>"I cannot recognize him, your excellency," Francis said; "but I
can say certainly that he was not the leader of the party, whom I
struck with my oar. The blow fell on the temple, and assuredly
there would be marks of such a blow remaining today."</p>

<p>As Francis was speaking, Ruggiero looked at him with a cold
piercing glance, which expressed the reverse of gratitude for the
evidence which he was giving in his favour, and something like a
chill ran through him as he resumed his seat behind Signor Polani
and his friends.</p>

<p>There was silence for a quarter of an hour. Occasionally the
members of the council spoke in low tones to each other, but no
word was spoken aloud, until the appearance of the first of the
young men who had been summoned. One after another they gave their
evidence, and all were unanimous in declaring that they had spent
the evening with Ruggiero Mocenigo, and that he did not leave the
room, from the moment of his arrival there soon after nine o'clock,
until they left him at two in the morning.</p>

<p>"You have heard my witnesses," Ruggiero said, when the last had
given his testimony; "and I now ask your excellencies, whether it
is right that a gentleman, of good family, should be exposed to a
villainous accusation of this kind, on the barest grounds of
suspicion?"</p>

<p>"You have heard the evidence which has been given, Signor
Polani," the doge said. "Do you withdraw your accusation against
Signor Mocenigo?"</p>

<p>"I acknowledge, your excellency," Signor Polani said, rising,
"that Ruggiero Mocenigo has proved that he took no personal part in
the affair, but I will submit to you that this in no way proves
that he is not the author of the attempt. He would know that my
first suspicion would fall upon him, and would, therefore,
naturally leave the matter to be carried out by others, and would
take precautions to enable him to prove, as he has done, that he
was not present. I still maintain that the circumstances of the
case, his threats to me, and the fact that my daughter will
naturally inherit a portion of what wealth I might possess, and
that, as I know and can prove, Ruggiero Mocenigo has been lately
reduced to borrowing money of the Jews, all point to his being the
author of this attempt, which would at once satisfy his anger
against me, for having declined the honour of his alliance, and
repair his damaged fortunes."</p>

<p>There were a few words of whispered consultation between the
councillors, and the doge then said:</p>

<p>"All present will now retire while the council deliberates. Our
decision will be made known to the parties concerned, in due
time."</p>

<p>On leaving the palace, Signor Polani and his friends walked
together across the Piazza, discussing the turn of events.</p>

<p>"He will escape," Polani said. "He has two near relations on the
council, and however strong our suspicions may be, there is really
no proof against him. I fear that he will go free. I feel as
certain as ever that he is the contriver of the attempt; but the
precautions he has taken seem to render it impossible to bring the
crime home to him. However, it is no use talking about it any more,
at present.</p>

<p>"You will, I hope, accompany me home, Signor Francisco, and
allow me to present you formally to my daughters. They were too
much agitated, last night, to be able to thank you fully for the
service you had rendered them.</p>

<p>"Matteo, do you come with us."</p>

<p>Three days passed, and no decision of the council had been
announced, when, early in the morning, one of the state messengers
brought an order that Francis should be in readiness, at nine
o'clock, to accompany him. At that hour a gondola drew up at the
steps. It was a covered gondola, with hangings, which prevented any
from seeing who were within. Francis took his seat by the side of
the official, and the gondola started at once.</p>

<p>"It looks very much as if I was being taken as a prisoner,"
Francis said to himself. "However, that can hardly be, for even if
Ruggiero convinced the council that he was wholly innocent of this
affair, no blame could fall on me, for I neither accused nor
identified him. However, it is certainly towards the prisons we are
going."</p>

<p>The boat, indeed, was passing the Piazzetta without stopping,
and turned down the canal behind, to the prisons in rear of the
palace. They stopped at the water gate, close to the Bridge of
Sighs, and Francis and his conductor entered. They proceeded along
two or three passages, until they came to a door where an official
was standing. A word was spoken, and they passed in.</p>

<p>The chamber they entered was bare and vaulted, and contained no
furniture whatever, but at one end was a low stone slab, upon which
something was lying covered with a cloak. Four of the members of
the council were standing in a group, talking, when Francis
entered. Signor Polani, with two of his friends, stood apart at one
side of the chamber. Ruggiero Mocenigo also, with two of his
companions, stood on the other side.</p>

<p>Francis thought that the demeanour of Ruggiero was somewhat
altered from that which he had assumed at the previous
investigation, and that he looked sullen and anxious.</p>

<p>"We have sent for you, Francisco Hammond, in order that you may,
if you can, identify a body which was found last night, floating in
the Grand Canal."</p>

<p>One of the officials stepped forward and removed the cloak,
showing on the stone slab the body of a young man. On the left
temple there was an extensive bruise, and the skin was broken.</p>

<p>"Do you recognize that body?"</p>

<p>"I do not recognize the face," Francis said, "and do not know
that I ever saw it before."</p>

<p>"The wound upon the temple which you see, is it such as, you
would suppose, would be caused by the blow you struck an unknown
person, while he was engaged in attacking the gondola of Signor
Polani?"</p>

<p>"I cannot say whether it is such a wound as would be caused by a
blow with an oar," Francis said; "but it is certainly, as nearly as
possible, on the spot where I struck the man, just as he was
leaping, sword in hand, into my gondola."</p>

<p>"You stated, at your examination the other day, that it was on
the left temple you struck the blow."</p>

<p>"I did so. I said at once that Signor Ruggiero Mocenigo could
not have been the man who led the assailants, because had he been
so he would assuredly have borne a mark from the blow on the left
temple."</p>

<p>"Look at the clothes. Do you see anything there which could lead
you to identify him with your assailant?"</p>

<p>"My assailant was dressed in dark clothes, as this one was.
There was but one distinguishing mark that I noticed, and this is
wanting here. The light of the torch fell upon the handle of a
dagger in his girdle. I saw it but for a moment, but I caught the
gleam of gems. It was only a passing impression, but I could swear
that he carried a small gold or yellow metal-handled dagger, and I
believe that it was set with gems, but to this I should not like to
swear."</p>

<p>"Produce the dagger found upon the dead man," one of the council
said to an official.</p>

<p>And the officer produced a small dagger with a fine steel blade
and gold handle, thickly encrusted with gems.</p>

<p>"Is this the dagger?" the senator asked Francis.</p>

<p>"I cannot say that it is the dagger," Francis replied; "but it
closely resembles it, if it is not the same."</p>

<p>"You have no doubt, I suppose, seeing that wound on the temple,
the dagger found in the girdle, and the fact that the body has
evidently only been a few days in the water, that this is the man
whom you struck down in the fray on the canal?"</p>

<p>"No, signor, I have no doubt whatever that it is the same
person."</p>

<p>"That will do," the council said. "You can retire; and we thank
you, in the name of justice, for the evidence you have given."</p>

<p>Francis was led back to the gondola, and conveyed to his
father's house. An hour later Signor Polani arrived.</p>

<p>"The matter is finished," he said, "I cannot say satisfactorily
to me, for the punishment is wholly inadequate to the offence, but
at any rate he has not got off altogether unpunished. After you
left, we passed from the prison into the palace, and then the whole
council assembled, as before, in the council chamber. I may tell
you that the body which was found was that of a cousin and intimate
of Ruggiero Mocenigo. The two have been constantly together since
the return of the latter from Constantinople. It was found, by
inquiry at the house of the young man's father, that he left home
on the evening upon which the attack was committed, saying that he
was going to the mainland, and might not be expected to return for
some days.</p>

<p>"The council took it for granted, from the wound in his head,
and the fact that a leech has testified that the body had probably
been in the water about three days, that he was the man that was
stunned by your blow, and drowned in the canal. Ruggiero urged that
the discovery in no way affected him; and that his cousin had, no
doubt, attempted to carry off my daughter on his own account. There
was eventually a division among the council on this point, but
Maria was sent for, and on being questioned, testified that the
young man had never spoken to her, and that, indeed, she did not
know him even by sight; and the majority thereupon came to the
conclusion that he could only have been acting as an instrument of
Ruggiero's.</p>

<p>"We were not in the apartment while the deliberation was going
on, but when we returned the president announced that, although
there was no absolute proof of Ruggiero's complicity in the affair,
yet that, considering his application for my daughter's hand, his
threats on my refusal to his request, his previous character, and
his intimacy with his cousin, the council had no doubt that the
attempt had been made at his instigation, and therefore sentenced
him to banishment from Venice and the islands for three years."</p>

<p>"I should be better pleased if they had sent him back to
Constantinople, or one of the islands of the Levant," Mr. Hammond
said. "If he is allowed to take up his abode on the mainland, he
may be only two or three miles away, which, in the case of a man of
his description, is much too near to be pleasant for those who have
incurred his enmity."</p>

<p>"That is true," Signor Polani agreed, "and I myself, and my
friends, are indignant that he should not have been banished to a
distance, where he at least would have been powerless for fresh
mischief. On the other hand, his friends will doubtless consider
that he has been hardly treated. However, as far as my daughters
are concerned, I will take good care that he shall have no
opportunity of repeating his attempt; for I have ordered them, on
no account whatever, to be absent from the palazzo after the shades
of evening begin to fall, unless I myself am with them; and I shall
increase the number of armed retainers in the house, by bringing
some of my men on shore from a ship which arrived last night in
port. I cannot believe that even Ruggiero would have the insolence
to attempt to carry them off from the house by force; but when one
has to deal with a man like this, one cannot take too great
precautions."</p>

<p>"I have already ordered my son, on no account, to be out after
nightfall in the streets. In his gondola I do not mind, for unless
the gondoliers wear badges, it is impossible to tell one boat from
another after dark. Besides, as he tells me, his boat is so fast
that he has no fear whatever of being overtaken, even if recognized
and chased. But I shall not feel comfortable so long as he is here,
and shall send him back to England on the very first occasion that
offers."</p>

<p>"I trust that no such occasion may occur just yet, Signor
Hammond. I should be sorry, indeed, for your son to be separated so
soon from us. We must talk the matter over together, and perhaps
between us we may hit on some plan by which, while he may be out of
the reach of the peril he has incurred on behalf of my family, he
may yet be neither wasting his time, nor altogether separated from
us."</p>

<p>For the next fortnight Francis spent most of his time at the
Palazzo Polani. The merchant was evidently sincere in his
invitation to him to make his house his home; and if a day passed
without the lad paying a visit, would chide him gently for
deserting them. He himself was frequently present in the balcony,
where the four young people--for Matteo Giustiniani was generally
of the party--sat and chatted together, the gouvernante sitting
austerely by, with at times a strong expression of disapproval on
her countenance at their laughter and merriment, although--as her
charges' father approved of the intimacy of the girls with their
young cousin and this English lad--she could offer no open
objections. In the afternoon, the party generally went for a long
row in a four-oared gondola, always returning home upon the
approach of evening.</p>

<p>To Francis this time was delightful. He had had no sister of his
own; and although he had made the acquaintance of a number of lads
in Venice, and had accompanied his father to formal entertainments
at the houses of his friends, he had never before been intimate in
any of their families. The gaiety and high spirits of the two
girls, when they were in the house, amused and pleased him,
especially as it was in contrast to the somewhat stiff and
dignified demeanour which they assumed when passing through the
frequented canals in the gondola.</p>

<p>"I do not like that woman Castaldi," Francis said one evening
as, after leaving the palazzo, Giuseppi rowed them towards the
Palazzo Giustiniani, where Matteo was to be landed.</p>

<p>"Gouvernantes are not popular, as a class, with young men,"
Matteo laughed.</p>

<p>"But seriously, Matteo, I don't like her; and I am quite sure
that, for some reason or other, she does not like me. I have seen
her watching me, as a cat would watch a mouse she is going to
spring on."</p>

<p>"Perhaps she has not forgiven you, Francisco, for saving her two
charges, and leaving her to the mercy of their assailants."</p>

<p>"I don't know, Matteo. Her conduct appeared to me, at the time,
to be very strange. Of course, she might have been paralysed with
fright, but it was certainly curious the way she clung to their
dresses, and tried to prevent them from leaving the boat."</p>

<p>"You don't really think, Francis, that she wanted them to be
captured?"</p>

<p>"I don't know whether I should be justified in saying as much as
that, Matteo, and I certainly should not say so to anyone else, but
I can't help thinking that such was the case. I don't like her
face, and I don't like the woman. She strikes me as being
deceitful. She certainly did try to prevent my carrying the girls
off and, had not their dresses given way in her hands, she would
have done so. Anyhow, it strikes me that Ruggiero must have had
some accomplice in the house. How else could he have known of the
exact time at which they would be passing along the Grand Canal?
For, that the gondola was in waiting to dash out and surprise them,
there is no doubt.</p>

<p>"I was asking Signora Giulia, the other day, how it was they
were so late, for she says that her father never liked their being
out after dusk in Venice, though at Corfu he did not care how late
they were upon the water. She replied that she did not quite know
how it happened. Her sister had said, some time before, that she
thought it was time to be going, but the gouvernante--who was
generally very particular--had said that there was no occasion to
hurry, as their father knew where they were, and would not be
uneasy. She thought the woman must have mistaken the time, and did
not know how late it was.</p>

<p>"Of course, this proves nothing. Still I own that, putting all
the things together, I have my suspicions."</p>

<p>"It is certainly curious, Francisco, though I can hardly believe
it possible that the woman could be treacherous. She has been for
some years in the service of the family, and my cousin has every
confidence in her."</p>

<p>"That may be, Matteo; but Ruggiero may have promised so highly
that he may have persuaded her to aid him. He could have afforded
to be generous, if he had been successful."</p>

<p>"There is another thing, by the bye, Francisco, which did not
strike me at the time; but now you speak of it, may be another link
in the chain. I was laughing at Maria about their screaming, and
saying what a noise the three of them must have made, and she said,
'Oh, no! there were only two of us--Giulia and I screamed for aid
at the top of our voices; but the signora was as quiet and brave as
possible, and did not utter a sound.'"</p>

<p>"That doesn't agree, Matteo, with her being so frightened as to
hold the girls tightly, and almost prevent their escape, or with
the row she made, sobbing and crying, when she came back. Of course
there is not enough to go upon; and I could hardly venture to speak
of it to Signor Polani, or to accuse a woman, in whom he has
perfect confidence, of such frightful treachery on such vague
grounds of suspicion. Still I do suspect her; and I hope, when I go
away from Venice, you will, as far as you can, keep an eye upon
her."</p>

<p>"I do not know how to do that," Matteo said, laughing; "but I
will tell my cousins that we don't like her, and advise them, in
future, not on any account to stay out after dusk, even if she
gives them permission to do so; and if I learn anything more to
justify our suspicions, I will tell my cousin what you and I think,
though it won't be a pleasant thing to do. However, Ruggiero is
gone now, and I hope we sha'n't hear anything more about him."</p>

<p>"I hope not, Matteo; but I am sure he is not the man to give up
the plan he has once formed easily, any more than he is to forgive
an injury.</p>

<p>"However, here we are at your steps. We will talk the other
matter over another time. Anyhow, I am glad I have told you what I
thought, for it has been worrying me. Now that I find you don't
think my ideas about her are altogether absurd, I will keep my eyes
more open than ever in future. I am convinced she is a bad one, and
I only hope we may be able to prove it."</p>

<p>"You have made me very uncomfortable, Francisco," Matteo said as
he stepped ashore; "but we will talk about it again tomorrow."</p>

<p>"We shall meet at your cousin's in the evening. Before that
time, we had better both think over whether we ought to tell anyone
our suspicions, and we can hold a council in the gondola on the way
back."</p>

<p>Francis did think the matter over that night. He felt that the
fact told him by Giulia, that the gouvernante had herself been the
means of their staying out later than usual on the evening of the
attack, added great weight to the vague suspicions he had
previously entertained; and he determined to let the matter rest no
longer, but that the next day he would speak to Signor Polani, even
at the risk of offending him by his suspicions of a person who had
been, for some years, in his confidence. Accordingly, he went in
the morning to the palazzo, but found that Signor Polani was
absent, and would not be in until two or three o'clock in the
afternoon. He did not see the girls, who, he knew, were going out
to spend the day with some friends.</p>

<p>At three o'clock he returned, and found that Polani had just
come in.</p>

<p>"Why, Francisco," the merchant said when he entered, "have you
forgotten that my daughters will be out all day?"</p>

<p>"No, signor, I have not forgotten that, but I wish to speak to
you. I dare say you will laugh at me, but I hope you will not think
me meddlesome, or impertinent, for touching upon a subject which
concerns you nearly."</p>

<p>"I am sure you will not be meddlesome or impertinent,
Francisco," Signor Polani said reassuringly, for he saw that the
lad was nervous and anxious. "Tell me what you have to say, and I
can promise you beforehand that, whether I agree with you or not in
what you may have to say, I shall be in no way vexed, for I shall
know you have said it with the best intentions."</p>

<p>"What I have to say, sir, concerns the Signora Castaldi, your
daughters' gouvernante. I know, sir, that you repose implicit
confidence in her; and your judgment, formed after years of
intimate knowledge, is hardly likely to be shaken by what I have to
tell you. I spoke to Matteo about it, and, as he is somewhat of my
opinion, I have decided that it is, at least, my duty to tell you
all the circumstances, and you can then form your own
conclusions."</p>

<p>Francis then related the facts known to him. First, that the
assailants of the gondola must have had accurate information as to
the hour at which they would come along; secondly, that it was at
the gouvernante's suggestion that the return had been delayed much
later than usual; lastly, that when the attack took place, the
gouvernante did not raise her voice to cry for assistance, and that
she had, at the last moment, so firmly seized their dresses, that
it was only by tearing the girls from her grasp that he had been
enabled to get them into the boat.</p>

<p>"There may be nothing in all this," he said when he had
concluded. "But at least, sir, I thought that it was right you
should know it; and you will believe me, that it is only anxiety as
to the safety of your daughters that has led me to speak to
you."</p>

<p>"Of that I am quite sure," Signor Polani said cordially, "and
you were perfectly right in speaking to me. I own, however, that I
do not for a moment think that the circumstances are more than mere
coincidences. Signora Castaldi has been with me for upwards of ten
years. She has instructed and trained my daughters entirely to my
satisfaction. I do not say that she is everything that one could
wish, but, then, no one is perfect, and I have every confidence in
her fidelity and trustworthiness. I own that the chain you have put
together is a strong one, and had she but lately entered my
service, and were she a person of whom I knew but little, I should
attach great weight to the facts, although taken in themselves they
do not amount to much. Doubtless she saw that my daughters were
enjoying themselves in the society of my friends, and in her
kindness of heart erred, as she certainly did err, in allowing them
to stay longer than she should have done.</p>

<p>"Then, as to her not crying out when attacked, women behave
differently in cases of danger. Some scream loudly, others are
silent, as if paralysed by fear. This would seem to have been her
case. Doubtless she instinctively grasped the girls for their
protection, and in her fright did not even perceive that a boat had
come alongside, or know that you were a friend trying to save them.
That someone informed their assailants of the whereabouts of my
daughters, and the time they were coming home, is clear; but they
might have been seen going to the house, and a swift gondola have
been placed on the watch. Had this boat started as soon as they
took their seat in the gondola on their return, and hastened, by
the narrow canals, to the spot where their accomplices were
waiting, they could have warned them in ample time of the approach
of the gondola with my daughters.</p>

<p>"I have, as you may believe, thought the matter deeply over, for
it was evident to me that the news of my daughters' coming must
have reached their assailants beforehand. I was most unwilling to
suspect treachery on the part of any of my household, and came to
the conclusion that the warning was given in the way I have
suggested.</p>

<p>"At the same time, Francisco, I thank you deeply for having
mentioned to me the suspicions you have formed, and although I
think that you are wholly mistaken, I certainly shall not neglect
the warning, but shall watch very closely the conduct of my
daughters' gouvernante, and shall take every precaution to put it
out of her power to play me false, even while I cannot, for a
moment, believe she would be so base and treacherous as to attempt
to do so."</p>

<p>"In that case, signor, I shall feel that my mission has not been
unsuccessful, however mistaken I may be, and I trust sincerely that
I am wholly wrong. I thank you much for the kind way in which you
have heard me express suspicions of a person in your
confidence."</p>

<p>The gravity with which the merchant had heard Francis' story
vanished immediately he left the room, and a smile came over his
face.</p>

<p>"Boys are boys all the world over," he said to himself, "and
though my young friend has almost the stature of a man, as well as
the quickness and courage of one, and has plenty of sense in other
matters, he has at once the prejudices and the romantic ideas of a
boy. Had Signora Castaldi been young and pretty, no idea that she
was treacherous would have ever entered his mind; but what young
fellow yet ever liked a gouvernante, who sits by and works at her
tambour frame, with a disapproving expression on her face, while he
is laughing and talking with a girl of his own age. I should have
felt the same when I was a boy. Still, to picture the poor signora
as a traitoress, in the pay of that villain Mocenigo, is too
absurd. I had the greatest difficulty in keeping my gravity when he
was unfolding his story. But he is an excellent lad, nevertheless.
A true, honest, brave lad, with a little of the bluffness that they
say all his nation possess, but with a heart of gold, unless I am
greatly mistaken."</p>

<p>At seven o'clock, Francis was just getting into his gondola to
go round again to Signor Polani's, when another gondola came along
the canal at the top of its speed, and he recognized at once the
badge of the Giustiniani. It stopped suddenly as it came abreast of
his own boat, and Matteo, in a state of the highest excitement,
jumped from his own boat into that of Francis.</p>

<p>"What is the matter, Matteo? What has happened?"</p>

<p>"I have terrible news, Francisco. My cousins have both
disappeared."</p>

<p>"Disappeared!" Francis repeated in astonishment "How have they
disappeared?"</p>

<p>"Their father has just been round to see mine. He is half mad
with grief and anger. You know they had gone to spend the day at
the Persanis?"</p>

<p>"Yes, yes," Francis exclaimed; "but do go on, Matteo. Tell me
all about it, quickly."</p>

<p>"Well, it seems that Polani, for some reason or other, thought
he would go and fetch them himself, and at five o'clock he arrived
there in his gondola, only to find that they had left two hours
before. You were right, Francisco, it was that beldam Castaldi. She
went with them there in the morning, and left them there, and was
to have come in the gondola for them at six. At three o'clock she
arrived, saying that their father had met with a serious accident,
having fallen down the steps of one of the bridges and broken his
leg, and that he had sent her to fetch them at once.</p>

<p>"Of course, they left with her instantly. Polani questioned the
lackeys, who had aided them to embark. They said that the gondola
was not one of his boats, but was apparently a hired gondola, with
a closed cabin. The girls had stopped in surprise as they came down
the steps, and Maria said, 'Why, this is not our gondola!'</p>

<p>"Castaldi replied, 'No, no; our own gondolas had both gone off
to find and bring a leech, and as your father was urgently wanting
you, I hailed the first passing boat. Make haste, dears, your
father is longing for you.'</p>

<p>"So they got on board at once, and the gondola rowed swiftly
away. That is all I know about it, except that the story was a lie,
that their father never sent for them, and that up to a quarter of
an hour ago they had not reached home."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch5">Chapter 5</a>: Finding A Clue.</h2>

<p>"This is awful, Matteo," Francis said, when his friend had
finished his story. "What is to be done?"</p>

<p>"That is just the thing, Francisco. What is to be done? My
cousin has been already to the city magistrates, to tell them what
has taken place, and to request their aid in discovering where the
girls have been carried to. I believe that he is going to put up a
proclamation, announcing that he will give a thousand ducats to
whomsoever will bring information which will enable him to recover
the girls. That will set every gondolier on the canals on the
alert, and some of them must surely have noticed a closed gondola
rowed by two men, for at this time of year very few gondolas have
their covers on. It seems to be terrible not to be able to do
anything, so I came straight off to tell you."</p>

<p>"You had better send your gondola home, Matteo. It may be
wanted. We will paddle out to the lagoon and talk it over. Surely
there must be something to be done, if we could but think of
it.</p>

<p>"This is terrible, indeed, Matteo," he repeated, after they had
sat without speaking for some minutes. "One feels quite helpless
and bewildered. To think that only yesterday evening we were
laughing and chatting with them, and that now they are lost, and in
the power of that villain Mocenigo, who you may be sure is at the
bottom of it.</p>

<p>"By the way," he said suddenly, "do you know where he has taken
up his abode?"</p>

<p>"I heard that he was at Botonda, near Chioggia, a week ago, but
whether he is there still I have not the least idea."</p>

<p>"It seems to me that the thing to do is to find him, and keep
him in sight. He will probably have them hidden away somewhere, and
will not go near them for some time, for he will know that he will
be suspected, and perhaps watched."</p>

<p>"But why should he not force Maria to marry him at once?" Matteo
said. "You see, when he has once made her his wife he will be safe,
for my cousin would be driven then to make terms with him for her
sake."</p>

<p>"He may try that," Francis said; "but he must know that Maria
has plenty of spirit, and may refuse to marry him, threaten her as
he will. He may think that, after she has been kept confined for
some time, and finds that there is no hope of escape, except by
consenting to be his wife, she may give way. But in any case, it
seems to me that the thing to be done is to find Ruggiero, and to
watch his movements."</p>

<p>"I have no doubt my cousin has already taken steps in that
direction," Matteo said, "and I feel sure that, in this case, he
will receive the support of every influential man in Venice,
outside the Mocenigo family and their connections. The carrying off
of ladies, in broad daylight, will be regarded as a personal injury
in every family. The last attempt was different. I do not say it
was not bad enough, but it is not like decoying girls from home by
a false message. No one could feel safe, if such a deed as this
were not severely punished."</p>

<p>"Let us go back again, Matteo. It is no use our thinking of
anything until we know what has really been done, and you are sure
to be able to learn, at home, what steps have been taken."</p>

<p>On reaching home Matteo learned that Polani, accompanied by two
members of the council, had already started in one of the swiftest
of the state galleys for the mainland. A council had been hastily
summoned, and, upon hearing Polani's narrative, had dispatched two
of their number, with an official of the republic, to Botonda. If
Ruggiero was found to be still there, he was to be kept a prisoner
in the house in which he was staying, under the strictest watch. If
he had left, orders were to be sent, to every town in the Venetian
dominions on the mainland, for his arrest when discovered, and in
that case he was to be sent a prisoner, strongly guarded, to
Venice.</p>

<p>Other galleys had been simultaneously dispatched to the various
ports, ordering a strict search of every boat arriving or leaving,
and directing a minute investigation to be made as to the occupants
of every boat that had arrived during the evening or night. The
fact that a thousand ducats were offered, for information which
would lead to the recovery of the girls, was also to be published
far and wide.</p>

<p>The news of the abduction had spread, and the greatest
indignation was excited in the city. The sailors from the port of
Malamocco came over in great numbers. They regarded this outrage on
the family of the great merchant as almost a personal insult.
Stones were thrown at the windows of the Palazzo Mocenigo, and an
attack would have been made upon it, had not the authorities sent
down strong guards to protect it. Persons belonging to that house,
and the families connected with it, were assaulted in the streets,
and all Venice was in an uproar.</p>

<p>"There is one comfort," Giuseppi said, when he heard from
Francis what had taken place. "Just at present, Mocenigo will have
enough to think about his own affairs without troubling about you.
I have been in a tremble ever since that day, and have dreamed bad
dreams every night."</p>

<p>"You are more nervous for me than I am for myself, Giuseppi; but
I have been careful too, for although Ruggiero himself was away his
friends are here, and active, too, as you see by this successful
attempt. But I think that at present they are likely to let matters
sleep. Public opinion is greatly excited over the affair, and as,
if I were found with a stab in my back, it would, after what has
passed, be put down to them, I think they will leave me alone."</p>

<p>"I do hope, father," Francis said at breakfast the next morning,
"that there may be no opportunity of sending me back to England,
until something is heard of the Polanis."</p>

<p>"I have somewhat changed my mind, Francis, as to that matter.
After what Signor Polani said the other day, I feel that it would
be foolish for me to adhere to that plan. With his immense trade
and business connections he can do almost anything for you, and
such an introduction into business is so vastly better than your
entering my shop in the city, that it is best, in every way, that
you should stay here for the present. Of course, for the time he
will be able to think of nothing but his missing daughters; but at
any rate, you can remain here until he has leisure to pursue the
subject, and to state, further than he did the other day, what he
proposes for you. My own business is a good one for a London
trader, but it is nothing by the side of the transactions of the
merchant princes at Venice, among the very first of whom Signor
Polani is reckoned."</p>

<p>Francis was greatly pleased at his father's words. He had, ever
since Polani had spoken to him, been pondering the matter in his
mind. He knew that to enter business under his protection would be
one of the best openings that even Venice could afford; but his
father was slow to change his plans, and Francis greatly feared
that he would adhere to his original plan.</p>

<p>"I was hoping, father, that you would think favourably of what
Signor Polani said, although, of course, I kept silence, knowing
that you would do what was best for me. And now I would ask you if
you will, until this matter is cleared up, excuse me from my tasks.
I should learn nothing did I continue at them, for my mind would be
ever running upon Signor Polani's daughters, and I should be
altogether too restless to apply myself. It seems to me, too, that
I might, as I row here and there in my gondola, obtain some clue as
to their place of concealment."</p>

<p>"I do not see how you could do that, Francis, when so many
others, far better qualified than yourself, will be on the lookout.
Still, as I agree with you that you are not likely to apply your
mind diligently to your tasks, and as, indeed, you will shortly be
giving them up altogether, I grant your request."</p>

<p>Polani returned in the evening to Venice. Ruggiero Mocenigo had
been found. He professed great indignation at the accusation
brought against him, of being concerned in the abduction of the
ladies, and protested furiously when he heard that, until they were
found, he was to consider himself a prisoner. Signor Polani
considered that his indignation was feigned, but he had no doubt as
to the reality of his anger at finding that he was to be confined
to his house under a guard.</p>

<p>Immediately after his return, Polani sent his gondola for
Francis. He was pacing up and down the room when the lad
arrived.</p>

<p>"Your suspicions have turned out correct, as you see, Francis.
Would to Heaven I had acted upon them at once, and then this would
not have happened. It seemed to me altogether absurd, when you
spoke to me, that the woman I have for years treated as a friend
should thus betray me. And yet your warning made me uneasy, so much
so that I set off myself to fetch them home at five o'clock, only
to find that I was too late. I scarcely know why I have sent for
you, Francis, except that as I have found, to my cost, that you
were more clear sighted in this matter than I, I want to know what
you think now, and whether any plan offering even a chance of
success has occurred to you. That they have been carried off by the
friends of Mocenigo I have no doubt whatever."</p>

<p>"I fear, signor," Francis said, "that there is little hope of my
thinking of anything that has not already occurred to you. It seems
to me hardly likely that they can be in the city, although, of
course, they may be confined in the house of Mocenigo's agents.
Still, they would be sure that you would offer large rewards for
their discovery, and would be more likely to take them right away.
Besides, I should think that it was Mocenigo's intention to join
them, wherever they may be, as soon as he learned that they were in
the hands of his accomplices. Your fortunate discovery that they
had gone, so soon after they had been carried off, and your going
straight to him armed with the order of the council, probably upset
his calculations, for it is likely enough that his agents had not
arrived at the house, and that he learned from you, for the first
time, that his plans had succeeded. Had you arrived two or three
hours later, you might have found him gone."</p>

<p>"That is what I calculated, Francisco. His agents had but four
hours' start of me. They would, no doubt, carry the girls to the
place of concealment chosen, and would then bear the news to him;
whereas I, going direct in one of the state gondolas, might reach
him before they did, and I feel assured that I did so.</p>

<p>"It was nigh midnight when I arrived, but he was still up, and I
doubt not awaiting the arrival of the villains he had employed. My
first step was to set a watch round the house, with the order to
arrest any who might come and inquire for him. No one, however,
came.</p>

<p>"The news, indeed, of the sudden arrival of a state galley, at
that hour, had caused some excitement in the place, and his agents
might well have heard of it upon their arrival. I agree with you in
thinking they are not in the town, but this makes the search all
the more difficult. The question is, what ought we to do next?"</p>

<p>"The reward that you have offered will certainly bring you news,
signor, if any, save those absolutely concerned, have observed
anything suspicious; but I should send to all the fishing villages,
on the islets and on the mainland, to publish the news of the
reward you have offered. Beyond that, I do not see that anything
can be done; and I, too, have thought of nothing else since Matteo
brought me the news of their being carried off. It will be of no
use, that I can see, going among the fishermen and questioning
them, because, with such a reward in view, it is certain that
anyone who has anything to tell will come, of his own accord, to do
so."</p>

<p>"I know that is the case already, Francisco. The authorities
have been busy all day with the matter, and a score of reports as
to closed gondolas being seen have reached them; but so far nothing
has come of it. Many of these gondolas have been traced to their
destinations, but in no case was there anything to justify
suspicion. Happily, as long as Mocenigo is in confinement, I feel
that no actual harm will happen to the girls; but the villain is as
crafty as a fox, and may elude the vigilance of the officer in
charge of him. I am going to the council, presently, to urge that
he should be brought here as a prisoner; but from what I hear there
is little chance of the request being complied with. His friends
are already declaiming on the injustice of a man being treated as a
criminal, when there is no shadow of proof forthcoming against him;
and the disturbances last night have angered many who have no great
friendship for him, but who are indignant at the attack of the
populace upon the house of a noble. So you see that there is but
faint chance that they would bring him hither a prisoner."</p>

<p>"I think, sir, that were I in your case, I should put some
trusty men to watch round the house where he is confined; so that
in case he should escape the vigilance of his guards they might
seize upon him. Everything depends, as you say, upon his being kept
in durance."</p>

<p>"I will do so, Francisco, at once. I will send to two of my
officers at the port, and tell them to pick out a dozen men on whom
they can rely, to proceed to Botonda, and to watch closely everyone
who enters or leaves the house, without at the same time making
themselves conspicuous. At any rate, they will be handy there in
case Mocenigo's friends attempt to rescue him by force, which might
be done with success, for the house he occupies stands at a short
distance out of the town, and the official in charge of Mocenigo
has only eight men with him.</p>

<p>"Yes, your advice is excellent, and I will follow it at once.
Should any other idea occur to you, pray let me know it
immediately. You saved my daughters once, and although I know there
is no reason why it should be so, still, I feel a sort of belief
that you may, somehow, be instrumental in their again being brought
back to me."</p>

<p>"I will do my best, sir, you may depend upon it," Francis said
earnestly. "Were they my own sisters, I could not feel more
strongly interested in their behalf."</p>

<p>Francis spent the next week almost entirely in his gondola.
Starting soon after daybreak with Giuseppi, he would row across to
the villages on the mainland, and make inquiries of all sorts
there; or would visit the little groups of fishermen's huts, built
here and there on posts among the shallows. He would scan every
house as he passed it, with the vague hope that a face might appear
at the window, or a hand be waved for assistance. But, during all
that time, he had found nothing which seemed to offer the slightest
clue, nor were the inquiries set on foot by Signor Polani more
successful. Every piece of information which seemed to bear, in the
slightest degree, upon the affair was investigated, but in no case
was it found of the slightest utility.</p>

<p>One evening he was returning late, tired by the long day's work,
and discouraged with his utter want of success, when, just as he
had passed under the Ponto Maggiore, the lights on the bridge fell
on the faces of the sitters in a gondola coming the other way. They
were a man and a woman. The latter was closely veiled. But the
night was close and oppressive, and, just at the moment when
Francis' eyes fell upon her, she lifted her veil for air. Francis
recognized her instantly. For a moment he stopped rowing, and then
dipped his oar in as before. Directly the other gondola passed
through the bridge behind him, and his own had got beyond the
circle of light, he swept it suddenly round.</p>

<p>Giuseppi gave an exclamation of surprise.</p>

<p>"Giuseppi, we have luck at last. Did you notice that gondola we
met just now? The woman sitting in it is Castaldi, the woman who
betrayed the signoras."</p>

<p>"What shall we do, Messer Francisco?" Giuseppi, who had become
almost as interested in the search as his master, asked. "There was
only a single gondolier and one other man. If we take them by
surprise we can master them."</p>

<p>"That will not do, Giuseppi. The woman would refuse to speak,
and though they could force her to do so in the dungeons, the girls
would be sure to be removed the moment it was known she was
captured. We must follow them, and see where they go to. Let us get
well behind them, so that we can just make them out in the
distance. If they have a suspicion that they are being followed,
they will land her at the first steps and slip away from us."</p>

<p>"They are landing now, signor," Giuseppi exclaimed directly
afterwards. "Shall we push on and overtake them on shore?"</p>

<p>"It is too late, Giuseppi. They are a hundred and fifty yards
away, and would have mixed in the crowd, and be lost, long before
we should get ashore and follow them. Row on fast, but not over
towards that side. If the gondola moves off, we will make straight
for the steps and try to follow them, though our chance of hitting
upon them in the narrow lanes and turnings is slight indeed.</p>

<p>"But if, as I hope, the gondola stops at the steps, most likely
they will return to it in time. So we will row in to the bank a
hundred yards farther up the canal and wait."</p>

<p>The persons who had been seen in the gondola had disappeared
when they came abreast of it, and the gondolier had seated himself
in the boat, with the evident intention of waiting. Francis steered
his gondola at a distance of a few yards from it as he shot past,
but did not abate his speed, and continued to row till they were
three or four hundred yards farther up the canal. Then he turned
the gondola, and paddled noiselessly back until he could see the
outline of the boat he was watching.</p>

<p>An hour elapsed before any movement was visible. Then Francis
heard the sound of footsteps, and could just make out the figures
of persons descending the steps and entering the gondola. Then the
boat moved out into the middle of the canal, where a few boats were
still passing to and fro. Francis kept his gondola close by the
bank, so as to be in the deep shade of the houses. The boat they
were following again passed under the Ponto Maggiore, and for some
distance followed the line of the Grand Canal.</p>

<p>"Keep your eye upon it, Giuseppi. It is sure to turn off one way
or the other soon, and if it is too far ahead of us when it does
so, then it may give us the slip altogether."</p>

<p>But the gondola continued its course the whole length of the
canal, and then straight on until, nearly opposite Saint Mark's, it
passed close to a larger gondola, with four rowers, coming slowly
in the other direction; and it seemed to Francis that the two boats
paused when opposite each other, and that a few words were
exchanged.</p>

<p>Then the boat they were watching turned out straight into the
lagoon. It was rather lighter here than in the canal, bordered on
each side by houses, and Francis did not turn the head of his
gondola for a minute or two.</p>

<p>"It will be very difficult to keep them in sight out here
without their making us out," Giuseppi said.</p>

<p>"Yes, and it is likely enough that they are only going out there
in order that they may be quite sure that they are not followed,
before striking off to the place they want to go to. They may
possibly have made us out, and guess that we are tracking them.
They would be sure to keep their eyes and ears open."</p>

<p>"I can only just make them out now, Messer Francisco, and as we
shall have the buildings behind us, they will not be able to see us
as well as we can see them. I think we can go now."</p>

<p>"We will risk it, at any rate, Giuseppi. I have lost sight of
them already, and it will never do to let them give us the
slip."</p>

<p>They dipped their oars in the water, and the gondola darted out
from the shore. They had not gone fifty strokes when they heard the
sound of oars close at hand.</p>

<p>"To the right, Giuseppi, hard!" Francis cried as he glanced over
his shoulder.</p>

<p>A sweep with both oars brought the gondola's head, in a moment,
almost at right angles to the course that she had been pursuing;
and the next sent her dancing on a new line, just as a four-oared
gondola swept down upon them, missing their stern by only three or
four feet. Had they been less quick in turning, the iron prow would
have cut right through their light boat.</p>

<p>Giuseppi burst into a torrent of vituperation at the
carelessness of the gondoliers who had so nearly run into them, but
Francis silenced him at once.</p>

<p>"Row, Giuseppi. It was done on purpose. It is the gondola the
other spoke to."</p>

<p>Their assailant was turning also, and in a few seconds was in
pursuit. Francis understood it now. The gondola they had been
following had noticed them, and had informed their friends, waiting
off Saint Mark's, of the fact. Intent upon watching the receding
boat, he had paid no further attention to the four-oared craft,
which had made a turn, and lay waiting in readiness to run them
down, should they follow in the track of the other boat.</p>

<p>Francis soon saw that the craft behind them was a fast one, and
rowed by men who were first-rate gondoliers. Fast as his own boat
was flying through the water, the other gained upon them steadily.
He was heading now for the entrance to the Grand Canal, for their
pursuer, in the wider sweep he had made in turning, was nearer to
the Piazza than they were, and cut off their flight in that
direction.</p>

<p>"Keep cool, Giuseppi," he said. "They will be up to us in a
minute or two. When their bow is within a yard or two of us, and I
say, 'Now!' sweep her head straight round towards the lagoon. We
can turn quicker than they can. Then let them gain upon us, and we
will then turn again."</p>

<p>The gondola in pursuit came up hand over hand. Francis kept
looking over his shoulder, and when he saw its bow gliding up
within a few feet of her stern he exclaimed "Now!" and, with a
sudden turn, the gondola again swept out seaward.</p>

<p>Their pursuer rushed on for a length or two before she could
sweep round, while a volley of imprecations and threats burst from
three men who were standing up in her with drawn swords. Francis
and Giuseppi were now rowing less strongly, and gaining breath for
their next effort. When the gondola again came up to them they
swept round to the left, and as their pursuers followed they headed
for the Grand Canal.</p>

<p>"Make for the steps of Santa Maria church. We will jump out
there and trust to our feet."</p>

<p>The two lads put out all their strength now. They were some
three boats' lengths ahead before their pursuers were fairly on
their track. They were now rowing for life, for they knew that they
could hardly succeed in doubling again, and that the gondola behind
them was so well handled, that they could not gain on it at the
turnings were they to venture into the narrow channels. It was a
question of speed alone, and so hard did they row that the gondola
in pursuit gained but slowly on them, and they were still two
lengths ahead when they dashed up to the steps of the church.</p>

<p>Simultaneously they sprang on shore, leaped up the steps, and
dashed off at the top of their speed, hearing, as they did so, a
crash as the gondola ran into their light craft. There was a
moment's delay, as the men had to step across their boat to gain
the shore, and they were fifty yards ahead before they heard the
sound of their pursuers' feet on the stone steps; but they were
lightly clad and shoeless, and carried nothing to impede their
movements, and they had therefore little fear of being
overtaken.</p>

<p>After racing on at the top of their speed for a few minutes,
they stopped and listened. The sound of their pursuers' footsteps
died away in the distance; and, after taking a few turns to put
them off their track, they pursued their way at a more leisurely
pace.</p>

<p>"They have smashed the gondola," Giuseppi said with a sob, for
he was very proud of the light craft.</p>

<p>"Never mind the gondola," Francis said cheerfully. "If they had
smashed a hundred it would not matter."</p>

<p>"But the woman has got away and we have learned nothing,"
Giuseppi said, surprised at his master's cheerfulness.</p>

<p>"I think we have learned something, Giuseppi. I think we have
learned everything. I have no doubt the girls are confined in that
hut on San Nicolo. I wonder I never thought of it before; but I
made so sure that they would be taken somewhere close to where
Mocenigo was staying, that it never occurred to me that they might
hide them out there. I ought to have known that that was just the
thing they would do, for while the search would be keen among the
islets near the land, and the villages there, no one would think of
looking for them on the seaward islands.</p>

<p>"I have no doubt they are there now. That woman came ashore to
report to his friends, and that four-oared boat which has chased us
was in waiting off Saint Mark's, to attack any boat that might be
following them.</p>

<p>"We will go to Signor Polani at once and tell him what has
happened. I suppose it is about one o'clock now, but I have not
noticed the hour. It was past eleven before we first met the
gondola, and we must have been a good deal more than an hour lying
there waiting for them."</p>

<p>A quarter of an hour's walking took them to the palazzo of
Polani. They rang twice at the bell at the land entrance, before a
face appeared at the little window of the door, and asked who was
there.</p>

<p>"I wish to see Signor Polani at once," Francis said.</p>

<p>"The signor retired to rest an hour ago," the man said.</p>

<p>"Never mind that," Francis replied. "I am Francis Hammond, and I
have important news to give him."</p>

<p>As soon as the servitor recognized Francis' voice, he unbarred
the door.</p>

<p>"Have you news of the ladies?" he asked eagerly.</p>

<p>"I have news which will, I hope, lead to something," Francis
replied.</p>

<p>A moment later the voice of Polani himself, who, although he had
retired to his room, had not yet gone to sleep, was heard at the
top of the grand stairs, inquiring who it was who had come so late;
for although men had been arriving all day, with reports from the
various islands and villages, he thought that no one would come at
this hour unless his news were important.</p>

<p>Francis at once answered:</p>

<p>"It is I, Signor Polani, Francis Hammond. I have news which I
think may be of importance, although I may be mistaken. Still, it
is certainly news that may lead to something."</p>

<p>The merchant hurried down.</p>

<p>"What is it, Francisco? What have you learned?"</p>

<p>"I have seen the woman Castaldi, and have followed her. I do not
know for certain where she was going, for we have been chased by a
large gondola, and have narrowly escaped with our lives. Still, I
have a clue to their whereabouts."</p>

<p>Francis then related the events of the evening.</p>

<p>"But why did you not run into the boat and give the alarm at
once, Francisco? Any gondolas passing would have given their
assistance, when you declared who she was, for the affair is the
talk of the city. If that woman were in our power we should soon
find means to make her speak."</p>

<p>"Yes, signor; but the moment she was known to be in your power,
you may be sure that they would remove your daughters from the
place where they have been hiding them. I thought, therefore, the
best plan would be to track them. No doubt we should have succeeded
in doing so, had it not been for the attack upon us by another
gondola."</p>

<p>"You are right, no doubt, Francisco. Still, it is unfortunate,
for I do not see that we are now any nearer than we were before,
except that we know that this woman is in the habit of coming into
the city."</p>

<p>"I think we are nearer, sir, for I had an adventure some time
ago that may afford a clue to their hiding place."</p>

<p>He then told the merchant how he had, one evening, taken a man
out to San Nicolo, and had discovered that a hut in that island was
used as a meeting place by various persons, among whom was Ruggiero
Mocenigo.</p>

<p>"I might have thought of the place before, signor; but, in fact,
it never entered my mind. From the first, we considered it so
certain that the men who carried off your daughters would take them
to some hiding place where Mocenigo could speedily join them, that
San Nicolo never entered my mind. I own that it was very stupid,
for it seems now to me that the natural thing for them to do, would
be to take them in the very opposite direction to that in which the
search for them would be made."</p>

<p>The story had been frequently interrupted by exclamations of
surprise by Polani. At its conclusion, he laid his hand on Francis'
shoulder.</p>

<p>"My dear boy," he said, "How can I thank you! You seem to me to
be born to be the preserver of my daughters. I cannot doubt that
your suspicion is correct, and that they are confined in this hut
at San Nicolo. How fortunate that you did not denounce this
conspiracy--for conspiracy no doubt it is--that you discovered,
for, had you done so, some other place would have been selected for
the girls' prison."</p>

<p>"I would not be too sanguine, sir. The girls may not be in this
hut, still we may come on some clue there which may lead us to
them. If not, we will search the islands on that side as closely as
we have done those on the mainland."</p>

<p>"Now, shall I send for the gondoliers and set out at once? There
are ten or twelve men in the house, and it is hardly likely that
they will place a guard over them of anything like this strength,
as of course they will be anxious to avoid observation by the
islanders."</p>

<p>"I do not think I would do anything tonight, sir," Francis said.
"The gondola that chased us will be on the alert. They cannot, of
course, suspect in the slightest that we have any clue to the
hiding place of your daughters. Still, they might think that, if we
were really pursuing the other gondola, and had recognized the
woman Castaldi, we might bring the news to you, and that a stir
might be made. They may therefore be watching to see if anything
comes of it; and if they saw a bustle and gondolas setting out
taking the direction of the island, they might set off and get
there first, for it is a very fast craft, and remove your daughters
before we reach the hut.</p>

<p>"I should say wait till morning. They may be watching your house
now, and if, in an hour or two, they see all is quiet, they will no
doubt retire with the belief that all danger is at an end. Then, in
the morning, I would embark the men in two or three gondolas, but I
would not start from your own steps, for no doubt your house is
watched. Let the men go out singly, and embark at a distance from
here, and not at the same place. Once out upon the lagoon, they
should row quietly towards San Nicolo, keeping a considerable
distance apart, the men lying down in the bottom as the boats
approach the island, so that if anyone is on watch he will have no
suspicion.</p>

<p>"As I am the only one that knows the position of the hut, I will
be with you in the first gondola. We will not land near the hut,
but pass by, and land at the other end of the island. The other
gondolas will slowly follow us, and land at the same spot. Then
three or four men can go along by the sea face, with orders to
watch any boats hauled up upon the shore there, and stop any party
making down towards them. The rest of us will walk straight to the
hut, and, as it lies among sand hills, I hope we shall be able to
get quite close to it before our approach is discovered."</p>

<p>"An excellent plan, Francisco, though I am so impatient that the
night will seem endless to me; but certainly your plan is the best.
Even if the house is watched, and you were seen to enter, if all
remains perfectly quiet they will naturally suppose that the news
you brought was not considered of sufficient importance to lead to
any action. You will, of course, remain here till morning?"</p>

<p>"I cannot do that, sir, though I will return the first thing.
There is, lying on my table, a paper with the particulars and names
of the persons I saw meet in this hut, and a request to my father
that, if I do not return in the morning, he will at once lay this
before the council. I place it there every day when I go out, in
order that, if I should be seized and carried off by Mocenigo's
people, I should have some means of forcing them to let me go.</p>

<p>"Although I know absolutely nothing of the nature of the
conspiracy, they will not know how much I am aware of, or what
particulars I may have given in the document; and as I could name
to them those present, and among them is the envoy of the King of
Hungary, now in the city, they would hardly dare harm me, when they
knew that if they did so this affair would be brought before the
council."</p>

<p>"It was an excellent precaution, Francisco. Why, you are as
prudent and thoughtful as you are courageous!"</p>

<p>"It was not likely to be of much use, sir," Francis said
modestly. "I was very much more likely to get a stab in the back
than to be carried off. Still, it was just possible that Mocenigo
might himself like to see his vengeance carried out, and it was
therefore worth my while guarding against it. But, as you see, it
will be necessary for me to be back sometime before morning."</p>

<p>"At any rate, Francisco, you had better wait here until morning
breaks. Your room is not likely to be entered for some hours after
that; so while I am preparing for our expedition, you can go out
and make your way to the Grand Canal, hail an early gondola, and be
put down at your own steps, when, as you have told me, you can
enter the house without disturbing anyone. Then you can remove that
paper, and return here in the gondola. We will start at seven.
There will be plenty of boats about by that time, and the lagoon
will be dotted by the fishermen's craft, so that our gondolas will
attract no attention."</p>

<p>"Perhaps that will be the best plan, signor; and, indeed, I
should not be sorry for a few hours' sleep, for Giuseppi and I have
been in our boat since a very early hour in the morning, and were
pretty well tired out before this last adventure began."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch6">Chapter 6</a>: The Hut On San Nicolo.</h2>

<p>At seven o'clock all was in readiness for a start. Signor Polani
set out alone in his gondola, and picked up Francis, and four men,
at a secluded spot some distance from the house. A messenger had
been sent, two hours before, to the captain of one of the merchant
ships lying in the port. He at once put ten men into a large boat,
and rowed down to within half a mile of the island. Here a grapnel
was thrown overboard, most of the men lay down in the bottom, and
the captain, according to his instructions, kept a sharp lookout to
see that no boat left San Nicolo--his instructions being to
overhaul any boat coming out, and to see that no one was concealed
on board it.</p>

<p>There he remained until Polani's gondola rowed past him. After
it had gone a few hundred yards, the grapnel was got up, the men
took to their oars and followed the gondola, keeping so far behind
that it would not seem there was any connection between them.</p>

<p>Francis made for the narrow channel which separated San Nicolo
from the next island, and then directed the gondola to be run
ashore, where a low sand hill, close by, hid them from the sight of
anyone on the lookout. A few minutes later the ship's boat
arrived.</p>

<p>Francis now led the way direct for the hut, accompanied by
Polani and six men, while four sailors advanced, at a distance of a
hundred yards on either flank, to cut off anyone making for the
water.</p>

<p>"We may as well go fast," he said, "for we can scarcely get
there without being seen by a lookout, should there be one on the
sand hills, and the distance is so short that there will be no
possibility of their carrying your daughters off, before we get
there."</p>

<p>"The faster the better," the merchant said. "This suspense is
terrible."</p>

<p>Accordingly, the party started at a brisk run. Francis kept his
eyes on the spot where he believed the hut lay.</p>

<p>"I see no one anywhere near there," he said, as they came over
one of the sand ridges. "Had there been anyone on the watch I think
we should see him now."</p>

<p>On they ran, until, passing over one of the sand hills, Francis
came to a standstill. The hut lay in the hollow below them.</p>

<p>"There is the house, signor. Now we shall soon know."</p>

<p>They dashed down the short slope, and gathered round the
door.</p>

<p>"Within there, open!" the merchant shouted, hammering with the
hilt of his sword on the door.</p>

<p>All was silent within.</p>

<p>"Break it down!" he said; and two of the sailors, who had
brought axes with them, began to hew away at the door.</p>

<p>A few blows, and it suddenly opened, and two men dressed as
fishermen appeared in the doorway.</p>

<p>"What means this attack upon the house of quiet people?" they
demanded.</p>

<p>"Bind them securely," Polani said, as he rushed in, followed
closely by Francis, while those who followed seized the men.</p>

<p>Polani paused as he crossed the threshold, with a cry of
disappointment--the hut was empty. Francis was almost equally
disappointed.</p>

<p>"If they are not here, they are near by," Francis said to
Polani. "Do not give up hope. I am convinced they are not far off;
and if we search we may find a clue. Better keep your men outside.
We can search more thoroughly by ourselves."</p>

<p>The merchant told his men, who had seized and were binding the
two occupants of the hut, to remain outside. The inside of the hut
differed in no way from the ordinary dwelling of fishermen, except
that a large table stood in the middle of it, and there were some
benches against the walls. Some oars stood in one corner, and some
nets were piled close to them. A fire burned in the open hearth,
and a pot hung over it, and two others stood on the hearth.</p>

<p>"Let us see what they have got here," Francis said, while the
merchant leaned against the table with an air of profound
depression, paying no attention to what he was doing.</p>

<p>"A soup," Francis said, lifting the lid from the pot over the
fire, "and, by the smell, a good one."</p>

<p>Then he lifted the other pots simmering among the burning
brands.</p>

<p>"A ragout of kid and a boiled fish. Signor Polani, this is no
fisherman's meal. Either these men expect visitors of a much higher
degree than themselves, or your daughters are somewhere close.</p>

<p>"Oh! there is a door."</p>

<p>"It can lead nowhere," Polani said. "The sand is piled up to the
roof on that side of the house."</p>

<p>"It is," Francis agreed; "but there may be a lower room there,
completely covered with the sand. At any rate, we will see."</p>

<p>He pushed against the door, but it did not give in the
slightest.</p>

<p>"It may be the sand," he said. "It may be bolts."</p>

<p>He went to the outside door, and called in the sailors with the
hatchets.</p>

<p>"Break open that door," he said.</p>

<p>"There is a space behind," he exclaimed, as the first blow was
given. "It is hollow, I swear. It would be a different sound
altogether if sand was piled up against it."</p>

<p>A dozen blows and the fastenings gave, and, sword in hand, the
merchant and Francis rushed through.</p>

<p>Both gave a shout of delight. They were in a room built out at
the back of the hut. It was richly furnished, and hangings of
Eastern stuffs covered the walls. A burning lamp hung from the
ceiling. Two men stood irresolute with drawn swords, having
apparently turned round just as the door gave way; for as it did
so, two figures struggled to their feet from a couch behind them,
for some shawls had been wrapped round their heads, and with a cry
of delight rushed forward to meet their rescuers. Seated at the end
of the couch, with bowed down head, was another female figure.</p>

<p>"Maria--Giulia!" the merchant exclaimed, as, dropping his sword,
he clasped his daughters in his arms.</p>

<p>Francis, followed by the two sailors with hatchets, advanced
towards the men.</p>

<p>"Drop your swords and surrender," he said. "Resistance is
useless. There are a dozen men outside."</p>

<p>The men threw their swords down on the ground.</p>

<p>"Lead them outside, and bind them securely," Francis said.</p>

<p>For the next minute or two, few words were spoken. The girls
sobbed with delight on their father's breast, while he himself was
too moved to do more than murmur words of love and thankfulness.
Francis went quietly out and spoke to the captain, who went in to
the inner room, touched the sitting figure on the shoulder, and,
taking her by the arm, led her outside.</p>

<p>"Come in, Francis," Polani called a minute later.</p>

<p>"My dears, it is not me you must thank for your rescue. It is
your English friend here who has again restored you to me. It is to
him we owe our happiness, and that you, my child, are saved from
the dreadful fate of being forced to be the wife of that villain
Mocenigo.</p>

<p>"Embrace him, my dears, as a brother, for he has done more than
a brother for you. And now tell me all that has happened since I
last saw you."</p>

<p>"You know, father, the message that was brought us, that you had
been hurt and wanted us home?"</p>

<p>"Yes, my dears, that I learned soon afterwards. I went at five
o'clock to fetch you home, and found that you had gone, and
why."</p>

<p>"Well, father, directly we had taken our seats in the cabin of
the gondola, our gouvernante closed the doors, and soon afterwards
she slid to the two shutters before the windows. We cried out in
surprise at finding ourselves in the dark, but she bade us be
quiet, in a tone quite different to any in which she had ever
spoken to us before. We were both frightened, and tried to push
back the shutters and open the door, but they were fastened firmly.
I suppose there was some spring which held them. Then we screamed;
but I could feel that the inside was all thickly padded. I suppose
our voices could not be heard outside. I thought so, because once I
thought I heard the gondoliers singing, but it was so faint that I
could not be sure. Then the air seemed stiflingly close, and I
fainted; and when I came to myself one of the windows was open, and
Giulia said she had promised we would not scream, but I think we
were beyond the canals then, for I could see nothing but the sky as
we passed along. When I was better the windows were almost shut
again, so that we could not see out, though a little air could get
in; then the gondola went on for a long time.</p>

<p>"At last it stopped, and she said we must be blindfolded. We
said we would not submit to it, and she told us unless we let her
do it, the men would do it. So we submitted, and she wrapped shawls
closely over our heads. Then we were helped ashore, and walked some
distance. At last the shawls were taken off our heads, and we found
ourselves here, and here we have been ever since."</p>

<p>"You have not been ill treated in any way, my children?" the
merchant asked anxiously.</p>

<p>"Not at all, father. Until today, nobody has been into this room
besides ourselves and that woman. The door was generally left a
little open for air, for you see there are no windows here. She
used to go into the next room and come back with our food. We could
see men moving about in there, but they were very quiet, and all
spoke in low tones.</p>

<p>"You may think how we upbraided our gouvernante for her
treachery, and threatened her with your anger. She told us we
should never be found, and that I might as well make up my mind to
marry Ruggiero Mocenigo, for if I did not consent quietly, means
would be found to compel me to do so. I said I would die first, but
she used to laugh a cruel laugh, and say he would soon be here with
the priest, and that it mattered not whether I said yes or no. The
ceremony would be performed, and then Ruggiero would sail away with
me to the East, and I should be glad enough then to make peace
between him and you. But he never came. I think she became anxious,
for she went away twice for three or four hours, and locked us in
here when she went.</p>

<p>"That, father, is all we know about it. Where are we?"</p>

<p>"You are at San Nicolo."</p>

<p>"On the island!" Maria exclaimed in surprise. "She told us we
were on the mainland. And now, how did you find us?"</p>

<p>"I will tell you as we go home, Maria."</p>

<p>"Yes, that will be better, father. Giulia and I long for a
breath of fresh air, and the sight of the blue sky."</p>

<p>"Giulia has not had so much to frighten her as you have," her
father said.</p>

<p>"Yes, I have, father; for she said I was to go across the seas
with Maria, and that Ruggiero would soon find a husband for me
among his friends. I told her she was a wicked woman, over and over
again, and we told her that we were sure you would forgive, and
even reward her, if she would take us back again to you. When she
was away, we thought we would try to make our escape behind, and we
made a little hole in the boards; but the sand came pouring in, and
we found we were underground, though how we got there we didn't
know, for we had not come down any steps. So we had to give up the
idea of escape."</p>

<p>"You are partly underground," her father said, "for, as you will
see when you get out, the sand has drifted up at the back of the
hut to the roof, and has altogether hidden this part of the hut; so
that we did not know that there was more than one room, and I
should never have thought of breaking into that door, had it not
been for Francisco. And now come along, my dears. Let us wait here
no longer."</p>

<p>The sailors and servitors broke into a cheer as the girls came
out of the hut.</p>

<p>"Shall we put a torch to this place?" Francis asked Polani.</p>

<p>"No, Francisco. It must be searched thoroughly first.</p>

<p>"Captain Lontano, do you order four of your men to remain here,
until some of the officials of the state arrive. If anyone comes
before that, they must seize them and detain them as prisoners. The
state will investigate the matter to the bottom."</p>

<p>Now that they were in the open air, the merchant could see that
the close confinement and anxiety had told greatly upon his
daughters. Both were pale and hollow eyed, and looked as if they
had suffered a long illness. Seeing how shaken they were, he
ordered one of the retainers to go to the gondola, and tell the men
to row it round to the nearest point to the hut. The party then
walked along down to the shore.</p>

<p>In a few minutes the gondola arrived. Polani, his two daughters,
and Francis took their places in it. The four men, bound hand and
foot, were laid in the bottom of the ship's boat; the gouvernante
was made to take her place there also, and the sailors were told to
follow closely behind the gondola, which was rowed at a very slow
pace.</p>

<p>On the way, Polani told his daughters of the manner in which
Francis had discovered the place of concealment.</p>

<p>"Had it not been for him, my dears, we should certainly not have
found you, and that villain would have carried out his plans,
sooner or later. He would either have given his guards the slip,
or, when no evidence was forthcoming against him, they would have
been removed. He would then have gone outside the jurisdiction of
the republic, obtained a ship with a crew of desperadoes, sailed
round to the seaward side of San Nicolo, and carried you off.
Nothing could have saved you, and your resistance would, as that
woman told you, have been futile."</p>

<p>"We shall be grateful to you all our lives, Francisco," Maria
said. "We shall pray for you always, night and morning.</p>

<p>"Shall we not, Giulia?"</p>

<p>"Yes, indeed," the young girl said simply. "We shall love him
all our lives."</p>

<p>"Answer for yourself, Giulia," Maria said with a laugh, her
spirits returning in the bright sunshine and fresh air. "When
Francisco asks for my love, it will be quite soon enough to say
what I think about it."</p>

<p>"I should never have courage enough to do that, signora. I know
what you would say too well."</p>

<p>"What should I say?" Maria asked.</p>

<p>"You would say I was an impudent boy."</p>

<p>Maria laughed.</p>

<p>"I cannot think of you as a boy any longer, Francisco," she said
more gravely. "I have, perhaps, regarded you as a boy till now,
though you did save us so bravely before; but you see you are only
my own age, and a girl always looks upon a boy of her own age as
ever so much younger than she is herself. Besides, too, you have
none of the airs of being a man, which some of my cousins have; and
never pay compliments or say pretty things, but seem altogether
like a younger brother. But I shall think you a boy no more. I know
you better now."</p>

<p>"But I am a boy," Francis said, "and I don't want to be thought
anything else. In England we keep young longer than they do here,
and a boy of my age would not think of speaking to his elders,
unless he was first addressed.</p>

<p>"What are you going to do with your prisoners, signor?"</p>

<p>"I shall take them direct to my house, and then go and report
the recovery of my daughters, and their capture. Officials will at
once be sent, with a gondola, to take them off to the prison. There
can be no question now as to the part Mocenigo has played in this
business, and no doubt he will be brought here a prisoner at once.
Even his nearest connections will not dare to defend conduct so
outrageous, especially when public indignation has been so
excited.</p>

<p>"You do not know, girls, what a stir has been caused in the city
on your account. If it had not been for the citizen guard, I
believe the Mocenigo Palace would have been burned down; and
Ruggiero's connections have scarcely dared to show their faces in
the streets, since you have been missing. You see, every father of
a family felt personally grieved, for if the nobles were permitted,
with impunity, to carry off the daughters of citizens, who could
feel safe?</p>

<p>"When this is all over I shall take you, for a time, back to our
home in Corfu. It is not good for girls to be the subject of public
talk and attention."</p>

<p>"I shall be very glad, father," Giulia said. "I love our home at
Corfu, with its gardens and flowers, far better than the palazzo
here. The air is always soft and balmy, while here it is so hot
sometimes by day, and so damp and foggy in the evening. I shall be
glad to go back again."</p>

<p>"And you, Maria?"</p>

<p>"I shall be very happy there, father, but I like Venice
best."</p>

<p>"You are getting to an age to enjoy gaiety, Maria; and it is
natural you should do so. However, it will not be necessary for you
to be long absent. In a city like Venice there are always fresh
subjects for talk, and the most exciting piece of scandal is but a
three days' wonder. A few weeks at Corfu will restore your nerves,
which cannot but have been shaken by what you have gone through,
and you will come back here more disposed than ever to appreciate
the gaieties of Venice."</p>

<p>"As long as it is for only a few weeks, father, I shall not
care; for you know I am very fond, too, of our beautiful home
there. Still, I do like Venice."</p>

<p>They had now reached the steps of the Palazzo Polani. They had
not proceeded by way of the Grand Canal, as the merchant was
anxious that his daughters should reach their home unrecognized,
as, had they been noticed, it would have given rise to no little
excitement, and they had had more than enough of this, and needed
quiet and repose. Besides, until the prisoners were in the safe
custody of the officials of the state, it was in every way
desirable that the events of the morning should remain unknown.</p>

<p>Their return home created quite a tumult of joy in the house.
The preparations that had been made had been kept a profound
secret, as the merchant could not be sure but that some other
member of his household was in the pay of Mocenigo. Thus, until the
girls alighted at the steps, none in the house were aware that any
clue had been obtained as to their hiding place. The women ran down
with cries of joy. The men would have shouted and cheered, had not
Polani held up his hand.</p>

<p>"The signoras have had more than enough excitement," he said.
"They are grateful to you for your goodwill and affection, but for
the present they need quiet. They may have more to go through
today. I pray you that no word, as to their return, be said outside
the house. I would not that the news were whispered in the city,
till the seignory decide what is to be done in the matter."</p>

<p>As soon as the girls had gone upstairs to their rooms, the
ship's boat came alongside, and the prisoners were carried into the
house, glances of indignation and anger being cast at the
gouvernante, who had, as soon as she was placed on board the boat,
closely veiled herself; and some of the women broke out into
threats and imprecations.</p>

<p>"Captain Lontano, the servants will show you a room where your
men can guard the prisoners. You had better remain with them
yourself. Let no one, except your own men, enter the room."</p>

<p>Giuseppi was on the steps, and Francis stepped up to him and
eagerly asked, "What news of the gondola?"</p>

<p>"I found her, stove in and full of water, behind the piles close
to the steps. Someone must have pushed her there, to be out of the
way of the traffic. She has several holes in her bottom, besides
being stove in at the gunwale where the other boat struck her. They
must have thrust the ends of their oars through her planks, out of
sheer spite, when they found that we had escaped them. Father and I
have towed her round to your steps, but I doubt whether she is
worth repairing."</p>

<p>"Well, we can't help it, Giuseppi. She has done her work; and if
every two ducats I lay out were to bring in as good a harvest, I
should have no reason to complain."</p>

<p>Having seen the prisoners safely placed, the merchant
returned.</p>

<p>"I think, Francisco, you must go with me. They will be sure to
want to question you."</p>

<p>"I shall have to say what were my reasons for thinking your
daughters were hid in that hut, signor," Francis said as the
gondola rowed towards Saint Mark's; "and I can only do that by
telling of that secret meeting. I do not want to denounce a number
of people, besides Ruggiero. I have no evidence against them, and
do not know what they were plotting, nor have I any wish to create
for myself more enemies. It is quite enough to have incurred the
enmity of all the connections of the house of Mocenigo."</p>

<p>"That is true enough, Francisco, but I do not see how it is to
be avoided. Unfortunately, you did recognize others besides
Ruggiero."</p>

<p>"Quite so, signor, and I am not going to tell a lie about it,
whatever the consequences may be. Still, I wish I could get out of
it."</p>

<p>"I wish you could, Francis, but I do not see any escape for it,
especially as you say you did not recognize Ruggiero as the
passenger you carried."</p>

<p>"No, signor, I did not. It might have been he, but I cannot say.
He was wrapped in a cloak, and I did not see his features."</p>

<p>"It is a pity, Francisco, for had you known him, the statement
that, moved by curiosity, you followed him and saw him into that
hut, would have been sufficient without your entering into the
other matter. Most of my countrymen would not hesitate about
telling a lie, to avoid mixing themselves up further in such a
matter, for the dangers of making enemies are thoroughly
appreciated here; but you are perfectly right, and I like your
steady love of the truth, whatever the consequences to yourself;
but certainly as soon as the matter is concluded, it will be better
for you to quit Venice for a time."</p>

<p>"Are you going to the council direct, signor?"</p>

<p>"No. I am going first to the magistrates, to tell them that I
have in my hands five persons, who have been engaged in carrying
off my daughters, and beg them to send at once to take them into
their custody. Then I shall go before the council, and demand
justice upon Mocenigo, against whom we have now conclusive
evidence. You will not be wanted at the magistracy. My own
evidence, that I found them keeping guard over my daughters, will
be quite sufficient for the present, and after that the girls'
evidence will be sufficient to convict them, without your name
appearing in the affair at all.</p>

<p>"I will try whether I cannot keep your name from appearing
before the council also. Yes, I think I might do that; and as a
first step, I give you my promise not to name you, unless I find it
absolutely necessary. You may as well remain here in the gondola
until I return."</p>

<p>It was upwards of an hour before Signor Polani came back to the
boat.</p>

<p>"I have succeeded," he said, "in keeping your name out of it. I
first of all told my daughters' story, and then said that, having
obtained information that Ruggiero, before he was banished from
Venice, was in the habit of going sometimes at night to a hut on
San Nicolo, I proceeded thither, and found my daughters concealed
in the hut whose position had been described to me. Of course, they
inquired where I had obtained the information; but I replied that,
as they knew, I had offered a large reward which would lead to my
daughters' discovery, and that this reward had attracted one in the
secret of Mocenigo, but that, for the man's own safety, I had been
compelled to promise that I would not divulge his name.</p>

<p>"Some of the council were inclined to insist, but others pointed
out that, for the ends of justice, it mattered in no way how I
obtained the information. I had, at any rate, gone to the island
and found my daughters there; and their evidence, if it was in
accordance with what I had stated, was amply sufficient to bring
the guilt of the abduction of my daughters home to Ruggiero,
against whom other circumstances had already excited suspicion. A
galley has already started for the mainland, with orders to bring
him back a prisoner, and the girls are to appear to give evidence
tomorrow. The woman, Castaldi, is to be interrogated by the council
this afternoon, and I have no doubt she will make a full
confession, seeing that my daughters' evidence is, in itself,
sufficient to prove her guilt, and that it can be proved, from
other sources, that it was she who inveigled them away by a false
message from me."</p>

<p>"I am glad indeed, signor, that I am not to be called, and that
this affair of the conspiracy is not to be brought up. I would,
with your permission, now return home. Giuseppi took a message to
my father from me, the first thing, explaining my absence; and I
told him, when we left your house, to go at once to tell him that
your daughters had been recovered, and that I should return before
long. Still, he will want to hear from me as to the events of the
night."</p>

<p>"Will you also tell him, Francisco, that I will call upon him
this afternoon. I have much to say to him."</p>

<p>"I am glad Signor Polani is coming," Mr. Hammond said, when his
son gave him the message. "I am quite resolved that you shall quit
Venice at once. I do not wish to blame you for what you have done,
which, indeed, is likely to have a favourable effect upon your
fortunes; but that, at your age, you have mixed yourself up in
adventures of this kind, taken part in the affairs of great houses,
and drawn upon yourself the enmity of one of the most powerful
families of Venice, is altogether strange and improper for a lad of
your years, and belonging to the family of a quiet trader. I have
been thinking about it all this morning, and am quite resolved that
the sooner you are out of Venice the better. If I saw any way of
sending you off before nightfall I would do so.</p>

<p>"Signor Polani has, you say, so far concealed from the council
the fact that you have been mixed up in this business; but there is
no saying how soon it may come out. You know that Venice swarms
with spies, and these are likely, before many hours, to learn the
fact of your midnight arrival at Polani's house; and as no orders
were given for the preparation of this expedition to the island
before that time, it will not need much penetration to conclude
that you were the bearer of the news that led to the discovery of
the maidens. Besides which, you accompanied the expedition, and
acted as its guide to the hut. Part of this they will learn from
the servants of the house, part of it they may get out from the
sailors, who, over their wine cups, are not given to reticence. The
council may not have pressed Polani on this point, but, take my
word for it, some of them, at least, will endeavour to get to the
bottom of it, especially Mocenigo's connections, who will naturally
be alarmed at the thought that there is somewhere a traitor among
their own ranks.</p>

<p>"The affair has become very serious, Francis, and far beyond the
compass of a boyish scrape, and no time must be lost in getting you
out of Venice. I have no doubt Polani will see the matter in the
same light, for he knows the ways of his countrymen even better
than I do."</p>

<p>The interview between the two traders was a long one. At its
conclusion Francis was sent for.</p>

<p>"Francis," his father said, "Signor Polani has had the kindness
to make me offers of a most generous nature."</p>

<p>"Not at all, Messer Hammond," the Venetian interrupted. "Let
there be no mistake upon that score. Your son has rendered me
services impossible for me ever to repay adequately. He has laid me
under an obligation greater than I can ever discharge. At the same
time, fortunately, I am in a position to be able to further his
interests in life.</p>

<p>"I have proposed, Francisco, that you shall enter my house at
once. You will, of course, for some years learn the business, but
you will do so in the position which a son of mine would occupy,
and when you come of age, you will take your place as a partner
with me.</p>

<p>"Your father will return to England. He informs me that he is
now longing to return to his own country, and has for some time
been thinking of doing so. I have proposed to him that he shall act
as my agent there. Hitherto I have not traded direct with England;
in future I shall do so largely. Your father has explained to me
somewhat of his transactions, and I see there is good profit to be
made on trade with London, by a merchant who has the advantage of
the advice and assistance of one, like your father, thoroughly
conversant in the trade. Thus, I hope that the arrangement will be
largely to our mutual advantage. As to yourself, you will probably
be reluctant to establish yourself for life in this country; but
there is no reason why, in time, when your father wishes to retire
from business, you should not establish yourself in London, in
charge of the English branch of our house."</p>

<p>"I am most grateful to you for your offer, signor, which is
vastly beyond anything that my ambition could ever have aspired to.
I can only say that I will try my best to do justice to your
kindness to me."</p>

<p>"I have no fear as to that, Francisco," the merchant said. "You
have shown so much thoughtfulness, in this business, that I shall
have no fear of entrusting even weighty affairs of business in your
hands; and you must remember always that I shall still consider
myself your debtor. I thoroughly agree with your father's views as
to the necessity for your leaving Venice, as soon as possible. In a
few months this matter will have blown over, the angry feelings
excited will calm down, and you will then be able to come and go in
safety; but at present you were best out of the town, and I have,
therefore, arranged with your father that you shall embark tonight
on board the Bonito, which sails tomorrow. You will have much to
say to your father now, but I hope you will find time to come
round, and say goodbye to my daughters, this evening."</p>

<p>"Your adventures, Francis," Mr. Hammond said when the merchant
had left them, "have turned out fortunate, indeed. You have an
opening now beyond anything we could have hoped for. Signor Polani
has expressed himself most warmly. He told me that I need concern
myself no further with your future, for that would now be his
affair. The arrangement that he has made with me, will enable me to
hold my head as high as any in the City, for it will give me almost
a monopoly of the Venetian trade; and although he said that he had
long been thinking of entering into trade direct with England,
there is no doubt that it is his feeling towards you, which has
influenced him now in the matter.</p>

<p>"My business here has more than answered my expectations, in one
respect, but has fallen short in another. I have bought cheaply,
and the business should have been a very profitable one; but my
partner in London is either not acting fairly by me, or he is
mismanaging matters altogether. This offer, then, of Signor Polani
is in every respect acceptable. I shall give up my own business and
start anew, and selling, as I shall, on commission, shall run no
risk, while the profits will be far larger than I could myself
make, for Polani will carry it on on a great scale.</p>

<p>"As for you, you will soon learn the ways of trade, and will be
able to come home and join me, and eventually succeed me in the
business.</p>

<p>"No fairer prospect could well open to a young man, and if you
show yourself as keen in business, as you have been energetic in
the pursuits you have adopted, assuredly a great future is open to
you, and you may look to be one of the greatest merchants in the
city of London. I know not yet what offers Polani may make you
here, but I hope that you will not settle in Venice permanently,
but will always remember that you are an Englishman, and the son of
a London citizen, and that you will never lose your love for your
native land.</p>

<p>"And yet, do not hurry home for my sake. Your two brothers will
soon have finished their schooling, and will, of course, be
apprenticed to me as soon as I return; and if, as I hope, they turn
out steady and industrious; they will, by the time they come to
man's estate, be of great assistance to me in the business.</p>

<p>"And now, you will be wanting to say goodbye to your friends. Be
careful this last evening, for it is just when you are thinking
most of other matters, that sudden misfortune is likely to come
upon you."</p>

<p>Delighted with his good fortune--rather because it opened up a
life of activity, instead of the confinement to business that he
had dreaded, than for the pecuniary advantages it offered--Francis
ran downstairs and, leaping into his father's gondola, told Beppo
to take him to the Palazzo Giustiniani. On the way he told Beppo
and his son that the next day he was leaving Venice, and was going
to enter the service of Signor Polani.</p>

<p>Giuseppi ceased rowing, and, throwing himself down at the bottom
of the gondola, began to sob violently, with the abandonment to his
emotions common to his race. Then he suddenly sat up.</p>

<p>"If you are going, I will go too, Messer Francisco. You will
want a servant who will be faithful to you. I will ask the padrone
to let me go with you.</p>

<p>"You will let me go, will you not, father? I cannot leave our
young master, and should pine away, were I obliged to stop here to
work a gondola; while he may be wanting my help, for Messer
Francisco is sure to get into adventures and dangers. Has he not
done it here in Venice? and is he not sure to do it at sea, where
there are Genoese and pirates, and perils of all kinds?</p>

<p>"You will take me with you, will you not, Messer Francisco? You
will never be so hard hearted as to go away and leave me
behind?"</p>

<p>"I shall be very glad to have you with me, Giuseppi, if your
father will give you leave to go. I am quite sure that Signor
Polani will make no objection. In the first place, he would do it
to oblige me, and in the second, I know that it is his intention to
do something to your advantage. He has spoken to me about it
several times, for you had your share of the danger when we first
rescued his daughters, and again when we were chased by that
four-oared gondola. He has been too busy with the search for his
daughters to give the matter his attention, but I know that he is
conscious of his obligation to you, and that he intends to reward
you largely. Therefore, I am sure that he will offer no objection
to your accompanying me.</p>

<p>"What do you say, Beppo?"</p>

<p>"I do not like to stand in the way of the lad's wishes, Messer
Francisco; but, you see, he is of an age now to be very useful to
me. If Giuseppi leaves me, I shall have to hire another hand for
the gondola, or to take a partner."</p>

<p>"Well, we will talk it over presently," Francis said. "Here we
are at the steps of the palazzo, and here comes Matteo himself. It
is lucky I was not five minutes later, or I should have missed
him."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch7">Chapter 7</a>: On Board A Trader.</h2>

<p>"Have you heard the news, Francisco? My cousins are rescued! I
have been out this morning and have only just heard it, and I was
on the point of starting to tell you."</p>

<p>"Your news is old, Matteo. I knew it hours ago."</p>

<p>"And I hear," Matteo went on, "that Polani found them in a hut
on San Nicolo. My father cannot think how he came to hear of their
hiding place. He says Polani would not say how he learned the news.
My father supposes he heard it from some member of Ruggiero's
household."</p>

<p>Francis hesitated for a moment. He had at first been on the
point of telling Matteo of the share he had had in the recovery of
the girls; but he thought that although his friend could be trusted
not to repeat the news wilfully, he might accidentally say
something which would lead to the fact being known, and that as
Polani had strongly enjoined the necessity of keeping the secret,
and had himself declined to mention, even to the council, the
source from which he obtained his information, he would look upon
him as a babbler, and unworthy of trust, did he find that Matteo
had been let into the secret.</p>

<p>"It does not much matter who it is Polani learned the news from.
The great point is, he has found his daughters safe from all
injury, and I hear has brought back with him the woman who betrayed
them. It is fortunate indeed that he took such prompt measures with
Ruggiero, and thus prevented his escaping from the mainland, and
making off with the girls, as of course he intended to do."</p>

<p>"My father tells me," Matteo said, "that a state gondola has
already been dispatched to bring Ruggiero a prisoner here, and that
even his powerful connections will not save him from severe
punishment, for public indignation is so great at the attempt, that
his friends will not venture to plead on his behalf."</p>

<p>"And now I have my bit of news to tell you, Matteo. Signor
Polani has most generously offered me a position in his house, and
I am to sail tomorrow in one of his ships for the East."</p>

<p>"I congratulate you, Francisco, for I know, from what you have
often said, that you would like this much better than going back to
England. But it seems very sudden. You did not know anything about
it yesterday, and now you are going to start at once. Why, when can
it have been settled? Polani has been absent since daybreak,
engaged in this matter of the girls, and has been occupied ever
since with the council."</p>

<p>"I have seen him since he returned," Francis replied; "and
though it was only absolutely settled this morning, he has had
several interviews with my father on the subject. I believe he and
my father thought that it was better to get me away as soon as
possible, as Ruggiero's friends may put down the disgrace which has
befallen him to my interference in his first attempt to carry off
the girls."</p>

<p>"Well, I think you are a lucky fellow anyhow, Francisco, and I
hope that I may be soon doing something also. I shall speak to my
father about it, and ask him to get Polani to let me take some
voyages in his vessels, so that I may be fit to become an officer
in one of the state galleys, as soon as I am of age. Where are you
going now?"</p>

<p>"I am going round to the School of Arms, to say goodbye to our
comrades. After that I am going to Signor Polani's to pay my
respects to the signoras. Then I shall be at home with my father
till it is time to go on board. He will have left here before I
return from my voyage, as he is going to wind up his affairs at
once and return to England."</p>

<p>"Well, I will accompany you to the school and to my cousin's,"
Matteo said. "I shall miss you terribly here, and shall certainly
do all I can to follow your example, and get afloat. You may have
all sorts of adventures, for we shall certainly be at war with
Genoa before many weeks are over, and you will have to keep a sharp
lookout for their war galleys. Polani's ships are prizes worth
taking, and you may have the chance of seeing the inside of a
Genoese prison before you return."</p>

<p>After a visit to the School of Arms, the two friends were rowed
to Signor Polani's. The merchant himself was out, but they were at
once shown up to the room where the girls were sitting.</p>

<p>"My dear cousins," Matteo said as he entered, "I am delighted to
see you back safe and well. All Venice is talking of your return.
You are the heroines of the day. You do not know what an excitement
there has been over your adventure."</p>

<p>"The sooner people get to talk about something else the better,
Matteo," Maria said, "for we shall have to be prisoners all day
till something else occupies their attention. We have not the least
desire to be pointed at, whenever we go out, as the maidens who
were carried away. If the Venetians were so interested in us, they
had much better have set about discovering where we were hidden
away before."</p>

<p>"But everyone did try, I can assure you, Maria. Every place has
been ransacked, high and low. Every gondolier has been questioned
and cross questioned as to his doings on that day. Every fishing
village has been visited. Never was such a search, I do believe.
But who could have thought of your being hidden away all the time
at San Nicolo! As for me, I have spent most of my time in a
gondola, going out and staring up at every house I passed, in hopes
of seeing a handkerchief waved from a casement. And so has
Francisco; he has been just as busy in the search as anyone, I can
assure you."</p>

<p>"Francisco is different," Maria said, not observing the signs
Francis was making for her to be silent. "Francisco has got eyes in
his head, and a brain in his skull, which is more, it seems, than
any of the Venetians have; and had he not brought father to our
hiding place, there we should have remained until Ruggiero Mocenigo
came and carried us away."</p>

<p>"Francisco brought your father the news!" Matteo exclaimed in
astonishment. "Why, was it he who found you out, after all?"</p>

<p>"Did you not know that, Matteo? Of course it was Francisco! As I
told you, he has got brains; and if it had not been for him, we
should certainly never have been rescued. Giulia and I owe him
everything--don't we, Giulia?"</p>

<p>"Forgive me for not telling you, Matteo," Francis said to his
astonished friend; "but Signor Polani, and my father, both
impressed upon me so strongly that I should keep silent as to my
share in the business, that I thought it better not even to mention
it to you at present. It was purely the result of an accident."</p>

<p>"It was nothing of the sort," Maria said. "It was the result of
your keeping your eyes open and knowing how to put two and two
together. I did not know, Francisco, that it was a secret. We have
not seen our father since we have returned, and I suppose he
thought we should see nobody until he saw us again, and so did not
tell us that we were not to mention your name in the affair; but we
will be careful in future."</p>

<p>"But how was it, Francisco?" Matteo asked. "Now I know so much
as this, I suppose I can be told the rest. I can understand well
enough why it was to be kept a secret, and why my cousin is anxious
to get you out of Venice at once."</p>

<p>Francis related the manner in which he first became acquainted
with the existence of the hut on the island, and the fact of its
being frequented by Ruggiero Mocenigo; and how, on catching sight
of the gouvernante in a gondola, and seeing her make out across the
lagoons, the idea struck him that the girls were confined in the
hut.</p>

<p>"It is all very simple, you see, Matteo," he concluded.</p>

<p>"I will never say anything against learning to row a gondola in
future," Matteo said, "for it seems to lead to all sorts of
adventures; and unless you could have rowed well, you would never
have got back to tell the story. But it is certain that it is a
good thing you are leaving Venice for a time, for Ruggiero's
friends may find out the share you had in it from some of my
cousin's servants. You may be sure that they will do their best to
discover how he came to be informed of the hiding place, and he is
quite right to send you off at once."</p>

<p>"What! are you going away, Francisco?" the two girls exclaimed
together.</p>

<p>"I am sailing tomorrow in one of your father's ships,
signoras."</p>

<p>"And you are not coming back again?" Maria exclaimed.</p>

<p>"I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again before very
long, signora. I am entering your father's service for good, and
shall be backwards and forwards to Venice as the ship comes and
goes. My father is returning to England, and Signor Polani has most
kindly requested me to make my home with him whenever I am in
port."</p>

<p>"That is better," Maria said. "We should have a pretty quarrel
with papa if he had let you go away altogether, after what you have
done for us--</p>

<p>"Shouldn't we, Giulia?"</p>

<p>But Giulia had walked away to the window, and did not seem to
hear the question.</p>

<p>"That will be very pleasant," Maria went on; "for you will be
back every two or three months, and I shall take good care that
papa does not send the ship off in a hurry again. It will be almost
as good as having a brother; and I look upon you almost as a
brother now, Francisco--and a very good brother, too. I don't think
that man will molest us any more. If I thought there was any chance
of it, I should ask papa to keep you for a time, because I should
feel confident that you would manage to protect us somehow."</p>

<p>"I do not think there is the slightest chance of more trouble
from him," Francis said. "He is sure of a long term of imprisonment
for carrying you off."</p>

<p>"That is the least they can do to him, I should think," Maria
said indignantly. "I certainly shall not feel comfortable while he
is at large."</p>

<p>After half an hour's talk Francis and his friend took their
leave.</p>

<p>"You certainly were born with a silver spoon in your mouth,"
Matteo said as they took their seats in the gondola, "and my cousin
does well to get you out of Venice at once, for I can tell you
there are scores of young fellows who would feel jealous at your
position with my cousins."</p>

<p>"Nonsense!" Francis said, colouring. "How can you talk so
absurdly, Matteo? I am only a boy, and it will be years before I
could think of marriage. Besides, your cousins are said to be the
richest heiresses in Venice; and it is not because I have been able
to be of some slight service to them, that I should venture to
think of either of them in that way."</p>

<p>"We shall see," Matteo laughed. "Maria is a little too old for
you, I grant, but Giulia will do very well; and as you have already
come, as Maria says, to be looked upon by them as a brother and
protector, there is no saying as to how she may regard you in
another two or three years."</p>

<p>"The thing is absurd, Matteo," Francis said impatiently. "Do not
talk such nonsense any more."</p>

<p>Matteo lay back in his seat and whistled.</p>

<p>"I will say no more about it at present, Francisco," he said,
after a pause; "but I must own that I should be well content to
stand as high in the good graces of my pretty cousins as you
do."</p>

<p>The next morning Francis spent some time with his father talking
over future arrangements.</p>

<p>"I have no doubt that I shall see you sometimes, Francis; for
Polani will be sure to give you an opportunity of making a trip to
England, from time to time, in one of his ships trading thither.
Unless anything unexpected happens, your future appears assured.
Polani tells me he shall always regard you in the light of a son;
and I have no fear of your doing anything to cause him to forfeit
his good opinion of you. Do not be over adventurous, for even in a
merchant ship there are many perils to be met with. Pirates swarm
in the Mediterranean, in spite of the efforts of Venice to suppress
them; and when war is going on, both Venice and Genoa send out
numbers of ships whose doings savour strongly of piracy. Remember
that the first duty of the captain of a merchant ship is to save
his vessel and cargo, and that he should not think of fighting
unless he sees no other method of escape open to him.</p>

<p>"It is possible that, after a time, I may send one of your
brothers out here, but that will depend upon what I find of their
disposition when I get home; for it will be worse than useless to
send a lad of a headstrong disposition out to the care of one but a
few years older than himself. But this we can talk about when you
come over to England, and we see what position you are occupying
here.</p>

<p>"I fear that Venice is about to enter upon a period of great
difficulty and danger. There can be little doubt that Genoa, Padua,
and Hungary are leagued against her; and powerful as she is, and
great as are her resources, they will be taxed to the utmost to
carry her through the dangers that threaten her. However, I have
faith in her future, and believe that she will weather the storm,
as she has done many that have preceded it.</p>

<p>"Venice has the rare virtue of endurance--the greatest dangers,
the most disastrous defeats, fail to shake her courage, and only
arouse her to greater efforts. In this respect she is in the
greatest contrast to her rival, Genoa, who always loses heart the
moment the tide turns against her. No doubt this is due, in no
slight extent, to her oligarchic form of government. The people see
the nobles, who rule them, calm and self possessed, however great
the danger, and remain confident and tranquil; while in Genoa each
misfortune is the signal for a struggle between contending
factions. The occasion is seized to throw blame and contumely upon
those in power, and the people give way to alternate outbursts of
rage and depression.</p>

<p>"I do not say there are no faults in the government of Venice,
but taking her altogether there is no government in Europe to
compare with it. During the last three hundred years, the history
of every other city in Italy, I may say of every other nation in
Europe, is one long record of intestine struggle and bloodshed,
while in Venice there has not been a single popular tumult worthy
of the name. It is to the strength, the firmness, and the
moderation of her government that Venice owes her advancement, the
respect in which she is held among nations, as much as to the
commercial industry of her people.</p>

<p>"She alone among nations could for years have withstood the
interdict of the pope, or the misfortunes that have sometimes
befallen her. She alone has never felt the foot of the invader, or
bent her neck beneath a foreign yoke to preserve her existence.
Here, save only in matters of government, all opinions are free,
strangers of all nationalities are welcome. It is a grand city and
a grand people, Francis, and though I shall be glad to return to
England I cannot but feel regret at leaving it.</p>

<p>"And now, my boy, it is time to be going off to your ship.
Polani said she would sail at ten o'clock. It is now nine, and it
will take you half an hour to get there. I am glad to hear that
Giuseppi is going with you. The lad is faithful and attached to
you, and may be of service. Your trunk has already been sent on
board, so let us be going."</p>

<p>On arriving at the ship, which was lying in the port of
Malamocco, they found that she was just ready for sailing. The last
bales of goods were being hoisted on board, and the sailors were
preparing to loosen the sails.</p>

<p>The Bonito was a large vessel, built for stowage rather than
speed. She carried two masts with large square sails, and before
the wind would probably proceed at a fair rate; but the art of
sailing close hauled was then unknown, and in the event of the wind
being unfavourable she would be forced either to anchor or to
depend upon her oars, of which she rowed fifteen on either side. As
they mounted on to the deck they were greeted by Polani
himself.</p>

<p>"I have come off to see the last of your son, Messer Hammond,
and to make sure that my orders for his comfort have been carried
out.</p>

<p>"Captain Corpadio, this is the young gentleman of whom I have
spoken to you, and who is to be treated in all respects as if he
were my son. You will instruct him in all matters connected with
the navigation of the ship, as well as in the mercantile portion of
the business, the best methods of buying and selling, the prices of
goods, and the methods of payment.</p>

<p>"This is your cabin, Francisco."</p>

<p>He opened the door of a roomy cabin in the poop of the ship. It
was fitted up with every luxury.</p>

<p>"Thank you very much indeed, Signor Polani," Francis said. "The
only fault is that it is too comfortable. I would as lief have
roughed it as other aspirants have to do."</p>

<p>"There was no occasion, Francisco. When there is rough work to
be done, you will, I have no doubt, do it; but as you are going to
be a trader, and not a sailor, there is no occasion that you should
do so more than is necessary. You will learn to command a ship just
as well as if you began by dipping your hands in tar. And it is
well that you should learn to do this, for unless a man can sail a
vessel himself, he is not well qualified to judge of the merits of
men he appoints to be captains; but you must remember that you are
going as a representative of my house, and must, therefore, travel
in accordance with that condition.</p>

<p>"You will be sorry to hear that bad news has just been received
from the mainland. The state galley sent to fetch Ruggiero Mocenigo
has arrived with the news that, on the previous night, a strong
party of men who are believed to have come from Padua, fell upon
the guard and carried off Ruggiero. My sailors came up and fought
stoutly, but they were overpowered, and several of them were
killed; so Ruggiero is again at large.</p>

<p>"This is a great disappointment to me. Though the villain is not
likely to show his face in the Venetian territory again, I shall be
anxious until Maria is safely married, and shall lose no time in
choosing a husband for her. Unless I am mistaken, her liking is
turned in the direction of Rufino, brother of your friend Matteo
Giustiniani, and as I like none better among the suitors for her
hand, methinks that by the time you return you will find that they
are betrothed.</p>

<p>"And now I hear the sailors are heaving the anchor, and
therefore, Messer Hammond, it is time we took to our boats."</p>

<p>There was a parting embrace between Francis and his father. Then
the merchants descended into their gondolas, and lay waiting
alongside until the anchor was up, the great sails shaken out, and
the Bonito began to move slowly through the water towards the
entrance of the port. Then, with a final wave of the hand, the
gondolas rowed off and Francis turned to look at his surroundings.
The first object that met his eye was Giuseppi, who was standing
near him waving his cap to his father.</p>

<p>"Well, Giuseppi, what do you think of this?"</p>

<p>"I don't know what to think yet, Messer Francisco. It all seems
so big and solid one does not feel as if one was on the water. It's
more like living in a house. It does not seem as if anything could
move her."</p>

<p>"You will find the waves can move her about when we get fairly
to sea, Giuseppi, and the time will come when you will think our
fast gondola was a steady craft in comparison. How long have you
been on board?"</p>

<p>"I came off three hours ago, signor, with the boat that brought
the furniture for your cabin. I have been putting that to rights
since. A supply of the best wine has been sent off, and extra
stores of all sorts, so you need not be afraid of being starved on
the voyage."</p>

<p>"I wish he hadn't sent so much," Francis said. "It makes one
feel like a milksop. Whose cabin is it I have got?"</p>

<p>"I believe that it is the cabin usually used by the supercargo,
who is in charge of the goods and does the trading, but the men say
the captain of this ship has been a great many years in Polani's
employment, and often sails without a supercargo, being able to
manage the trading perfectly well by himself. But the usual cabin
is only half the size of yours, and two have been thrown into one
to make it light and airy."</p>

<p>"And where do you sleep, Giuseppi?"</p>

<p>"I am going to sleep in the passage outside your door, Messer
Francisco."</p>

<p>"Oh, but I sha'n't like that!" Francis said. "You ought to have
a better place than that."</p>

<p>Giuseppi laughed.</p>

<p>"Why, Messer Francisco, considering that half my time I slept in
the gondola, and the other half on some straw in our kitchen, I
shall do capitally. Of course I could sleep in the fo'castle with
the crew if I liked, but I should find it hot and stifling there. I
chose the place myself, and asked the captain if I could sleep
there, and he has given me leave."</p>

<p>In an hour the Bonito had passed through the Malamocco Channel,
and was out on the broad sea. The wind was very light, and but just
sufficient to keep the great sails bellied out. The sailors were
all at work, coiling down ropes, washing the decks, and making
everything clean and tidy.</p>

<p>"This is a good start, Messer Hammond," the captain said, coming
up to him. "If this wind holds, we shall be able to make our course
round the southern point of Greece, and then on to Candia, which is
our first port. I always like a light breeze when I first go out of
port, it gives time for everyone to get at home and have things
shipshape before we begin to get lively."</p>

<p>"She does not look as if she would ever get lively," Francis
said, looking at the heavy vessel.</p>

<p>"She is lively enough in a storm, I can tell you," the captain
said, laughing. "When she once begins to roll she does it in
earnest, but she is a fine sea boat, and I have no fear of gales. I
wish I could say as much of pirates. However, she has always been
fortunate, and as we carry a stout crew she could give a good
account of herself against any of the small piratical vessels that
swarm among the islands, although, of course, if she fell in with
two or three of them together it would be awkward."</p>

<p>"How many men do you carry altogether, captain?"</p>

<p>"Just seventy. You see she rows thirty oars, and in case of need
we put two men to each oar, and though she doesn't look fast she
can get along at a fine rate when the oars are double banked. We
have shown them our heels many a time. Our orders are strict. We
are never to fight if we can get away by running."</p>

<p>"But I suppose you have to fight sometimes?" Francis asked.</p>

<p>"Yes, I have been in some tough fights several times, though not
in the Bonito, which was only built last year. Once in the Lion we
were attacked by three pirates. We were at anchor in a bay, and the
wind was blowing on the shore, when they suddenly came round the
headland, so there was no chance of running, and we had to fight it
out. We fought for five hours before they sheered off, pretty well
crippled, and one of them in flames, for we carried Greek fire.</p>

<p>"Three or four times they nearly got a footing on deck, but we
managed to beat them off somehow. We lost a third of our crew. I
don't think there was a man escaped without a wound. I was laid up
for three months, after I got home, with a slash on the shoulder,
which pretty nigh took off my left arm. However, we saved the ship
and the cargo, which was a valuable one, and Messer Polani saw that
no one was the worse for his share in the business. There's no more
liberal-hearted man in the trade than he is, and whatever may be
the scarcity of hands in the port, there is never any difficulty in
getting a good crew together for his vessels.</p>

<p>"Of course there are the roughs with the smooths. Some years ago
I was in prison for six months, with all my crew, in Azoff. It was
the work of those rascally Genoese, who are always doing us a bad
turn when they have the chance, even when we are at peace with
them. They set the mind of the native khan--that is the prince of
the country--against us by some lying stories that we had been
engaged in smuggling goods in at another port. And suddenly, in the
middle of the night, in marched his soldiers on board my ship, and
two other Venetian craft lying in the harbour, and took possession
of them, and shut us all up in prison. There we were till Messer
Polani got news, and sent out another ship to pay the fine
demanded. That was no joke, I can tell you, for the prison was so
hot and crowded, and the food so bad, that we got fever, and pretty
near half of us died before our ransom came. Then at Constantinople
the Genoese stirred the people up against us once or twice, and all
the sailors ashore had to fight for their lives. Those Genoese are
always doing us mischief."</p>

<p>"But I suppose you do them mischief sometimes, captain. I
imagine it isn't all one side."</p>

<p>"Of course, we pay them out when we get a chance," the captain
replied. "It isn't likely we are going to stand being always put
upon, and not take our chance when it comes. We only want fair
trade and no favour, while those rascals want it all to themselves.
They know they have no chance with us when it comes to fair
trading."</p>

<p>"You know, captain, that the Genoese say just the same things
about the Venetians, that the Venetians do about them. So I expect
that there are faults on both sides."</p>

<p>The captain laughed.</p>

<p>"I suppose each want to have matters their own way, Messer
Hammond, but I don't consider the Genoese have any right to come
interfering with us, to the eastward of Italy. They have got France
and Spain to trade with, and all the western parts of Italy. Why
don't they keep there? Besides, I look upon them as landsmen. Why,
we can always lick them at sea in a fair fight."</p>

<p>"Generally, captain. I admit you generally thrash them. Still,
you know they have sometimes got the better of you, even when the
force was equal."</p>

<p>The captain grunted. He could not deny the fact.</p>

<p>"Sometimes our captains don't do their duty," he said. "They put
a lot of young patricians in command of the galleys, men that don't
know one end of a ship from the other, and then, of course, we get
the worst of it. But I maintain that, properly fought, a Venetian
ship is always more than a match for a Genoese."</p>

<p>"I think she generally is, captain, and I hope it will always
prove so in the future. You see, though I am English, I have lived
long enough in Venice to feel like a Venetian."</p>

<p>"I have never been to England," the captain said, "though a good
many Venetian ships go there every year. They tell me it's an
island, like Venice, only a deal bigger than any we have got in the
Mediterranean. Those who have been there say the sea is mighty
stormy, and that, sailing up from Spain, you get tremendous
tempests sometimes, with the waves ever so much bigger than we have
here, and longer and more regular, but not so trying to the ships
as the short sharp gales of these seas."</p>

<p>"I believe that is so, captain, though I don't know anything
about it myself. It is some years since I came out, and our voyage
was a very calm one."</p>

<p>Three days of quiet sailing, and the Bonito rounded the
headlands of the Morea, and shaped her course to Candia. The voyage
was a very pleasant one to Francis. Each day the captain brought
out the list of cargo, and instructed him in the prices of each
description of goods, told him of the various descriptions of
merchandise which they would be likely to purchase at the different
ports at which they were to touch, and the prices which they would
probably have to pay for them. A certain time, too, was devoted
each day to the examination of the charts of the various ports and
islands, the captain pointing out the marks which were to be
observed on entering and leaving the harbours, the best places for
anchorage, and the points where shelter could be obtained should
high winds come on.</p>

<p>After losing sight of the Morea the weather changed, clouds
banked up rapidly in the southwest, and the captain ordered the
great sails to be furled.</p>

<p>"We are going to have a serious gale," he said to Francis,
"which is unusual at this period of the year. I have thought, for
the last two days, we were going to have a change, but I hoped to
have reached Candia before the gale burst upon us. I fear that this
will drive us off our course."</p>

<p>By evening it was blowing hard, and the sea got up rapidly. The
ship speedily justified the remarks of the captain on her power of
rolling, and the oars, at which the men had been labouring since
the sails were furled, were laid in.</p>

<p>"It is impossible to keep our course," the captain said, "and we
must run up among the islands, and anchor under the lee of one of
them. I should recommend you to get into your bed as soon as
possible. You have not learned to keep your legs in a storm. I see
that lad of yours is very ill already, but as you show no signs of
suffering thus far, you will probably escape."</p>

<p>It was some time, however, before Francis went below. The scene
was novel to him, and he was astonished at the sight of the waves,
and at the manner in which they tossed the great ship about, as if
she were an eggshell. But when it became quite dark, and he could
see nothing but the white crests of the waves and the foam that
flew high in the air every time the bluff bows of the ship plunged
down into a hollow, he took the captain's advice and retired to his
cabin.</p>

<p>He was on deck again early. A gray mist overhung the water. The
sea was of a leaden colour, crested with white heads. The waves
were far higher than they had been on the previous evening, and as
they came racing along behind the Bonito each crest seemed as if it
would rise over her stern and overwhelm her. But this apprehension
was soon dispelled, as he saw how lightly the vessel rose each
time. Although showing but a very small breadth of sail, she was
running along at a great rate, leaving a white streak of foam
behind her. The captain was standing near the helm, and Francis
made his way to him.</p>

<p>"Well, captain, and how are you getting on, and where are we?"
he asked, cheerfully.</p>

<p>"We are getting on well enough, Messer Francisco, as you can see
for yourself. The Bonito is as good a sea boat as ever floated, and
would not care for the wind were it twice as strong as it is. It is
not the storm I am thinking about, but the islands. If we were down
in the Mediterranean I could turn into my cot and sleep soundly;
but here it is another matter. We are somewhere up among the
islands, but where, no man can say. The wind has shifted a bit two
or three times during the night, and, as we are obliged to run
straight before it, there is no calculating to within a few miles
where we are. I have tried to edge out to the westward as much as I
could, but with this wind blowing and the height of the ship out of
water, we sag away to leeward so fast that nothing is gained by
it.</p>

<p>"According to my calculation, we cannot be very far from the
west coast of Mitylene. If the clouds would but lift, and give us a
look round for two minutes, we should know all about it, as I know
the outline of every island in the Aegean; and as over on this side
you are always in sight of two or three of them, I should know all
about it if I could get a view of the land. Now, for aught we know,
we may be running straight down upon some rocky coast."</p>

<p>The idea was not a pleasant one, and Francis strained his eyes,
gazing through the mist.</p>

<p>"What should we do if we saw land, captain?" he asked
presently.</p>

<p>"Get out the oars, row her head round, and try to work either to
the right or left, whichever point of land seemed easiest to
weather. Of course, if it was the mainland we were being driven on
there would be no use, and we should try and row into the teeth of
the gale, so as to keep her off land as long as possible, in the
hope of the wind dropping. When we got into shallow water we should
drop our anchors, and still keep on rowing to lessen the strain
upon them. If they gave, there would be an end to the Bonito. But
if, as I think, we are driving towards Mitylene, there is a safe
harbour on this side of the island, and I shall certainly run into
it. It is well sheltered and landlocked."</p>

<p>Two more hours passed, and then there was a startling
transformation. The clouds broke suddenly and cleared off, as if by
magic, and the sun streamed brightly out. The wind was blowing as
strong as ever, but the change in the hue of sky and sea would at
once have raised the spirits of the tired crew, had not a long line
of land been seen stretching ahead of them at a distance of four or
five miles.</p>

<p>"Just as I thought," the captain exclaimed as he saw it. "That
is Mitylene, sure enough, and the entrance to the harbour I spoke
of lies away there on that beam."</p>

<p>The oars were at once got out, the sail braced up a little, and
the Bonito made for the point indicated by the captain, who himself
took the helm.</p>

<p>Another half hour and they were close to land. Francis could see
no sign of a port, but in a few minutes the Bonito rounded the end
of a low island, and a passage opened before her. She passed
through this and found herself in still water, in a harbour large
enough to hold the fleet of Venice. The anchor was speedily let
drop.</p>

<p>"It seems almost bewildering," Francis said, "the hush and quiet
here after the turmoil of the storm outside. To whom does Mitylene
belong?"</p>

<p>"The Genoese have a trading station and a castle at the other
side of the island, but it belongs to Constantinople. The other
side of the island is rich and fertile, but this, as you see, is
mountainous and barren. The people have not a very good reputation,
and if we had been wrecked we should have been plundered, if not
murdered.</p>

<p>"You see those two vessels lying close to the shore, near the
village? They are pirates when they get a chance, you may be quite
sure. In fact, these islands swarm with them. Venice does all she
can to keep them down, but the Genoese, and the Hungarians, and the
rest of them, keep her so busy that she has no time to take the
matter properly in hand, and make a clean sweep of them."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch8">Chapter 8</a>: An Attack By Pirates.</h2>

<p>A boat was lowered, and the captain went ashore with a strong
crew, all armed to the teeth. Francis accompanied him. The natives
were sullen in their manner, but expressed a willingness to trade,
and to exchange hides and wine for cloth.</p>

<p>"We may as well do a little barter," the captain said, as they
rowed back towards the ship. "The port is not often visited, and
the road across the island is hilly and rough, so they ought to be
willing to sell their goods cheaply."</p>

<p>"They did not seem pleased to see us, nevertheless," Francis
said.</p>

<p>"No; you see the Genoese have got a footing in the island, and
of course they represent us to the natives as being robbers, who
would take their island if we got the chance. All round these
coasts and islands the people are partisans either of Venice or
Genoa. They care very little for Constantinople, although they form
part of the empire. Constantinople taxes them heavily, and is too
weak to afford them protection. Of course they are Greeks, but the
Greeks of the islands have very little in common, beyond their
language, with the Greeks of Constantinople. They see, too, that
the Turks are increasing in power, and they know that, if they are
to be saved from falling into the hands of the Moslem, it is Venice
or Genoa who will protect them, and not Constantinople, who will
have enough to do to defend herself.</p>

<p>"As to themselves, they would naturally prefer Venice, because
Venice is a far better mistress than Genoa; but of course, when the
Genoese get a footing, they spread lies as to our tyranny and
greed, and so it comes that the people of the islands are divided
in their wishes, and that while we are gladly received in some of
them, we are regarded with hate and suspicion in others."</p>

<p>Trade at once began, and continued until evening.</p>

<p>"How long do you expect to stay here, captain?" Francis
asked.</p>

<p>"That must depend upon the wind. It may go down tomorrow, it may
continue to blow strong for days, and it is no use our attempting
to work down to Candia until it changes its direction. I should
hope, however, that in a day or two we may be off. We are doing
little more than wasting our time here."</p>

<p>A strong watch was placed on deck at nightfall.</p>

<p>"Why, surely, captain, there is no fear of an attack! War has
not yet been proclaimed with Genoa, although there is little doubt
it will be so in a few weeks, or perhaps a few days."</p>

<p>"There is never a real peace between Venice and Genoa in these
seas," the captain said, "and as war is now imminent, one cannot be
too watchful. State galleys would not be attacked, but merchant
vessels are different. Who is to inquire about a merchant ship!
Why, if we were attacked and plundered here, who would be any the
wiser? We should either have our throats cut, or be sent to rot in
the dungeons of Genoa. And not till there was an exchange of
prisoners, perhaps years hence, would any in Venice know what had
befallen us. When weeks passed, and no news came to Venice of our
having reached Candia, it would be supposed that we had been lost
in the storm.</p>

<p>"Signor Polani would run his pen through the name of the Bonito,
and put her down as a total loss, and there would be an end of it,
till those of us who were alive, when the prison doors were opened,
made their way back to Venice. No, no, Messer Francisco. In these
eastern waters one must always act as if the republic were at war.
Why, did not Antonio Doria, in a time of profound peace, attack and
seize eight Venetian ships laden with goods, killing two of the
merchants on board, and putting the ships at a ransom? As to single
vessels missing, and never heard of, their number is
innumerable.</p>

<p>"It is all put down to pirates; but trust me, the Genoese are
often at the bottom of it. They are robbers, the Genoese. In fair
trade we can always beat them, and they know it, and so they are
always seeking a pretext for a quarrel with us."</p>

<p>Francis smiled quietly at the bigoted hatred which the captain
bore the Genoese, but thought it useless to argue with him. The
next morning he came up on deck soon after daybreak.</p>

<p>"I see one of those vessels has taken her departure," he said,
as he glanced towards the spot where they had been lying.</p>

<p>"So she has," the captain said. "I had not noticed that before.
I wonder what that fellow has gone for? No good, you may be sure.
Why, it is blowing hard outside still, as you may see by the rate
those light clouds travel. He would never have put to sea without
having a motive, and he must have had a strong crew on board, to
row out in the teeth of the gale far enough to make off the land.
That fellow is up to mischief of some sort."</p>

<p>A few minutes later the captain ordered a boat to be lowered,
and rowed out to the rocky islet at the mouth of the harbour, and
landing, climbed up the rocks and looked out to sea. In half an
hour he returned to the ship.</p>

<p>"It is no use," he said to Francis. "The wind is blowing
straight into the passage, and we could not row the Bonito out
against it. It was different with that craft that went out
yesterday evening, for I have no doubt she started as soon as it
became dark. She was low in the water, and would not hold the wind;
besides, no doubt they lowered the masts, and with a strong crew
might well have swept her out. But with the Bonito, with her high
sides and heavy tonnage, it could not be done."</p>

<p>"What do you think she went out for, captain?"</p>

<p>"It is likely enough that she may have gone to one of the other
islands, and may return with a dozen other craft, pirates like
herself. The news that a Venetian merchant ship, without consorts,
is weather bound here, would bring them upon us like bees.</p>

<p>"It is a dangerous thing, this sailing alone. I have talked it
over several times with the master. Other merchants generally send
their ships in companies of eight or ten, and they are then strong
enough to beat off any attack of pirates. Messer Polani always
sends his vessels out singly. What he says is this: 'A single ship
always travels faster than a convoy, because these must go at the
rate of the slowest among them. Then the captain is free to go
where he will, without consulting others, according as he gets news
where trade is to be done, and when he gets there he can drive his
own bargains without the competition of other ships.</p>

<p>"So you see there are advantages both ways. The padrone's ships
run greater risks, but, if they get through them safely, they bring
home much larger profits than do those of others. As a rule, I
prefer sailing singly; but just at the present time I should be
well pleased to see half a dozen consorts lying alongside."</p>

<p>Three times during the day the captain paid a visit to the rocky
island. On his return for the last time before nightfall he said to
Francis:</p>

<p>"The wind is certainly falling. I hope that tomorrow morning we
shall be able to get out of this trap. I am convinced that there is
danger."</p>

<p>"You see nothing else, do you, captain, beyond the departure of
that craft, to make you think that there is danger?"</p>

<p>"Yes, I have seen two things," the captain said. "In the first
place, the demeanour of the people has changed. They do not seem
more unfriendly than they were before, but as I moved about the
place today, it seemed to me that there was a suppressed
excitement--people gathered together and talked earnestly, and
separated if any of our crew happened to go near them; even laughed
when they thought that none of us were looking, and looked serious
and sullen if we turned round. I am convinced that they are
expecting something to happen.</p>

<p>"I have another reason for suspecting it. I have kept a sharp
watch on that high hill behind the village; they tell me there is
nothing at the top except some curious stones, that look as if they
had once been trees, so there is nothing they can want to go up
for. Several times today I have made out the figures of men
climbing that hill. When they got to the top they stood for some
time as if they were looking out over the sea, and then came down
again without doing anything. Now, men do not climb such a hill as
that merely for exercise. They went up because they expected to see
something, and that something could only be a fleet of pirate boats
from the other islands. I would give a year's pay if we could get
out of this place this evening, but it cannot be done, and we must
wait till tomorrow morning. I will try then, even though I risk
being driven on the rocks. However, if they do come tonight they
will not catch us asleep."</p>

<p>Orders were issued that the whole crew were to remain in
readiness for attack, and that those whose watch was below were to
sleep with their arms beside them. The lower ports were all closed,
a strong watch was kept on deck, and it was certain that, whatever
happened, the Bonito would not be taken by surprise.</p>

<p>Being assured by the captain that it was not probable that any
attack would be made before morning, as the pirates, not knowing
their exact position, would wait until the first gleam of daylight
enabled them to make out where she was lying, and to advance in
order against her, Francis lay down on his couch, leaving orders
that, if asleep, he was to be called two hours before daybreak. He
slept but little, however, getting up frequently and going out to
ascertain if any sounds indicated the presence of an enemy.</p>

<p>Upon one of these occasions he found that the person leaning
next to him against the bulwark, and gazing towards the mouth of
the harbour, was Giuseppi.</p>

<p>"Have you been here long, Giuseppi?"</p>

<p>"Since you were out last, Messer Francisco. I thought I would
wait a bit, and listen."</p>

<p>"And have you heard anything?"</p>

<p>"I have heard sounds several times."</p>

<p>"What sort of sounds, Giuseppi?"</p>

<p>"Such a sound as is made when the sails and yards are lowered. I
have heard it over and over again when out at night on the lagoons
near the port. There is no mistake in the creaking of the blocks as
the halyards run through them. I am sure, that since I have been
here several vessels have brought up inside the mouth of the
harbour. Some of the sailors have heard the same noises, so there
cannot be any mistake about it. If the captain likes, I will take a
small boat and row out, and find out all about them."</p>

<p>"I will ask the captain, Giuseppi."</p>

<p>The captain, however, said that there would be no use in this
being done.</p>

<p>"Whether there are few or whether there are many of them, we
must wait till morning before we go out. There will be no working
out that channel in the dark, even if we were unopposed."</p>

<p>"But they must have managed to come in," Francis said.</p>

<p>"No doubt some of their comrades in the other barque, or people
from the village, show a light out there to guide them in. Besides,
the wind is favourable to them and against us. No, young sir, there
is nothing to do but to wait. In the morning, if there are but few
of them, we will try to break through and gain the sea. If there
are many we will fight here, as then all hands will be available
for the combat, while if we were rowing, half of them would be
occupied with the oars. If your lad were to go as he proposes he
might fall into the hands of the enemy, and as the information he
could gather would be in any case of no use, it is best he should
remain where he is."</p>

<p>The hours seemed long until the first tinge of daylight appeared
in the sky. All hands were on deck now, for the news that vessels
had been arriving in the port had convinced all that danger really
threatened them. It was not until half an hour later that they were
able to make out some dark objects, lying in under the shadow of
the islet across the mouth of the harbour.</p>

<p>"There they are, Messer Francisco," the captain said. "Ten of
them, as far as I can make out; but there may be more, for likely
enough some of them are lying side by side. There may, too, be some
round a corner, where we cannot see them. Another half hour we
shall know all about it."</p>

<p>Francis was half surprised that the captain did not order the
oars to be put out and lashed in that position, for it was a
recognized plan for preventing a ship from being boarded by an
enemy, who could thus only approach her at the lofty poop and
forecastle.</p>

<p>"Are you not going to get out the oars to keep them off?"</p>

<p>"No, Messer Francisco. In the first place, our sides are so high
out of water that the pirates will have a difficulty in boarding us
in any case. In the second place, if we get the oars out and they
row full at them, sooner or later they will break them off; and it
is all important that we should be able to row. I have been
thinking the matter over, and my idea is, as soon as they advance,
to get three or four oars at work on either side, so as to move her
gradually through the water towards the harbour mouth. The rowers
will be charged to let their oars swing alongside whenever any of
their craft dash at them. We shall want every oar, as well as our
sails, to get away when we are once outside. I do not think we have
much chance of finally beating them off if we stop and fight here.
But if we can do so for a time, and can manage to creep out of the
harbour, all may be well."</p>

<p>When daylight fairly broke they were able to make out their
enemy. The vessels were of all sizes, from long, low craft,
carrying great sails and long banks of oars, down to boats of a few
tons burden. All seemed crowded with men.</p>

<p>"None of them are anything like as high out of the water as the
Bonito," the captain said, "and they will find it very difficult to
climb up our sides. Still the odds against us are serious, but we
shall give them a warmer reception than they expect. They will
hardly calculate either on our being so strong handed, or so well
prepared for them."</p>

<p>Everything was indeed ready for the combat. Two or three barrels
of the compound known as Greek fire had been brought up from the
hold, and the cooks had heated cauldrons full of pitch. Thirty men
with bows and arrows were on the poop, and the rest, with spears,
axes, and swords, stood along the bulwarks.</p>

<p>"We may as well get as near the entrance as we can before the
fight begins," the captain said. "Get up the anchor, and as soon as
it is aboard, get out four oars on each side."</p>

<p>The anchor had already been hove short, and was soon in its
place. Then the oars dipped into the water, and slowly the Bonito
moved towards the mouth of the harbour. Scarcely had the oars
touched the water, than a bustle was perceived on board the
piratical ships. Oars were put out, and in two or three minutes the
pirates were under way, advancing at a rapid pace towards the
Bonito.</p>

<p>The crew made no reply to the shouts and yells of the pirates,
but, in accordance with the orders of the captain, remained in a
stooping position, so that the figure of the captain, as he hauled
up the flag with the lion of Venice to the masthead, was alone
visible to the pirates. As these approached volleys of arrows were
shot at the Bonito, but not a shot replied until they were within
fifty yards of the ship.</p>

<p>Then the captain gave the word. The archers sprang to their
feet, and from their eminence poured their arrows thick and fast on
to the crowded decks of the pirates. The captain gave the word to
the rowers, and they relinquished their oars, which swung in by the
side of the vessel.</p>

<p>A moment later two of the largest craft of the pirates dashed
alongside. The instant they did so they were saluted with showers
of boiling pitch, while pots full of Greek fire were thrown down
upon them. Those who tried to climb up the side of the Bonito were
speared with lances or cut down with battleaxes.</p>

<p>The combat was of short duration. Many of those on whom the
boiling pitch had fallen jumped overboard in their agony, while
others did the same to escape the Greek fire, which they in vain
endeavoured to extinguish. The fire quickly spread to the woodwork,
and in five minutes after the beginning of the fight, the two craft
dropped astern from the Bonito, with the flames already rising
fiercely from them.</p>

<p>In the meantime the other vessels had not been idle, and a storm
of missiles was poured upon the Bonito. The fate which befell their
comrades, however, showed them how formidable was the vessel they
had regarded as an easy prey, and when the first assailants of the
Bonito dropped astern, none of the others cared to take their
places.</p>

<p>"Man the oars again!" the captain ordered, and the Bonito again
moved forward, her crew stooping behind the bulwarks, while the
archers only rose from time to time to discharge their shafts.</p>

<p>"The thing I am most afraid of," the captain said to Francis,
who was standing beside him, "is, that they will ram us with their
prows. The Bonito is strongly built, but the chances are that they
would knock a hole in her."</p>

<p>"I should think, captain, that if we were to get up some of
those bales of cloth, and fasten ropes to them, we might lower them
over the side and so break the shock."</p>

<p>"It is worth trying, anyhow," the captain said.</p>

<p>And a score of the sailors were at once sent down to fetch up
the bales. Ropes were fastened round these, and they were laid
along by the bulwarks in readiness for being lowered instantly. Ten
bales were placed on each side, and three men told off to each
bale.</p>

<p>By this time they were halfway to the mouth of the harbour, and
the preparations were completed just in time, for the small boats
suddenly drew aside, and two of the largest of the pirates' craft,
each rowed by twenty-four oars, dashed at her, one on each side.
The captain shouted the order, and the men all sprang to their
feet. It was seen at once that the vessels would both strike about
midships. Three bales on either side were raised to the bulwarks,
and lowered down with the ropes until close to the water's edge and
closely touching each other. Francis sprang on to the bulwark and
superintended the operations on one side, while the captain did the
same on the other.</p>

<p>"A few feet more astern, lads. That is right. Now, keep the
bales touching. You are just in the line."</p>

<p>An instant later the Bonito reeled from the shock of two
tremendous blows. The bows of the pirates were stove in, but the
thick bales enabled the Bonito to withstand the shock, although her
sides creaked, the seams started, and the water flowed in freely.
But of this the crew thought little. They were occupied in hurling
darts, arrows, and combustibles into the pirates as these backed
off, in an already sinking condition.</p>

<p>"Now I think we can go," the captain said, and ordered the whole
of the oars to be manned.</p>

<p>They were speedily got out, and the Bonito made her way out
through the mouth of the harbour. The pirates, in their lighter
boats, rowed round and round her, shooting clouds of arrows, but
not venturing to come to close quarters, after the fate which had
befallen the four largest vessels of their fleet.</p>

<p>As soon as they were clear of the islet the sails were hoisted.
The wind had fallen much during the night, and had worked round to
the east, and under sails and oars the Bonito left the island, none
of the pirates venturing to follow in pursuit. The oars were soon
laid in, and the men, with mallets and chisels, set to work to
caulk the seams through which the water was making its way. The
casualties were now inquired into, and it was found that six men
had been shot dead, and that nine-and-twenty had received wounds
more or less severe from the arrows of the pirates.</p>

<p>Francis had been twice wounded while superintending the placing
of the bales. One arrow had gone through his right leg, another had
struck him in the side and glanced off a rib.</p>

<p>"This won't do, Messer Francisco," the captain said as he
assisted Giuseppi to bandage the wounds. "Signor Polani placed you
on board to learn something of seamanship and commerce, not to make
yourself a target for the arrows of pirates. However, we have to
thank you for the saving of the Bonito, for assuredly she would
have been stove in, had not the happy thought of hanging those
bales overboard struck you. It would be of no use against war
galleys, whose beaks are often below the waterline, but against
craft like these pirates it acts splendidly, and there is no doubt
that you saved the ship from destruction, and us from death, for
after the burning of the two first vessels that attacked us, you
may be sure they would have shown but little mercy. I can't think
how you came to think of it."</p>

<p>"Why, I have read in books, captain, of defenders of walls
hanging over trusses of straw, to break the blows of battering rams
and machines of the besiegers. Directly you said they were going to
ram us it struck me we might do the same, and then I thought that
bales of cloth, similar to those you got up on deck to trade with
the islanders would be just the thing."</p>

<p>"It was a close shave," the captain said. "I was leaning over,
and saw the whole side of the ship bend beneath the blow, and
expected to hear the ribs crack beneath me. Fortunately the Bonito
was stronger built than her assailants, and their bows crumpled in
before her side gave; but my heart was in my mouth for a time, I
can tell you."</p>

<p>"So was mine, captain. I hardly felt these two arrows strike me.
They must have been shot from one of the other boats. Then I could
not help laughing to see the way in which the men at the oars
tumbled backwards at the moment when their vessel struck us. It was
as if an invisible giant had swept them all off their seats
together."</p>

<p>The wind continued favourable until they arrived at Candia,
where the captain reported, to the commander of a Venetian war
galley lying in the port, the attack that had been made upon him;
and the galley at once started for the scene of the action, to
destroy any pirates she might find there or among the neighbouring
islands, or in the various inlets and bays of the mainland.</p>

<p>Having delivered their letters and landed a portion of their
cargo for the use of Polani's agents in the islands, the Bonito
proceeded to Cyprus. For some weeks she cruised along the coast of
Syria, trading in the various Turkish ports, for Venice, although
she had shared in some of the crusades, was now, as she had often
been before, on friendly terms with the Turks. Her interests all
lay in that direction. She carried on a large trade with them; and
in the days when she lay under the interdict of the pope, and all
Europe stood aloof from her, she drew her stores of provisions from
the Moslem ports, and was thus enabled successfully to resist the
pressure which she suffered from the interdict. She foresaw, too,
the growing power of the Turks, and perceived that in the future
they would triumph over the degenerate Greek empire at
Constantinople. She had spent her blood and treasure freely in
maintaining that empire; but the weakness and profligacy of its
emperors, the intestine quarrels and disturbances which were
forever going on, and the ingratitude with which she had always
treated Venice, had completely alienated the Venetians from her.
Genoa had, indeed, for many years exercised a far more
preponderating influence at Constantinople than Venice had
done.</p>

<p>Having completed the tour of the Syrian ports, the Bonito sailed
north, with the intention of passing the Dardanelles and Bosphorus,
and proceeding to Azoph.</p>

<p>When she reached the little island of Tenedos, a few miles from
the entrance to the strait, she heard news which compelled the
captain to alter his intentions. A revolution had broken out in
Constantinople, aided by the Genoese of Pera. The cruel tyrant
Calojohannes the 5th had been deposed, and his heir Andronicus,
whom he had deprived of sight and thrown into a dungeon, released
and placed on the throne.</p>

<p>As a reward for the services she had rendered him, Andronicus
issued a decree conferring Tenedos upon Genoa. The news had just
arrived when the Bonito entered the port, and the town was in a
ferment. There were two or three Venetian warships in the harbour;
but the Venetian admiral, being without orders from home as to what
part to take in such an emergency, remained neutral. The matter
was, however, an important one, for the possession of Tenedos gave
its owners the command of the Dardanelles, and a fleet lying there
could effectually block the passage.</p>

<p>The people thronged up to the governor's house with shouts of
"Down with Genoa!" The governor, being unsupported by any Greek or
Genoese troops, bowed to the popular will, and declared that he did
not recognize the revolution that had taken place in
Constantinople, and refused to submit to the decree of Andronicus.
Donato Trono, a Venetian merchant resident in the island, and other
Venetians, harangued the people, and pointed out to them that alone
they could not hope to resist the united forces of Greece and
Genoa, and that their only hope of safety lay in placing themselves
under the protection of Venice. The people, seeing the justice of
the arguments of the Venetians, and preferring the Venetian rule to
that of Genoa, agreed to the proposal. The banner of St. Mark was
raised amid great enthusiasm, and the island declared subject to
Venice.</p>

<p>A Genoese galley in port immediately set sail, and quickly
carried the news to Constantinople, where the emperor at once threw
the whole of the Venetian residents into prison. As soon as the
news of this reached Tenedos the captain of the Bonito held a
consultation with Francis.</p>

<p>"It is evident, Messer Francisco, that we cannot proceed upon
our northward voyage. We should be captured and held at
Constantinople; and, even did we succeed in passing at night, we
should fall into the hands of the Genoese--who are far stronger in
the Black Sea than we are--for if Venice accepts the offer of the
people of this place, and takes possession of the island, Genoa is
sure to declare war.</p>

<p>"I think, then, that we had better make our way back to Venice
with what cargo we have on board, and there get fresh orders from
the padrone. We have not done badly so far, and it is better to
make sure of what we have got than to risk its loss, for at any day
we may fall in with the Genoese fleet sailing hither."</p>

<p>Francis quite agreed with the captain's opinion, and the Bonito
sailed for the south. They touched, on their way, at several
islands, and the news that an early outbreak of hostilities between
Genoa and Venice was probable--in which case there would be an
almost complete cessation of trade--produced so strong a desire, on
the part of the islanders, to lay in a store of goods, that the
captain was able to dispose of the rest of his cargo on good terms,
and to fill up his ship with the produce of the islands.</p>

<p>Thus the Bonito was deep in the water when she re-entered the
port of Venice after an absence of about three months. As soon as
the anchor was dropped the captain, accompanied by Francis, hired a
gondola, and rowed into the city to give an account to Signor
Polani of the success of his voyage, and to lay before him a list
of the cargo with which the Bonito was laden. The merchant received
them with great cordiality, and embraced Francis with the affection
of a father.</p>

<p>"Do you go at once into the salon, Francisco. You will find my
daughters expecting you there, for the news came an hour ago that
the Bonito was entering port. Of course, we heard from the letters
from Candia of your adventures with the pirates, and the gallant
way in which the Bonito defeated them.</p>

<p>"You will find, captain, that I have ordered an extra month's
pay to be given to all on board.</p>

<p>"The captain did full justice, Francisco, in his account of the
matter, to your quickness in suggesting a method by which the
effort of the ramming of the enemy was neutralized, and for the
courage you showed in carrying out your idea; but we will talk of
that afterwards. He and I have business to transact which will
occupy us for some time, so the sooner you go the better."</p>

<p>Francis at once took himself off and joined the girls, who
received him with the heartiest greeting.</p>

<p>"We were glad indeed, Francis," Maria said, "when our father
told us that the Bonito was signalled as entering the port. No
letters have come for some time, and we feared that you must have
entered the Dardanelles, and reached Constantinople, before the
news arrived there of that affair at Tenedos, in which case you
would no doubt have been seized and thrown into the dungeons."</p>

<p>"We were at Tenedos when the affair took place," Francis said,
"and have had no opportunity since of sending a letter by any ship
likely to be here before us. The outbreak made us alter our plans,
for, of course, it would not have been safe to have sailed farther
when the emperor was so enraged against Venice. I need hardly tell
you I was not sorry when we turned our faces again towards Venice.
I have enjoyed the voyage very much, and have had plenty to occupy
me. Still, three months at a time is long enough, and I was
beginning to long for a sight of Venice."</p>

<p>"For a sight of Venice and--" Maria repeated, holding up her
finger reprovingly.</p>

<p>"And of you both," Francis said smiling. "I did not think it
necessary to put that in, because you must know that you are Venice
to me."</p>

<p>"That is much better," Maria said approvingly. "I think you have
improved since you have been away. Do you not think so,
Giulia?"</p>

<p>"I don't think that sort of nonsense is an improvement," Giulia
said gravely. "Any of the young Venetian gallants can say that sort
of thing. We do not want flattery from Francisco."</p>

<p>"You should say you do not want it, Giulia," Maria said,
laughing. "I like it, I own, even from Francisco. It may not mean
anything, but it is pleasant nevertheless; besides, one likes to
think that there is just a little truth in it, not much, perhaps,
but just a little in what Francisco said, for instance. Of course
we are not all Venice to him. Still, just as we are pleased to see
him, he is pleased to see us; and why shouldn't he say so in a
pretty way? It's all very well for you to set up as being above
flattery, Giulia, but you are young yet. I have no doubt you will
like it when you get as old as I am."</p>

<p>Giulia shook her head decidedly.</p>

<p>"I always think," she said, "when I hear a man saying flattering
things to a girl, that it is the least complimentary thing he can
do, for it is treating her as if he considers that she is a fool,
otherwise he would never say such outrageous nonsense to her."</p>

<p>"There, Francisco," Maria laughed, "you are fairly warned now.
Beware how you venture to pay any compliment to Giulia in
future.</p>

<p>"It would be a dull world if every one were to think as you do,
Giulia, and to say exactly as they meant. Fancy a young man saying
to you: 'I think you are a nice sort of girl, no prettier than the
rest, but good tempered and pleasant, and to be desired because
your father is rich!' A nice sort of way that would be to be made
love to!"</p>

<p>"There is no occasion for them to say anything at all," Giulia
said indignantly. "We don't go about saying to them, 'I think you
are good looking, and well mannered, and witty;' or, 'I like you
because they say you are a brave soldier and a good swordsman.' Why
should they say such things to us? I suppose we can tell if anyone
likes us without all that nonsense."</p>

<p>"Perhaps so," the elder girl assented; "and yet I maintain it's
pleasant, and at any rate it's the custom, and as it's the custom,
we must put up with it.</p>

<p>"What do you say, Francisco?"</p>

<p>"I don't know anything about it," Francis said. "Certainly some
of the compliments I have heard paid were barefaced falsehoods, and
I have wondered how men could make them, and how women could even
affect to believe in them; but, on the other hand, I suppose that
when people are in love, they really do think the person they are
in love with is prettier and more charming, or braver and more
handsome, than anyone else in the world, and that though it may be
flattery, it is really true in the opinion of the person who utters
it."</p>

<p>"And now let us leave the matter alone for the present,
Francisco. We are dying to hear all about your adventures, and
especially that fight with the pirates. The captain, in his letter,
merely said that you were attacked and beat the pirates off, and
that you would have been sunk if it hadn't been that, at your
suggestion, they lowered bales of cloth over to break the shock;
and that so many men were killed and so many wounded; and that you
were hit twice by arrows, but the wounds were healing. That's all
he said, for papa read that portion of his letter out to us. Now we
want a full and particular account of the affair."</p>

<p>Francis gave a full account of the fight, and then related the
other incidents of the voyage.</p>

<p>"We know many of the ports you touched at," Maria said when he
had finished, "for when we were little girls, papa took us
sometimes for voyages in his ships, when the times were peaceful
and there was no danger. Now let us order a gondola, and go for a
row. Papa is sure to be occupied for ever so long with your
captain."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch9">Chapter 9</a>: The Capture Of The Lido.</h2>

<p>Signor Polani told Francis, that evening, that he was much
pleased with the report that the captain had given of his eagerness
to acquire information both in mercantile and nautical matters, and
of the manner in which he had kept the ship's books, and the
entries of the sales, and purchases of goods.</p>

<p>"Many young fellows at your age, Francis, when there was no
compulsion for them to have taken these matters into their charge,
would have thought only of amusement and gaiety when they were in
port, and I am glad to see that you have a real interest in them.
Whatever the line in life a young man takes up, he will never excel
in it unless he goes into it with all his heart, and I am very glad
to see that you have thrown yourself so heartily into your new
profession. The Bonito made a most satisfactory voyage, far more so
than I anticipated, when I found that she would not be able to
carry out the programme I had laid down for her; but the rise in
the prices in the latter part of your voyage have more than made up
for the loss of the trade in the Black Sea; and you have done as
much in the three months you were absent, as I should have expected
had you been, as I anticipated, six months away.</p>

<p>"You will be some little time before you start again, as I wish
to see how matters are going before I send the Bonito out upon
another adventure. At present nothing is settled here. That there
will be war with Genoa before long is certain, but we would rather
postpone it as long as possible, and the senate has not yet arrived
at the decision to accept the offer of Tenedos. Negotiations are
going on with Genoa and Constantinople, but I have little hope that
anything will come of them.</p>

<p>"It is getting late in the season now, and the war will hardly
break out until next spring; but I have no doubt the struggle will
then begin, and preparations are going on with all speed in the
dockyards. We are endeavouring to obtain allies, but the
combination is so strong against Venice that we are meeting with
little success, and Ferrara is really the only friend on whom we
can rely, and she is not in a position to aid us materially, in
such a struggle as this will be.</p>

<p>"I am glad to tell you that the affair in which you were
concerned, before you sailed, has now completely dropped. Nothing
has been heard of Mocenigo since he made his escape.</p>

<p>"A decree of banishment was passed against him, but where he is
we know not. That wretched woman was sentenced to four years'
imprisonment, but upon my petition she will be released at the end
of six months, on her promise that she will not again set foot in
the territory of the republic. As Mocenigo has not been brought to
trial, there will be no further official inquiry into the matter,
and I have not been further questioned as to the source from which
I obtained my information as to the girls' hiding place. Your share
in the matter is therefore altogether unsuspected, and I do not
think that there is any further danger to you from Mocenigo's
partisans."</p>

<p>"I should be glad enough to remain in Venice a fortnight or so,
sir," Francis said. "But if, at the end of that time, you have any
vessel going out, I shall prefer to go in her. Now that my studies
are over, I shall very soon get tired of doing nothing. Perhaps in
a few years I may care more for the gaieties of Venice, but
certainly at present I have no interest in them, and would rather
be at sea. Matteo tells me that you have promised he shall make a
few voyages in your ships, and that you have told him he shall go
in one of them shortly. If so, it would be very pleasant to us both
if we can sail together."</p>

<p>"I will arrange it so, Francisco. It would be for the benefit of
my cousin--who is a good lad, but harebrained, and without
ballast--for you to go with him. I should indeed have proposed it,
but the vessel in which I have decided he shall sail will be ready
for sea in another ten days or so, and I thought that you would
prefer a longer stay in Venice before you again set sail. If,
however, it is your wish to be off again so soon, I will arrange
for you both to sail together.</p>

<p>"This time you will go officially as my supercargo, since you
now understand the duties. The captain of the vessel in which you
will sail is a good sailor and a brave man, but he has no aptitude
for trade, and I must have sent a supercargo with him. Your
decision to go relieves me of this, for which I am not sorry, for
men who are at once good supercargos, and honest men, are difficult
to get."</p>

<p>The fortnight passed rapidly, and Francis enjoyed his stay at
the merchant's greatly, but he was not sorry when, at the end of
ten days, Polani told him that the lading of the vessel would begin
the next day, and that he had best go on board early and see the
cargo shipped, so that he might check off the bales and casks as
they were sent on board, and see where each description of goods
was stowed away.</p>

<p>"I think, papa, it is too bad of you, sending Francisco away so
soon," Maria said, when at their evening meal she learned the news
of his early departure.</p>

<p>"It is his own doing," her father said. "It is he who wants to
go, not I who send him. I consider that it is entirely your
fault."</p>

<p>"Our fault!" the two girls repeated in surprise.</p>

<p>"Certainly. If you had made Venice sufficiently pleasant to him,
he would not wish to leave. I am too busy to see about such things,
and I left it to you to entertain him. As he is in such a hurry to
get away again, it is evident that you have not succeeded in doing
so."</p>

<p>"Indeed, Signor Polani, your daughters have been everything that
is kind, but I have no taste for assemblies and entertainments. I
feel out of place there, amid all the gaily dressed nobles and
ladies, and no sooner do I get there, than I begin to wonder how
anyone can prefer the heated rooms, and clatter of tongues, to the
quiet pleasure of a walk backwards and forwards on the deck of a
good ship. Besides, I want to learn my profession, and there is so
much to learn in it that I feel I have no time to lose."</p>

<p>"I am right glad to see your eagerness in that direction,
Francisco, and I did but jest with my daughters. You have not yet
asked me what is the destination of the Lido, for that is the name
of your new vessel. This time you are going quite in a new
direction. In the spring we are certain to have war with Genoa, and
as Parma and Hungary will probably both take side against us, we
may find ourselves cut off from the mainland, and, in case of a
disaster happening to our fleet, in sore straits for food. I am,
therefore, going to gather into my warehouses as much grain as they
will hold. This will both be a benefit to the state, and will bring
me good profit, for the price of wheat will be high in the city if
we are leaguered on the land side.</p>

<p>"The Lido will go down to Sicily, and fill up there with corn.
You will have to use care before entering port, for with war now
certain, both parties will begin to snap up prizes when they get
the chance. So you must keep a sharp lookout for Genoese galleys.
If you find the coast is too closely watched, you will go to the
Moorish ports. We are friends with them at present, though
doubtless, as soon as Genoa and ourselves get to blows, they will
be resuming their piratical work. Thus you will, this time, take in
a much smaller amount of cargo, as you will have to pay for the
most part in gold."</p>

<p>It mattered little to Francis where he voyaged; but Matteo, who
had been greatly delighted at the thought of sailing with his
friend, was much disappointed when he heard that they were only
going to fetch grain from Sicily.</p>

<p>"Why, it is nothing to call a voyage," he said in tones of
disgust, when Francis told him the destination of the Lido. "I had
hoped we were going to make a long voyage, and touch at all sorts
of places, just as you did last time."</p>

<p>"I do not see that it matters much, Matteo; and we shall learn
navigation just as well from one course as another. The voyage will
not be a long one, unless we meet with unfavourable winds; but
there's no saying what may happen, and you may meet with adventure,
even on a voyage to Sicily and back."</p>

<p>The trip down to Sicily was quickly made. Francis had worked
hard on his first voyage, and was now able to make daily
calculations as to the run made, the course steered, and the
position of the ship, and found that these tallied closely with
those of the captain. Matteo and he shared a large and handsome
cabin, and the time passed pleasantly as the vessel ran down the
coast of Italy. Once out of the Adriatic a sharp lookout was kept,
but the coast of Sicily was made without seeing any sails of a
suspicious character.</p>

<p>The lads were struck with surprise and admiration when, on
coming on deck in the morning, they saw the great cone of Etna
lying ahead of them. Neither of them had ever seen a mountain of
any size, and their interest in the scene was heightened by a
slight wreath of smoke, which curled up from the summit of the
hill.</p>

<p>"It is well worth a voyage, if it were only to see that
mountain," Francis said. "What an immense height it is, and how
regular in its shape!"</p>

<p>"And yet," Matteo said, "those who have journeyed from Italy
into France tell me that there are mountains there beside which
Etna is as nothing. These mountains are a continuation of the range
of hills which we can see from Venice. Their tops are always
covered with snow, and cannot be ascended by man; whereas it is
easy, they say, to reach the top of Etna."</p>

<p>"Yes, that looks easy enough," Francis agreed. "It seems such a
regular slope, that one could almost ride up; but I dare say, when
you are close you would find all sorts of difficult places."</p>

<p>"I should like to try," Matteo said. "What a grand view there
would be from the top!</p>

<p>"Is the port we are going to try first, captain, anywhere near
the foot of the mountain?"</p>

<p>"No, I am going round the southern part of the island. On this
side the ground is less fertile, and we should have difficulty in
obtaining a cargo. But even were we to put into a port on this
side, you would not be able to climb Mount Etna.</p>

<p>"Sicily has been an unfortunate country. Its great natural
wealth has rendered it an object of desire, to all its neighbours.
It was the battleground of the Romans and Carthaginians. Pisa,
Genoa, and Naples have all contended for its possession; and the
Moors frequently make descents upon its coasts. It has seldom
enjoyed a peaceful and settled government. The consequence is that
general lawlessness prevails in the districts remote from the
towns; while in the forests that clothe the side of Mount Etna,
there are numerous hordes of bandits who set the authorities at
defiance, levy blackmail throughout the surrounding villages, and
carry off wealthy inhabitants, and put them to ransom. No one in
his senses would think of ascending that mountain, unless he had
something like an army with him."</p>

<p>"I should like to try it, all the same," Matteo asserted. "If
there are woods all over it, it is not likely one would happen to
meet with any of these people. I should like, above all things, to
get to the top of that hill."</p>

<p>"It would be harder work than you think, young sir," the captain
said. "You have no idea from this distance what the height is, or
what a long journey it is to ascend to the top. I have been told
that it is a hundred and twenty miles round its foot."</p>

<p>"I don't think you would like it, Matteo, if you were to try
it," Francis said laughing. "You know you are as lazy as you can
be, and hate exerting yourself. I am sure that, before you got a
quarter the distance up that mountain, you would have only one
wish, and that would be to be at the bottom again."</p>

<p>"I don't know," Matteo said. "I hate exerting myself
uselessly--wasting my strength, as you do, in rowing at an oar, or
anything of that sort; but to do anything great, I would not mind
exertion, and would go on until I dropped."</p>

<p>"That is all very well, Matteo; but to do anything great, you
have got to do small things first. You could never wield a sword
for five minutes unless you had practised with it; and you will
never succeed in accomplishing any feats requiring great strength
and endurance, if you do not practise your muscles on every
occasion. You used to grumble at the height when you came up to my
room in the old house, and I suppose Etna is something like two
hundred times as high."</p>

<p>"That does sound a serious undertaking," Matteo said, laughing;
"and I am afraid that I shall never see the view from the top of
Etna. Certainly I shall not, if it will be necessary beforehand to
be always exercising my muscles by running up the stairs of high
houses."</p>

<p>The next day they were off Girgenti, the port at which they
hoped to obtain a cargo. They steered in until they encountered a
fishing boat, and learned from those on board that there was no
Genoese vessel in port, nor, as far as the men knew, any state
galleys anywhere in the neighbourhood. Obtaining this news, they
sailed boldly into the port and dropped anchor.</p>

<p>Francis, who had received before starting a list of houses with
whom Signor Polani was in the habit of doing business, at once
rowed ashore, Matteo and Giuseppi accompanying him. His business
arrangements were soon completed. The harvest had been a good one,
and there was an abundance of corn to be had at a cheap rate. In
half an hour he arranged for as large a quantity as the Lido would
carry.</p>

<p>The work of loading soon commenced, and in four days the ship
was full up to the hatches. Francis went on shore to settle the
various accounts, and was just making the last payment when Matteo
ran into the office.</p>

<p>"Four Genoese galleys are entering the bay!"</p>

<p>Francis ran out, and saw four Genoese galleys rowing in.</p>

<p>"It is too late to escape. Even were we empty we could not get
away; but laden as the Lido is, they could row three feet to her
one."</p>

<p>"What shall we do, Francisco?"</p>

<p>Francis stood for half a minute thinking.</p>

<p>"You had better stay here, Matteo. I will row out to the ship,
and send most of the men on shore. If they seize the ship, they may
not take those on board prisoners; but if they do, there is no
reason why they should take us all."</p>

<p>"You had better come on shore too, Francisco, and leave the
captain in charge. You can do no good by staying there; and Polani
would be more concerned at your capture than he would at the loss
of a dozen ships. If you could do any good, it would be different;
but as it is, it would be foolish to risk capture."</p>

<p>"I will see," Francis said. "At any rate, do you stop here."</p>

<p>Jumping into a boat, he rowed towards the Lido, which was lying
but a cable's length from the shore. As he neared her, he shouted
to the men to lower the boats.</p>

<p>"Captain," he said, "I do not know whether there is any danger
of being captured by the Genoese. But it is useless to run any
unnecessary risk. Therefore send all the crew but three or four men
on shore. If the Genoese board us, we have our papers as peaceful
traders buying wheat; but if, in spite of that, they capture us, we
must take our chance."</p>

<p>"Surely you are not thinking of stopping, Messer Francisco. The
padrone would be terribly vexed if you were taken. He specially
ordered me, before we started, to see that no unnecessary risk was
run, and to prevent you from thrusting yourself into danger.
Therefore, as captain of the ship, I must insist that you go on
shore."</p>

<p>"I think I ought to stay here," Francis said.</p>

<p>"I do not think so," the captain said firmly, "and I will not
suffer it. I have to answer for your safety to the padrone; and if
you do not go by yourself, I shall order the men to put you into
one of the boats by force. I mean no disrespect; but I know my
duty, and that is to prevent you from falling into the hands of the
Genoese."</p>

<p>"I will not oblige you to use force, captain," Francis said,
smiling, "and will do as you wish me."</p>

<p>In five minutes the men were all--save four, whom the captain
had selected--in the boat, and rowing towards shore. Matteo was
awaiting them when they landed.</p>

<p>"That is right, Francisco. I was half afraid you would stay on
board. I know how obstinate you are whenever you take a thing into
your head."</p>

<p>"The captain was more obstinate still, Matteo, and said that
unless I came away he would send me on shore by force; but I don't
like deserting the ship."</p>

<p>"That is nonsense, Francisco. If the Genoese take her, they take
her, and your remaining on board could not do any good. What are
you going to do now?"</p>

<p>"We will at once leave the place with the men, Matteo, and
retire into the country behind. It is not likely the Genoese would
land and seize us here, but they might do so, or the inhabitants,
to please Genoa, might seize us and send us on board. At any rate,
we shall be safer in the country."</p>

<p>The men had, by the captain's orders, brought their arms ashore
on leaving the ship. This was the suggestion of Francis, who said
that, were they unarmed, the people might seize them and hand them
over to the Genoese. At the head of this party, which was about
fifty strong, Francis marched up through the little town and out
into the country. He had really but little fear, either that the
Genoese would arrest them on shore, or that the people would
interfere with them, for they would not care to risk the anger of
Venice by interfering in such a matter. He thought it probable,
however, that if his men remained in the town, broils would arise
between them and any of the Genoese sailors who might land.</p>

<p>As soon as the Genoese galleys came up to the head of the bay, a
boat was lowered and rowed to the Lido, at whose masthead the
Venetian flag was flying. An officer, followed by six men, climbed
up on to the deck.</p>

<p>"Are you the captain of this ship?" the officer asked as the
captain approached him.</p>

<p>"I am," the captain said.</p>

<p>"What ship is it?"</p>

<p>"It is the Lido, the property of Messer Polani, a merchant of
Venice, and laden with a cargo of wheat."</p>

<p>"Then you are my prisoner," the Genoese said. "I seize this
vessel as lawful prize."</p>

<p>"There is peace between the republics," the captain said. "I
protest against the seizure of this ship, as an act of piracy."</p>

<p>"We have news that several of our ships have been seized by the
Venetians," the officer said; "and we therefore capture this vessel
in reprisal. Where are your crew?"</p>

<p>"There are only four on board," the captain said. "We have
filled up our cargo, and were going to sail tomorrow, and therefore
the rest of the crew were allowed to go on shore; and I do not
think it is likely that they will return now," for one of the
Genoese sailors had hauled down the flag of Venice, and had
replaced it with that of Genoa.</p>

<p>The Genoese officer briefly examined the vessel.</p>

<p>"Whom have you here on board with you?" he asked, struck with
the furniture and fittings of Francis' cabin.</p>

<p>"This is the cabin of Matteo Giustiniani, a young noble of
Venice, who is making his first voyage, in order to fit himself for
entering the service of the state: and of Francisco Hammond, who
stands high in the affections of my patron."</p>

<p>The Genoese uttered an angry exclamation. The name of Polani was
well known in Genoa as one of the chief merchants of Venice and as
belonging to a ducal house, while the family of Giustiniani was
even more illustrious; and had these passengers fallen into his
hands, a ransom might have been obtained greatly exceeding the
value of the Lido and her cargo. Leaving four of his men on board
he went off to the galley of the officer commanding the fleet, and
presently returned with a large boat full of sailors.</p>

<p>"You and your men can go ashore," he said to the captain. "The
admiral does not deem you worth the trouble of carrying to Genoa;
but be quick, or you will have to swim to shore."</p>

<p>As the Lido's boats had all gone ashore, the captain hailed a
fishing boat which was passing, and with the four sailors was rowed
to shore, well content that he had escaped the dungeons of Genoa.
He rightly imagined that he and his men were released solely on
account of the paucity of their numbers. Had the whole crew been
captured, they would have been carried to Genoa; but the admiral
did not care to bring in five prisoners only, and preferred taking
the ship alone.</p>

<p>Francis, with his party, followed the line of the coast,
ascending the hills which rose steeply from the edge of the sea at
a short distance from the town. He had brought with him from the
town a supply of food sufficient for four or five days, and
encamped in a little wood near the edge of the cliff. From this
they had a view of the port, and could watch the doings of the
Genoese galleys. Fires were lit and meat cooked over them; and just
as the meal was prepared the captain and the four sailors joined
them, amid a hearty cheer from the crew.</p>

<p>"I have made my protest," the captain said as he took his seat
by the side of Francis, "and the padrone can make a complaint
before the council if he thinks fit to do so; but there is small
chance that he will ever recover the Lido, or the value of her
cargo."</p>

<p>"I don't like losing the ship," Francis said. "Of course, it is
only a stroke of bad fortune, and we could neither fly nor defend
ourselves. Still one hates arriving home with the story that one
has lost the ship."</p>

<p>"Yes," the captain agreed. "Messer Polani is a just man, yet no
one cares to employ men who are unlucky; and the worst of it is
that the last ship I commanded was wrecked. Many men would not have
employed me again, although it wasn't my fault. But after this
second affair, in a few months' time, I shall get the name of being
an unlucky man, and no one in his senses would employ a man who is
always losing his ships."</p>

<p>"Do you think that there is any chance of our recapturing it,
captain?"</p>

<p>"Not the least in the world," the captain replied. "Even
supposing that we could get on board, and overpower the Genoese
without being heard, and get her out of the port without being
seen, we should not get away. Laden as she is with grain, she will
sail very slowly, and the Genoese would overtake her in a few
hours; and I needn't tell you that then there would be very little
mercy shown to any on board."</p>

<p>"That is true enough," Francis said. "Still, I do not like the
idea of losing the Lido."</p>

<p>After the meal was over Francis rose, and asked Matteo to
accompany him on a stroll along the cliffs, Giuseppi as usual
following them. They walked along until they rounded the head of
the bay, and were able to look along the coast for some distance.
It was steep and rocky, and worn into a number of slight
indentations. In one of these rose a ledge of rocks at a very short
distance from the shore.</p>

<p>"How much further are we going, Francis?" Matteo said when they
had walked a couple of miles.</p>

<p>"About a quarter of a mile, Matteo. I want to examine that ledge
of rocks we saw from the first point."</p>

<p>"What on earth do you want to look at them for, Francis? You
certainly are the most curious fellow I ever met. You scoffed at me
when I said I should like to go up Mount Etna, and now here you
are, dragging me along this cliff, just to look at some rocks of no
possible interest to any one."</p>

<p>"That is the point to be inquired into, Matteo. I think it's
possible they may prove very interesting."</p>

<p>Matteo shrugged his shoulders, as he often did when he felt too
lazy to combat the eccentric ideas of his English friend.</p>

<p>"There we are," Francis said at last, standing on the edge of
the cliff and looking down. "Nothing could be better."</p>

<p>"I am glad you think so, Francisco," Matteo said, seating
himself on the grass. "I hope you intend to stay some little time
to admire them, for I own that I should like a rest before I go
back."</p>

<p>Francis stood looking at the rocks. The bay was a shallow one,
and was but five or six hundred yards from point to point, the
rocks rising nearly in a line between the points, and showing for
about two hundred yards above water, and at about the same distance
from the cliffs behind them.</p>

<p>"What height do you think those rocks are above the water,
Giuseppi?"</p>

<p>"It is difficult to judge, signor, we are so high above them;
but I should think in the middle they must be ten or twelve
feet."</p>

<p>"I should think it likely they were more than double that,
Giuseppi; but we shall see better when we get down to the bottom. I
daresay we shall find a place where we can clamber down
somewhere."</p>

<p>"My dear Francisco," Matteo said earnestly, "is anything the
matter with you? I begin to have doubts of your sanity. What on
earth do these rocks matter to you, one way or the other? or what
can you care whether they are thirty inches or thirty feet above
the water?</p>

<p>"They do not differ from other rocks, as far as I can see. They
are very rugged and very rough, and would be very awkward if they
lay out at sea instead of in this little bay, where they are in
nobody's way. Is it not enough that you have tramped two miles to
have a look at them, which means four miles, as we have got to
return somehow? And now you talk about climbing down that
break-neck cliff to have a look at them close!"</p>

<p>But Francis paid no attention to Matteo's words. He was gazing
down into the clear smooth water, which was so transparent that
every stone and pebble at the bottom could be seen.</p>

<p>"The water looks extremely shallow, Giuseppi. What do you
think?"</p>

<p>"It seems to me, signor, that there is not a foot of water
between the rocks and the shore."</p>

<p>"It does look so, Giuseppi; but it is possible that the
transparency of the water deceives us, and that there may be ten or
twelve feet of water there. However, that is what we must go down
and find out. Now the first thing is to look about, and find some
point at which we can get down to the beach."</p>

<p>"Well, I will lie down and take a nap till you come back,"
Matteo said in a tone of resignation. "I have no interest either in
these rocks or in the water; and as far as I can protest, I do so
against the whole proceeding, which to me savours of madness."</p>

<p>"Don't you understand, you silly fellow, what I am thinking
about?" Francis said impatiently.</p>

<p>"Not in the smallest degree, Francisco; but do not trouble to
tell me--it makes no matter. You have some idea in your head. Carry
it out by all means; only don't ask me to cut my hands, tear my
clothes, and put myself into a perspiration by climbing down that
cliff."</p>

<p>"My idea is this, Matteo. There is no chance of carrying off the
Lido by speed from the Genoese; but if we could get her out of the
bay we might bring her round here and lay her behind those rocks,
and the Genoese would pass by without dreaming she was there. Half
a mile out those rocks would look as if they form part of the
cliff, and none would suspect there was a passage behind them."</p>

<p>"That is something like an idea!" Matteo said, jumping to his
feet. "Why did you not tell me of it before? You have quite alarmed
me. Seriously, I began to think that you had become a little mad,
and was wondering whether I had not better go back and fetch the
captain and some of his men to look after you.</p>

<p>"Now let us look at your rocks again. Why, man, there is not
water enough to float a boat between them and the shore, much less
the Lido, which draws nine foot of water now she is loaded."</p>

<p>"I don't know, Matteo. Looking down on water from a height is
very deceiving. If it is clear and transparent, there is nothing to
enable you to judge its depth. At any rate it is worth trying.
Before we go down, we will cut some long stiff rods with which we
can measure the depth. But we have first to find a place where we
can get down to the water."</p>

<p>After a quarter of an hour's search, they found a point where
the descent seemed practicable. A little stream had worn a deep
fissure in the face of the rock. Shrubs and bushes had grown up in
the crevices and afforded a hold for the hands, and there appeared
no great difficulty in getting down. Before starting they cut three
stiff slender rods twelve feet in length. They then set to work to
make the descent. It was by no means difficult, and in a few
minutes they stood by the edge of the water.</p>

<p>"It is a great advantage, the path being so easy," Francis said,
"for in case they did discover the ship we could land and climb to
the top before they had time to come to shore, and once there we
could keep the whole force in those galleys at bay. Now for the
main point, the depth of the water."</p>

<p>Matteo shook his head.</p>

<p>"It is useless to take the trouble to undress, Francis," he
said, as the latter threw off his jacket. "Giuseppi can wade out to
the rocks without wetting his knees."</p>

<p>"Giuseppi can try if he likes," Francis said, "but I will wager
he will not get far."</p>

<p>Giuseppi, as convinced as Matteo of the shallowness of the
water, stepped into it, but was surprised to find that, before he
had gone many paces, the water was up to his waist.</p>

<p>"Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it," Matteo
said when he returned, "but I think he must have got into a deep
hole among the rocks. However, we shall soon see," and he too began
to undress.</p>

<p>In a few minutes the three lads were swimming out towards the
rocks which, as Francis had anticipated, rose from twenty to thirty
feet above the level of the sea. The water deepened fast, and for
the last thirty or forty yards, they were unable to touch the
bottom, even when thrusting down their rods to the fullest depth.
They then tried the depth in the passages at the end of the rocks,
and found that there was ample water for the Lido. When they
ascertained this to their satisfaction they swam back to the
shore.</p>

<p>"I shall believe you in future, Francis, even if you assert that
the moon is made of cheese. I could have taken an oath that there
was not a foot of water between those rocks and the shore."</p>

<p>"I hardly ventured to hope that it was as deep as it is,"
Francis said, "but I know how deceiving clear water is, when you
look down upon it from a height. However, that point is
settled."</p>

<p>"But they would see our masts above the rocks, Francisco. They
are sure to keep a sharp lookout as they go along."</p>

<p>"We must take the masts out of her," Francis said. "I don't know
how it is to be done, but the captain will know, and if that can't
be managed we must cut them down. There is no difficulty about
that.</p>

<p>"Now we will make our way back again, it will be dark in a
couple of hours' time. Everything depends upon whether they have
towed the Lido out and anchored her among their galleys. If they
have, I fear the scheme is impracticable, but if they let her
remain where she is lying, we might get her out without being
noticed, for there is no moon."</p>

<p>As they began to ascend the cliff, Francis stopped suddenly.</p>

<p>"We should never be able to find this place in the dark," he
said.</p>

<p>"Giuseppi, you must stay here. Do you collect a quantity of
dried sticks, and lay them in readiness at that point opposite the
ledge. We will show a light as we come along, that is if we succeed
in getting the Lido out, and directly you see it set fire to the
sticks. The fire will be a guide to us as to the position of the
rocks."</p>

<p>"Perhaps I had better take the sticks off to the ledge, Messer
Francisco, and light my fire on the rock at the end. The water is
deep a few yards out, as we found, so you could sail close to the
fire and then round behind the rocks without danger."</p>

<p>"That will be the best way, Giuseppi; but how will you get the
sticks off without wetting them?"</p>

<p>"I will make a bundle three or four times as big as I want,"
Giuseppi said, "and then half of them will be dry. I can put my
clothes on them and the tinder. I will answer for the fire, but I
would rather have been with you in your adventure."</p>

<p>"There will be no danger there, Giuseppi, so you need not be
anxious about us. It has to be done quietly and secretly, and there
will be no fighting. These Genoese are too strong to think of that;
and if we are discovered in the attempt, or as we make off, we
shall take to our boats again and row straight on shore.</p>

<p>"Keep a sharp lookout for us, we will hoist two lights, one
above the other, to prevent your mistaking any fishing boat which
may be coming along for us.</p>

<p>"Now, Matteo, for a climb. We have no time to lose."</p>

<p>The two lads climbed to the top of the cliff, and then started
at a brisk pace along the top, and in half an hour reached the
wood.</p>

<p>"We were beginning to wonder what had become of you," the
captain said as they joined him.</p>

<p>"We have been settling how to carry off the Lido," Francis said,
"and have arranged everything."</p>

<p>The captain laughed.</p>

<p>"If we could fly with her through the air, you might get her
away, but I see no other way. I have been thinking it over since
you left. With luck we might get her safely out of the bay, but the
galleys row four feet to our one, and as they would be sure to send
some one way, and some the other, along the coast; they would pick
us up again in two or three hours after daylight."</p>

<p>"Nevertheless we have settled it, captain. We have found a place
where we can hide her, and the Genoese might search the coast for a
month without finding her."</p>

<p>"If that be so it is possible," the captain said eagerly, "and
you may be sure you will not find us backward in doing our
best."</p>

<p>Francis described the nature and position of the rock which
would afford a shelter, and the means by which they had ascertained
that there was plenty of water for the Lido behind it.</p>

<p>"It seems plausible," the captain said when he had concluded,
"and I am quite ready to make the attempt, if, in your opinion, it
can be done. You are Messer Polani's representative, and for my own
sake as well as his, I would do anything which promises a chance of
recapturing the ship. Besides, as you say, there is little danger
in it, for we can take to the boats and make for the shore if
discovered.</p>

<p>"The Lido is still lying where we anchored her. They can have no
fear of a recapture, for they would know that they could overtake
us easily enough. I daresay they intend to sail tomorrow morning,
and did not think it worth the trouble to get up the anchor and tow
her out to where they are lying."</p>

<p>The details of the expedition were now discussed and arranged,
and the men told off to their various duties, and at eleven o'clock
at night, when all in the town were fast asleep, the party quitted
the bivouac and marched down again to the port.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch10">Chapter 10</a>: Recaptured.</h2>

<p>No one was astir in the streets as the band marched through, and
they reached the port without encountering a single person. A small
boat was chosen, and in this the captain, Francis, Matteo, and two
of the strongest and most powerful of the sailors embarked. It was
thought unlikely that, lying, as the Lido did, within a couple of
hundred yards of the Genoese galleys, any very vigilant watch would
be kept, and not more than two sailors would probably be on
deck.</p>

<p>The dark mass of the ship could just be made out from the shore,
and when all was ready the two sailors with their oars pushed her
off with all their strength, and then stood perfectly quiet.</p>

<p>The impetus was sufficient. The boat moved so slowly through the
water, indeed, before they reached the ship, that Francis thought
it would be necessary for the men to row a stroke or two; but the
boat still moved on, until at last it touched the side of the ship.
All had removed their boots before starting, and they now clambered
up the sides without making the slightest noise.</p>

<p>Once on deck they stood perfectly quiet, listening. Presently
they heard a murmur of voices on the other side of the vessel. Very
quietly they crept towards the sound, and at length made out two
figures leaning over the bulwarks, talking.</p>

<p>Each man's work had been settled, and there was no confusion.
One of the sailors and Francis stole towards one of the men, while
the other and Matteo approached the second. The captain stood with
his sword bared, in readiness to cut down any other man who might
be on deck.</p>

<p>The Genoese did not look round. Francis gave the word, "Now,"
and in a moment the two sailors seized them from behind with a
grasp of iron, while the lads at the same moment passed bandages
tightly round their mouths, and before the Genoese were quite aware
of what had happened, they were lying, bound hand and foot, gagged
upon the deck.</p>

<p>The party now made a search, but found no one else about. They
then secured and fastened down the hatch of the forecastle by
coiling ropes upon it, quietly opened the door leading to the poop
cabins, and entering, seized and bound two officers sleeping there
without the slightest noise or resistance.</p>

<p>Then they took a light from the cabin and showed it towards the
shore. At the signal the sailors, who had already taken their
places in the boats, at once rowed out to the vessel. When all were
on board, the boats were fastened alongside, in case it should be
necessary to abandon the ship again.</p>

<p>The cable was then cut. One of the sailors had already ascended
the shrouds, and poured oil over the blocks through which the
halyards ran, so that the sails should ascend noiselessly. The wind
was very light, scarcely enough to belly out the sails, but it was
fortunately in the right direction, and the Lido began to steal
through the water.</p>

<p>Not a word had been spoken since they first started, but Francis
now whispered to the captain, "I think I can make out the Genoese
ships."</p>

<p>"So can I," the captain said, "but they cannot see us. They are
against the skyline, while we are in the shadow of the shore. So
far all is perfectly safe, and if this breath of wind will but
carry us far enough out to be able to use our oars without their
hearing us, we shall certainly get away."</p>

<p>The progress of the Lido was so slow, that it was nearly an hour
before the captain said that he thought they were now fairly round
the point of the bay, and could use their oars.</p>

<p>"We had better tow," he said; "the sweeps make a noise that can
be heard miles away on a calm night like this, whereas, if they are
careful, men in a boat can row almost noiselessly."</p>

<p>Ten of the men accordingly took their places in one of the large
boats in which they had come on board, and a rope being passed down
to them they began rowing at the head of the ship.</p>

<p>"We may as well lower the sails," the captain said, "they are
doing no good now. Indeed I think it is a current rather than the
wind that has helped us so far."</p>

<p>"I will put two lanterns over the side," Francis said. "We may
have gone farther than we think, and it would never do to pass our
hiding place."</p>

<p>The men in the boat rowed vigorously, but it was slow work
towing the deeply-laden vessel. At last, however, a light burst
suddenly up from the shore.</p>

<p>"There is Giuseppi," Francis exclaimed. "We are further out than
we thought we were. He must be fully a mile and a half away."</p>

<p>The men in the boat were told to row direct for the light, and
some of the sweeps were got out and helped the vessel through the
water. As they drew near, they could make out Giuseppi throwing
fresh wood on the fire.</p>

<p>"You can steer within ten yards of where he is standing,
captain, and directly you are abreast of him, put your helm hard to
port. You had better get the sweeps in now, the less way she has on
her the better."</p>

<p>"All well?" Giuseppi hailed, as they came within fifty yards of
it.</p>

<p>"All well, Giuseppi! There has been no fighting, so you have
lost nothing. Put all your wood on the fire, we want as much light
as we can to get in."</p>

<p>The flames shot up high, and the captain had no difficulty in
rounding the corner of the rocks, and bringing up his vessel behind
them. A kedge was dropped, and the men in the boat rowed to the end
of the rocks, and brought off Giuseppi.</p>

<p>"I was beginning to be anxious," the lad said, as he joined them
on deck, "and when I first saw your signal I took you for a fishing
boat. You were so far off that the two lights looked like one, but
by dint of gazing I made them out at last, and then lit the
fire."</p>

<p>"Now, captain," Francis said, "we have a good deal to do before
morning, for I take it it will be no easy matter to get out the
masts."</p>

<p>"There would be no difficulty in getting the masts out," the
captain answered. "I have only to knock out the wedges, and loosen
the stays, and get up a tripod made of three spars to lift them
out; but I don't see how they are to be got in again."</p>

<p>"How is that, captain? I should have thought it no more
difficult to get a mast in than to take it out."</p>

<p>"Nor would it be so, under ordinary circumstances," the captain
replied; "but you see, our hold is full of grain, and as the mast
comes out, the hole it leaves will fill up, and there will be no
getting it down again to step it on the keel without discharging
the cargo."</p>

<p>"Yes, I see that, captain. Then you think we had better cut down
the masts; but in that case how are we to raise them?"</p>

<p>"We will cut them off about six feet above the deck, Messer
Francisco; then when we want to set sail again, we have only to
rear the masts up by the side of the stumps, and lash them
securely. Of course they will be six feet shorter than before, but
that is of little consequence."</p>

<p>"Then so let it be," Francis said, "the sooner we begin the
better."</p>

<p>Just at this moment there was a violent knocking against the
hatch of the forecastle.</p>

<p>"I had forgotten all about the sailors," the captain said,
laughing. "I suppose the men who were to relieve the watch have
woke up, and finding they could not get out, have aroused their
comrades."</p>

<p>"Shall we leave them there, or take them out and bind them?"
Matteo asked.</p>

<p>"We had better have them up," the captain said. "I don't suppose
there are more than twenty of them, and it would be best to bind
them, and put them down in the hold with the corn, otherwise they
may manage to break out when we are not expecting it, and might
give us some trouble."</p>

<p>Accordingly, the sailors gathered round the hatch. The ropes
were then removed, and the hatch taken off.</p>

<p>"What fooling are you up to?" one of the Genoese exclaimed,
angrily, as they rushed up on deck. "You have nearly stifled us
down below putting on the hatch and fastening it."</p>

<p>He stopped abruptly as, on gaining the deck, he saw a crowd of
armed figures round him, for a lantern had been placed so as to
throw a light upon the spot.</p>

<p>"You are prisoners," the captain said. "It is useless to attempt
resistance."</p>

<p>"Help, help, treachery!" one of the Genoese shouted at the top
of his voice.</p>

<p>"It is useless for you to shout," the captain said, "you are
miles away from your fleet. Now, do you surrender, or are we to
attack you?"</p>

<p>Taken by surprise, and unarmed, the Genoese who had gained the
deck sullenly replied that they surrendered. They were bound and
led away, and the others ordered to come up on deck. There were
found to be four-and-twenty in all, and these were soon laid side
by side on the grain in the hold, the hatch being left off to give
them air. The masts were then cut through, and were with some
trouble lowered to the deck.</p>

<p>"There is nothing more to be done now," the captain said, "and I
think we can all safely turn in till morning."</p>

<p>He then ordered the under officer to place two men on watch on
the rocks, and two men on deck, two men to stand as sentinels over
the prisoners, and the rest to lie down. He directed that he should
be roused at the earliest streak of daylight.</p>

<p>The lads were soon fast asleep, and could hardly believe that
the night was over, when Giuseppi awakened them with the news that
day was breaking. They were soon on deck, and found that the crew
were already astir. The sentinels on the rock were at once ordered
to lie down, so that they could command a view of the sea, without
exposing themselves to sight. The boats were drawn up alongside,
and everything put in readiness for instant debarkation, and then
the party waited for the appearance of the Genoese galleys.</p>

<p>"They will be along in less than an hour," the captain said. "It
is light enough now for the watch to have discovered that the Lido
is missing, and it will not be many minutes before they are under
way. They will calculate that we can have but five or six hours'
start at the utmost, and that three hours' rowing will bring them
up to us."</p>

<p>"I have no fear whatever of their discovering us as they go
along," Francis said. "The only fear is that, after rowing for
three or four hours and seeing no sign of us, they will guess that
we are hidden somewhere under the cliffs, and will come back along
the shore, searching every bay."</p>

<p>"There is a chance of that," the captain agreed, "but I should
think only a chance. When the party who come this way find they do
not overtake us, they will suppose that we have sailed to the west,
and that on their return they will find us in the hands of their
comrades; and when these also come back empty handed they will
conclude that we have sailed straight out to sea. Of course they
may have sent a galley southward also, but will conclude that that
has somehow missed us when it returns without news. I hardly think
that the idea, that we may be hidden so close to them, will enter
their minds, and the only fear I entertain is that some peasant may
happen to come to the edge of the cliff and see us lying here, and
may take the news back to Girgenti."</p>

<p>"Yes, there is certainly a danger of that," Francis said. "I
think, captain, it would be the best plan to land twenty men at
once. Giuseppi will show them the way up the cliff, and then they
must take their station, at short distances apart, along the edge
of the cliff, from point to point of this little bay, with orders
to seize any one who may approach and bring him down here. They
must, of course, be told to lie down, as a line of sentries along
the top of the cliff might attract the attention of somebody on the
galleys, and lead to a search."</p>

<p>"Yes, I think that will be a wise precaution," the captain
agreed.</p>

<p>"Thomaso, do you take twenty men and post them as you hear
Messer Francisco say. Tell them to lie in the bushes and keep out
of sight, and on no account to show themselves, unless someone
comes along sufficiently near to look over the edge of the
cliff."</p>

<p>"Giuseppi," Francis said, "do you act as guide to the party. You
will have plenty of time to get to the top and to return before the
galleys come along."</p>

<p>A quarter of an hour later the captain, with Matteo and Francis,
landed on the ledge, and took the place of the sentries, and in
twenty minutes a simultaneous exclamation burst from them, as a
Genoese galley was seen rowing rapidly along.</p>

<p>"They have sent only one galley," Francis said. "Of course, they
would know that it was sufficiently strong to overpower us without
difficulty. I suppose one has gone west, and the others have put
out to sea in different directions. That certainly was the best
course they could have adopted, and it is very lucky that we did
not attempt to escape seaward, for they would assuredly have had
us. I suppose, captain, you intend to sail tonight."</p>

<p>"Certainly," the captain replied. "We will get everything in
readiness for hoisting the masts as soon as the galley has passed
us on its way back. There is no fear of their coming along again
later on, for the men will have had an eight hours' row of it; the
first part, at any rate, at full speed. Besides, they will not
know, until all the galleys return, that we have not been found, so
I think it will be quite safe to get up the masts as soon as they
have passed. Then directly it is dark we will man our oars and row
to the southwest. We shall be far away before morning, even if they
look further for us, which they are hardly likely to do."</p>

<p>"How about the prisoners, captain?"</p>

<p>"We have no choice but to take them with us, Messer Francisco. I
am sure I do not want to be bothered with them, but we cannot land
them before we leave, or they would carry the news to Girgenti in
an hour, and we should be caught the first thing in the
morning."</p>

<p>It was late in the afternoon before the galley was seen
returning, rowing slowly and heavily.</p>

<p>"I expect," the captain said, "they kept up the racing pace at
which they started for some four hours. By that time they must have
been completely worn out, and no doubt they anchored and waited for
some hours for the men to feed and rest themselves, for from the
hurry with which they started you may be sure that they did not
wait to break their fast.</p>

<p>"I would give a month's pay to be in that harbour this evening.
What tempers they must be in when they find, after all their toil,
that we have slipped through their fingers, How they will talk the
matter over, and discuss which way we went. How the men in each
ship will say that the others cannot have used their eyes or
exerted themselves, else we must have been overtaken. Messer
Francisco, I am indebted to you, not only for having saved the
ship, but for giving me a joke, which I shall laugh over whenever I
think of it. It will be a grand story to tell over the wine cups,
how we cheated a whole Genoese fleet, and carried off the Lido from
under their noses. What a tale it will be to relate to a Genoese,
when we meet in some port after the war is over; it will be enough
to make him dance with rage.</p>

<p>"Now, lads," he went on, turning to the men, "stand to your
tackle. The moment that galley gets out of sight round the point,
up with the mast."</p>

<p>Ten minutes later the masts were up, stout ropes were lashed
round them and the stumps, and wedges driven in to tighten the
cords to the utmost. The rigging was of the simplest description,
and before dark everything was in readiness for hoisting the
sails.</p>

<p>"I don't think they can make us out now," the captain said.</p>

<p>"I don't think they could," Francis agreed; "but we had better
wait another quarter of an hour. It would be absurd to run any risk
after everything has turned out so well; but the men can get into
the boats and tow us out through the channel, then we can hoist the
boats on board, and by that time it should be nearly dark
enough."</p>

<p>"I think there will be a breeze presently," the captain said,
"and from the right direction. However, the men won't mind working
hard for a bit. They have had an easy time for the last two
days."</p>

<p>The oars were all manned, and the men set to work with hearty
goodwill. They were delighted at their escape from the island, for
they might have been there some time before they got a passage
back; and still more pleased at having tricked the Genoese; and the
Lido, heavy laden as she was, moved at a steady pace through the
water, under the impulsion of the oars.</p>

<p>For an hour they rowed parallel with the shore, as, had they
made out to sea, they might possibly have been seen by one of the
galleys, returning late from the search for them. At the end of
that time the captain turned her head from shore. As soon as they
got well out from under the shelter of the land the breeze made
itself felt, and the sails were hoisted.</p>

<p>For a time the men kept on rowing, but the breeze increased
rapidly, and the captain ordered the oars to be laid in. A double
allowance of wine was served out, and an hour or two spent in song
and hilarity; then the watch below was sent down, and Francis and
Matteo turned into their cots.</p>

<p>In the morning the breeze was blowing strong. The sails had been
taken off the mainmast, but that on the foremast was dragging the
Lido through the water at a good rate of speed, and before night
they were off Cape Spartivento. The wind held till next morning,
when they were abreast of the Gulf of Taranto. Then came a long
spell of calms or baffling winds, and it was a fortnight before the
campaniles of Venice were seen rising apparently from the
water.</p>

<p>"I have been anxious about you," Signor Polani said when Francis
arrived. "One of our galleys brought the report that a Genoese
fleet was cruising on the coast of Sicily, and as, although war had
not yet been openly declared, both parties were making prizes, I
was afraid that they might have snapped you up."</p>

<p>"They did snap us up," Francis said smiling. "They caught us in
the port of Girgenti, and the standard of Genoa waved over the
Lido."</p>

<p>"But how can that be," Polani said, "when you have returned in
her? For she was signalled as approaching the port hours ago. You
could hardly have persuaded the Genoese by fair words to release a
prize that they had once taken.</p>

<p>"Eh, captain?"</p>

<p>"No, that is not the Genoese way, nor ours either," the captain
said. "We did better than that, signor. We recaptured her, and
carried her off from under their noses."</p>

<p>"You are joking," Polani said, "for they signalled the Lido as
returning laden, and a laden ship could never get away from state
galleys, however long her start. A fat pig might as soon try to
escape from a hunting dog."</p>

<p>"That is so, Messer Polani, and we did not trust to our speed.
We tricked them famously, sir. At least, when I say we did, Messer
Francisco here did, for the credit is due solely to him. If it had
not been for this young gentleman, I and the crew would now have
been camping out in the forests of Sicily, without the slightest
prospect of being able to make our way home, and the Lido would now
be moored in the port of Genoa."</p>

<p>"That is so, Cousin Polani," Matteo said. "It is to Francisco
that we owe our escape, and you owe the safety of the Lido and her
cargo."</p>

<p>"It was just a happy idea that occurred to me," Francis said,
"as it would assuredly have occurred to Captain Pesoro, if he had
been with us, or to anyone else, and after I had first suggested it
the captain carried out all the arrangements."</p>

<p>"Not at all, Messer Francisco," the captain said obstinately. "I
had no part or hand in the business, beyond doing what you
suggested, and you would have got the Lido off just as well if I
hadn't been there."</p>

<p>"Well, I will judge for myself when I hear," Polani said. "But,
as it must be an interesting story, my daughters would like to hear
it also. So, come into the next room and tell the tale, and I will
order up a flagon of Cyprus wine to moisten your throats."</p>

<p>"First of all," the captain began, after the girls had greeted
Francis, and all had taken their seats, "I must tell how the Lido
was captured."</p>

<p>And he then related how the Genoese fleet had suddenly appeared
before them, and how, seeing the impossibility of escape, he had
sent all on shore with the exception of four sailors, and how he
had, with them, been released and sent on shore.</p>

<p>"That's the Genoese all over," Polani said. "If they could have
sent forty prisoners home they would have done so; but the fact
that there were only five on board, when they took the vessel,
would seem to them to detract from the credit of the capture."</p>

<p>The captain then told how, fearing that the people of Girgenti
might give them all up to the Genoese, or that fights might ensue
among the Genoese sailors who landed, he had marched the crew away
out of the town.</p>

<p>"Now, captain," Matteo broke in, "I will tell the next bit,
because I was with Francis when he found a hiding place."</p>

<p>He then related how Francis had seen the ledge of rocks in the
distance, and had dragged him along the cliff two miles to observe
them more closely; and how he had come to the conclusion that his
companion had lost his senses. Then he described the exact
position, and the clearness of the water, and how he had been
convinced that there was not depth to float a rowboat inside the
rocks; and how they had gone down, swum out, fathomed the water,
and then returned to the wood.</p>

<p>The captain then took up the tale again, and completed it to the
end.</p>

<p>"There is no doubt you were right, captain," Polani said, "and
that it is entirely Francisco's quickness of observation, readiness
of plan, and determination to see if his ideas could be carried
into effect, which saved the Lido. That he possessed these
qualities is not new to me, for I have already greatly benefited by
them. If he had not been born a peaceful trader, he would have made
a great captain some day; but the qualities which would distinguish
a man in war are also useful in peace, and I think it fully as
honourable to be a successful merchant, as a successful
soldier.</p>

<p>"Henceforth, Francisco, I shall no longer consider you as in
leading strings, and shall feel that I can confide important
business to you, young as you are."</p>

<p>The next voyage that Francis made was to Jaffa, and this was
accomplished without adventure. On his return, he found that Venice
was in a state of excitement--war had at last been declared, and
every effort was being made to fit out a fleet which could cope
with that of Genoa.</p>

<p>The command was entrusted to Vettore Pisani, who was invested in
the church of Saint Mark with the supreme command of the fleet by
the doge himself, who handed to the admiral the great banner of
Venice, with the words:</p>

<p>"You are destined by God to defend with your valour this
republic, and to retaliate upon those who have dared to insult her
and to rob her of that security which she owes to the virtue of her
ancestors. Wherefore, we confide to you this victorious and great
standard, which it will be your duty to restore to us unsullied and
triumphant."</p>

<p>Carlo Zeno, a noble, who had gained a high reputation in various
capacities, was appointed commissioner and captain general of
Negropont. The three first divisions of those inscribed in the
register, as liable to serve in the navy, were called out, and on
the 24th of April Pisani sailed from Venice with fourteen war
galleys.</p>

<p>Pisani enjoyed the highest popularity among the people of
Venice. His manner was that of a bluff hearty sailor. He was always
ready to share in the hardships of his men, and to set them an
example of good temper and cheerfulness, as well as of bravery. He
was quick tempered, and when in a passion cared nothing whom he
struck.</p>

<p>When governor of Candia, he had got into a serious scrape, by
striking Pietro Cornaro, an officer of the republic, from whom he
happened to differ on some point of routine. He was a relative of
the Doge Andrea Contarini, and had been employed not only as an
officer in the navy, but as a military engineer and as a
diplomatist, and in each capacity had shown equal talent.</p>

<p>He was connected with the Polani family, and was at their house
several times before he sailed. Here he heard from his kinsman an
account of the manner in which Francisco had saved the Bonito from
being rammed by the pirates, and how he had succeeded in getting
the Lido out of the hands of the Genoese; and he was so much
pleased that he offered to take him with him in his galley, but
Polani advised Francis not to accept the offer.</p>

<p>"It is quite true," he said, "that most of our noble families
are, like myself, engaged in commerce; and that one day they are
trading as merchants and the next fighting under the state; but at
present, if you take my advice, you will stick to the peaceful side
of the profession; especially as, being an Englishman, you are in
no way called upon to serve the state. In another five or six
years, if we are then at war, it will be different. I have
frequently offered galleys for the service of the state, and you
can then take the command of one, and will, I have no doubt,
distinguish yourself; but were you to enter now, you might remain
in the service of the state for some years, and would be losing
your time as a merchant.</p>

<p>"There are countries in which, when a man once takes up the
profession of arms, he remains a soldier all his life, and may not
only achieve honour but wealth and wide possessions. It is not so
in Venice. Here we are all citizens as well as all soldiers if need
be. We fight for the state while a war lasts, and then return to
our peaceful avocations. Even my kinsman, Pisani, may be admiral of
the fleet today, and a week hence may be a private citizen.
Therefore, my lad, I think it would be very foolish of you to give
up commerce at present to take military service."</p>

<p>"I quite agree with you, signor," Francis said, although, in
truth, for a moment he had felt a strong mind to accept the offer
of Pisani. "I am just beginning to learn a little of trade, and
desire nothing better than to be a successful merchant; though I
confess that I should like to take part in such a glorious sea
fight as that which is likely to take place soon."</p>

<p>"Yes, and perhaps be killed in the first engagement, Francis,
for neither skill nor bravery avail against a bolt from a Genoese
crossbow. No, my lad, be content with trade, especially since you
have seen already that even the life of a trader has plenty of
incident and excitement. What with storms, what with pirates, what
with the enemies of the state and the treachery of the native
peoples with whom we trade, there is no lack of adventure in the
life of a Venetian merchant."</p>

<p>Francis felt that this was true, and that he had in the past six
months had fully his share in adventures. His stay on shore this
time extended over a month, and it was not until three weeks after
Pisani sailed that he again set out.</p>

<p>The notice was a short one. Polani had been sent for to attend
the council early in the morning, and on his return he said to
Francis:</p>

<p>"You must go down to the port at once, Francis. News has been
received from Pisani that he has sailed almost into the port of
Genoa, without finding the fleet of Fieschi. The Genoese have been
in a terrible state of panic. The Lord of Fiesole, who is our ally,
is menacing the city by land; the Stella Company of Condottieri,
which is in our pay, is also marching against them; and the news
that Pisani was close at hand seems to have frightened them out of
their senses. Their first step, as usual, has been to depose their
doge and choose another.</p>

<p>"However, that is not the point. Pisani has written asking that
some ships with provisions and stores shall be sent out to him.
They are to go through the Straits of Messina and up the coast of
Italy until he meets them. His force is far too small for him to
think of making an attack upon Genoa. He will wait in the
neighbourhood of the city for a short time in hopes of Fieschi's
fleet returning. If it does not do so he will come down the coast
searching for it, and as he does not wish to put in port, he
desires the stores mentioned to be sent out to him.</p>

<p>"I have placed the Bonito at their service, and have promised
that she shall be ready to sail tomorrow morning, if they will send
the stores on board today. Three other merchants placed ships at
their disposal, but these may not sail for a day or two. They are
particularly anxious that the Bonito shall start at once, as, in
addition to provisions, she will carry a store of javelins, arrows,
and other missiles of which there was not a sufficiency in the
arsenal when Pisani sailed.</p>

<p>"You will have a strong party on board, as speed is required,
and the oars must be kept going until you join the fleet. Therefore
I shall place the crew of the Lido on board as well as the Bonito's
own complement, and this will bring the number up to a hundred men.
The captain has had an accident, and will not be able to go in
charge, therefore the Lido's captain will command. This time I
shall appoint you specifically second in command, as well as my
representative. Now get off on board as quickly as you can, for
there is enough to keep you at work, till tomorrow morning, to get
everything in readiness for a start. You had best run in and say
goodbye to my daughters, as it may be that you will not find time
to return before sailing. You can send your boy ashore for what
things you require. Matteo will accompany you."</p>

<p>A few minutes later, Francis was on his way to the port, leaving
Giuseppi to charter a gondola and follow with his trunks. As Polani
had said, he was occupied without intermission until the time for
sailing next morning. The barges of the state kept coming alongside
with stores and provisions from the arsenal; while other boats
brought out the ship's stores; and Francis had to take a note of
all that came on board.</p>

<p>The captain superintended the setting up of the rigging, and the
getting of the ship into working order; while the under officers
saw to the hoisting in and storing of the cargo. Gangs of men were
at work tarring the sides of the ship, for she had only two days
before returned from a trip to Spain; and a number of sailors were
unloading the cargo from one hatchway, while her fresh freight was
being taken in at the other.</p>

<p>It seemed well nigh impossible that she could be ready to sail
at the hour named, but everyone worked with a will, and by daybreak
things were almost in order. Polani himself came down to the port
as soon as it was light, and expressed satisfaction at the work
which had been done; and half an hour afterwards the anchor was
weighed.</p>

<p>Just as the sails had been hoisted, Matteo arrived.</p>

<p>"You are only just in time, Matteo," Polani said. "Why did you
not come off yesterday and help?"</p>

<p>"I was out," Matteo said, "when your message came, and only
returned just in time to go to the entertainment at the ducal
palace. I knew I could be of no use on board while they were only
getting in the cargo."</p>

<p>"You will never be of any use on board, Matteo, if you go to
entertainments when there's work to be done. You could have taken
the marks on the bales as they came on board, just as well as
another. I suppose you thought that the dirt and dust wouldn't suit
a fine gentleman like you! Another time, unless you come on board
when sent for, and make yourself as useful as you can, while the
ship is fitting out and loading, you will not sail in her. One part
of the duty is just as important as the other, and seamanship does
not consist solely in strolling up and down the deck, and watching
a vessel sail for her destination."</p>

<p>Matteo was abashed at the reproach, but soon recovered his usual
spirits after Polani had left, when the vessel was under way.</p>

<p>"My cousin was rather in a sharp mood this morning," he said
with a laugh to Francis; "but really I did not think I could be of
any good, and the entertainment was a grand one. Everyone was
there, and I should have been very sorry to have missed it."</p>

<p>"Everyone to his taste, Matteo. For my part, I would very much
rather have been at work here all night watching the cargo got in
and checking it off, than have been standing about doing nothing in
the palace."</p>

<p>"Doing nothing!" Matteo repeated indignantly. "Why, I was
talking to someone the whole time I was there."</p>

<p>"Talking about what, Matteo?"</p>

<p>"The heat, and the music, and the costumes, and the last bit of
scandal at the Piazza."</p>

<p>"I don't call that talk. I call it chatter. And now, Matteo, I
shall leave you to your own devices, for I am going to turn in and
get a sleep for a few hours."</p>

<p>"You look as if you wanted it," Matteo said; "but I think that
you stand in even more need of a wash. You are grimy with dust. It
is just as well that my cousin Giulia did not come on board with
her father this morning, for the sight of your face would have
given her quite a shock, and would have dissipated any illusions
she may have had that you were a good-looking fellow."</p>

<p>Francis went off to his cabin with a laugh, and took Matteo's
advice as to the wash before he turned in. In a few minutes he was
asleep, and did not wake until Giuseppi came to say that the midday
meal was just ready.</p>

<p>The Bonito made a rapid voyage. The winds were light, and for
the most part favourable, and the twenty-four oars were kept going
night and day, the men relieving each other every two hours, so
that they had six hours' rest between the spells of rowing.</p>

<p>When they rounded the southern point of Italy a sharp lookout
was kept for the fleet of Fieschi, but they passed through the
straits without catching sight of a single vessel carrying the
Genoese flag. The most vigilant watch was now kept for Pisani's
galleys, and they always anchored at the close of day, lest they
should pass him in the dark.</p>

<p>Occasionally they overhauled a fishing boat, and endeavoured to
obtain news of the two squadrons; but beyond the fact that Fieschi
had been seen steering north some days before, and that no signs
had been seen of Pisani's returning fleet, they could learn
nothing.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch11">Chapter 11</a>: The Battle Of Antium.</h2>

<p>"We are running very far north," the captain said on the 29th of
May. "We are near Antium now, and are getting into what we may call
Genoese waters. If anything has occurred to prevent Pisani carrying
out his intention of sailing back along this coast, or if he has
passed us on the way up, our position would be a hazardous one, for
as soon as he has rowed away the Genoese galleys will be on the
move again, and even if we do not fall in with Fieschi, we may be
snapped up by one of their cruisers."</p>

<p>"It is rather risky, captain," Francis agreed; "but our orders
are distinct. We were to sail north till we met Pisani, and we must
do so till we are within sight of the walls of Genoa. If we then
see he is not lying off the port, we shall put about and make our
way back again."</p>

<p>"Yes, if they give us the chance, Messer Francisco; but long
before we are sufficiently near to Genoa to make out whether Pisani
is lying off the port, they will see us from the hills, and will
send off a galley to bring us in. However, we must take our chance,
and if we get into a scrape I shall look to you confidently to get
us out again."</p>

<p>"I should advise you not to count on that," Francis said,
laughing. "It is not always one gets such a lucky combination of
circumstances as we did at Girgenti."</p>

<p>At last, they obtained news from a fishing boat that Fieschi's
fleet had passed, going northward, on the previous day, and was now
lying in the bay of Antium. As Antium lay but a few miles north,
they held a consultation as to the best method to pursue. If they
sailed on there was a risk of capture; but that risk did not appear
to be very great. The Genoese admiral would not expect to find a
Venetian merchant ship so near to Genoa, and they might be able to
pass without being interfered with. On the other hand, news might
possibly have come of the departure of store ships from Venice for
Pisani's fleet, and in that case a strict lookout would certainly
be kept, and it would be necessary to keep so far to sea as to be
out of sight of the Genoese; but in that case there would be a risk
of their missing Pisani's fleet on the way down.</p>

<p>"I think," the captain said, after a long debate, "that we had
better anchor here close under the shore tonight. If I am not
mistaken, we shall have a gale in the morning. I do not like the
look of the sky. Tomorrow we shall see how the weather is, and can
then come to a decision."</p>

<p>By morning, as the captain had predicted, the wind was blowing
strongly, and a heavy sea was running, and it was agreed to keep
along under the lee of the shore until they could obtain a view of
the Bay of Antium, and see if the fleet of Fieschi was still there.
If so, they would tack and run back some distance, and make
straight out to sea, so as to pass along four or five miles from
the shore, as it would be unlikely in the extreme that the Genoese
admiral would send a galley out to overhaul a passing ship in such
weather.</p>

<p>They sailed along till they neared the slight depression known
as the Bay of Antium, and then bore farther out to sea. Suddenly a
fleet was seen running down the coast at some distance away.</p>

<p>"'Bout ship," the captain cried. "The Genoese have been cruising
further north, and are coming down the coast. In such weather as
this, the Bonito ought to be able to get away from them."</p>

<p>"It may be Pisani's fleet," Francis said, as the ship was put
round.</p>

<p>"It is possible," the captain agreed; "but we cannot run the
risk of stopping until we make inquiries."</p>

<p>"No, captain; but, at least, if we run a mile or so out to sea,
we should be able to see round the point, and discover whether
Fieschi's galleys are there."</p>

<p>The captain assented. The vessel's head was turned from the
land. In ten minutes there was a joyous shout on board the Bonito,
for the Genoese fleet was seen lying in the bay. The distant fleet
must then form that of Pisani.</p>

<p>"See!" Francis exclaimed. "The Genoese have just caught sight of
them, and are hoisting sail. They are either going to meet them or
to run away. Our vessels are the most numerous; but no, there is
not much difference. Pisani has fourteen ships, but some must be
lagging behind, or have been lost. How many do you make them out to
be, captain?"</p>

<p>"I think there are only nine," the captain answered, "and that
is just the number of the Genoese."</p>

<p>"Then Fieschi will fight, if he is not a coward," Matteo said;
"but, in that case, why are they making out to sea?"</p>

<p>"Fieschi may not care to be attacked at anchor," the captain
replied. "That would give all the advantage to us. Besides, if they
were beaten there would be but little chance of any of them
escaping. No, he is right to make out to sea, but blowing as it is,
it will be next to impossible for him to fight there. Two vessels
could hardly get alongside to board in such a sea as this. I expect
Fieschi thinks that we shall never attack him in such a storm; but
Pisani would fight if it were a hurricane."</p>

<p>It did indeed seem almost impossible to fight in such a sea. The
Bonito was rolling, gunwale under. Her sail had been reduced to its
smallest proportions, and yet, when the squalls struck her she was
laid completely over on her side. But the rival admirals were too
anxious to fight to be deterred by the difficulty, and both were
bent upon bringing on an action at once.</p>

<p>"I would give anything to be on board one of our galleys,"
Matteo said. "It is horrible standing here doing nothing, when such
a fight as this is going to begin."</p>

<p>"Cannot we edge down towards them, captain?" Francis asked. "I
do not mean that we should take part in the fight, for we have but
a hundred men, and the galleys must each carry at least three times
as many. Still, we might be near enough to see something, and
perhaps to give succour to any disabled ship that drops out of the
fight."</p>

<p>"I will do so if you like, Messer Francisco," the captain said.
"If you will take the responsibility. But if our side gets the
worst of it, you must remember that the Bonito may be
captured."</p>

<p>"I don't think there's much chance of Pisani being beaten by an
enemy no stronger than himself," Francis said; "and even if they
should be victorious, the Genoese will certainly have enough on
their hands, with repairing damages and securing prisoners, to
think of setting off in chase of a ship like ours."</p>

<p>"That is true enough," the captain agreed, for he was indeed as
anxious as Francis and Matteo to witness the struggle.</p>

<p>The vessels on both sides were under canvas, for it was
impossible to row in such a sea. As soon as they approached each
other, both fleets broke up, and the vessels each singling an
opponent out, the combat began. It was a singular one, and differed
widely from ordinary sea fights of the time, in which the
combatants always tried to grapple with their enemies and carry
them by boarding. This was almost impossible now, for it seemed
that the vessels would be dashed in pieces like eggshells were they
to strike each other. Clouds of missiles were poured from one to
the other. The archers plied their bows. Great machines hurled
javelins and big stones, and the crash of the blows of the latter,
against the sides of the ships, sounded even above the noise of the
wind and waves, and the shouting of the combatants. As for the
cannon with which all the galleys were armed, they were far too
cumbrous and unmanageable to be worked in such weather. Sometimes
one vessel, lifted on the crest of a wave while its opponent lay in
a hollow, swept its decks with terrible effect; while a few seconds
later the advantage was on the other side.</p>

<p>For a long time, neither party seemed to gain any advantage.
Great numbers were killed on both sides, but victory did not
incline either way, until the mast of one of the Venetian galleys
was struck by a heavy stone and went over the side. She at once
fell out of the line of the battle, her opponent keeping close to
her, pouring in volumes of missiles, while the sea, taking her on
the broad side, washed numbers of her crew overboard. Her opponent,
seeing that she was altogether helpless, left her to be taken
possession of afterwards, and made for Pisani's galley, which was
distinguished by its flag at the masthead, and was maintaining a
desperate conflict with the galley of Fieschi.</p>

<p>The admiral's ship was now swept with missiles from both sides,
and when his adversaries saw that his crew was greatly weakened,
they prepared to close, in spite of the state of the sea. If Pisani
himself could be captured, there would remain but seven Venetian
ships to the nine Genoese, and victory was certain.</p>

<p>The captain of the Bonito had lashed together some heavy spars
and thrown them overboard, having fastened a strong rope to them,
and was riding head to the waves by means of this sea anchor, at a
distance of about half a mile from the conflict. A cry of grief and
rage had arisen when the crew saw that one of their galleys was
disabled, and their excitement became intense when they saw the
unequal struggle which Pisani was maintaining.</p>

<p>"They are preparing to board, captain," Francis said. "We must
go to the admiral's aid. If his ship is captured, the battle is
lost."</p>

<p>"I am ready, Messer Francisco, if you authorize me."</p>

<p>"Certainly I do," Francis said. "The loss or capture of the
Bonito is as nothing in comparison to the importance of saving
Pisani."</p>

<p>The captain gave the order for the hawser to be cut, and the
sail hoisted. A cheer broke from the crew as they saw what was to
be done. Their arms had been served out at the beginning of the
contest, and they now seized them, and gathered in readiness to
take part in the fight.</p>

<p>The two Genoese galleys had thrown their grapnels and made fast,
one on each side of Pisani's galley. The bulwarks were stove in and
splintered as the vessels rolled, and the rigging of the three
ships became entangled. The Genoese sprang on to the deck of
Pisani's galley, with shouts of triumph, but they were met by the
admiral himself, wielding a mighty battleaxe, and the survivors of
his crew.</p>

<p>The combat was still raging when the Bonito sailed swiftly up.
Her sails were lowered as she came alongside, and she was lashed to
one of the galleys. But this manoeuvre was not performed without
loss. As she approached, with the Venetian flag flying at her
masthead, the Genoese archers on the poop of the galley, who had
hitherto been pouring their missiles among Pisani's men, turned
round and opened fire upon this new foe. Their arrows did far more
execution here than they had done among the armour clad soldiers of
the state. The captain fell dead with an arrow which struck him
full in the throat, and ten or twelve of the sailors fell on the
deck beside him.</p>

<p>"Pour in one volley," Francis shouted; "then throw down your
bows, and take to your axes and follow me."</p>

<p>The instant the vessel was lashed, Francis sprang on to the deck
of the galley. Matteo was by his side, Giuseppi just behind, and
the whole crew followed. Climbing first upon the poop, they fell
upon the archers, who, after a short struggle, were cut down; then,
descending again to the waist of the galley, they leaped on to the
deck of Pisani's ship, and fell upon the rear of the Genoese.</p>

<p>These were taken completely by surprise. Absorbed in the
struggle in which they were engaged, they had noticed neither the
approach of the Bonito, nor the struggle on board their own galley,
and supposed that another of the Venetian warships had come up to
the assistance of their admiral.</p>

<p>Taken then by surprise, and finding themselves thus between two
bands of foes, they fought irresolutely, and the crew of the
Bonito, with their heavy axes, cut down numbers of them, and
fighting their way through the mass, joined the diminished force of
Pisani.</p>

<p>The admiral shouted the battle cry of "Saint Mark!" His
followers, who had begun to give way to despair, rallied at the
arrival of this unlooked-for reinforcement, and the whole fell upon
the Genoese with fury. The latter fought stoutly and steadily now,
animated by the voice and example of Fieschi himself; but their
assurance of victory was gone, and they were gradually beaten back
to the deck of their admiral's ship. Here they made desperate
efforts to cut the lashings and free the vessel; but the yards had
got interlocked and the rigging entangled, and the Venetians sprang
on to the deck of the ship, and renewed the conflict there.</p>

<p>For some time the struggle was doubtful. The Genoese had still
the advantage in numbers, but they were disheartened at the
success, which they had deemed certain, having been so suddenly and
unexpectedly snatched from their grasp.</p>

<p>The presence of Pisani, in itself, doubled the strength of the
Venetians. He was the most popular of their commanders, and each
strove to imitate the example which he set them.</p>

<p>After ten minutes' hard fighting, the result was no longer
doubtful. Many of the Genoese ran below. Others threw down their
arms, and their admiral, at last, seeing further resistance was
hopeless, lowered his sword and surrendered.</p>

<p>No sooner had resistance ceased than Pisani turned to Francis,
who had been fighting by his side:</p>

<p>"I thank you, in the name of myself and the republic," he said.
"Where you have sprung from, or how you came here, I know not. You
seemed to me to have fallen from heaven to our assistance, just at
the moment when all was lost. Who are you? I seem to know your
face, though I cannot recall where I have seen it."</p>

<p>"I am Francis Hammond, Messer Pisani. I had the honour of seeing
you at the house of my patron, Signor Polani, and you were good
enough to offer to take me with you to sea."</p>

<p>"Oh, I remember now!" Pisani said. "But how came you here?"</p>

<p>"I came in the Bonito, one of Polani's ships. She is lying
outside the farther of the Venetian galleys. We bring from Venice
some of the stores for which you sent. We were lying off, watching
the battle, until we saw that you were sore beset and in need of
help, and could then no longer remain inactive. Our captain was
killed by an arrow as we ranged up alongside of the galley, and I
am now in command. This is my friend, Matteo Giustiniani, a
volunteer on board the Bonito."</p>

<p>"I remember you, Master Matteo," Pisani said, as he shook him by
the hand. "I have seen you often at your father's house. I shall
have to give him a good account of you, for I saw you fighting
bravely.</p>

<p>"But we will talk more of this afterwards. We must set to work
to separate the galleys, or we shall have them grinding each other
to pieces. Then we must hasten to the assistance of our
friends."</p>

<p>The Genoese prisoners were all fastened below, and the Venetians
then set to work to cut the lashings and free the rigging of the
ships. Francis kept only twenty men on board the Bonito. The
remainder were distributed between the two captured Genoese
galleys, and the admiral turned his attention to the battle.</p>

<p>But it was already almost over. The sight of the Venetian flag,
at the mastheads of the admiral's ship and the other galley, struck
dismay into the Genoese. Five of their ships immediately hoisted
all canvas and made off, while the other two, surrounded by the
Venetian galleys, hauled down their flags.</p>

<p>The battle had been a sanguinary one, and but eight hundred men
were found alive on board the four galleys captured. The fight is
known in history as the battle of Porto d'Anzo. The struggle had
lasted nearly the whole day, and it was growing dark when the
Venetian fleet, with their prizes, anchored under shelter of the
land.</p>

<p>All night long the work of attending upon the wounded went on,
and it was daybreak before the wearied crews lay down for repose.
In the afternoon, Pisani hoisted a signal for the captains of the
galleys to come on board; and in their presence he formally thanked
Francis, in the name of the republic, for the aid he had afforded
him at the most critical moment. Had it not been for that aid, he
acknowledged that he and his crew must have succumbed, and the
victory would assuredly have fallen to the Genoese.</p>

<p>After the meeting was over he took Francis into his cabin, and
again offered him a post in his own ship.</p>

<p>"Were your merit properly rewarded," he said, "I would appoint
you at once to the command of a galley; but to do so would do you
no service, for it would excite against you the jealousy of all the
young nobles in the fleet. Besides, you are so young, that although
the council at home cannot but acknowledge the vastness of the
service you have rendered, they might make your age an excuse for
refusing to confirm the appointment; but if you like to come as my
third officer, I can promise you that you shall have rapid
promotion, and speedily be in command of a galley. We Venetians
have no prejudice against foreigners. They hold very high commands,
and, indeed, our armies in the field are frequently commanded by
foreign captains."</p>

<p>Francis thanked the admiral heartily for his offer, but said
that his father's wishes, and his own, led him to adopt the life of
a merchant, and that, under the patronage of Messer Polani, his
prospects were so good that he would not exchange them, even for a
command under the state of Venice.</p>

<p>"You are quite right, lad," the admiral said. "All governments
are ungrateful, and republics most of all. Where all are supposed
to be equal, there is ever envy and jealousy against one who rises
above the rest. The multitude is fickle and easily led; and the
first change of fortune, however slight, is seized upon by enemies
as a cause of complaint, and the popular hero of today may be an
exile tomorrow. Like enough I shall see the inside of a Venetian
prison some day."</p>

<p>"Impossible, signor!" Francis exclaimed. "The people would tear
to pieces anyone who ventured to malign you."</p>

<p>"Just at present, my lad; just at present. But I know my
countrymen. They are not as light hearted and fickle as those of
Genoa; but they are easily led, and will shout 'Abasso!' as easily
as 'Viva!' Time will show. I was within an ace of being defeated
today; and you may not be close at hand to come to my rescue next
time. And now to business.</p>

<p>"Tomorrow morning I will set the crews to get out your stores,
and distribute them as required, and will place four hundred
prisoners in your hold, and you shall carry them to Venice with my
despatches announcing the victory. The other four hundred Genoese I
shall send, in the galley that was dismasted yesterday, to Candia,
to be imprisoned there. I shall send prize crews home in the
galleys we have captured; and as soon as they are refitted and
manned, and rejoin me, I shall sail in search of Doria and his
fleet. I shall first cruise up the Adriatic, in case he may have
gone that way to threaten Venice, and I can the more easily receive
such reinforcements as may have been prepared for me."</p>

<p>The following day was spent in unloading the vessel. This was
accomplished by nightfall. The prisoners were then put on board.
Francis at once ordered sail to be set, and the Bonito was started
on her homeward voyage.</p>

<p>As soon as the Bonito was signalled in sight, Signor Polani went
down to the port to meet her, to ascertain where she had fallen in
with the fleet, for there was great anxiety in Venice, as no news
had been received from Pisani for more than ten days. The vessel
had just passed through the entrance between the islands, when the
gondola, with her owner, was seen approaching. Francis went to the
gangway to receive him.</p>

<p>"Why, what has happened, Francisco?" Polani asked, as the boat
neared the side of the ship. "Half your bulwark is carried away,
and the whole side of the ship is scraped and scored. She looks as
if she had been rubbing against a rock."</p>

<p>"Not quite so bad as that, Messer Polani. She has been grinding
against a Genoese galley."</p>

<p>"Against a Genoese galley!" the merchant repeated in surprise,
stopping in his passage up the rope ladder, which had been lowered
for him. "Why, how is that? But never mind that now. First tell me
what is the news from the fleet?"</p>

<p>"There is great news," Francis replied. "The admiral fell in
with Fieschi off Antium. There were nine ships on each side, and
the battle took place in a storm. We were victorious, and captured
four of the Genoese galleys, with Fieschi himself and eight hundred
prisoners. The rest fled. Fieschi is now in my cabin, and four
hundred prisoners in the hold."</p>

<p>"This is indeed great news," the merchant said, "and will be an
immense relief to Venice. We were getting very anxious, for had
Pisani been defeated, there was nothing to prevent the Genoese
ravaging our coasts, and even assailing Venice itself. But where is
the captain?"</p>

<p>"I regret to say, sir, that he has been killed, as well as
twenty-seven of the sailors, and many of the others are more or
less severely wounded. I am the bearer of despatches from the
admiral to the council."</p>

<p>"Then get into my gondola, and come along at once," Polani said.
"I deeply regret the death of the captain and sailors. You shall
tell me all about it as we come along. We must not delay a moment
in carrying this great news ashore. Have you got the
despatches?"</p>

<p>"Yes, signor. I put them into my doublet when I saw you
approaching, thinking that you would probably wish me to take them
on shore at once."</p>

<p>"And now tell me all about the battle," the merchant said as
soon as they had taken their seats in the gondola. "You say there
were nine ships on either side. Pisani sailed away with fourteen.
Has he lost the remainder?"</p>

<p>"They came up next day," Francis replied. "The fleet was in a
port north of Antium when the news came that Fieschi's fleet was
there. Five of the galleys had been dismantled, and were under
repair, and Pisani would not wait for them to be got into fighting
order, as he was afraid lest Fieschi might weigh anchor and escape
if he delayed an hour. He learned that the Genoese had nine ships
with him, and as he had himself this number ready for sea, he
sailed at once.</p>

<p>"The weather was stormy, and the sea very high, when he appeared
within sight of Antium. Fieschi sailed boldly out to meet him. The
battle lasted all day, for it was next to impossible to board; but
in the end, as I say, four Genoese galleys surrendered and the rest
fled. It was a terrible sight; for it seemed at every moment as if
the waves would hurl the vessels against each other, and so break
them into fragments; but in no case did such an accident
happen."</p>

<p>"Why, you speak as if you saw it, Francisco! Had you joined the
admiral before the battle took place?"</p>

<p>"No, signor. We arrived near Antium on the evening before the
fight, and heard of Fieschi's presence there. Therefore we anchored
south of the promontory. In the morning we put out, intending to
sail well out to sea and so pass the Genoese, who were not likely,
in such weather, to put out to question a sail passing in the
distance; but as we made off from land we saw Pisani's fleet
approaching. Then, as Fieschi put to sea and we saw that the battle
was imminent, there was nothing for us to do but to lie to, and
wait for the battle to be over, before we delivered our stores,
having little doubt that Pisani would be victorious."</p>

<p>"Then had the battle gone the other way," the merchant said,
"the Bonito at the present moment would probably be lying a prize
in the harbour of Genoa!"</p>

<p>"We did not lose sight of the probability of that, signor, but
thought that, if the Genoese should gain a victory, they would be
too busy with their prizes and prisoners, if not too crippled, to
pursue us, and we reckoned that in such weather the Bonito would be
able to sail quite as fast as any of the Genoese."</p>

<p>"And now, tell me about your affairs, Francisco. Where was it
you fell in with the Genoese galley, and by what miracle did you
get off?"</p>

<p>"It was in the battle, sir. One of the Venetian galleys had
dropped out of the fight disabled, and its opponent went to the
assistance of their admiral's ship, which was engaged with Pisani.
They attempted to board him on both sides, and, seeing that he was
in great peril, and that if his ship was taken the battle would be
as bad as lost, we thought that you yourself would approve of our
going to his assistance. This we did, and engaged one of their
galleys; and, as her crew were occupied with the admiral, we took
them by surprise, and created such a diversion that he succeeded,
with what assistance we could give him, in capturing both his
opponents."</p>

<p>"That was done well indeed," Polani said warmly. "It was a risky
matter, indeed, for you, with sailors unprotected by armour, to
enter into a combat with the iron-clad soldiers of Genoa.</p>

<p>"And so the captain and twenty-seven of the men were killed! You
must have had some brisk fighting!"</p>

<p>"The captain, and many of the men, were shot by the Genoese
archers as we ranged up alongside their vessel. The others were
killed in hand-to-hand fighting."</p>

<p>"And my cousin Matteo, what has become of him?" Polani asked
suddenly. "I trust he is not among the killed!"</p>

<p>"He is unharmed," Francis replied. "He fought gallantly, and the
admiral, the next day, offered to take him on board his own ship,
many of the volunteers serving on board having been killed. Matteo,
of course, accepted the offer."</p>

<p>"He would have done better to have stayed on board my ship for
another two years," Polani said, "and learned his business. He
would have made a far better sailor than he can ever become on
board a state galley; but I never expected him to stick to it. He
has no earnestness of purpose, and is too particular about his
dress to care about the rough life of a real seaman."</p>

<p>"He has plenty of courage, sir, and I have always found him a
staunch friend."</p>

<p>"No doubt he has courage," the merchant said. "He comes of good
blood and could hardly be a coward. I think he is a good-hearted
lad, too, and will, I have no doubt, make a brave commander of a
galley; but more than that Matteo is never likely to become."</p>

<p>"Your daughters are well, I hope?" Francis asked.</p>

<p>"Quite well; but you will not find them at home--they sailed
three days ago, in the Lido, for Corfu. They are going to stay for
a time at my villa there. That affair of last year shook them both,
and I thought it better that they should go away for a change--the
hot months here are trying, and often unhealthy. I will go over
myself next week to be with them."</p>

<p>They were now approaching the Piazzetta, and Polani shouted out,
to various acquaintances he met in passing gondolas, the news that
Pisani had gained a great victory, and had captured the Genoese
admiral with four of his galleys. The gondolas at once changed
their course, and accompanied them, to gather further details of
the fight. The news was shouted to other passing boats, and by the
time they reached the steps of the Piazzetta, a throng was round
them.</p>

<p>Those on shore shouted out the news, and it spread rapidly from
mouth to mouth. The shopkeepers left their stores, and the loungers
on the Piazzetta ran up, and it was with difficulty that Polani and
Francis could make their way, through the shouting and excited
crowd, to the entrance of the ducal palace.</p>

<p>Polani at once led Francis to the doge, to whom he gave an
account of the action. Messengers were immediately despatched to
some of the members of the council, for it was to them that the
despatches had to be delivered. As soon as a sufficient number to
transact the business had arrived at the palace, the doge himself
led Francis to the council chamber.</p>

<p>"Is the news that we heard, shouted in the streets as we came
thither, true, your highness?" one of the councillors asked as they
entered. "That our fleet has gained a victory over the
Genoese?"</p>

<p>"I am happy to say that it is quite true; but this young
gentleman is the bearer of despatches from the admiral, and these
will doubtless give us all particulars."</p>

<p>"Admiral Pisani has chosen a strange messenger for so important
a despatch," one of the party hostile to the admiral said. "It is
usual to send despatches of this kind by a trusted officer, and I
do not think it respectful, either to the council or the republic,
to send home the news of a victory by a lad like this."</p>

<p>"The admiral apparently chose this young gentleman because,
owing to the death of his captain, he was in command of the ship
which Messer Polani placed at the service of the republic, and
which was present at the fight. The admiral intended, as I hear, to
set out at once in search of the fleet of Doria, and doubtless did
not wish to weaken himself by despatching a state galley with the
news. But perhaps he may explain the matter in his despatches."</p>

<p>Several other councillors had by this time arrived, and the
despatches were opened. The admiral's account of the engagement was
brief, for he was fonder of the sword than the pen. He stated that,
having obtained news that Fieschi's fleet was at anchor under the
promontory of Antium, he sailed thither with nine ships, these
being all that were at the moment fit to take to sea; that Fieschi
had sailed out to meet him, and that an engagement had taken place
in the storm, which prevented the ships from pursuing their usual
tactics, and compelled them to fight with missiles at a distance.
The despatch then went on:</p>

<p>"We fought all day, and the upshot of it was, we captured four
of their galleys, the admiral himself, and eight hundred prisoners.
Fortunately it is unnecessary for me to give your seignory the
details of the fighting, as these can be furnished you by Messer
Francisco Hammond, who will hand you these despatches. He was a
witness of the action on the Bonito, which had that morning arrived
at Antium with some of the stores you despatched me. I have
selected this young gentleman as the bearer of these despatches,
because it is to him I entirely owe it that I am not at the present
moment a prisoner in Genoa, and to him the republic owes that we
yesterday won a victory.</p>

<p>"I was attacked by Fieschi and by another galley, and, in spite
of the weather, they cast grapnels on to my ship and boarded me. I
had already lost half of my crew by their missiles, and things were
going very badly with us, when the Bonito came up to our
assistance, and grappled with one of the galleys. Her captain was
killed, but Messer Hammond--of whom Polani has so high an opinion
that he had appointed him second in command--led his men to my
rescue. They boarded the galley and slew those who remained on
board, and then, crossing on to my ship, fell upon the rear of the
Genoese who were pressing us backwards. His sailors, undefended as
they were by armour, fought like demons with their axes, and, led
by Messer Hammond, cut their way through the enemy and joined
me.</p>

<p>"This reinforcement gave fresh strength and spirit to my men,
who had a minute before thought that all was lost. Together we fell
upon the Genoese, before they could recover from their surprise,
beat them back into their admiral's ship, and following them there
forced them to surrender. Messer Hammond fought by my side, and
although but a lad in years, he showed himself a sturdy
man-at-arms, and behaved with a coolness and bravery beyond praise.
I hereby recommend him to your gracious consideration, for
assuredly to him it is due that it is I, and not Fieschi, who is
writing to announce a victory."</p>

<p>A murmur of surprise from the councillors greeted the reading of
this portion of the letter. When it was concluded, the doge was the
first to speak.</p>

<p>"You have indeed deserved well of the republic, Messer Hammond,
for we know that Admiral Pisani is not one to give undue praise, or
to exaggerate in aught.</p>

<p>"This is news to me, signors, as well as to you, for in his
narrative to me of the events of the fight, he passed over his own
share in it, though Messer Polani, who accompanied him, did say
that his ship had taken some part in the fight, and that the
captain and twenty-seven men had been killed.</p>

<p>"Now, young sir, as the admiral has referred us to you for a
detailed narrative of the battle, we will thank you to tell us all
you witnessed, omitting no detail of the occurrences."</p>

<p>Francis accordingly gave a full account of the action, and gave
great praise to his crew for the valour with which they had fought
against the heavy armed Genoese. When he had concluded the doge
said:</p>

<p>"We thank you for your narrative, Messer Hammond, as well as for
the great service you have rendered the state. Will you now leave
us, as we have much to debate on regarding this and other matters,
and to arrange for the reinforcements for which, I see by his
letter, the admiral asks.</p>

<p>"Will you ask Messer Polani to remain in attendance for a while,
as we wish to consult with him as to ships and other matters? As to
yourself, we shall ask you to come before us again shortly."</p>

<p>After Francis had left, the council first voted that five ducats
should be given to every man of the crew of the Bonito, and that
the widows of those who had been slain should be provided for, at
the expense of the state. They deferred the question as to the
honours which should be conferred upon Francis, until they had
consulted Polani.</p>

<p>State barges were at once sent off to bring in the prisoners
from the ship, and preparations made for their accommodation, for
Venice always treated prisoners taken in war with the greatest
kindness, an example which Genoa was very far from following.</p>

<p>Then Polani was sent for, and the question of stores and ships
gone into. Orders were issued for redoubled activity in the
arsenal, and it was arranged that several ships, belonging to
Polani and others, should be at once purchased for the service of
the state.</p>

<p>Then they asked him for his opinion as to the reward which
should be given to Francis. Upon the merchant expressing his
ignorance of any special service his young friend had rendered, the
passage from Pisani's letter relating to him was read out.</p>

<p>"The lad is as modest as he is brave," the merchant said, "for
although, of course, he told me that the ship had taken some part
in the fight, and had done what it could to assist the admiral, in
which service the captain and twenty-seven men had lost their
lives, I had no idea of the real nature of the encounter. I feel
very proud of the service he has rendered the state, for he has
rendered me as a private individual no less important service, and
I regard him as my adopted son, and my future partner in my
business. Such being the case, signors, he needs no gift of money
from the state."</p>

<p>"He has not, of course, being still a minor, taken up his papers
of naturalization as a citizen?" the doge said.</p>

<p>"No, your highness, nor is it his intention to do so. I spoke to
him on the subject once, and he said that, although he regarded
Venice with affection, and would at all times do everything in his
power for the state, he could not renounce his birthplace, as an
Englishman, by taking an oath of allegiance to another state, and
that probably he should after a time return to his native country.
I pointed out to him that, although foreigners were given every
facility for trade in Venice, it would be a grievous disadvantage
to him in the islands, and especially with countries such as Egypt,
the Turks, and the Eastern empire, with whom we had treaties; as,
unless he were a Venetian, he would be unable to trade with
them.</p>

<p>"He fully saw the force of my argument, but persisted in his
determination. If you ask my opinion, therefore, signors, and you
do not think the honour too great, I would suggest that the highest
and most acceptable honour that could be bestowed upon him, would
be that which you have at various times conferred upon foreign
personages of distinction, namely, to grant him the freedom of
Venice, and inscribe his name upon the list of her citizens,
without requiring of him the renunciation of his own country, or
the taking the oath of allegiance."</p>

<p>"The honour is assuredly a great and exceptional one," the doge
said, "but so is the service that he has rendered. He has converted
what would have been a defeat into a victory, and has saved Venice
from a grave peril.</p>

<p>"Will you retire for a few minutes, signor, and we will then
announce to you the result of our deliberations on the matter."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch12">Chapter 12</a>: In Mocenigo's Power.</h2>

<p>It was fully an hour before Polani was recalled to the council
chamber. He saw at once, by the flushed and angry faces of some of
the council, that the debate had been a hot one. At this he was not
surprised, for he knew that the friends and connections of Ruggiero
Mocenigo would vehemently oppose the suggestion he had made.</p>

<p>The doge announced the decision.</p>

<p>"The council thank you for your suggestion, Signor Polani, and
have resolved, by a majority, to confer upon Messer Francisco
Hammond the high honour of placing his name upon the list of the
citizens of Venice, without requiring from him the oaths of
allegiance to the state. As such an honour has never before been
conferred, save upon personages of the highest rank, it will be a
proof of the gratitude which Venice feels towards one who has done
her such distinguished service. The decree to that effect will be
published tomorrow."</p>

<p>The merchant retired, highly gratified. The honour was a great
and signal one, and the material advantages considerable. The fact
that Francis was a foreigner had been the sole obstacle which had
presented itself to him, in associating him with his business, for
it would prevent Francis from trading personally with any of the
countries in which Venetian citizens enjoyed special
advantages.</p>

<p>Francis was immensely gratified, when he heard from the merchant
of the honour to be conferred upon him. It was of all others the
reward he would have selected, had a free choice been given him,
but it was so great and unusual an honour, that he could indeed
scarcely credit it when the merchant told him the result of his
interviews with the council. The difficulty which his being a
foreigner would throw in the way of his career as a merchant in
Eastern waters, had been frequently in his mind, and would, he
foresaw, greatly lessen his usefulness, but that he should be able
to obtain naturalization, without renouncing his allegiance to
England, he had never even hoped.</p>

<p>"It is a very high honour, doubtless," Polani said, "but no whit
higher than you deserve. Besides, after all, it costs Venice
nothing, and money is scarce at present. At any rate, I can
congratulate myself as well as you, for I foresaw many difficulties
in our way. Although the ships carrying the Venetian flag could
enter the ports of all countries trading with us, you would
personally be liable to arrest, at any time, on being denounced as
not being a native of Venice, which you assuredly would be by my
rivals in trade."</p>

<p>The next day a bulletin was published, giving the substance of
Pisani's despatch, and announcing that, in token of the gratitude
of the republic for the great service he had rendered, Messer
Hammond would be at once granted the freedom of Venice, and his
name inserted on the list of her citizens.</p>

<p>During these two days the delight of Venice at the news of the
victory had been extreme. The houses had been decorated with flags,
and the bells of all the churches had peeled out joyously. Crowds
assembled round the Polani Palace, and insisted upon Francis making
his appearance, when they greeted him with tremendous shouts of
applause. Upon the evening of the second day he said to Polani:</p>

<p>"Have you any ship fit for sea, signor, because if so, I pray
you to send me away, no matter where. I cannot stand this. Since
the decree was published, this morning, I have not had a moment's
peace, and it is too absurd, when I did no more than any sailor on
board the ship. If it went on, I should very soon be heartily sorry
I ever interfered on behalf of the admiral."</p>

<p>The merchant smiled.</p>

<p>"I have half promised to take you with me to the reception at
the Persanis' this evening, and have had a dozen requests of a
similar nature for every night this week and next."</p>

<p>"Then, if you have no ship ready, signor, I will charter a
fishing boat, engage a couple of men, and go off for a fortnight.
By the end of that time something fresh will have happened."</p>

<p>"I can send you off, if you really wish it, Francisco, the first
thing tomorrow morning. I am despatching a small craft with a
message to my agent in Corfu, and with letters for my daughters.
They will be delighted to see you, and indeed, I shall be glad to
know that you are with them, until I can wind up several affairs
which I have in hand, and join them myself. She is fast, and you
should be at Corfu in eight-and-forty hours after sailing."</p>

<p>Francis gladly embraced the offer, and started the next morning.
The vessel was a small one, designed either to sail or row. Her
crew consisted of twenty men, who rowed sixteen sweeps when the
wind was light or unfavourable. She was an open boat, except that
she was decked at each end, a small cabin being formed aft for the
captain, and any passengers there might be on board, while the crew
stowed themselves in the little forecastle.</p>

<p>When the boat was halfway across, a sail was seen approaching,
and the captain recognized her as one of Polani's vessels.</p>

<p>"In that case," Francis said, "we may as well direct our course
so as to pass them within hailing distance. When you approach them,
hoist the Polani flag, and signal to them to lay to."</p>

<p>This was done, and the two craft brought up within thirty yards
of each other. The captain appeared at the side of the vessel, and
doffed his cap when he recognized Francis.</p>

<p>"Have you any news from the East?" the latter asked.</p>

<p>"But little, signor. A few Genoese pirates are among the
islands, and are reported to have made some captures, but I have
seen none. There is nothing new from Constantinople. No fresh
attempt has been made by the emperor to recapture Tenedos."</p>

<p>"Did you touch at Corfu on your way back?"</p>

<p>"I left there yesterday, signor. A strange craft has been
reported as having been seen on the coast. She carries no flag, but
from her appearance she is judged to be a Moor."</p>

<p>"But we are at peace with the Moors," Francis said, "and it is
years since they ventured on any depredations, excepting on their
own waters."</p>

<p>"That is so, signor, and I only tell you what was the report at
Corfu. She appeared to be a swift craft, rowing a great many oars.
Her movements certainly seem mysterious, as she has several times
appeared off the coast. Two vessels which sailed from Cyprus, and
were to have touched at Corfu, had not arrived there when I left,
and they say that several others are overdue. I do not say that has
anything to do with the strange galley, but it is the general
opinion in Corfu that it has something to do with it, and I am the
bearer of letters from the governor to the seignory, praying that
two or three war ships may at once be sent down to the island."</p>

<p>"It looks strange, certainly," Francis said; "but I cannot
believe that any Moorish pirates would be so daring as to come up
into Venetian waters."</p>

<p>"I should not have thought so either, signor; but it may be
that, knowing there is war between Venice and Genoa, and that the
state galleys of the republics, instead of being scattered over the
seas, are now collected in fleets, and thinking only of fighting
each other, they might consider it a good opportunity for picking
prizes."</p>

<p>"It is a good opportunity, certainly," Francis said; "but they
would know that Venice would, sooner or later, reckon with them;
and would demand a four-fold indemnity for any losses her merchants
may have suffered.</p>

<p>"However, I will not detain you longer. Will you tell Signor
Polani that you met us, and that we were making good progress, and
hoped to reach Corfu some time tomorrow?"</p>

<p>"This is a curious thing about this galley," the captain of the
boat said to Francis, as the men again dipped their oars into the
water, and the boat once more proceeded on the way.</p>

<p>"It is much more likely to be a Genoese pirate than a Moor,"
Francis said. "They may have purposely altered their rig a little,
in order to deceive vessels who may sight them. It is very many
years since any Moorish craft have been bold enough to commit acts
of piracy on this side of Sicily. However, we must hope that we
shall not fall in with her, and if we see anything answering to her
description we will give it a wide berth. Besides, it is hardly
likely they would interfere with so small a craft as ours, for they
would be sure we should be carrying no cargo of any great
value."</p>

<p>"Twenty Christian slaves would fetch money among the Moors," the
captain said. "Let us hope we shall see nothing of them; for we
should have no chance of resistance against such a craft, and she
would go two feet to our one."</p>

<p>The next morning Francis was aroused by a hurried summons from
the captain. Half awake, and wondering what could be the cause of
the call, for the boat lay motionless on the water, he hurried out
from the little cabin. Day had just broken, the sky was aglow with
ruddy light in the east.</p>

<p>"Look there, signor!" the captain said, pointing to the south.
"The watch made them out a quarter of an hour since, but, thinking
nothing of it, they did not call me. What do you think of
that?"</p>

<p>Two vessels were lying in close proximity to each other, at a
distance of about two miles from the boat. One of them was a large
trader, the other was a long galley rigged quite differently to
those of either Venice or Genoa.</p>

<p>"That is the craft they were speaking of," the captain said.
"There is no mistaking her. She may be an Egyptian or a Moor, but
certainly she comes from the African coast."</p>

<p>"Or is got up in African fashion," Francis said. "She may be, as
we agreed yesterday, a Genoese masquerading in that fashion, in
order to be able to approach our traders without their suspicions
being aroused. She looks as if she has made a captive of that
vessel. I imagine she must have come up to her late yesterday
evening, and has been at work all night stripping her. I hope she
is too busy to attend to us."</p>

<p>The sail had been lowered the instant the captain caught sight
of the vessels, for there was scarcely enough wind to fill it, and
the men were now rowing steadily.</p>

<p>"I do not think she could have taken much of her cargo out. She
is very deep in the water."</p>

<p>"Very deep," Francis agreed. "She seems to me to be deeper than
she did three minutes ago."</p>

<p>"She is a great deal deeper than when we first caught sight of
her," one of the sailors said. "She stood much higher in the water
than the galley did, and now, if anything, the galley stands
highest."</p>

<p>"See!" the captain exclaimed suddenly, "the galley is rowing her
oars on the port bow, and bringing her head round. She has noticed
us, and is going to chase us! We have seen too much.</p>

<p>"Row, men--it is for life! If they overtake us it is a question
between death, and slavery among the Moors."</p>

<p>A sudden exclamation from one of the men caused the captain to
glance round again at the galley. She was alone now on the
water--the trader had sunk!</p>

<p>"Do you take the helm, signor," the captain said. "All hands
will help at the oars."</p>

<p>Some of the oars were double banked, and beneath the strength of
the twenty men, the boat moved fast through the water. The galley
was now rowing all her oars, and in full pursuit. For a quarter of
an hour not a word was spoken. Every man on board was doing his
utmost. Francis had glanced backwards several times, and at the end
of a quarter of an hour, he could see that the distance between the
boat and her pursuer had distinctly lessened.</p>

<p>"Is she gaining on us?" the captain asked, for the cabin in the
stern hid the galley from the sight of the oarsmen.</p>

<p>"She is gaining," Francis said quietly, "but not rapidly. Row
steadily, my lads, and do not despair. When they find how slowly
they gain, they may give up the chase and think us not worth the
trouble.</p>

<p>"Jacopo," he said to an old sailor who was rowing in the bow,
and who already was getting exhausted from the exertion, "do you
lay in your oar and come aft. I will take your place."</p>

<p>At the end of an hour the galley was little more than a quarter
of a mile away.</p>

<p>"We had better stop," the captain said. "We have no chance of
getting away, and the longer the chase the more furious they will
be. What do you think, signor?"</p>

<p>"I agree with you," Francis replied. "We have done all that we
could. There is no use in rowing longer."</p>

<p>The oars fell motionless in the water, and a few minutes later
the long galley came rushing up by their side.</p>

<p>"A fine row you have given us, you dogs!" a man shouted angrily
as she came alongside. "If you haven't something on board that will
pay us for the chase we have had, it will be the worse for you.
What boat is that?"</p>

<p>"It is the Naxos, and belongs to Messer Polani of Venice. We are
bound to Corfu, and bear letters from the padrone to his agent
there. We have no cargo on board."</p>

<p>"The letters, perhaps, may be worth more than any cargo such a
boat would carry. So come on board, and let us see what the
excellent Polani says to his agent. Now, make haste all of you, or
it will be the worse for you."</p>

<p>It was useless hesitating. The captain, Francis, and the crew
stepped on board the galley.</p>

<p>"Just look round her," the captain said to one of his sailors.
"If there is anything worth taking, take it, and then knock a hole
in her bottom with your axe."</p>

<p>Francis, as he stepped on board the galley, looked round at the
crew. They were not Genoese, as he had expected, but a mixture of
ruffians from all the ports in the Mediterranean, as he saw at once
by their costumes. Some were Greeks from the islands, some
Smyrniots, Moors, and Spaniards; but the Moors predominated, nearly
half the crew belonging to that race.</p>

<p>Then he looked at the captain, who was eagerly perusing the
documents the captain had handed him. As his eye fell upon him,
Francis started, for he recognized at once the man whose designs he
had twice thwarted, Ruggiero Mocenigo, and felt that he was in
deadly peril.</p>

<p>After reading the merchant's communication to his agent,
Ruggiero opened the letter addressed to Maria. He had read but a
few lines when he suddenly looked up, and then, with an expression
of savage pleasure in his face, stepped up to Francis.</p>

<p>"So, Messer Hammond, the good Polani sends you to stay for a
while with his daughters! Truly, when I set out in chase this
morning of that wretched rowboat, I little deemed that she carried
a prize that I valued more than a loaded caravel! It is to you I
owe it that I am an exile, instead of being the honoured son-in-law
of the wealthy Polani. It was your accursed interference that
brought all my misfortunes upon me; but thank Heaven my vengeance
has come at last!</p>

<p>"Take them all below," he said, turning to his men. "Put the
heaviest irons you have got on this fellow, and fasten them with
staples into the deck.</p>

<p>"You thought I was going to hang you, or throw you overboard,"
he went on, turning to Francis. "Do not flatter yourself that your
death will be so easy a one--you shall suffer a thousand torments
before you die!"</p>

<p>Francis had not spoken a word since Ruggiero first turned to
him, but had stood with a tranquil and almost contemptuous
expression upon his face; but every nerve and muscle of his body
were strained, and in readiness to spring into action. He had
expected that Ruggiero would at once attack him, and was determined
to leap upon him, and to sell his life as dearly as possible.</p>

<p>The sailors seized Francis and his companions, and thrust them
down into the hold, which was already crowded with upwards of a
hundred captives. He was chained with heavy manacles. In obedience
to Ruggiero's orders, staples were driven through the links of his
chain deep into the deck, so that he was forced to remain in a
sitting or lying posture. The captain of the Naxos came and sat
beside him.</p>

<p>"Who is this pirate captain, Messer Francisco, who thus knows
and has an enmity against you? By his speech he is surely a
Venetian. And yet, how comes a Venetian in command of a
pirate?"</p>

<p>"That man is Ruggiero Mocenigo--the same who twice attempted to
carry off Messer Polani's daughters. The second time he succeeded,
and would have been tried for the offence by the state had he not,
aided by a band of Paduans, escaped from the keeping of his
guard."</p>

<p>"Of course I heard of it, signor. I was away at sea at the time,
but I heard how you came up at the moment when the padrone's
gondoliers had been overcome, and rescued his daughters. And this
is that villain Mocenigo, a disgrace to his name and family!"</p>

<p>"Remember the name, captain, and tell it to each of your men, so
that if they ever escape from this slavery, into which, no doubt,
he intends to sell you, they may tell it in Venice that Ruggiero
Mocenigo is a pirate, and an ally of the Moors. As for me, there
is, I think, but small chance of escape; but at any rate, if you
ever reach Venice, you will be able to tell the padrone how it was
that we never arrived at Corfu, and how I fell into the hands of
his old enemy. Still, I do not despair that I may carry the message
myself. There is many a slip between the cup and the lip, and
Mocenigo may have cause, yet, to regret that he did not make an end
of me as soon as he got me into his hands."</p>

<p>"It may be so," the captain said, "and indeed I cannot think
that so brave a young gentleman is destined to die, miserably, at
the hands of such a scoundrel as this man has shown himself to be.
As for death, did it come but speedily and sharply, I would far
sooner die than live a Moorish slave. Santa Maria, how they will
wonder at home, when the days go on, and the Naxos does not return,
and how at last they will give up all hope, thinking that she has
gone down in a sudden squall, and never dreaming that we are sold
as slaves to the Moors by a countryman!"</p>

<p>"Keep up your heart, captain. Be sure that when the war with
Genoa is over, Venice will take the matter in hand. As you know, a
vessel has already carried tidings thither of the depredation of a
Moorish cruiser, and she will take vengeance on the Moors, and may
even force them to liberate the captives they have taken; and
besides, you may be sure that the padrone, when he hears of the
Moorish galley, and finds we never reached Corfu although the
weather continued fine, will guess that we have fallen into her
hands, and will never rest till he finds where we have been taken,
and will ransom those who survive at whatever price they may put
upon them."</p>

<p>"He will do his best, I know. He is a good master to serve. But
once a prisoner among the Moors, the hope of one's ever being heard
of again is slight. Sometimes, of course, men have been ransomed;
but most, as I have heard, can never be found by their friends,
however ready they may be to pay any ransom that might be asked. It
just depends whether they are sold to a Moor living in a seaport or
not. If they are, there would be no great difficulty in hearing of
them, but if they are sold into the interior, no inquiries are ever
likely to discover them."</p>

<p>"You must hope for the best," Francis said. "Chances of escape
may occur, and I have heard that Christian captives, who have been
released, say that the Moors are for the most part kind
masters."</p>

<p>"I have heard so, too," the captain said; "and anyhow, I would
rather be a Moorish slave than lie in a Genoese dungeon. The
Genoese are not like us. When we take prisoners we treat them
fairly and honourably, while they treat their prisoners worse than
dogs. I wish I could do something for you, Messer Francisco. Your
case is a deal worse than ours.</p>

<p>"Listen, they are quarrelling up on deck!"</p>

<p>There was indeed a sound of men in hot dispute, a trampling of
feet, a clash of steel, and the sound of bodies falling.</p>

<p>"It is not possible that one of our cruisers can have come up,
and is boarding the pirate," the captain said, "for no sail was in
sight when we were brought here. I looked round the last thing
before I left the deck. What can they be fighting about?"</p>

<p>"Likely enough, as to their course. They have probably, from
what we heard, taken and sunk several ships, and some may be in
favour of returning to dispose of their booty, while others may be
for cruising longer. I only hope that scoundrel Ruggiero is among
those we heard fall. They are quiet now, and one party or the other
has evidently got the best of it. There, they are taking to the
oars again."</p>

<p>Several days passed. Sometimes the oars were heard going, but
generally the galley was under sail. The sailors brought down food
and water, morning and evening, but paid no other attention to the
captives. Francis discussed, with some of the other prisoners, the
chances of making a sudden rush on to the deck, and overpowering
the crew; but all their arms had been taken from them, and the
galley, they calculated, contained fully a hundred and fifty men.
They noticed, too, when the sailors brought down the food, a party
armed and in readiness were assembled round the hatchway.</p>

<p>At all other times the hatchway was nearly closed, being only
left sufficiently open to allow a certain amount of air to pass
down into the hold, and by the steady tramp of steps, up and down,
they knew that two sentries were also on guard above. Most of the
prisoners were so overcome with the misfortune which had befallen
them, and the prospect of a life in hopeless slavery, that they had
no spirit to attempt any enterprise whatever, and there was nothing
to do but to wait the termination of the voyage.</p>

<p>At the end of six days there was a bustle on deck, and the chain
of the anchor was heard to run out. Two or three hours afterwards
the hatchway was taken off. When the rest had ascended, two men
came below with hammers, and drew the staples which fastened
Francis to the deck.</p>

<p>On going up, he was at first so blinded with the glare of the
sunshine--after six days in almost total darkness--that he could
scarce see where he was. The ship was lying at anchor in a bay. The
shores were low, and a group of houses stood abreast of where the
ship was anchored. By their appearance Francis saw at once that he
was on the coast of Africa, or of some island near it.</p>

<p>The prisoners were ordered to descend into the boats which lay
alongside, some sailors taking their places with them. Ruggiero was
not at first to be seen, but just as Francis was preparing to take
his place in the boat, he came out from the cabin. One of his arms
was in a sling, and his head bandaged.</p>

<p>"Take special care of that prisoner," he said to the men. "Do
not take off his chains, and place a sentinel at the door of the
place of his confinement. I would rather lose my share of all the
spoil we have taken, than he should escape me!"</p>

<p>The shackles had been removed from the rest of the captives, and
on landing they were driven into some huts which stood a little
apart from the village. Francis was thrust into a small chamber
with five or six companions. The next morning the other prisoners
were called out, and Francis was left alone by himself all day. On
their return in the evening, they told him that all the prisoners
had been employed in assisting to get out the cargo, with which the
vessel was crammed, and in carrying it to a large storehouse in the
village.</p>

<p>"They must have taken a rich booty, indeed," said one of the
prisoners, who had already told Francis that he was the captain of
the vessel they had seen founder. "I could tell pretty well what
all the bales contain, by the manner of packing, and I should say
that there were the pick of the cargoes of a dozen ships there. All
of us here belong to three ships, except those taken with you; but
from the talk of the sailors, I heard that they had already sent
off two batches of captives, by another ship which was cruising in
company of them. I also learned that the quarrel, which took place
just after you were captured, arose from the fact that the captain
wished a party to land, to carry off two women from somewhere in
the island of Corfu; but the crew insisted on first returning with
the booty, urging, that if surprised by a Venetian galley, they
might lose all the result of their toil. This was the opinion of
the majority, although a few sided with the captain, being induced
to do so by the fact that he offered to give up all his share of
the booty, if they would do so.</p>

<p>"The captain lost his temper and drew his sword, but he and his
party were quickly overpowered. He has kept to his cabin ever
since, suffering, they say, more from rage than from his wounds.
However, it seems that as soon as we and the cargo have been sold,
they are to start for Corfu to carry out the enterprise. We are on
an island not very far from Tunis, and a fast-rowing boat started
early this morning to the merchants with whom they deal, for it
seems that a certain amount of secrecy is observed, in order that
if any complaints are made by Venice, the Moorish authorities may
disclaim all knowledge of the matter."</p>

<p>Two days later the prisoners captured were again led out, their
guards telling them that the merchants who had been expected had
arrived. Giuseppi, who had hitherto borne up bravely, was in an
agony of grief at being separated from Francis. He threw himself
upon the ground, wept, tore his hair, and besought the guards to
let him share his master's fate, whatever that might be. He
declared that he would kill himself were they separated; and the
guards would have been obliged to use force, had not Francis begged
Giuseppi not to struggle against fate, but to go quietly, promising
again and again that, if he himself regained his freedom, he would
not rest until Giuseppi was also set at liberty. At last the lad
yielded, and suffered himself to be led away, in a heartbroken
state, by the guards.</p>

<p>None of the captives returned to the hut, and Francis now turned
his whole thoughts to freeing himself from his chains. He had
already revolved in his mind every possible mode of escape. He had
tried the strong iron bars of the window, but found that they were
so rigidly fixed and embedded in the stonework, that there was no
hope of escape in this way; and even could he have got through the
window, the weight of his shackles would have crippled him.</p>

<p>He was fastened with two chains, each about two feet six inches
long, going from the wrist of the right hand to the left ankle, and
from the left hand to the right ankle. Thus he was unable to stand
quite upright, and anything like rapid movement was almost
impossible. The bottom of the window came within four feet of the
ground, and it was only by standing on one leg, and lifting the
other as high as he could, that he was able to grasp one of the
bars to try its strength.</p>

<p>The news he had heard from his fellow prisoner almost maddened
him, and he thought far less of his own fate, than of that of the
girls, who would be living in their quiet country retreat in
ignorance of danger, until suddenly seized by Mocenigo and his band
of pirates.</p>

<p>He had, on the first day, tried whether it was possible to draw
his hand through the iron band round his wrist, but had concluded
it could not be done, for it was riveted so tightly as to press
upon the flesh. Therefore there was no hope of freeing himself in
that manner. The only possible means, then, would be to cut through
the rivet or chain, and for this a tool would be required.</p>

<p>Suddenly an idea struck him. The guard who brought in his food
was a Sicilian, and was evidently of a talkative disposition, for
he had several times entered into conversation with the captives.
In addition to a long knife, he carried a small stiletto in his
girdle, and Francis thought that, if he could obtain this, he might
possibly free himself. Accordingly, at the hour when he expected
his guard to enter, Francis placed himself at his window, with his
face against the bars. When he heard the guard come in, and, as
usual, close the door behind him, he turned round and said:</p>

<p>"Who is that damsel there? She is very beautiful, and she passes
here frequently. There she is, just going among those trees."</p>

<p>The guard moved to the window and looked out.</p>

<p>"Do you see her just going round that corner there? Ah! She is
gone."</p>

<p>The guard was pressing his face against the bars, to look in the
direction indicated, and Francis, who was already standing on his
left leg, with the right raised so as to give freedom to the hand
next to the man, had no difficulty in drawing the stiletto from its
sheath, and slipping it into his trousers.</p>

<p>"You were just too late," he said, "but no doubt you often see
her."</p>

<p>"I don't see any beautiful damsels about in this wretched
place," the man replied. "I suppose she is the daughter of the head
man in the village. They say he has some good-looking ones, but he
takes pretty good care that they are not about when we are here. I
suppose she thought she wouldn't be seen along that path. I will
keep a good lookout for her in future."</p>

<p>"Don't frighten her away," Francis said, laughing. "She is the
one pleasant thing I have in the day to look at."</p>

<p>After some more talk the man retired, and Francis examined his
prize. It was a thin blade of fine steel, and he at once hid it in
the earth which formed the floor of the hut.</p>

<p>An hour later the guard opened the door suddenly. It was now
dusk, and Francis was sitting quietly in a corner.</p>

<p>"Bring a light, Thomaso," the guard shouted to his comrade
outside. "It is getting dark in here."</p>

<p>The other brought a torch, and they carefully examined the floor
of the cell.</p>

<p>"What is it that you are searching for?" Francis asked.</p>

<p>"I have dropped my dagger somewhere," the man replied. "I can't
think how it fell out."</p>

<p>"When did you see it last?"</p>

<p>"Not since dinner time. I know I had it then. I thought possibly
I might have dropped it here, and a dagger is not the sort of
plaything one cares about giving to prisoners."</p>

<p>"Chained as I am," Francis said, "a dagger would not be a
formidable weapon in my hands."</p>

<p>"No," the man agreed. "It would be useless to you, unless you
wanted to stick it into your own ribs."</p>

<p>"I should have to sit down to be able to do even that."</p>

<p>"That is so, lad. It is not for me to question what the captain
says, I just do as I am told. But I own it does seem hard, keeping
a young fellow like you chained up as if you were a wild beast. If
he had got Pisani or Zeno as a prisoner, and wanted to make doubly
sure that they would not escape, it would be all well enough, but
for a lad like you, with one man always at the door, and the window
barred so that a lion couldn't break through, I do think it hard to
keep you chained like this; and the worst of it is, we are going to
have to stop here to look after you till the captain gets back, and
that may be three weeks or a month, who knows!"</p>

<p>"Why don't you keep your mouth shut, Philippo?" the other man
growled. "It's always talk, talk with you. We are chosen because
the captain can rely upon us."</p>

<p>"He can rely upon anyone," Philippo retorted, "who knows that he
will get his throat cut if he fails in his duty."</p>

<p>"Well, come along," the other said, "I don't want to be staying
here all night. Your dagger isn't here, that's certain, and as I am
off guard at present, I want to be going."</p>

<p>As soon as he was left alone, Francis unearthed the dagger,
feeling sure that no fresh visit would be made him that evening. As
he had hoped, his first attempt showed him that the iron of the
rivet was soft, and the keen dagger at once notched off a small
piece of the burred end. Again and again he tried, and each time a
small piece of metal flew off. After each cut he examined the edge
of the dagger, but it was well tempered, and seemed entirely
unaffected.</p>

<p>He now felt certain that, with patience, he should be able to
cut off the projecting edges of the rivets, and so be able to free
his hands. He, therefore, now examined the fastenings at the
ankles. These were more heavy, and on trying them, the iron of the
rivet appeared to be much harder than that which kept the manacles
together. It was, however, now too dark to see what he was doing,
and concealing the dagger again, he lay down with a lighter heart
than he had from the moment of his capture.</p>

<p>Even if he found that the lower fastenings of the chain defied
all his efforts, he could cut the rivets at the wrists, and so free
one end of each chain. He could then tie the chains round his legs,
and their weight would not be sufficient to prevent his
walking.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch13">Chapter 13</a>: The Pirates' Raid.</h2>

<p>As soon as it was daylight next morning, Francis was up and at
work. His experiments of the evening before were at once confirmed.
Three or four hours' work would enable him to free his wrists, but
he could make no impression on the rivets at his ankles. After a
few trials he gave this up as hopeless, for he was afraid, if he
continued, he would blunt the edge of the dagger.</p>

<p>For an hour he sat still, thinking, and at last an idea occurred
to him. Iron could be ground by rubbing it upon stone, and if he
could not cut off the burr of the rivet with the dagger, he might
perhaps be able to wear it down, by rubbing it with a stone.</p>

<p>He at once turned to the walls of his cell. These were not built
of the unbaked clay so largely used for houses of the poorer class
in Northern Egypt, but had evidently been constructed either as a
prison, or more probably as a strong room where some merchant kept
valuable goods. It was therefore constructed of blocks of hard
stone.</p>

<p>It seemed to Francis that this was sandstone, and to test its
quality, he sat down in the corner where the guard had, the night
before, placed his supply of food and water. First he moistened a
portion of the wall, then he took up a link of his chain, and
rubbed for some time against it. At last, to his satisfaction, a
bright patch showed that the stone was capable of wearing away
iron. But in vain did he try to twist his legs so as to rub the
rivet against the wall, and he gave up the attempt as
impossible.</p>

<p>It was clear, then, that he must have a bit of the stone to rub
with. He at once began to dig with the dagger in the earth at the
foot of the wall, to see if he could find any such pieces. For a
long time he came across no chips, even of the smallest size. As he
worked, he was most careful to stamp down the earth which he had
moved, scattering over it the sand, of which there was an abundance
in the corners of the room, to obliterate all traces of his
work.</p>

<p>When breakfast time approached he ceased for a while, but after
the meal had been taken, he recommenced the task. He met with
little success till he reached the door, but here he was more
fortunate. A short distance below the surface were a number of
pieces of stone of various sizes, which, he had no doubt, had been
cut from the blocks to allow for the fixing of the lintel and
doorpost. He chose half a dozen pieces of the handiest sizes, each
having a flat surface. Then replacing the earth carefully, he took
one of the pieces in his hand, and moistening it with water, set to
work.</p>

<p>He made little progress. Still the stone did wear the iron, and
he felt sure that, by perseverance, he should succeed in wearing
off the burrs. All day he worked without intermission, holding a
rag wrapped round the stone to deaden the sound. He worked till his
fingers ached so that he could no longer hold it, then rested for
an hour or two, and resumed his work. When his guard brought his
dinner he asked him when the galley was to sail again.</p>

<p>"It was to have gone today," the man said, "but the captain has
been laid up with fever. He has a leech from Tunis attending him,
and, weak as he is, he is so bent on going that he would have had
himself carried on board the ship, had not the leech said that, in
that case, he would not answer for his life, as in the state his
blood is in, his wounds would assuredly mortify did he not remain
perfectly quiet. So he has agreed to delay for three days."</p>

<p>Francis was unable to work with the stone at night, for in the
stillness the sound might be heard; but for some hours he hacked
away with the dagger at the rivets on his manacles. The next
morning he was at work as soon as the chirrup of the cicadas began,
as these, he knew, would completely deaden any sound he might make.
By nighttime the rivet ends on the irons round his ankles were worn
so thin, that he felt sure that another hour's work would bring
them level with the iron, and before he went to sleep the rivets on
the wrist were in the same condition.</p>

<p>He learned from his guard, next morning, that the captain was
better, that he was to be taken on board in the cool of the
evening, and that the vessel would start as soon as the breeze
sprang up in the morning. In the afternoon his two guards entered,
and bade him follow them. He was conducted to the principal house
in the village, and into a room where Ruggiero Mocenigo was lying
on a couch.</p>

<p>"I have sent for you," Ruggiero said, "to tell you that I have
not forgotten you. My vengeance has been delayed from no fault of
mine, but it will be all the sweeter when it comes. I am going to
fetch Polani's daughters. I have heard that, since you thrust
yourself between me and them, you have been a familiar in the
house, that Polani treats you as a member of the family, and that
you are in high favour with his daughters. I have kept myself
informed of what happened in Venice, and I have noted each of these
things down in the account of what I owe you. I am going to fetch
Polani's daughters here, and to make Maria my wife, and then I will
show her how I treat those who cross my path. It will be a lesson
to her, as well as for you. You shall wish yourself dead a thousand
times before death comes to you."</p>

<p>"I always knew that you were a villain, Ruggiero Mocenigo,"
Francis said quietly, "although I hardly thought that a man who had
once the honour of being a noble of Venice, would sink to become a
pirate and renegade. You may carry Maria Polani off, but you will
never succeed through her in obtaining a portion of her father's
fortune, for I know that, the first moment her hands are free, she
will stab herself to the heart, rather than remain in the power of
such a wretch."</p>

<p>Ruggiero snatched up a dagger from a table by his couch as
Francis was speaking, but dropped it again.</p>

<p>"Fool," he said. "Am I not going to carry off the two girls? and
do you not see that it will tame Maria's spirit effectually, when
she knows that if she lays hands on herself, she will but shift the
honour of being my wife from herself to her sister?"</p>

<p>As the laugh of anticipated triumph rang in Francis's ears, the
latter, in his fury, made a spring forward to throw himself upon
the villain, but he had forgotten his chains, and fell headlong on
to the floor.</p>

<p>"Guards," Ruggiero shouted, "take this fellow away, and I charge
you watch over him securely, and remember that your lives shall
answer for his escape."</p>

<p>"There is no need for threats, signor," Philippo said. "You can
rely on our vigilance, though, as far as I see, if he had but a
child to watch him he would be safe in that cell of his, fettered
as he is."</p>

<p>Ruggiero waved his hand impatiently, and the two men withdrew
with their prisoner.</p>

<p>"If it were not that I have not touched my share of the booty of
our last trip," Philippo said as they left the house, "I would not
serve him another day. As it is, as soon as the galley returns, and
we get our shares of the money, and of the sum he has promised if
this expedition of his is successful, I will be off. I have had
enough of this. It is bad enough to be consorting with Moors,
without being abused and threatened as if one was a dog."</p>

<p>As soon as he was alone again, Francis set to work, and by the
afternoon the ends of the four rivets were worn down level with the
iron, and it needed but a pressure to make the rings spring open.
Then he waited for the evening before freeing himself, as by some
chance he might again be visited, and even if free before nightfall
he could not leave the house.</p>

<p>Philippo was later than usual in bringing him his meal, and
Francis heard angry words passing between him and his comrade,
because he had not returned to relieve him sooner.</p>

<p>"Is everything ready for the start?" Francis asked the man as he
entered.</p>

<p>"Yes, the crew are all on board. The boat is to be on shore for
the captain at nine o'clock, and as there is a little breeze
blowing, I expect they will get up sail and start at once."</p>

<p>After a few minutes' talk the man left, and Francis waited until
it became almost dark, then he inserted the dagger between the
irons at the point of junction. At the first wrench they flew
apart, and his left hand was free. A few minutes' more work and the
chains lay on the ground.</p>

<p>Taking them up, he rattled them together loudly. In a minute he
heard the guard outside move and come to the door, then the key was
inserted in the lock and the door opened.</p>

<p>"What on earth are you doing now?" Philippo asked as he
entered.</p>

<p>Francis was standing close to the door, so that as his guard
entered he had his back to him, and before the question was
finished he sprang upon him, throwing him headlong to the ground
with the shock, and before the astonished man could speak he was
kneeling upon him, with the point of the dagger at his throat.</p>

<p>"If you make a sound, or utter a cry," he exclaimed, "I will
drive this dagger into your throat."</p>

<p>Philippo could feel the point of the dagger against his skin,
and remained perfectly quiet.</p>

<p>"I do not want to kill you, Philippo. You have not been harsh to
me, and I would spare your life if I could. Hold your hands back
above your head, and put your wrists together that I may fasten
them. Then I will let you get up."</p>

<p>Philippo held up his hands as requested, and Francis bound them
tightly together with a strip of twisted cloth. He then allowed him
to rise.</p>

<p>"Now, Philippo, I must gag you. Then I will fasten your hands to
a bar well above your head, so that you can't get at the rope with
your teeth. I will leave you here till your comrade comes in the
morning."</p>

<p>"I would rather that you killed me at once, signor," the man
said. "Thomaso will be furious at your having made your escape, for
he will certainly come in for a share of the fury of the captain.
There are three or four of the crew remaining behind, and no doubt
they will keep me locked up till the ship returns, and in that case
the captain will be as good as his word. You had better kill me at
once."</p>

<p>"But what am I to do, Philippo? I must ensure my own safety. If
you will suggest any way by which I can do that, I will."</p>

<p>"I would swear any oath you like, signor, that I will not give
the alarm. I will make straight across the island, and get hold of
a boat there, so as to be well away before your escape is known in
the morning."</p>

<p>"Well, look here, Philippo. I believe you are sincere, and you
shall take the oath you hold most sacred."</p>

<p>"You can accompany me, signor, if you will. Keep my hands tied
till we are on the other side of the island, and stab me if I give
the alarm."</p>

<p>"I will not do that, Philippo. I will trust you altogether; but
first take the oath you spoke of."</p>

<p>Philippo swore a terrible oath, that he would abstain from
giving the alarm, and would cross the island and make straight for
the mainland. Francis at once cut the bonds.</p>

<p>"You will lose your share of the plunder, Philippo, and you will
have to keep out of the way to avoid the captain's rage. Therefore
I advise you, when you get to Tunis, to embark in the first ship
that sails. If you come to Venice, ask for me, and I will make up
to you for your loss of booty, and put you in the way of leading an
honest life again. But before going, you must first change clothes
with me. You can sell mine at Tunis for enough to buy you a dozen
suits like yours; but you must divide with me what money you now
have in your possession, for I cannot start penniless."</p>

<p>"I thank you for your kindness," the man said. "You had it in
your power, with a thrust of the dagger, to make yourself safe, and
you abstained. Even were it not for my oath, I should be a
treacherous dog, indeed, were I to betray you. I do not know what
your plans are, signor, but I pray you to follow my example, and
get away from this place before daylight. The people here will all
aid in the search for you, and as the island is not large, you will
assuredly be discovered. It has for many years been a rendezvous of
pirates, a place to which they bring their booty to sell to the
traders who come over from the mainland."</p>

<p>"Thank you for your advice, Philippo, and be assured I shall be
off the island before daybreak, but I have some work to do first,
and cannot therefore accompany you."</p>

<p>"May all the saints bless you, signor, and aid you to get safe
away! Assuredly, if I live, I will ere long present myself to you
at Venice--not for the money which you so generously promised me,
but that I may, with your aid, earn an honest living among
Christians."</p>

<p>By this time the exchange of clothes was effected, the six
ducats in Philippo's purse--the result of a little private
plundering on one of the captured vessels--divided; and then they
left the prison room, and Philippo locked the door after them.</p>

<p>"Is there any chance of Thomaso returning speedily?" Francis
asked. "Because, if so, he might notice your absence, and so give
the alarm before the ship sets sail, in which case we should have
the whole crew on our tracks."</p>

<p>"I do not think that he will. He will be likely to be drinking
in the wine shop for an hour or two before he returns. But I tell
you what I will do, signor. I will resume my place here on guard
until he has returned. He will relieve me at midnight, and in the
darkness will not notice the change of clothes. There will still be
plenty of time for me to cross the island, and get out of sight in
the boat, before the alarm is given, which will not be until six
o'clock, when I ought to relieve him again. As you say, if the
alarm were to be given before the vessel sails, they might start at
once to cut us off before we reach the mainland, for they would
make sure that we should try to escape in that direction."</p>

<p>"That will be the best plan, Philippo; and now goodbye."</p>

<p>Francis walked down to the shore. There were no boats lying
there of a size he could launch unaided, but presently he heard the
sound of oars, and a small fishing boat rowed by two men
approached.</p>

<p>"Look here, lads," he said. "I want to be put on board the ship.
I ought to have been on board three hours ago, but took too much
wine, and lay down for an hour or two and overslept myself. Do you
think you can row quietly up alongside so that I can slip on board
unnoticed? If so I will give you a ducat for your trouble."</p>

<p>"We can do that," the fishermen said. "We have just come from
the ship now, and have sold them our catch of today. There were
half a dozen other boats lying beside her, bargaining for their
fish. Besides they are taking on board firewood and other stores
that have been left till the last moment. So jump in and we will
soon get you there."</p>

<p>In a few minutes they approached the side of the ship.</p>

<p>"I see you have got half a dozen fish left in your boat now,"
Francis said.</p>

<p>"They are of no account," one of the men said. "They are good
enough for our eating, but not such as they buy on board a ship
where money is plentiful. You are heartily welcome to them if you
have a fancy for them."</p>

<p>"Thank you," Francis said. "I will take two or three of them, if
you can spare them. I want to play a trick with a comrade."</p>

<p>As the fishermen said, there were several boats lying near the
vessel, and the men were leaning over the sides bargaining for
fish. Handing the fishermen their promised reward, Francis sprang
up the ladder to the deck. He was unnoticed, for other men had gone
down into the boats for fish.</p>

<p>Mingling with the sailors, he gradually made his way to the
hatchway leading into the hold, descended the ladder, and stowed
himself away among a quantity of casks, some filled with wine and
some with water, at the farther end of the hold; and as he lay
there devoutly thanked God that his enterprise had been so far
successful.</p>

<p>Men came down from time to time with lanterns, to stow away the
lately-arrived stores, but none came near the place where Francis
was hidden. The time seemed long before he heard the clank of the
capstan, and knew the vessel was being hove up to her anchors.
Then, after a while, he heard the creaking of cordage, and much
trampling of feet on the deck above, and knew that she was under
way. Then he made himself as comfortable as he could, in his
cramped position, and went off to sleep.</p>

<p>When he woke in the morning, the light was streaming down the
hatch, which was only closed in rough weather, as it was necessary
frequently to go down into it for water and stores. Francis had
brought the fish with him as a means of subsistence during the
voyage, in case he should be unable to obtain provisions, but for
this there was no occasion, as there was an abundance of fruit
hanging from the beams, while piles of bread were stowed in a
partition at one end of the hold. During the day, however, he did
not venture to move, and was heartily glad when it again became
dark, and he could venture to get out and stretch himself. He
appropriated a loaf and some bunches of grapes, took a long drink
from a pail placed under the tap of a water butt, and made his way
back to his corner. After a hearty meal he went out again for
another drink, and then turned in to sleep.</p>

<p>So passed six days. By the rush of water against the outside
planks, he could always judge whether the vessel was making brisk
way or whether she was lying becalmed. Once or twice, after
nightfall, he ventured up on deck, feeling certain that in the
darkness there was no fear of his being detected. From conversation
he overheard on the seventh evening, he learned that Corfu had been
sighted that day. For some hours the vessel's sails had been
lowered, and she had remained motionless; but she was now again
making for the land, and in the course of another two hours a
landing was to be made.</p>

<p>The boats had all been got in readiness, and the men were to
muster fully armed. Although, as they understood, the carrying off
of two girls was their special object, it was intended that they
should gather as much plunder as could be obtained. The island was
rich, for many wealthy Venetians had residences there. Therefore,
with the exception of a few men left on board to take care of the
galley, the whole were to land. A picked boat's crew were to
accompany the captain, who was now completely convalescent. The
rest were to divide in bands and scatter over the country,
pillaging as they went, and setting fire to the houses. It was
considered that such consternation would be caused that nothing
like resistance could be offered for some time, and by daybreak all
hands were to gather at the landing place.</p>

<p>How far this spot was from the town, Francis had no means of
learning. There was a store of spare arms in the hold, and Francis,
furnishing himself with a sword and large dagger, waited until he
heard a great movement overhead, and then went upon deck and joined
a gang of men employed in lowering one of the boats. The boat was a
large one, rowing sixteen oars and carrying some twenty men seated
in the stern. Here Francis took his place with the others. The boat
pushed off and waited until four others were launched and filled.
Then the order was given, and the boats rowed in a body towards the
shore. The men landed and formed under their respective officers,
one man remaining in each boat to keep it afloat.</p>

<p>Francis leaped ashore, and while the men were forming up, found
no difficulty in slipping away unnoticed. As he did not know where
the path was, and was afraid of making a noise, he lay down among
the rocks until he heard the word of command to start given. Then
he cautiously crept out, and, keeping far enough in the rear to be
unseen, followed the sound of their footsteps. By the short time
which had elapsed between the landing and the start, he had no
doubt they were guided by some persons perfectly acquainted with
the locality, probably by some natives of the island among the
mixed crew.</p>

<p>Francis had, during his voyage, thought over the course he
should pursue on landing; and saw that, ignorant as he was of the
country, his only hope was in obtaining a guide who would conduct
him to Polani's villa before the arrival of Mocenigo and his band.
The fact that the crew were divided into five parties, which were
to proceed in different directions, and that he did not know which
of them was commanded by the captain, added to the difficulty. Had
they kept together he might, after seeing the direction in which
they were going, make a detour and get ahead of them. But he might
now follow a party going in an entirely wrong direction, and before
he could obtain a guide, Mocenigo's band might have gone so far
that they could not be overtaken before they reached the villa.</p>

<p>There was nothing to do but to get ahead of all the parties, in
the hope of coming upon a habitation before going far. As soon,
therefore, as the last band had disappeared, he started at a run.
The country was open, with few walls or fences; therefore on
leaving the road he was able to run rapidly forwards, and in a few
minutes knew that he must be ahead of the pirates. Then he again
changed his course so as to strike the road he had left.</p>

<p>After running for about a mile he saw a light ahead of him, and
soon arrived at a cottage. He knocked at the door, and then
entered. The occupants of the room--a man and woman, a lad, and
several children--rose to their feet at the sudden entrance of the
stranger.</p>

<p>"Good people," Francis said. "I have just landed from a ship,
and am the bearer of important messages to the Signoras Polani. I
have lost my way, and it is necessary that I should go on without a
moment's delay. Can you tell me how far the villa of Polani is
distant?"</p>

<p>"It is about three miles from here," the man said.</p>

<p>"I will give a ducat to your son if he will run on with me at
once."</p>

<p>The man looked doubtful. The apparel and general appearance of
Francis were not prepossessing. He had been six days a prisoner in
the hold without means of washing.</p>

<p>"See," he said, producing a ducat, "here is the money. I will
give it you at once if you will order your son to go with me, and
to hurry at the top of his speed."</p>

<p>"It's a bargain," the man said.</p>

<p>"Here, Rufo! start at once with the signor."</p>

<p>"Come along, signor," the boy said; and without another word to
the parents Francis followed him out, and both set off at a run
along the road.</p>

<p>Francis had said nothing about pirates to the peasants, for he
knew that, did he do so, such alarm would be caused that they would
think of nothing but flight, and he should not be able to obtain a
guide. It was improbable that they would be molested. The pirates
were bent upon pillaging the villas of the wealthy, and would not
risk the raising of an alarm by entering cottages where there was
no chance of plunder.</p>

<p>After proceeding a few hundred yards, the lad struck off by a
byroad at right angles to that which they had been following, and
by the direction he took Francis felt that he must at first have
gone far out of his way, and that the party going direct to the
villa must have had a considerable start. Still, he reckoned that
as he was running at the rate of three feet to every one they would
march, he might hope to arrive at the house well before them.</p>

<p>Not a word was spoken as they ran along. The lad was wondering,
in his mind, as to what could be the urgent business that could
necessitate its being carried at such speed; while Francis felt
that every breath was needed for the work he had to do. Only once
or twice he spoke, to ask how much further it was to their
destination.</p>

<p>The last answer was cheering:</p>

<p>"A few hundred paces farther."</p>

<p>"There are the lights, signor. They have not gone to bed. This
is the door."</p>

<p>Francis knocked with the pommel of his sword, keeping up a loud
continuous knocking. A minute or two passed, and then a face
appeared at the window above.</p>

<p>"Who is it that knocks so loudly at this time of night?"</p>

<p>"It is Francisco Hammond. Open instantly. Danger threatens the
signoras. Quick, for your life!"</p>

<p>The servant recognized the voice, and ran down without
hesitation and unbarred the fastening; but for a moment he thought
he must have been mistaken, as Francis ran into the lighted
hall.</p>

<p>"Where are the ladies?" he asked. "Lead me to them
instantly."</p>

<p>But as he spoke a door standing by was opened, and Signor Polani
himself, with the two girls, appeared. They had been on the point
of retiring to rest when the knocking began, and the merchant, with
his drawn sword, was standing at the door, when he recognized
Francis' voice.</p>

<p>They were about to utter an exclamation of pleasure at seeing
him, and of astonishment, not only at his sudden arrival, but at
his appearance, when Francis burst out:</p>

<p>"There is no time for a word. You must fly instantly. Ruggiero
Mocenigo is close at my heels with a band of twenty pirates."</p>

<p>The girls uttered a cry of alarm, and the merchant
exclaimed:</p>

<p>"Can we not defend the house, Francisco? I have eight men here,
and we can hold it till assistance comes."</p>

<p>"Ruggiero has a hundred," Francis said, "and all can be brought
up in a short time--you must fly. For God's sake, do not delay,
signor. They may be here at any moment."</p>

<p>"Come, girls," Polani said.</p>

<p>"And you, too," he went on, turning to the servants, whom the
knocking had caused to assemble. "Do you follow us. Resistance
would only cost you your lives.</p>

<p>"Here, Maria, take my hand.</p>

<p>"Francisco, do you see to Giulia.</p>

<p>"Close the door after the last of you, and bolt it. It will give
us a few minutes, before they break in and discover that we have
all gone.</p>

<p>"Which way are the scoundrels coming?"</p>

<p>Francis pointed in the direction from which he had come, and the
whole party started at a fast pace in the other direction. They had
not been gone five minutes, when a loud and sudden knocking broke
on the silence of the night.</p>

<p>"It was a close thing, indeed, Francisco," the merchant said, as
they ran along close to each other. "At present I feel as if I was
in a dream; but you shall tell us all presently."</p>

<p>They were, by this time, outside the grounds of the villa, and
some of the servants, who knew the country, now took the lead. In a
few minutes the merchant slackened his pace.</p>

<p>"We are out of danger now," he said. "They will not know in
which direction to search for us; and if they scatter in pursuit we
could make very short work of any that might come up with us."</p>

<p>"I do not know that you are out of danger," Francis said. "A
hundred men landed. Mocenigo, with twenty, took the line to your
house, but the rest have scattered over the country in smaller
bands, bent on murder and pillage. Therefore, we had best keep on
as fast as we can, until well beyond the circle they are likely to
sweep--that is, unless the ladies are tired."</p>

<p>"Tired!" Maria repeated. "Why, Giulia and I go for long walks
every day, and could run for an hour, if necessary."</p>

<p>"Then come on, my dears," the merchant said. "I am burning to
know what this all means; and I am sure you are equally curious;
but nothing can be said till you are in safety."</p>

<p>Accordingly, the party again broke into a run. A few minutes
later one of the servants, looking back, exclaimed:</p>

<p>"They have fired the house, signor. There are flames issuing
from one of the lower windows."</p>

<p>"I expected that," the merchant said, without looking back.
"That scoundrel would, in any case, light it in his fury at finding
that we have escaped; but he has probably done so, now, in hopes
that the light will enable him to discover us. It is well that we
are so far ahead, for the blaze will light up the country for a
long way round."</p>

<p>"There is a wood a little way ahead, signor," the servant said.
"Once through that we shall be hidden from sight, however great the
light."</p>

<p>Arrived at the wood, they again broke into a walk. A few hundred
yards beyond the wood was some rising ground, from which they could
see far over the country.</p>

<p>"Let us stop here," the merchant said. "We are safe now. We have
placed two miles between ourselves and those villains."</p>

<p>The villa was now a mass of flames. Exclamations of fury broke
from the men servants, while the women cried with anger at the
sight of the destruction.</p>

<p>"Do not concern yourselves," the merchant said. "The house can
be rebuilt, and I will see that none of you are the poorer for the
loss of your belongings.</p>

<p>"Now, girls, let us sit down here and hear from Francisco how it
is that he has once again been your saviour."</p>

<p>"Before I begin, signor, tell me whether there are any ships of
war in the port, and how far that is distant from us?"</p>

<p>"It is not above six miles on the other side of the island. That
is to say, we have been going towards it since we left the
villa.</p>

<p>"See," he broke off, "there are flames rising in three or four
directions. The rest of those villains are at their work."</p>

<p>"But are there any war galleys in the port?" Francis
interrupted.</p>

<p>"Yes. Three ships were sent here, on the report that a Moorish
pirate had been cruising in these waters, and that several vessels
were missing. When the story first came I did not credit it. The
captain of the ship who brought the news told me he had met you
about halfway across, and had told you about the supposed pirate. A
vessel arrived four days later, and brought letters from my agent,
but he said no word about your boat having arrived.</p>

<p>"Then I became uneasy; and when later news came, and still no
word of you, I felt sure that something must have befallen you;
that possibly the report was true, and that you had fallen into the
hands of the pirates. So I at once started, in one of the galleys
which the council were despatching in answer to the request of the
governor here."</p>

<p>"In that case, signor, there is not a moment to lose. The
governor should be informed that the pirate is lying on the
opposite coast, and that his crew have landed, and are burning and
pillaging. If orders are issued at once, the galleys could get
round before morning, and so cut off the retreat of these
miscreants."</p>

<p>"You are quite right," Polani said, rising at once. "We will go
on without a moment's delay! The girls can follow slowly under the
escort of the servants."</p>

<p>"Oh, papa," Maria exclaimed, "you are not going to take
Francisco away till we have heard his story! Can you not send
forward the servants with a message to the governor?"</p>

<p>"No, my dear. The governor will have gone to bed, and the
servants might not be able to obtain admittance to him. I must go
myself. It is for your sakes, as well as for my own. We shall never
feel a moment's safety, as long as this villain is at large.
Francisco's story will keep till tomorrow.</p>

<p>"As to your gratitude and mine, that needs no telling. He cannot
but know what we are feeling, at the thought of the almost
miraculous escape you have had from falling into the hands of your
persecutor.</p>

<p>"Now come along, Francisco.</p>

<p>"One of you men who knows the road had better come with us. Do
the rest of you all keep together.</p>

<p>"Two miles further, girls, as you know, is a villa of Carlo
Maffene. If you feel tired, you had best stop and ask for shelter
there. There is no fear that the pirates will extend their ravages
so far. They will keep on the side of the island where they landed,
so as to be able to return with their booty before daybreak to the
ship."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch14">Chapter 14</a>: The End Of The Persecutor.</h2>

<p>Signor Polani was so well known, that upon his arrival at the
governor's house the domestics, upon being aroused, did not
hesitate to awaken the governor at once. The latter, as soon as he
heard that the pirates had landed and were devastating the other
side of the island, and that their ship was lying close in to the
coast under the charge of a few sailors only, at once despatched a
messenger to the commander of the galleys; ordering them to arouse
the crews and make ready to put out to sea instantly. He added that
he, himself, should follow his messenger on board in a few minutes,
and should accompany them. He then issued orders that the bell
should toll to summon the inhabitants to arms; and directed an
officer to take the command, and to start with them at once across
the island, and to fall upon the pirates while engaged in their
work of pillage. They were to take a party with them with litters
to carry Polani's daughters to the town, and an apartment was to be
assigned to them in his palace, until his return.</p>

<p>While he was issuing this order, refreshments had been placed
upon the table, and he pressed Polani and his companions to partake
of these before starting.</p>

<p>Francis needed no second invitation. He had been too excited, at
the news he had heard on board the ship, to think of eating; and he
now remembered that it was a good many hours since he had taken his
last meal. He was but a few minutes, however, in satisfying his
hunger. By the time he had finished, the governor had seen that his
orders had been carried out.</p>

<p>Two hundred armed citizens had already mustered in companies,
and were now on the point of setting out, burning with indignation
at what they had heard of the depredations which the pirates had
committed. After seeing his preparations complete the governor,
accompanied by Polani and Francis, made his way down to the port,
and was rowed out to the galleys.</p>

<p>Here he found all on the alert. The sails were ready for
hoisting, and the men were seated at the benches, ready to aid with
oars the light wind which was blowing. The governor now informed
the commander of the vessels the reason of the sudden orders for
sailing. The news was passed to the captains of the other two
vessels, and in a very few minutes the anchors were weighed, and
the vessels started on their way.</p>

<p>Francis was closely questioned as to the spot at which the
pirate vessel was lying, but could only reply that, beyond the fact
that it was some four miles from Polani's villa, he had no idea of
the locality.</p>

<p>"But can you not describe to us the nature of the coast?" the
commander said.</p>

<p>"That I cannot," Francis replied; "for I was hidden away in the
hold of the vessel, and did not come on deck until after it was
dark, at which time the land abreast of us was only a dark
mass."</p>

<p>"Signor Polani has informed me," the governor said, "that,
although your attire does not betoken it, you are a dear friend of
his; but he has not yet informed me how it comes that you were upon
this pirate ship."</p>

<p>"He has been telling me as we came along," Polani replied; "and
a strange story it is. He was on his voyage hither in the Naxos,
which, as you doubtless remember, was a little craft of mine, which
should have arrived here a month since. As we supposed, it was
captured by the pirates, the leader of whom is Ruggiero Mocenigo,
who, as of course you know, made his escape from the custody of the
officers of the state, they being overpowered by a party of
Paduans. The sentence of banishment for life has been passed
against him, and, until I heard from my friend here that he was
captain of the pirate which has been seen off this island, I knew
not what had become of him.</p>

<p>"Those on board the Naxos were taken prisoners, and confined in
the pirate's hold, which they found already filled with captives
taken from other ships. The pirate at once sailed for Africa, where
all the prisoners were sold as slaves to the Moors, my friend here
alone excepted, Mocenigo having an old feud with him, and a design
to keep him in his hands. Learning that a raid was intended upon
Corfu, with the special design of carrying off my daughters, whom
Mocenigo had twice previously tried to abduct, Francisco managed to
get on board the vessel, and conceal himself in her hold, in order
that he might frustrate the design. He managed, in the dark, to
mingle with the landing party; and then, separating from them, made
his way on ahead, and fortunately was able to obtain a guide to my
house, which he reached five minutes only before the arrival of the
pirates there."</p>

<p>"Admirable, indeed! And we are all vastly indebted to him, for
had it not been for him, we should not have known of the doings of
these scoundrels until too late to cut off their retreat; and, once
away in their ship again, they might long have preyed upon our
commerce, before one of our cruisers happened to fall in with
them.</p>

<p>"As for Ruggiero Mocenigo, he is a disgrace to the name of a
Venetian; and it is sad to think that one of our most noble
families should have to bear the brand of being connected with a
man so base and villainous. However, I trust that his power of ill
doing has come to an end.</p>

<p>"Is the vessel a fast one, signor?"</p>

<p>"I cannot say whether she sails fast," Francis replied; "but she
certainly rows fast."</p>

<p>"I trust that we shall catch her before she gets under way," the
commander of the galleys said. "Our vessels are not made for
rowing, although we get out oars to help them along in calm
weather."</p>

<p>"What course do you propose to take?" the merchant asked.</p>

<p>"When we approach the spot where she is likely to be lying, I
shall order the captains of the other two ships to lie off the
coast, a couple of miles distant and as far from each other, so
that they can cut her off as she makes out to sea. We will follow
the coast line, keeping in as close as the water will permit, and
in this way we shall most likely come upon her. If we should miss
her, I shall at the first dawn of morning join the others in the
offing, and keep watch till she appears from under the shadow of
the land."</p>

<p>It was now three o'clock in the morning, and an hour later the
three vessels parted company, and the galley with the governor and
commander of the squadron rowed for the shore. When they came close
to the land, the captain ordered the oars to be laid in.</p>

<p>"The breeze is very light," he said; "but it is favourable, and
will enable us to creep along the shore. If we continue rowing,
those in charge of the ship may hear us coming, and may cut their
cables, get up sail, and make out from the land without our seeing
them. On a still night, like this, the sound of the sweeps can be
heard a very long distance."</p>

<p>Quietly the vessel made her way along the shore. Over the land,
the sky was red with the reflection of numerous fires, but this
only made the darkness more intense under its shadow, and the lead
was kept going in order to prevent them from sailing into shallow
water. By the captain's orders strict silence was observed on board
the ship, and every eye was strained ahead on the lookout for the
pirate vessel.</p>

<p>Presently, all became aware of a confused noise, apparently
coming from the land, but at some distance ahead. As they got
further on, distant shouts and cries were heard.</p>

<p>"I fancy," the governor said to the captain, "the band from the
town have met the pirates, and the latter are retreating to their
ship."</p>

<p>"Then the ship can't be far off," the captain said. "Daylight is
beginning to break in the east, and we shall soon be able to make
her out against the sky--that is, if she is still lying at
anchor."</p>

<p>On getting round the next point, the vessel was distinctly
visible. The shouting on the shore was now plainly heard, and there
could be no doubt that a desperate fight was going on there. It
seemed to be close to the water's edge.</p>

<p>"There is a boat rowing off to the ship," one of the sailors
said.</p>

<p>"Then get out your oars again. She is not more than half a mile
away, and she can hardly get under way before we reach her.
Besides, judging from the sound of the fight, the pirates must have
lost a good many men, and will not be able to man all the oars even
if they gain their ship."</p>

<p>The men sat down to their oars with alacrity. Every sailor on
board felt it almost as a personal insult, that pirates should dare
to enter the Venetian waters and carry on their depredations there.
The glare of the burning houses, too, had fired their indignation
to the utmost, and all were eager for the fight.</p>

<p>Three boats were now seen rowing towards the ship.</p>

<p>"Stretch to your oars, men," the captain said. "We must be
alongside them, if we can, before they can take to their
sweeps."</p>

<p>The pirates had now seen them; and Francis, standing at the bow
eagerly watching the vessel, could hear orders shouted to the
boats. These pulled rapidly alongside, and he could see the men
clambering up in the greatest haste. There was a din of voices.
Some men tried to get up the sails, others got out oars, and the
utmost confusion evidently prevailed. In obedience to the shouts of
the officers, the sails were lowered again, and all betook
themselves to the oars; but scarce a stroke had been pulled before
the Venetian galley ran up alongside. Grapnels were thrown, and the
crew, seizing their weapons, sprang on to the deck of the
pirate.</p>

<p>The crew of the latter knew that they had no mercy to expect,
and although weakened by the loss of nearly a third of their number
in the fighting on shore, sprang from their benches, and rushed to
oppose their assailants, with the desperation of despair. They were
led by Ruggiero Mocenigo, who, furious at the failure of his
schemes, and preferring death to the shame of being carried to
Venice as a pirate and a traitor, rushed upon the Venetians with a
fury which, at first, carried all before it. Supported by his Moors
and renegades he drove back the boarders, and almost succeeded in
clearing the deck of his vessel.</p>

<p>He himself engaged hand-to-hand with the commander of the
Venetian galley, and at the third thrust ran him through the
throat; but the Venetians, although they had yielded to the first
onslaught, again poured over the bulwarks of the galley. Polani,
burning to punish the man who had so repeatedly tried to injure
him, accompanied them, Francis keeping close beside him.</p>

<p>"Ruggiero Mocenigo, traitor and villain, your time has
come!"</p>

<p>Ruggiero started at hearing his name thus proclaimed, for on
board his own ship he was simply known as the captain; but in the
dim light he recognized Polani, and at once crossed swords with
him.</p>

<p>"Be not so sure, Polani. Perhaps it is your time that has
come."</p>

<p>The two engaged with fury. Polani was still strong and vigorous.
His opponent had the advantage of youth and activity. But Polani's
weight and strength told, and he was forcing his opponent back,
when his foot slipped on the bloodstained deck. He fell forward;
and in another moment Ruggiero would have run him through the body;
had not the weapon been knocked up by Francis, who, watching every
movement of the fight, sprang forward when he saw the merchant
slip.</p>

<p>"This time, Ruggiero, my hands are free. How about your
vengeance now?"</p>

<p>Ruggiero gave a cry of astonishment, at seeing the lad whom he
believed to be lying in chains, five hundred miles away, facing
him. For a moment he recoiled, and then with the cry, "I will take
it now," sprang forward. But this time he had met an opponent as
active and as capable as himself.</p>

<p>For a minute or two they fought on even terms, and then Ruggiero
fell suddenly backwards, a crossbow bolt, from one of the Venetians
on the poop of the vessel, having struck him full in the
forehead.</p>

<p>Without their leader, the spirit of the pirates had fled. They
still fought, steadily and desperately, but it was only to sell
their lives as dearly as possible; and in five minutes after the
fall of Ruggiero the last man was cut down, for no quarter was
given to pirates.</p>

<p>Just as the combat concluded, the sound of oars was heard, and
the other two galleys came up to the assistance of their consort.
They arrived too late to take part in the conflict, but cheered
lustily when they heard that the pirate captain, and all his crew,
had been killed. Upon learning that the commander of the galley was
killed, the captain next in seniority assumed the command.</p>

<p>In a few minutes, the bodies of the pirates were thrown
overboard, the wounded were carried below to have their wounds
attended to, while the bodies of those who had fallen--thirteen in
number--were laid together on the deck, for burial on shore.</p>

<p>"Thanks to you, Francisco, that I am not lying there beside
them," the merchant said. "I did not know that you were so close at
hand, and as I slipped I felt that my end had come."</p>

<p>"You were getting the better of him up to that point," Francis
said. "I was close at hand, in readiness to strike in should I see
that my aid was wanted, but up to the moment you slipped, I
believed that you would have avenged your wrongs yourself."</p>

<p>"It is well that he fell as he did. It would have been dreadful,
indeed, had he been carried to Venice, to bring shame and disgrace
upon a noble family. Thank God, his power for mischief is at an
end! I have had no peace of mind since the day when you first
thwarted his attempt to carry off the girls; nor should I have ever
had, until I obtained sure tidings that he was dead. The
perseverance with which he has followed his resolve, to make my
daughter his wife, is almost beyond belief. Had his mind been
turned to other matters, he was capable of attaining greatness, for
no obstacle would have barred his way.</p>

<p>"It almost seems as if it were a duel between him and you to the
death--his aim to injure me, and yours to defend us. And now it has
ended. Maria will breathe more freely when she hears the news, for,
gay and light hearted as she is, the dread of that man has weighed
heavily upon her."</p>

<p>The governor, who from the poop of the vessel had watched the
conflict, now came up, and warmly congratulated Francis upon his
bravery.</p>

<p>"I saw you rush forward, just as my friend Polani fell, and
engage his assailant. At first I thought you lost, for the villain
was counted one of the best swordsmen in Venice, and you are still
but a lad; but I saw you did not give way an inch, but held your
own against him; and I believe you would have slain him unaided,
for you were fighting with greater coolness than he was. Still, I
was relieved when I saw him fall, for even then the combat was
doubtful, and his men, to do them justice, fought like demons. How
comes it that one so young as you should be so skilled with your
weapon?"</p>

<p>"This is not the first time that my young friend has done good
service to the state," Polani said; "for it was he who led a crew
of one of my ships to the aid of Pisani, when his galley was
boarded by the Genoese, at the battle of Antium."</p>

<p>"Is this he?" the governor said, in surprise. "I heard, of
course, by the account of those who came from Venice a month since,
how Pisani was aided, when hard pressed, by the crew of one of your
ships, headed by a young Englishman, upon whom the state had
conferred the rights of citizenship as a recognition of his
services; but I did not dream that the Englishman was but a
lad.</p>

<p>"What is your age, young sir?"</p>

<p>"I am just eighteen," Francis replied. "Our people are all fond
of strong exercise, and thus it was that I became more skilled,
perhaps, than many of my age, in the use of arms."</p>

<p>At nine o'clock the squadron arrived in the port, bringing with
them the captured galley. As soon as they were seen approaching,
the church bells rang, flags were hung out from the houses, and the
whole population assembled at the quay to welcome the victors and
to hear the news.</p>

<p>"Do you go on at once, directly we land, Francisco, and set the
girls' minds at ease. I must come on with the governor, and he is
sure to be detained, and will have much to say before he can make
his way through the crowd."</p>

<p>Francis was, on his arrival at the governor's, recognized by the
domestics, and at once shown into the room where the girls were
awaiting him. The fact that the pirate galley had been captured was
already known to them, the news having been brought some hours
before, by a horseman, from the other side of the island.</p>

<p>"Where is our father?" Maria exclaimed, as Francis entered
alone.</p>

<p>"He is well, and sent me on to relieve your minds."</p>

<p>"Saint Mark be praised!" Maria said. "We have been sorely
anxious about you both. A messenger, who brought the news, said
that it could be seen from the shore that there was a desperate
fight on board the pirate ship, which was attacked by one galley
only. We felt sure that it would be the ship that the governor was
in, and we knew you were with him; and our father was so enraged at
what had happened, that we felt sure he would take part in the
fight."</p>

<p>"He did so," Francis said, "and himself engaged hand-to-hand
with Mocenigo, and would probably have killed him, had not his foot
slipped on the deck. I was, of course, by his side, and occupied
the villain until a cross bolt pierced his brain. So there is an
end to all your trouble with him."</p>

<p>"Is he really dead?" Maria said. "Oh, Francisco, how thankful I
am! He seemed so determined, that I began to think he was sure some
day to succeed in carrying me off. Not that I would ever have
become his wife, for I had vowed to kill myself before that came
about. I should have thought he might have known that he could
never have forced me to be his wife."</p>

<p>"I told him the same thing," Francis said, "and he replied that
he was not afraid of that, for that he should have your sister in
his power also, and that he should warn you that, if you laid hands
on yourself, he should make her his wife instead of you."</p>

<p>The girls both gave an exclamation of horror.</p>

<p>"I never thought of that," Maria said; "but he would indeed have
disarmed me with such a threat. It would have been horrible for me
to have been the wife of such a man; but I think I could have borne
it rather than have consigned Giulia to such a fate.</p>

<p>"Oh, here is father!"</p>

<p>"I have got away sooner than I expected," Polani said as he
entered. "The governor was good enough to beg me to come on at once
to you. You have heard all the news, I suppose, and know that our
enemy will persecute you no more."</p>

<p>"We have heard, papa, and also that you yourself fought with
him, which was very wrong and very rash of you."</p>

<p>"And did he tell you that had it not been for him I should not
be here alive now, girls?"</p>

<p>"No, father. He said that when you slipped he occupied
Ruggiero's attention until the cross bolt struck him."</p>

<p>"That is what he did, my dear; but had he not occupied his
attention I should have been a dead man. The thrust was aimed at me
as I fell, and would have pierced me had he not sprung forward and
turned it aside, and then engaged in single combat with Mocenigo,
who, with all his faults, was brave and a skillful swordsman; and
yet, as the governor himself said, probably Francisco would have
slain him, even had not the combat ended as it did.</p>

<p>"And now we must have his story in full. I have not heard much
about it yet, and you have heard nothing; and I want to know how he
managed to get out of the hands of that man, when he had once
fallen into them."</p>

<p>"That is what we want to know, too, father. We know what a sharp
watch was kept upon us, and I am sure they must have been much more
severe with him."</p>

<p>"They were certainly more severe," Francis said smiling, "for my
right hand was chained to my left ankle, and the left hand to to my
right ankle--not tightly, you know, but the chain was so short that
I could not stand upright. But, on the other hand, I do not think
my guards were as vigilant as yours. However, I will tell you the
whole story."</p>

<p>The girls listened with rapt attention to the story of the
capture, the escape, and of his hiding in the hold of the pirate in
order to be able to give them a warning in time.</p>

<p>"Your escape was fortunate, indeed," the merchant said when he
had finished. "Fortunate both for you and for us, for I have no
doubt that Mocenigo had intended to put you to a lingering death,
on his return. As for the girls, nothing could have saved them from
the fate he designed for them, save the method which you took of
arriving here before him."</p>

<p>"What are we to do for him, father?" Maria exclaimed. "We are
not tired of thanking him, but he hates being thanked. If he would
only get into some terrible scrape, Giulia and I would set out to
rescue him at once; but you see he gets out of his scrapes before
we hear of them. It is quite disheartening not to be able to do
anything."</p>

<p>Francis laughed merrily.</p>

<p>"It is terrible, is it not, signora? But if I manage to get into
any scrape, and have time to summon you to my assistance, be sure I
will do so. But, you see, one cannot get into a scrape when one
chooses, and I must be content, while I am away, in knowing that I
have the good wishes of you and your sister."</p>

<p>"Do not trouble yourself, Maria," her father said. "Some day an
opportunity may come for our paying our debts, and in the meantime
Francis is content that we should be his debtors."</p>

<p>"And now, what are you going to do, papa?"</p>

<p>"I shall sail with you for Venice tomorrow. The governor will be
sending one of the galleys with the news of the capture of the
pirate, and doubtless he will give us all a passage in her. I shall
order steps to be taken at once for rebuilding the villa, and will
get it completed by the spring, before which time you will be off
my hands, young lady; and I shall not be altogether sorry, for you
have been a very troublesome child lately."</p>

<p>"It has not been my fault," Maria pouted.</p>

<p>"Not at all, my dear. It has been your misfortune, and I am not
blaming you at all."</p>

<p>"But the trouble is now over, father!"</p>

<p>"So much the better for Rufino," the merchant said. "It will be
good news to him that you are freed from the persecution of
Ruggiero. And now, I must leave you, for I have arranged to ride
over with the governor to the other side of the island. He has to
investigate the damage which took place last evening. I hear that
upwards of a score of villas were sacked and destroyed, and that
many persons were killed; and while he is doing that I shall see
what has to be done at our place. I don't know whether the walls
are standing, or whether it will have to be entirely rebuilt, and I
must arrange with some builder to to go over from here with me, and
take my instructions as to what must be done."</p>

<p>On the following day the party set sail for Venice, where they
arrived without adventure. Preparations were at once begun for the
marriage of Maria with Rufino Giustiniani, and six weeks later the
wedding ceremony took place. Francis did not go to sea until this
was over, for when he spoke of a fresh voyage, a short time after
their return, Maria declared that she would not be married unless
he remained to be present.</p>

<p>"You have got me out of all my scrapes hitherto, Francisco, and
you must see me safely through this."</p>

<p>As Signor Polani also declared that it was not to be thought of,
that Francis should leave until after the marriage, he was obliged
to remain for it. He was glad, however, when it was over, for he
found the time on shore more tedious than usual. The girls were
taken up with the preparations for the ceremony, and visitors were
constantly coming and going, and the house was not like itself.</p>

<p>But even when the marriage was over, he was forced to remain
some time longer in Venice. The Genoese fleets were keeping the
sea, and Pisani had not, since the battle of Antium, succeeded in
coming up with them. The consequence was that commerce was at a
standstill, for the risk of capture was so great that the merchants
ceased to send their ships to sea.</p>

<p>"The profit would not repay us for the risk, Francisco," the
merchant said one day when they were talking over it. "If only one
cargo in ten fell into their hands the profit off the other nine
would be swept away; but as I see that you are longing to be afloat
again, you can, if you like, join one of the state galleys which
start next week to reinforce Pisani's fleet.</p>

<p>"The last time Pisani wrote to me he said how glad he should be
to have you with him; and after your service at Antium, I have no
doubt whatever that I could procure for you a post as second in
command in one of the ships. What do you say?"</p>

<p>"I should certainly like it, signor, greatly; but, as you said
before, it would be a mere waste of time for me to take service
with the state, when I am determined upon the vocation of a
merchant."</p>

<p>"I did say that, Francis, and meant it at the time; but at
present trade is, as you see, at a standstill, so you would not be
losing time, and, in the next place, it is always an advantage,
even to a trader, to stand well with the state. Here in Venice all
the great merchants are of noble family, and trade is no bar to
occupying the highest offices of the state. Many of our doges have
been merchants; while merchants are often soldiers, diplomatists,
or governors, as the state requires their services.</p>

<p>"You have already, you see, obtained considerable benefit by the
action at Antium. I do not say that you would derive any direct
benefit, even were you to distinguish yourself again as highly as
on that occasion. Still, it is always well to gain the
consideration of your fellows, and to be popular with the people.
Therefore, if you would like to take service with the state until
this affair is decided with Genoa, and the seas are again open to
our ships, I think it will be advantageous to you rather than
not."</p>

<p>"Then, with your permission I will certainly do so, signor,"
Francis said. "Of course I should prefer to go as an officer on
board one of the ships; but if not, I will go as a volunteer."</p>

<p>"You need not fear about that, Francis. With my influence, and
that of the Giustiniani, and the repute you have gained for
yourself, you may be sure of an appointment. Rufino would have
commanded one of the ships had it not been for his marriage."</p>

<p>Rufino Giustiniani had indeed been most warm in his expressions
of gratitude to Francis, to whom the whole family had shown the
greatest attention, giving him many presents as a proof of their
goodwill and gratitude.</p>

<p>"I am quite jealous of your English friend," Rufino had said one
day to Maria. "I do believe, Maria, that you care for him more than
you do for me. It is lucky for me that he is not two or three years
older."</p>

<p>Maria laughed.</p>

<p>"I do care for him dearly; and if he had been, as you say, older
and had fallen in love with me, I can't say how it would have been.
You must acknowledge, it would be very hard to say no to a man who
keeps on saving you from frightful peril; but then, you see, a girl
can't fall in love with a man who does not fall in love with
her.</p>

<p>"Francisco is so different from us Venetians. He always says
just what he thinks, and never pays anyone even the least bit of a
compliment. How can you fall in love with a man like that? Of
course you can love him like a brother--and I do love Francisco as
if he were my brother--but I don't think we should have got further
than that, if he had been ever so old."</p>

<p>"And does Francis never pay you compliments, Giulia?"</p>

<p>"Never!" Giulia said decidedly. "It would be hateful of him if
he did."</p>

<p>"But Maria doesn't object to compliments, Giulia. She looks for
them as if they were her daily bread--</p>

<p>"Don't you, Maria--</p>

<p>"You will have to learn to put up with them soon, Giulia, for
you will be out in society now, and the young men will crowd round
your chair, just as they have done round that of this little flirt,
your sister."</p>

<p>"I shall have to put up with it, I suppose," Giulia said
quietly, "just as one puts up with other annoyances. But I should
certainly never get to care for anyone who thinks so little of me,
as to believe that I could be pleased by being addressed in such
terms."</p>

<p>"From which I gather," Giustiniani said, smiling, "that this
English lad's bluntness of speech pleases you more than it does
Maria?"</p>

<p>"It pleases Maria, too," Giulia said, "though she may choose to
say that it doesn't. And I don't think it quite right to discuss
him at all, when we all owe him as much as we do."</p>

<p>Giustiniani glanced at Maria and gave a little significant
nod.</p>

<p>"I do not think Giulia regards Francisco in quite the brotherly
way that you do, Maria," he whispered presently to her.</p>

<p>"Perhaps not," Maria answered. "You see, she had not fallen in
love with you before she met him. But I do not know. Giulia seldom
speaks of him when we are alone, and if she did, you don't suppose
I should tell you my sister's secrets, sir?"</p>

<p>The day after his conversation with Francis, Polani handed him
his nomination as second in command of the Pluto, which he had
obtained that morning from the seignory.</p>

<p>"You will be glad to hear that it is in this ship that Matteo
also sails," for Matteo had come home for his brother's
wedding.</p>

<p>"I am very glad of that," Francis said. "I wish that poor
Giuseppi was also here to go with me. I shall miss him terribly. He
was a most faithful and devoted follower."</p>

<p>"I have already sent orders, to my agent in Tunis, to spare no
pains in discovering to whom the crew of the Naxos were sold. It is
unfortunate that so many other captives were sold at the same time,
as it will make it so much more difficult to trace our men. Those
purchasing are not likely to know more than their first names, and
may not even take the trouble to find out those, but may give them
the first appellation that comes to hand. Therefore he has to find
out who are now the masters of the whole of the captives sold at
the same time, and then to pursue his investigations until he
discovers the identity of the men he is looking for. Once he has
found this, I will promise you there will be no delay. I have
ordered him to make the best bargain in each case he can, but that
at any rate he is to buy every one of them, whatever it may
cost.</p>

<p>"I have sent him the personal descriptions of each man of the
boat's crew, as given to me by their friends and relatives here, as
this will be an assistance in his search. If, for instance, he
hears of a Christian slave named Giuseppi living with a master some
hundreds of miles in the interior, the fact that this man is middle
aged will show at once that he was not the Giuseppi, age 20, of
whom he is in search. I have particularly impressed upon him, in my
letter, that we were especially anxious for the rescue of the
captain, and the young man Giuseppi, so I hope that by the time you
return from the voyage, I may have received some news of them."</p>

<p>Matteo was greatly pleased when he heard that he was going to
sail under Francis.</p>

<p>"I would rather that we had both been volunteers," Francis said.
"It seems absurd my being appointed second officer, while you as
yet have no official position."</p>

<p>"I am not in the least bit in the world jealous, Francisco. With
the exception of taking part in the fight at Antium, I have had no
experience whatever, while you have been going through all sorts of
adventures for the last two years, and always have come out of them
marvellously well."</p>

<p>An hour after Matteo left him, a retainer of the family brought
Francis a letter from Signor Giustiniani, inviting him to come to
his house that evening, as many of Matteo's comrades on board the
Pluto would be present. On Francis going to the palace he found
assembled, not only the young men who would be Matteo's comrades as
volunteers, but also the captain and other officers of the ship;
and to them Signor Giustiniani personally presented Francis, while
Rufino and Matteo did all they could to ensure the heartiest
welcome for him, by telling everyone how greatly they were indebted
to him, and how gallantly he had behaved on several occasions.</p>

<p>Many of the young men he already knew as Matteo's friends, and
by them he was received with the greatest cordiality; but his
reception by the captain, and one or two of the other officers, was
much more cool. The captain, whose name was Carlo Bottini, was a
distant connection of the Mocenigo family, and was therefore
already prejudiced against Francis. The coolness of the other
officers was due to the fact that Francis, a foreigner and several
years junior to themselves, had been placed in command over their
heads.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch15">Chapter 15</a>: The Battle Of Pola.</h2>

<p>The squadron, consisting of four galleys, sailed for Cyprus;
where Pisani had just endeavoured, without success, to expel the
Genoese from Famagosta. It was towards the end of August that they
effected a junction with his fleet. Pisani received Francis with
great warmth, and, in the presence of many officers, remarked that
he was glad to see that the republic was, at last, appointing men
for their merits, and not, as heretofore, allowing family
connection and influence to be the chief passport to their
favour.</p>

<p>For two months the fleet sailed among the islands of the Levant,
and along the shores of Greece, Istria, and Dalmatia; hoping to
find the Genoese fleet, but altogether without success. In
November, when they were on the coast of Istria, winter set in with
extraordinary severity, and the frost was intense. Pisani wrote to
his government asking permission to bring the fleet into Venice
until the spring. The seignory, however, refused his request, for
they feared that, were it known that their fleet had come into port
for the winter, the Genoese would take advantage of its absence to
seize upon some of the islands belonging to Venice, and to induce
the inhabitants of the cities of Istria and Dalmatia, always ready
for revolt, to declare against her.</p>

<p>The first indications of the winter were more than verified. The
cold was altogether extraordinary; and out of the nineteen galleys
of Pisani, only six were fit to take the sea, with their full
complement of men, when the spring of 1379 began. Many of the
vessels had been disabled by storms. Numbers of the men had died,
more had been sent home invalided, and it was only by transferring
the men from the other vessels to the six in the best condition,
that the crews of the latter were made up to their full
strength.</p>

<p>As soon as the terrible frost broke, Pisani received a
reinforcement of twelve ships from Venice, these being, for the
most part, built and equipped at the cost of his personal friends,
Polani having contributed two of the number. With the eighteen
sail, Pisani put to sea to prosecute a fresh search for the Genoese
admiral, Doria, and his fleet.</p>

<p>The Pluto was one of the six vessels which remained in good
condition at the end of the winter, thanks, in no small degree, to
the energy and care which Francis had bestowed in looking after the
welfare of the crew. In the most bitter weather, he had himself
landed with the boats, to see that firewood was cut and brought off
in abundance, not only for the officers' cabins, but to warm that
portion of the ship inhabited by the men. Knowing that Polani would
not grudge any sum which might be required, he obtained from his
agents ample supplies of warm clothing and bedding for the men,
occupying himself incessantly for their welfare, while the captain
and other officers passed their time in their warm and comfortable
cabins. Francis induced Matteo, and several of his comrades, to
brave the weather as he did, and to exert themselves for the
benefit of the men; and the consequence was, that while but few of
the other ships retained enough men to raise their sails in case of
emergency, the strength of the crew of the Pluto was scarcely
impaired at the termination of the winter.</p>

<p>The admiral, on paying a visit of inspection to the ship, was
greatly struck with the contrast which the appearance of the crew
afforded to that of the other galleys, and warmly complimented the
commander on the condition of his men. The captain received the
praise as if it was entirely due to himself, and said not a single
word of the share which Francis had had in bringing it about.
Matteo was most indignant at this injustice towards his friend, and
managed that, through a relative serving in the admiral's own ship,
a true report of the case should come to Pisani's ears.</p>

<p>Francis was in no way troubled at the captain's appropriation of
the praise due to himself. There had not, from the time he sailed,
been any cordiality between Francis and the other officers. These
had been selected for the position solely from family influence,
and none of them were acquainted with the working of a ship.</p>

<p>In those days, not only in Venice but in other countries, naval
battles were fought by soldiers rather than sailors. Nobles and
knights, with their retainers, embarked on board a ship for the
purpose of fighting, and of fighting only, the management of the
vessel being carried on entirely by sailors under their own
officers. Thus, neither the commander of the force on board the
galley, nor any of his officers, with the exception of Francis,
knew anything whatever about the management of the ship, nor were
capable of giving orders to the crew. Among the latter were some
who had sailed with Francis in his first two voyages, and these
gave so excellent a report of him to the rest, that they were from
the first ready to obey his orders as promptly as those of their
own sub-officer.</p>

<p>Francis concerned himself but little with the ill will that was
shown him by the officers. He knew that it arose from jealousy, not
only of the promotion he, a foreigner and a junior in years, had
received over them, but of the fact that he had already received
the thanks of the republic for the services he had rendered, and
stood high in the favour of the admiral, who never lost an
opportunity of showing the interest he had in him. Had the
hostility shown itself in any offensive degree Francis would at
once have resented it; but Matteo, and some of those on board, who
had been his comrades in the fencing rooms, had given such reports
of his powers with his weapons, that even those most opposed to him
thought it prudent to observe a demeanour of outward politeness
towards him.</p>

<p>For three months the search for the Genoese fleet was
ineffectual. A trip had been made along the coast of Apulia, and
the fleet had returned to Pola with a large convoy of merchant
ships loaded with grain, when on the 7th of May Doria appeared off
the port, with twenty-five sail.</p>

<p>But Pisani was now by no means anxious to fight. Zeno was away
with a portion of the fleet, and although he had received
reinforcements, he numbered but twenty-one vessels, and a number of
his men were laid up with sickness. The admiral, however, was not
free to follow out the dictates of his own opinions. The Venetians
had a mischievous habit, which was afterwards adopted by the French
republic, of fettering their commanders by sea and land by
appointing civilian commissioners, or, as they were termed in
Venice, proveditors, who had power to overrule the nominal
commander. When, therefore, Pisani assembled a council of war, and
informed them of his reasons for wishing to remain on the defensive
until the return of Zeno, he was overruled by the proveditors, who
not only announced themselves unanimously in favour of battle, but
sneered at Pisani's prudence as being the result of cowardice.
Pisani in his indignation drew his sword, and would have attacked
the proveditors on the spot, had he not been restrained by his
captains.</p>

<p>However, the council decided upon instant battle, and Pisani was
forced, by the rules of the service, at once to carry their
decision into effect. Ascending the poop of his galley, he
addressed in a loud voice the crews of the ships gathered around
him.</p>

<p>"Remember, my brethren, that those who will now face you, are
the same whom you vanquished with so much glory on the Roman shore.
Do not let the name of Luciano Doria terrify you. It is not the
names of commanders that will decide the conflict, but Venetian
hearts and Venetian hands. Let him that loves Saint Mark follow
me."</p>

<p>The men received the address with a shout, and as soon as the
commanders had regained their galleys, the fleet moved out to
attack the enemy. The fight was a furious one, each vessel singling
out an opponent and engaging her hand to hand.</p>

<p>Carlo Bottini was killed early in the fight, and Francis
succeeded to the command. His galley had grappled with one of the
largest of the Genoese vessels, and a desperate conflict went on.
Sometimes the Venetians gained a footing on the deck of the
Genoese, sometimes they were driven back, and the Genoese in turn
poured on board, but no decisive advantage was gained on either
side after an hour's fighting. The Genoese crew was numerically
much stronger than that of the Pluto, and although Francis, with
Matteo and his comrades, headed their men and cheered them on, they
could make no impression on the ranks of the enemy.</p>

<p>Suddenly, the Genoese threw off the grapnels that attached the
two ships, and hoisting their sails, sheered off. Francis looked
round to see the cause of this sudden manoeuvre, and perceived for
the first time that the Genoese vessels were all in flight, with
the Venetians pressing closely upon them. Sails were at once
hoisted, and the Pluto joined in the chase.</p>

<p>But the flight was a feigned one, and it was only designed to
throw the Venetian rank into confusion. After sailing for two
miles, the Genoese suddenly turned, and fell upon their pursuers as
they came up in straggling order.</p>

<p>The result was decisive. Many of the Venetian ships were
captured before the rest came up to take part in the battle. Others
were hemmed in by numerous foes. Pisani, after fighting until he
saw that all was lost, made the signal for the ships to withdraw
from the conflict, and he himself, with six galleys, succeeded in
fighting his way through the enemy's fleet, and gained a refuge in
the port of Parenzo.</p>

<p>All the rest were taken. From seven to eight hundred Venetians
perished in the fight, two thousand four hundred were taken
prisoners, twelve commanders were killed, and five captured. The
Genoese losses were also severe, and Doria himself was among the
slain, having been killed by a spear thrust by Donato Zeno,
commander of one of the galleys, almost at the moment of
victory.</p>

<p>The Pluto had defended herself, for a long time, against the
attacks of three of the Genoese galleys, and had repeatedly
endeavoured to force her way out of the throng, but the Genoese
held her fast with their grapnels, and at last the greater part of
her crew were driven down below, and Francis, seeing the
uselessness of further resistance, ordered the little group, who
were now completely pent in by the Genoese, to lower their weapons.
All were more or less severely wounded, and were bleeding from
sword cuts and thrusts.</p>

<p>"This is an evil day for Venice," Matteo said, as, having been
deprived of their weapons, the prisoners were thrust below. "I
heard the Genoese say that only six of our galleys have escaped,
all the rest have been taken. We were the last ship to surrender,
that's a comfort anyhow."</p>

<p>"Now, Matteo, before you do anything else, let me bind up your
wounds. You are bleeding in two or three places."</p>

<p>"And you are bleeding from something like a dozen, Francisco, so
you had better let me play the doctor first."</p>

<p>"The captain is always served last, so do as you are told, and
strip off your doublet.</p>

<p>"Now, gentlemen," he said, turning to the other officers, "let
each of us do what we can to dress the wounds of others. We can
expect no care from the Genoese leeches, who will have their hands
full, for a long time to come, with their own men. There are some
among us who will soon bleed to death, unless their wounds are
staunched. Let us, therefore, take the most serious cases first,
and so on in rotation until all have been attended to."</p>

<p>It was fortunate for them that in the hold, in which they were
confined, there were some casks of water; for, for hours the
Genoese paid no attention whatever to their prisoners, and the
wounded were beginning to suffer agonies of thirst, when the
barrels were fortunately discovered. The head of one was knocked
in, and some shallow tubs, used for serving the water to the crew,
filled, and the men knelt down and drank by turns from these. Many
were too enfeebled by their wounds to rise, and their thirst was
assuaged by dipping articles of clothing into the water, and
letting the fluid from these run into their mouths.</p>

<p>It was not until next morning that the prisoners were ordered to
come on deck. Many had died during the night. Others were too weak
to obey the summons. The names of the rest were taken, and not a
little surprise was expressed, by the Genoese officers, at the
extreme youth of the officer in command of the Pluto.</p>

<p>"I was only the second in command," Francis said in answer to
their questions. "Carlo Bottini was in command of the ship, but he
was killed at the commencement of the fight."</p>

<p>"But how is it that one so young came to be second? You must
belong to some great family to have been thus pushed forward above
men so much your senior.</p>

<p>"It was a wise choice nevertheless," the commander of one of the
galleys which had been engaged with the Pluto said, "for it is but
justice to own that no ship was better handled, or fought, in the
Venetian fleet. They were engaged with us first, and for over an
hour they fought us on fair terms, yielding no foot of ground,
although we had far more men than they carried. I noticed this
youth fighting always in the front line with the Venetians, and
marvelled at the strength and dexterity with which he used his
weapons, and afterwards, when there were three of us around him, he
fought like a boar surrounded by hounds. I am sure he is a brave
youth, and well worthy the position he held, to whatsoever he owed
it."</p>

<p>"I belong to no noble family of Venice," Francis said. "My name
is Francis Hammond, and my parents are English."</p>

<p>"You are not a mercenary, I trust?" the Genoese captain asked
earnestly.</p>

<p>"I am not," Francis replied. "I am a citizen of Venice, and my
name is inscribed in her books, as my comrades will vouch."</p>

<p>"Right glad am I that it is so," the Genoese said, "for Pietro
Doria, who is now, by the death of his brother, in chief command,
has ordered that every mercenary found among the prisoners shall
today be slain."</p>

<p>"It is a brutal order," Francis said fearlessly, "whosoever may
have given it! A mercenary taken in fair fight has as much right to
be held for ransom or fair exchange as any other prisoner; and if
your admiral thus breaks the laws of war, there is not a free
lance, from one end of Italy to the other, but will take it up as a
personal quarrel."</p>

<p>The Genoese frowned at the boldness with which Francis spoke,
but at heart agreed in the sentiments he expressed; for among the
Genoese officers, generally, there was a feeling that this brutal
execution in cold blood was an impolitic, as well as a disgraceful
deed.</p>

<p>The officers were now placed in the fore hold of the ship, the
crew being confined in the after hold. Soon afterwards, they knew
by the motion of the vessel that sail had been put on her.</p>

<p>"So we are on our way to a Genoese prison, Francisco," Matteo
said. "We had a narrow escape of it before, but this time I suppose
it is our fate."</p>

<p>"There is certainly no hope of rescue, Matteo. It is too early,
as yet, to say whether there is any hope of escape. The prospect
looked darker when I was in the hands of Ruggiero, but I managed to
get away. Then I was alone and closely guarded, now we have in the
ship well nigh two hundred friends; prisoners like ourselves, it is
true, but still to be counted on. Then, too, the Genoese are no
doubt so elated with their triumph, that they are hardly likely to
keep a very vigilant guard over us. Altogether, I should say that
the chances are in our favour. Were I sure that the Pluto is
sailing alone, I should be very confident that we might retake her,
but probably the fifteen captured ships are sailing in company, and
would at once come to the aid of their comrades here, directly they
saw any signs of a conflict going on, and we could hardly hope to
recapture the ship without making some noise over it."</p>

<p>"I should think not," Matteo agreed.</p>

<p>"Then again, Matteo, even if we find it impossible to get at the
crew, and with them to recapture the ship, some chance may occur by
which you and I may manage to make our escape."</p>

<p>"If you say so, Francisco, I at once believe it. You got us all
out of the scrape down at Girgenti. You got Polani's daughters out
of a worse scrape when they were captives on San Nicolo; and got
yourself out of the worst scrape of all when you escaped from the
grip of Ruggiero Mocenigo. Therefore, when you say that there is a
fair chance of escape out of this business, I look upon it as
almost as good as done."</p>

<p>"It is a long way from that, Matteo," Francis laughed. "Still, I
hope we may manage it somehow. I have the greatest horror of a
Genoese prison, for it is notorious that they treat their prisoners
of war shamefully, and I certainly do not mean to enter one, if
there is the slightest chance of avoiding it. But for today,
Matteo, I shall not even begin to think about it. In the first
place, my head aches with the various thumps it has had; in the
second, I feel weak from loss of blood; and in the third, my wounds
smart most amazingly."</p>

<p>"So do mine," Matteo agreed. "In addition, I am hungry, for the
bread they gave us this morning was not fit for dogs, although I
had to eat it, as it was that or nothing."</p>

<p>"And now, Matteo, I shall try to get a few hours' sleep. I did
not close my eyes last night, from the pain of my wounds, but I
think I might manage to drop off now."</p>

<p>The motion of the vessel aided the effect of the bodily weakness
that Francis was feeling, and in spite of the pain of his wounds he
soon went off into a sound sleep. Once or twice he woke, but
hearing no voices or movement, he supposed his companions were all
asleep, and again went off, until a stream of light coming in from
the opening of the hatchway thoroughly roused him. Matteo, who was
lying by his side, also woke and stretched himself, and there was a
general movement among the ten young men who were their comrades in
misfortune.</p>

<p>"Here is your breakfast," a voice from above the hatchway said,
and a basket containing bread and a bucket of water was lowered by
ropes.</p>

<p>"Breakfast!" Matteo said. "Why, it is not two hours since we
breakfasted last."</p>

<p>"I suspect it is twenty-two, Matteo. We have had a very long
sleep, and I feel all the better of it. Now, let us divide the
liberal breakfast our captors have given us; fortunately there is
just enough light coming down from those scuttles to enable us to
do so fairly."</p>

<p>There was a general laugh, from his comrades, at the cheerful
way in which Francis spoke. Only one of them had been an officer on
the Pluto. The rest were, like Matteo, volunteers of good families.
There was a good deal of light-hearted jesting over their meal.
When it was over, Francis said:</p>

<p>"Now let us hold a council of war."</p>

<p>"You are better off than Pisani was, anyhow," one of the young
men said, "for you are not hampered with proveditors, and anything
that your captaincy may suggest will, you may be sure, receive our
assent."</p>

<p>"I am your captain no longer," Francis replied. "We are all
prisoners now, and equal, and each one has a free voice and a free
vote."</p>

<p>"Then I give my voice and vote at once, Francisco," Matteo said,
"to the proposal that you remain our captain, and that we obey you,
as cheerfully and willingly as we should if you were on the poop of
the Pluto, instead of being in the hold. In the first place, at
Carlo's death you became our captain by right, so long as we remain
together; and in the second place you have more experience than all
of us put together, and a very much better head than most of us,
myself included.</p>

<p>"Therefore, comrades, I vote that Messer Francisco Hammond be
still regarded as our captain, and obeyed as such."</p>

<p>There was a general chorus of assent, for the energy which
Francis had displayed throughout the trying winter, and the manner
in which he had led the crew during the desperate fighting, had won
for him the regard and the respect of them all.</p>

<p>"Very well, then," Francis said. "If you wish it so I will
remain your leader, but we will nevertheless hold our council of
war. The question which I shall first present to your consideration
is, which is the best way to set about retaking the Pluto?"</p>

<p>There was a burst of laughter among the young men. The matter of
fact way in which Francis proposed, what seemed to them an
impossibility, amused them immensely.</p>

<p>"I am quite in earnest," Francis went on, when the laughter had
subsided. "If it is possibly to be done, I mean to retake the
Pluto, and I have very little doubt that it is possible, if we set
about it in the right way. In the first place, we may take it as
absolutely certain that we very considerably outnumber the Genoese
on board. They must have suffered in the battle almost as much as
we did, and have had nearly as many killed and wounded. In the
second place, if Doria intends to profit by his victory, he must
have retained a fair amount of fighting men on board each of his
galleys, and, weakened as his force was by the losses of the
action, he can spare but a comparatively small force on board each
of the fifteen captured galleys. I should think it probable that
there are not more than fifty men in charge of the Pluto, and we
number fully three times that force. The mere fact that they let
down our food to us by ropes, instead of bringing it down, showed a
consciousness of weakness."</p>

<p>"What you say is quite true," Paolo Parucchi, the other officer
of the Pluto, said; "but they are fifty well-armed men, and we are
a hundred and fifty without arms, and shut down in the hold, to
which must be added the fact that we are cut off from our men, and
our men from us. They are, as it were, without a head to plan,
while we are without arms to strike."</p>

<p>A murmur of approval was heard among some of the young men.</p>

<p>"I do not suppose that there are no difficulties in our way,"
Francis said quietly; "or that we have only, next time the hatch is
opened, to say to those above, 'Gentlemen of Genoa, we are more
numerous than you are, and we therefore request you to change
places with us immediately.' All I have asserted, so far, is that
we are sufficiently strong to retake the ship, if we get the
opportunity. What we have now to settle, is how that opportunity is
to come about.</p>

<p>"To begin with, has anyone a dagger or knife which has escaped
the eye of our searchers?"</p>

<p>No one replied.</p>

<p>"I was afraid that nothing had escaped the vigilance of those
who appropriated our belongings. As, however, we have no weapons or
tools, the next thing is to see what there is, in the hold, which
can be turned to account. It is fortunate we are on board the
Pluto, instead of being transferred to another ship, as we already
know all about her. There are some iron bolts driven in along a
beam at the farther end. They have been used, I suppose, at some
time or other for hanging the carcasses of animals from. Let us see
whether there is any chance of getting some of them out."</p>

<p>The iron pegs, however, were so firmly driven into the beam,
that all their efforts failed to move them in the slightest.</p>

<p>"We will give that up for the present," Francis said, "and look
round for something more available."</p>

<p>But with the exception of the water casks, the closest search
failed to find anything in the hold.</p>

<p>"I do not know whether the iron hoops of a cask would be of any
use," Matteo said.</p>

<p>"Certainly they would be of use, if we get them off,
Matteo."</p>

<p>"There is no difficulty about that," one of the others said,
examining the casks closely. "This is an empty one, and the hoops
seem quite loose."</p>

<p>In a few minutes, four iron hoops were taken off the cask.</p>

<p>"After all," Matteo said, "they cannot be of much use. The iron
is rust eaten, and they would break in our hands before going into
any one."</p>

<p>"They would certainly be useless as daggers, Matteo, but I think
that with care they will act as saws. Break off a length of about a
foot.</p>

<p>"Now straighten it, and tear a piece off your doublet and wrap
it round and round one end, so that you can hold it. Now just try
it on the edge of a beam."</p>

<p>"It certainly cuts," Matteo announced after a trial, "but not
very fast."</p>

<p>"So that it cuts at all, we may be very well content," Francis
said cheerfully. "We have got a week, at least, to work in; and if
the wind is not favourable, we may have a month. Let us therefore
break the hoops up into pieces of the right length. We must use
them carefully, for we may expect to have many breakages."</p>

<p>"What next, captain?"</p>

<p>"Our object will, of course, be to cut through into the main
hold, which separates us from the crew. There we shall probably
find plenty of weapons. But to use our saws, we must first find a
hole in the bulkhead. First of all, then, let there be a strict
search made for a knothole, or any other hole through the
bulkhead."</p>

<p>It was too dark for eyes to be of much use, but hands were run
all over the bulkhead. But no hole, however small, was
discovered.</p>

<p>"It is clear, then," Francis said, "that the first thing to do
is to cut out some of those iron bolts. Pick out those that are
nearest to the lower side of the beam, say three of them. There are
twelve of us. That will give four to each bolt, and we can relieve
each other every few minutes. Remember, it is patience that is
required, and not strength."</p>

<p>The work was at once begun. The young men had, by this time,
fully entered into the spirit of the attempt. The quiet and
businesslike way, in which their leader set about it, convinced
them that he at least had a firm belief that the work was possible;
and there was a hope, even if but a remote one, of avoiding the
dreaded dungeons of Genoa.</p>

<p>The work was slow, and two or three of the strips of iron were
at first broken, by the too great eagerness of their holders; but
when it was found that, by using them lightly, the edges gradually
cut their way into the wood, the work went on regularly. The Pluto
had been hurriedly constructed, and any timbers that were available
in the emergency were utilized. Consequently much soft wood, that
at other times would never have been found in the state dockyards,
was put into her. The beam at which they were working was of soft
timber, and a fine dust fell steadily, as the rough iron was sawed
backward and forward upon it.</p>

<p>Two cuts were made under each bolt, wide at the base and
converging towards it. The saws were kept going the whole day, and
although the progress was slow, it was fast enough to encourage
them; and just as the light, that came through the scuttle, faded
away; three of the young men hung their weight upon one of the
bolts, and the wood beneath it, already almost severed, gave; and a
suppressed cry of satisfaction announced that one bolt was
free.</p>

<p>The pieces of iron were two feet long, and were intended for
some other purpose, but had been driven in when, on loading the
ship, some strong pegs on which to hang carcasses were required.
They were driven about three inches into the beam, and could have
been cut out with an ordinary saw in two or three minutes.</p>

<p>"Try the others," Francis said. "As many of you get hold of them
as can put your hands on."</p>

<p>The effort was made, and the other two bolts were got out. They
had been roughly sharpened at the end, and were fully an inch
across.</p>

<p>"They do not make bad weapons," Matteo said.</p>

<p>"It is not as weapons that we want them, Matteo. They will be
more useful to us than any weapons, except, indeed, a good axe. We
shall want at least three more. Therefore, I propose that we
continue our work at once. We will divide into watches now. It will
be twelve hours before we get our allowance of bread again,
therefore that will give three hours' work, and nine hours' sleep
to each. They will be just setting the first watch on deck, and, as
we shall hear them changed, it will give us a good idea how the
time is passing."</p>

<p>"I am ready to work all night, myself," Matteo said. "At first I
had not much faith in what we were doing; but now that we have got
three of these irons out, I am ready to go on working until I
drop."</p>

<p>"You will find, Matteo, that your arms will ache, so that you
cannot hold them up, before the end of the three hours. Sawing like
that, with your arms above your head, is most fatiguing; and even
the short spells of work we have been having made my arms ache.
However, each must do as much as he can in his three hours; and as
we are working in the dark, we must work slowly and carefully, or
we shall break our tools."</p>

<p>"Fortunately, we can get more hoops off now if we want them,"
Matteo said. "With these irons we can wrench them off the sound
casks, if necessary."</p>

<p>"Yes; I did not think of that, Matteo. You see we are already
getting a stock of tools. Another thing is, with the point of the
irons we have got off, we can wrench the wood out as fast as we saw
it, and the saws will not work so stiffly as they did before. But
we must not do that till the morning, for any sound like the
breaking of wood might be heard by the watch, when everything is
quiet."</p>

<p>Although all worked their best, they made but slight progress in
the dark, and each worker was forced to take frequent rests, for
the fatigue of working with their arms above their heads was
excessive. As soon, however, as the light began to steal down, and
the movement above head told them that the crew were at work
washing the decks, the points of the irons were used to wrench away
the wood between the saw cuts; and the work then proceeded briskly,
as they relieved each other every few minutes.</p>

<p>At last, to their intense satisfaction, three more irons were
got out.</p>

<p>"If anyone had told me," one of the party said, "that a man's
arms could hurt as much as mine do, from working a few hours, I
should have disbelieved him."</p>

<p>There was a chorus of assent, for none were accustomed to hard
manual labour, and the pain in their arms was excessive.</p>

<p>"Let us have half an hour's rest, Francis, before you issue your
next orders. I shall want that, at least, before I feel that I have
any power in my arms at all."</p>

<p>"We will have an hour's rest, Matteo, if you like. Before that
time they will be sending us down our food, and after we have
breakfasted we can set to work again."</p>

<p>"Breakfast!" one of the young men groaned. "I cannot call that
black bread and water breakfast. When I think of the breakfasts I
have eaten, when I think of the dishes I have refused to eat,
because they were not cooked to perfection, I groan over my folly
in those days, and my enormous stupidity in ever volunteering to
come to sea."</p>

<p>"I should recommend you all," Francis said, "to spend the next
hour in rubbing and squeezing the muscles of your neighbours' arms
and shoulders. It is the best way for taking out stiffness, and
Giuseppi used to give me relief that way, when I was stiff with
fencing."</p>

<p>The idea was adopted; and while the rest were at work in the
manner he suggested, Francis, taking one of the irons, went to the
bulkhead. One by one he tried the planks, from the floor boards to
the beams above.</p>

<p>"Well, captain, what is your report?" Matteo asked as he joined
the rest.</p>

<p>"My report is a most favourable one," Francis said. "By great
good luck, the planks are nailed from the other side against the
beams both above and below."</p>

<p>"What difference does that make, Francisco?"</p>

<p>"All the difference in the world. Had they been nailed on this
side, there would have been nothing for it but to carry out our
original plan--that is, to make holes through the planks with these
irons, large enough for the saws to go through, and then to saw the
wood out from hole to hole. As it is, I believe that with five
minutes' work we could wrench a plank away. We have only to push
the points of the irons up, between the beams and the planks, and
use them as levers. The nails will be strong, indeed, if those
irons, with two of us at each, would not wrench them out."</p>

<p>The young men all leapt to their feet, pains and aches quite
forgotten in the excitement of this unexpected news, and six of
them seized hold of the irons.</p>

<p>"Gently!" Francis said. "You must remember, there may be people
going down there at present, getting up stores. Before we venture
to disturb a plank, we must make the hole sufficiently large for us
to spy through. This will be a very easy affair, in comparison with
making a hole large enough for a saw to go through. Still, you will
find it will take some time. However, we had better wait, as we
agreed, till we have had our food."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch16">Chapter 16</a>: The Recapture Of The Pluto.</h2>

<p>As soon as the hatch had been removed, and the bread and water
lowered down, and they heard heavy weights again laid on the hatch,
two of the party took one of the irons and began to bore a hole,
while the others proceeded to eat their food. Several times, the
workers had to be relieved. The iron penetrated comparatively
easily for a short distance, but beyond that the difficulty greatly
increased; and it was fully four hours before one of the workers,
applying his eye to the hole, said that he could see a gleam of
light through.</p>

<p>In another quarter of an hour, the orifice was sufficiently
enlarged to enable a view to be obtained of the central hold. It
was comparatively light there, for the hatch was off, and they
could see two men at work, opening a cask for some stores that were
required.</p>

<p>"We must wait till it gets dark now," Francis said. "I do not
think that we shall make much noise, for the nails will be likely
to draw quietly; but we had better choose the time between
nightfall and the hour for the crew to turn in, as there will be a
trampling of feet on deck, and talking and singing, which would
prevent any slight noise we might make, being heard."</p>

<p>"The difficulty will be to force the ends of the iron down,
between the beams and the planks, so as to give us a purchase,"
Matteo said.</p>

<p>"I think we shall be able to manage that," Francis replied. "The
beams are put in in the rough, and if we hunt carefully, I think we
shall find a plank where we can get the irons in far enough,
between it and the beam, to give us a hold."</p>

<p>After a careful examination, they fixed upon a plank to operate
upon, and, leaving one of the irons there, so that they could find
it in the dark, they lay down to sleep, or sat talking until it was
dark. Before this, a glance, through the peephole, showed them that
the hatch had been placed over the hatchway of the next hold, so
that there was little fear of anyone coming down, unless something
special was required.</p>

<p>"Now I think we can begin," Francis said, at last. "Do you,
Paolo Parucchi, take one of the irons, I will take another, Matteo
a third. We cannot possibly work more than three at the foot of a
plank, though perhaps, when we have fixed them and put on the
strain, two or three more hands may get at the irons; but first we
will try with three, and, unless the nails have got a wonderfully
firm hold, we shall certainly be able to draw them."</p>

<p>It took some time to fix the irons, to the best advantage,
between the planks and the beam.</p>

<p>"Are you both ready?" Francis asked at last. "Then pull."</p>

<p>As Francis had anticipated, the levers did their work, and the
nails yielded a little.</p>

<p>"It has sprung half an inch," Francis said, feeling. "Now you
keep your irons as they are, while I thrust mine down farther. I
have got a fresh hold. Do you shift yours."</p>

<p>Again the effort was made, and this time the nails drew fully
two inches. Another effort, and the plank was completely free at
the lower end.</p>

<p>"Now do you push against it as hard as you can," Francis said,
"while I get my iron in between it and the beam above."</p>

<p>The upper nails yielded even more easily than those below.</p>

<p>"No farther," Francis said, when they had fairly started them,
"or the plank will be falling with a crash. We must push from the
bottom now, until it gives sufficiently far for you to get an iron
down each side, to prevent its closing again."</p>

<p>"Now," he said, "push the irons higher up. That is right. Now I
will loosen a bit farther at the top, and then you will be able to
get your hands in at the bottom to steady it, and prevent its
falling when the nails are quite drawn."</p>

<p>Another effort, and the plank was free, and, being drawn in, was
laid down. The delight of those who were standing in the dark, and
could only judge how matters were going on from Francis's low
spoken orders, was extreme.</p>

<p>"Can we get through?"</p>

<p>"No," Francis replied. "It will be necessary to remove another
plank first, but perhaps one of the slighter among you might manage
to squeeze through, and hold the plank at the back. We shall be
able to work with more freedom, if we know that there is no danger
of its falling."</p>

<p>In a few minutes, the second plank was laid beside the
first.</p>

<p>"What is to be done next?" Matteo asked.</p>

<p>"We must establish a communication with the sailors. I will take
a working party of four. Paolo Parucchi, with four others, will
relieve me. You, Matteo, will with the rest take the last spell.
When we have entered the next compartment, we will put up the
planks again, and press the nails in tightly enough to prevent
their falling. Should, by some chance, anyone descend into the hold
while we are working, we shall be hidden from their view. At the
other end there are a number of sacks piled up, and we shall be
working behind them."</p>

<p>Francis, and the men he had chosen, made their way to the pile
of arms they had observed through their peephole, moving with great
precaution, so as to avoid falling over anything. Here, with some
trouble, they succeeded in finding a dagger among the heap, and
they then felt their way on, until they reached the pile of sacks.
These were packed to within a foot of the deck beams, and there was
but just room for them to crawl in at the top.</p>

<p>"Whatever you do, do not bump against the beams," Francis said.
"Any noise of that sort, from below, would at once excite
attention. Now do you be quiet, while I find a spot to begin
upon."</p>

<p>Commencing at a junction of two planks, Francis began, with the
dagger, to cut a hole of some three or four inches across, but
tapering rapidly as it went in. After waiting for some ten minutes,
he touched the man lying next to him, placed his hand on the hole
he had begun, and then moved aside to allow him to continue the
work.</p>

<p>In an hour a hole was made in a two inch plank, and this was
soon enlarged until it was an inch in diameter. Lying along the
side of the bulkhead, so as to get his ear to the hole, Francis
listened, but could hear no sound within. Then he put his mouth to
the orifice and asked:</p>

<p>"Are you all asleep there?"</p>

<p>Then he listened again. Some of the men were speaking, and
asking each other who it was that had suddenly spoken. No one
replied; and some of them gave vent to angry threats, against
whoever it might be who had just disturbed them from going off to
sleep.</p>

<p>Directly the voices ceased again, Francis said:</p>

<p>"Let us have silence in there. Where is Rinaldo, the
boatswain?"</p>

<p>"I am here," a voice replied; "but who is speaking? It sounds
like the voice of Messer Hammond."</p>

<p>"It is my voice, Rinaldo. We have worked through from the hold
at the other end of the ship, having removed some of the planks of
the bulkhead. Now it is for you to do the same. We will pass you
some daggers through, when we have made this hole a bit larger. You
must choose one of the planks in the corner, as this will be less
likely to be observed."</p>

<p>"They will not observe us, Messer Hammond. They never come down
here at all, but pass our food down in buckets."</p>

<p>"Nevertheless, begin at the plank next to the side," Francis
said. "Possibly someone may come down before you have finished. You
will have to remove two planks to get through. I will pass a
javelin through. You can set to work with it, and bore holes
through the plank close to the floor; and then, with the dagger,
cut away the wood between them. When you have done them, set to at
the top, close to the beams, and cut the two planks through there.
There are sacks of grain piled up against them on this side, so
that there is no fear of your being observed from here. The work
must be carried on perfectly noiselessly, the men relieving each
other every few minutes.</p>

<p>"When the planks are cut through, replace them in their former
positions, and wedge some small pieces of wood in, so that there
shall be no chance of their falling. You ought to finish the work
by tomorrow. When you have done it, take no farther step until you
get orders from me. It would not do to rise now, for we may be
surrounded by other ships, and if we overpowered the crew, we
should at once be attacked and recaptured by them. You will,
therefore, remain quiet until you have orders, whether it be one
day or ten. All the arms they have taken from us are lying piled
here, and when the time comes, we shall have no difficulty in
overpowering the Genoese, and shall, I hope, bring the Pluto safely
to anchor in the port of Venice before long."</p>

<p>There was a murmur of delight among the sailors, pent up in
their close quarters. Francis listened a moment, and heard one of
the men say:</p>

<p>"What did I tell you? Didn't I tell you that Messer Hammond got
us all out of a scrape before, when our ship was captured by the
Genoese, and that I would be bound he would do the same again, if
he had but the shadow of a chance."</p>

<p>"You did, Pietro, and you have turned out right. That is the
sort of fellow to have for a captain. He is not like one of those
dainty young nobles, who don't know one rope's end from another,
and who turn up their noses at the thought of dirtying their hands.
See how he looked after us through the winter. I wish we could give
a cheer for him, but that would never do. But when we are out of
this, I will give him the loudest shout I ever gave yet.</p>

<p>"Now then, Rinaldo, let us set to work without a moment's delay.
There's a chance we aren't going to rot in the dungeons of Genoa,
after all."</p>

<p>Convinced that the work would be carried on in accordance with
his orders, Francis withdrew his ear from the hole, and, crawling
over the sacks again, made his way to the pile of arms, felt about
until he found two javelins, and taking these back, passed them one
after the other through the hole.</p>

<p>"We have done our share now," he said to his comrades. "Paolo
and his party will find it a comparatively easy task to enlarge the
hole sufficiently to pass the daggers through."</p>

<p>The party returned to the other end of the hold, removed the
planks, and joined their friends. The next watch had arranged to
lie down close to the planks, so that they could be aroused without
waking the others.</p>

<p>They were soon on their feet. Francis explained to Parucchi the
progress they had made, and the orders that had been given to the
sailors as to what they were to do.</p>

<p>"When the hole is large enough, pass these five daggers in to
the crew, and then come back again. I will guide you to the spot,
and on my return will pick out half a dozen more daggers, in case
we want them for further work."</p>

<p>When daylight made its way into the hold, Matteo and his watch
woke, and were astonished to find that all their comrades were
quietly asleep, and that they had not been awakened. Matteo could
not restrain his curiosity, but woke Francis:</p>

<p>"Has anything gone wrong, Francis? It is daylight, and
Parucchi's party, as well as yours, are all asleep, while we have
not been roused!"</p>

<p>"Everything is going on well, Matteo, and we did not wake you,
because there was nothing for you to do. We have already passed in
knives and javelins to the sailors, and they are at work cutting
through two planks in their bulkhead; after which we shall be able
to meet in the next hold, arm ourselves, and fall upon the Genoese
when the opportunity offers."</p>

<p>"That is excellent indeed, Francis; but I wish you had let us do
our share of the work."</p>

<p>"It did not take us more than two hours, Matteo, to make a hole
big enough to pass the javelins through, and I should say
Parucchi's party enlarged it sufficiently to hand in the daggers in
another hour; so you see, it would have been useless to have
aroused you, and the less movement we make after they get quiet at
night, the better."</p>

<p>"And how long will the sailors be cutting it through, do you
think?"</p>

<p>"I should say they would be ready by this time, Matteo, but
certainly they will be finished some time today."</p>

<p>"Then we shall soon be free!" Matteo exclaimed joyfully.</p>

<p>"That will depend, Matteo. We must wait till there is a good
opportunity, so that we can recapture the ship without an alarm
being given to the other vessels, which are no doubt sailing in
company with us. And now, if you have nothing to say, I will go off
to sleep again, for there is time for another hour or two. I feel
as if I had not quite finished my night's rest, and the days pass
so slowly here that it is as well for us to sleep when we feel the
least inclination.</p>

<p>"By the way, Matteo, put something into that peephole we made.
It is possible that they might see the light through it, and come
to examine what it is. It is better to run no risk."</p>

<p>That day the captives were far more restless than they had been
since they were taken prisoners. At first there had been a feeling
of depression, too great to admit even of conversation with each
other. The defeat of their fleet, the danger that threatened
Venice, and the prospect of imprisonment in the gloomy dungeons of
Genoa, combined to depress them on the first day of their
imprisonment. On the second, their success in getting out the bolts
had cheered them, and they had something to look forward to and
talk about; but still, few of them thought that there was any real
prospect of their obtaining their freedom. Now, however, that
success seemed to lie ready to hand; now that they could, that very
evening, remove the sacks, effect a junction with their crew, arm
themselves with the weapons lying in sight, and rush up and
overpower the Genoese; it seemed hard to remain longer in
confinement. Several of them urged Francis to make the attempt that
night, but he refused.</p>

<p>"You reckon only on the foe you see," he said. "The danger lies
not from them, but from the foes we cannot see. We must wait for an
opportunity."</p>

<p>"But no opportunity may occur," one of them urged.</p>

<p>"That is quite possible," Francis agreed; "but should no special
opportunity occur, we shall be none the worse for having waited,
for it will always be as open to us to make the attempt as it is
tonight. It might succeed--possibly we could overpower the guard on
deck before they could give the alarm--but the risk is too great to
be run, until we are certain that no other way is open to us. In
the daylight the hatch is open; but even could we free our
comrades, and unite for a rush, unobserved--which we could hardly
hope to do--we should find the whole of the Genoese on deck, and
could not possibly overpower them before they had time to give the
alarm to other vessels. At night, when we can unite, we cannot gain
the deck, for the hatch is not only closed, but would almost
certainly be fastened, so that men should not get down to pilfer
among the stores."</p>

<p>"But if we cannot attack in the daytime, Messer Hammond, without
giving the alarm; and cannot attack at all at night, what are we to
do?"</p>

<p>"That is the next point to be seen to," Francis replied. "We
must cut, either from this hold or from the other, a way up to the
deck above. It may take us some days to do this, but that matters
little. We have plenty of time for the work before reaching Genoa.
The difficulty is not in the work itself, but in doing it
unobserved."</p>

<p>"That is difficult, indeed," Matteo said, "seeing that the
Genoese sailors are quartered in the forecastle above the forehold,
while the officers will be in the cabins in the poop over us."</p>

<p>"That is so, Matteo, and for that reason, it is clear that it is
we, not the sailors, who must cut through the planks above. There
are no divisions in the forecastle, and it will be, therefore,
absolutely impossible to cut through into it, without being
perceived long before a hole is made of a sufficient size to enable
us to get out. Here we may succeed better, for fortunately we know
the exact plan of the cabins above us, and can choose a spot where
we should not be likely to be noticed."</p>

<p>"That is so," Matteo agreed, "and as they will not have as many
officers as we had--that is, including the volunteers--some of the
cabins will not be occupied. Perhaps, by listening to the footsteps
above, we might find out which are vacant."</p>

<p>"I thought of that, Matteo, but I doubt whether it would be well
to rely upon that. Many on board ship wear soft shoes, which make
but little noise, and it would be fatal to us were we to make a
mistake. After thinking it over, I have decided that we had best
try to cut a way up into the captain's cabin."</p>

<p>"But that is sure to be occupied, Messer Hammond," Parucchi
said.</p>

<p>"Yes, it will be certainly be occupied; but it affords a good
opportunity of success. As you know, Parucchi, Carlo Bottini had
been a long time at Constantinople and the Eastern ports, and had a
somewhat luxurious taste. Do you not remember that, against the
stern windows, he had caused to be erected a low wide seat running
across the cabin? This he called a divan, and spent no small
proportion of his time lolling upon it. If I am right, its height
was from ten inches to a foot above the deck, and it was fully four
feet wide. It would therefore be quite possible to cut through the
two planks at the back, without its being observed by anyone in the
cabin."</p>

<p>There was a chorus of assent.</p>

<p>"Of course we must work most cautiously," Francis went on. "The
wood must be cut out with clean cuts with the daggers. There must
be no sawing or scraping. The beams are two feet apart, and we must
cut through two planks close to them. In that way there will be no
nails to remove. Of course, we shall not cut quite through until
the time arrives for us to make the attempt, but just leave enough
to hold the planks together. Half an hour's work will get through
that, for if we were to cut through it at once, not only would
there be risk of the hole being discovered by anyone sweeping the
cabin, but we should be obliged to remain absolutely silent, or we
should be heard immediately."</p>

<p>"We can begin at once, can we not?" Matteo asked. "Anything is
better than sitting quietly here."</p>

<p>"Certainly, Matteo, if you wish. Two can work at once, one on
each line. Choose the two sharpest edged of the daggers, and be
sure to cut clean, and not to make a scraping noise or to try to
break out pieces of wood. The work must be done in absolute quiet.
Indeed, however careful you are, it is possible that some slight
sound may be heard above, but, if noticed, it will probably be
taken for the rats."</p>

<p>Matteo and another of the young men at once fell to work; but it
was not until the evening of the following day that cuts were made
as deep as was considered prudent. The depth of wood remaining was
tested by thrusting the point of a dagger through, and it was
decided that little more than a quarter of an inch remained.</p>

<p>Upon the following day the ship anchored, and remained for two
days in some port. Provisions were brought on board and carried
down into the hold, and the prisoners had no doubt that they were
in harbour on the coast of either Sicily, or the south of Italy.
They had not set sail many hours, when the motion of the ship told
them that the wind was getting up, and by night the vessel was
rolling heavily, the noise made by the dashing of the water against
her planks being so great, that those below could scarcely hear
each other speak. Their spirits had risen with the increase of the
motion, for the opportunity for which they had been waiting was now
at hand. In a gale the vessels would keep well apart from each
other, to prevent the danger of a collision, and any outcry would
be drowned by the noise of the wind and water.</p>

<p>Each night Francis had paid a visit to the sailors forward, to
enjoin patience until he should give them the order for making the
attempt. They had long since cut through the planks, which were
only retained in their place by the pressure of the sacks behind
them. He had bade them be in readiness on the first occasion on
which rough weather might set in, and knew that they would now be
expecting the signal.</p>

<p>As soon, then, as it became dark, and the hatch over the middle
hold was closed; the planks were removed, and Francis and his party
set to work shifting the sacks, in the corner where the sailors had
cut the planks. Each sack was taken up, and placed against the pile
further on, without the slightest noise, until at last all were
removed that stood in the way of the planks being taken down. These
were carried out into the hold.</p>

<p>Francis entered the gap. The sailors had already been informed
that the occasion had come, and that they were to remain perfectly
quiet until bidden to move.</p>

<p>"All is prepared," he said as he entered. "Rinaldo, do you see
that the men come out one by one. As each comes out a weapon will
be placed in his hands, and he will be then led to the starboard
side of the hold, which is free from encumbrance, and will there
stand until he receives orders to move further. Remember that not
the slightest noise must be made, for if any stumbled and fell, and
the noise were heard above, it might be thought that some of the
stores had shifted from their places, and men would be sent below
to secure them. The alarm would be given, and a light or other
signal shown the other ships, before we could overpower all
resistance. After the men are all ranged up as I have directed,
they will have to remain there for some little time, while we
complete our arrangements."</p>

<p>As soon as the sailors were all armed, and ready for action,
Francis entered the after hold, where Matteo and another had been
engaged in cutting the planks quite through. They had just
completed the task when he reached them, and had quietly removed
the two pieces of plank. Francis had already given his orders to
his companions, and each knew the order in which they were to
ascend.</p>

<p>A dim light streamed down from the hole. Two of his comrades
lifted Francis so that his head was above the level of the hole,
and he was enabled to see into the cabin. So far as he could tell,
it was untenanted, but it was possible that the commander might be
on the divan above him. This was not, however, likely, as in the
gale that was now blowing he would probably be on deck, directing
the working of the ship.</p>

<p>Francis now gave the signal, and the others raised him still
further, until he was able to get his weight upon the deck above,
and he then crawled along underneath the divan, and lay there quiet
until Parucchi and Matteo had both reached the deck. Then he gave
the word, and all three rolled out and leaped to their feet, with
their daggers in their hands, in readiness to fall upon the captain
should he be on the divan.</p>

<p>As they had hoped and expected, the cabin was untenanted. The
other volunteers now joined them, the last giving the word to
Rinaldo, who soon passed up, followed by the crew, until the cabin
was as full as it could contain. There were now assembled some
fifty men, closely packed together.</p>

<p>"That is ample," Francis said, "as they will be unarmed and
unprepared. We can issue out singly until the alarm is given, and
then those that remain must rush out in a body. Simply knock them
down with the hilts of your swords. There is no occasion to shed
blood, unless in the case of armed resistance; but remember they
will have their knives in their girdles, and do not let anyone take
you by surprise."</p>

<p>Opening the door, Francis walked along a passage, and then
through an outer door into the waist of the ship. The wind was
blowing fiercely, but the gale was not so violent as it had
appeared to them when confined below. The night was dark, but after
a week's confinement below, his eyes were able easily to make out
almost every object on deck. There were but few sailors in the
waist. The officers would be on the poop, and such of the crew as
were not required on duty in the forecastle. Man after man joined
him, until some thirty were gathered near the bulwarks. An officer
on the poop caught sight of them by the light of the lantern, which
was suspended there as a signal to the other vessels.</p>

<p>"What are all you men doing down there?" he challenged. "There
is no occasion for you to keep on deck until you are summoned."</p>

<p>"Do you move forward with the men here, Parucchi. Knock down the
fellows on deck, and rush into the forecastle and overpower them
there, before they can get up their arms. I will summon the rest in
a body, and we will overpower the officers."</p>

<p>He ran back to the cabin door, and bade the men follow him. As
they poured out there was a scuffle on the deck forward, and the
officer shouted out again:</p>

<p>"What is going on there? What does all this mean?"</p>

<p>Francis sprang up the ladder to the poop, followed by his men,
and before the officer standing there understood the meaning of
this sudden rush of men, or had time to draw his sword, he was
knocked down. The captain and three other officers, who were
standing by the helm, drew their swords and rushed forward,
thinking there was a mutiny among their crew; but Francis shouted
out:</p>

<p>"Throw down your weapons, all of you. We have retaken the ship,
and resistance is useless, and will only cost you your lives."</p>

<p>The officers stood stupefied with astonishment; and then, seeing
that fully twenty armed men were opposed to them, they threw down
their swords. Francis ordered four of the sailors to conduct them
to the captain's cabin, and remain in guard over them; then with
the rest he hurried forward to assist Parucchi's party.</p>

<p>But the work was already done. The Genoese, taken completely by
surprise, had at once surrendered, as the armed party rushed in the
forecastle, and the ship was already theirs. As soon as the
prisoners were secured, the after hatch was thrown off, and those
whose turn to crawl up through the hole had not yet arrived came up
on deck.</p>

<p>"Rinaldo," Francis said, as soon as the crew had fallen into
their places, "send a man aloft, and let him suddenly knock out the
light in the lantern."</p>

<p>"But we can lower it down, captain, from the deck."</p>

<p>"Of course we can, Rinaldo, but I don't want it lowered down, I
want it put suddenly out."</p>

<p>Rinaldo at once sent a man up, and a minute later the light
suddenly disappeared.</p>

<p>"If we were seen to lower it down," Francis said to Matteo, "the
suspicions of those who noticed it would be at once aroused, for
the only motive for doing so would be concealment; whereas now, if
it is missed, it will be supposed that the wind has blown it out.
Now we have only to lower our sails, and we can drop unobserved out
of the fleet."</p>

<p>"There are sixteen lights, I have just been counting them,"
Matteo said.</p>

<p>"These are probably the fourteen galleys captured with us, and
two galleys as guards, in case, on their way, they should fall in
with any of our ships.</p>

<p>"Parucchi, will you at once muster the men, and see that all are
armed and in readiness for fighting?</p>

<p>"Matteo, do you and some of your friends assist the
lieutenant."</p>

<p>In a few minutes, Parucchi reported that the men were all ready
for action.</p>

<p>"Rinaldo, brail up the sails, so that we may drop into the rear
of the squadron. Watch the lights of the vessels behind, and steer
so that they shall pass us as widely as possible."</p>

<p>This was the order the men were expecting to receive, but they
were surprised when, just as the last light was abreast of them,
Francis gave the order for the brails to be loosed again.</p>

<p>"Signor Parucchi, do you tell off fifty men. I am going to lay
the ship alongside that vessel, and recapture her. They will not
see us until we are close on board, and will suppose it is an
accident when we run alongside. No doubt they, like the Pluto, have
only a complement of fifty men, and we shall overpower them before
they are prepared to offer any resistance.</p>

<p>"No doubt they have prisoners below. Immediately we have
recaptured her, I shall return on board with the rest, leaving you
with your fifty men in charge of her. As soon as you have secured
the Genoese, free any prisoners there may be in the hold. I shall
keep close to you, and you can hear me, and tell me how many there
are."</p>

<p>The Pluto was now edged away, till she was close to the other
ship. The crew, exulting in having turned the tables on the
Genoese, and at the prospect of recovering another of the lost
galleys, clustered in the waist, grasping their arms. The ship was
not perceived until she was within her own length of the other.
Then there was a sudden hail:</p>

<p>"Where are you coming to? Keep away, or you will be into us. Why
don't you show your light?"</p>

<p>Francis shouted back some indistinct answer. Rinaldo pushed down
the helm, and a minute later the Pluto ran alongside the other
vessel. Half a dozen hands, told off for the work, sprang into her
rigging, and lashed the vessels together; while Francis, followed
by the crew, climbed the bulwarks and sprang on to the deck of the
enemy.</p>

<p>Scarce a blow was struck. The Genoese, astonished at this sudden
apparition of armed men on their deck, and being entirely unarmed
and unprepared, either ran down below or shouted they surrendered,
and in two minutes the Venetians were masters of the vessel.</p>

<p>"Back to the Pluto," Francis shouted. "The vessels will tear
their sides out!"</p>

<p>Almost as suddenly as they had invaded the decks of the galley,
the Venetians regained their own vessel, leaving the lieutenant
with his fifty men on board the prize. The lashings were cut, the
Pluto's helm put up, and she sheered away from her prize. Her
bulwarks were broken and splintered where she had ground against
the other vessel in the sea, and Rinaldo soon reported that some of
the seams had opened, and the water was coming in.</p>

<p>"Set the carpenter and some of the hands to work, to caulk the
seams as well as they can from the inside, and set a gang to work
at the pumps at once. It is unfortunate that it is blowing so hard.
If the wind had gone down instead of rising, we would have
recaptured the whole fleet, one by one."</p>

<p>The Pluto was kept within a short distance of the captured
vessel, and Parucchi presently shouted out that he had freed two
hundred prisoners.</p>

<p>"Arm them at once!" Francis shouted back. "Extinguish your
light, and board the vessel whose light you see on your starboard
bow. I will take the one to port. When you have captured her, lower
the sails of both vessels. I will do the same. You will keep a
little head sail set, so as to keep them before the wind; but do
not show more than you can help. I wish the rest of the fleet to
outrun us, as soon as possible."</p>

<p>The Pluto sheered off from the prize, and directed her course
towards the vessel nearest to her, which she captured as easily as
she had done the preceding. But this time, not only were her
bulwarks stove in, but the chain plates were carried away; and the
mainmast, no longer supported by its shrouds, fell over the side
with a crash.</p>

<p>This vessel had but a hundred prisoners on board. They were wild
with astonishment and delight, when they found that their vessel
had been recaptured. Francis told them to keep by him through the
night, as possibly he might need their assistance.</p>

<p>For some hours the gale increased. The Pluto lay head to it, her
mast serving as a floating anchor. As soon as the lights of the
Genoese squadron disappeared in the distance, Francis hoisted a
lantern on his mainmast, as a signal to the other vessels to keep
near him.</p>

<p>As soon as day broke, the galley they had last recaptured was
seen, half a mile away, while the two others could be made out some
six miles to leeward. The gale died out soon after daybreak, and
Francis at once set his crew to work to get the mast on board, and
to ship it by its stump.</p>

<p>It was a difficult undertaking, for the vessel was rolling
heavily. It was first got alongside, two ropes were passed over it,
and it was parbuckled on board. Shears were made of two spars, and
the end was placed against the stump, which projected six feet
above the deck. By the aid of the shears, it was hoisted erect and
lashed to the stump, wedges were driven in to tighten the lashings,
and it was then firmly stayed; and by the afternoon it was in
readiness for sail to be hoisted again.</p>

<p>By this time Parucchi, with the vessel he had captured, was
alongside. The Lion of Saint Mark was hoisted to the mainmast of
the Pluto, and three similar banners were run up by the other
vessels, the crews shouting and cheering with wild enthusiasm.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch17">Chapter 17</a>: An Ungrateful Republic.</h2>

<p>"It is glorious, Francis," Matteo said, "to think that we should
have recaptured four of our ships!"</p>

<p>"It is very good, as far as it goes," Francis replied, "but it
might have been a great deal better. If it hadn't been for the
storm, we might have picked them all up one by one. Each vessel we
took, the stronger we became, and I had calculated upon our
capturing the greater number. But in such a sea, I don't think we
could possibly capture more than we did."</p>

<p>"I should think not," Matteo said. "I had never dreamt of doing
more than recovering the Pluto, and when you first talked about
that, it seemed almost like madness. I don't think one of us had
the slightest belief in the possibility of the thing, when you
first proposed it."</p>

<p>"I thought it was to be managed somehow," Francis said. "It
would have been a shame, indeed, if a hundred and fifty men were to
be kept prisoners for a fortnight, or three weeks, by a third of
their number."</p>

<p>"Well, certainly no one would have thought of making the
attempt, if you had not proposed it, Francis. I believe, even if
you were to propose our sailing north, and capturing Genoa, there
is not a man on board but would follow you willingly, with the firm
conviction that you would succeed."</p>

<p>"In that case, Matteo," Francis said, laughing, "it is very
lucky for you that I am not at all out of my mind. Signal now to
Parucchi to lower his boats, and come on board with our men. We may
fall in yet with another Genoese squadron, and may as well have our
full complement on board, especially as Parucchi has found two
hundred men already on board the vessel we captured."</p>

<p>Parucchi and his men soon transferred themselves to the Pluto,
and the four vessels hoisted their sails, and made for the south.
They had learned, from their captives, that the squadron had
already passed through the Straits of Messina, and that it was at
Messina they had stopped and taken in provision two days before.
Indeed, when, late in the afternoon, the sky cleared and the sun
shone out, they saw the mountains of Calabria on their left.</p>

<p>Learning, from the captives, that no Genoese vessels had been
seen in the straits as they passed through, Francis did not
hesitate to order the course to be shaped for the straits, instead
of sailing round Sicily, as he would have done had there been any
chance of falling in with a hostile squadron, in passing between
the islands and the mainland.</p>

<p>"I should like to have seen the face of the commander of the
Genoese squadron this morning," Matteo said, "when he discovered
that four of his vessels were missing. He can hardly have supposed
that they were lost, for although the wind was strong, it blew
nearly dead aft, and there was nothing of a gale to endanger
well-handled ships. I almost wonder that he did not send back the
two fully manned galleys he had with him, to search for us."</p>

<p>"Perhaps he did," Francis said; "but he would have been a
hundred miles further north by daybreak, and it would have taken
him a couple of days to get back to where we were lying."</p>

<p>No hostile sail was seen during the voyage back to Venice.
Francis remained in command of the little squadron, for the
captains, and many of the superior officers, had been transferred
to the galley of the officer in command of the squadron, and
Francis happened to be the only second officer on board any of the
four ships.</p>

<p>Great care was observed when they approached Venice, as, for
aught they knew, Doria's squadron might be blockading the port. The
Genoese fleet, however, was still cruising on the coast of
Dalmatia, capturing port after port of the Venetian possessions
there.</p>

<p>The four vessels passed through the channel of the Lido with
their colours flying. When first observed from the watchtower of
Venice, they were supposed to form part of the squadron of Zeno,
but as soon as they cast anchor, and the news spread that they were
four of Pisani's galleys, which had been recaptured from the
Genoese, the delight of the population was immense.</p>

<p>The ships were speedily surrounded by a fleet of boats,
containing relatives and friends of those taken prisoners at the
battle of Polo, and the decks were crowded with persons inquiring
after their friends, or embracing with delight those whom they had,
an hour before, believed to be either dead or immured in the
dungeons of Genoa.</p>

<p>One of the first to appear was Polani, who had early received
the news by a swift boat from one of his ships in the port, that
the Pluto was one of the vessels entering the harbour.</p>

<p>"What miracle is this, Francis?" he asked, as he warmly embraced
his young friend.</p>

<p>"Not a miracle at all, Messer Polani. The Genoese fancied that a
guard of fifty men was amply sufficient to keep a hundred and fifty
Venetians captives, and we taught them their mistake."</p>

<p>"It wasn't we," Matteo put in, as he shook hands with his
kinsman. "We had no more idea of escaping than we had of flying.
The whole thing was entirely the work of Francisco here."</p>

<p>"I might have been sure the Genoese would not keep you long,
Francisco," Polani said; "and the girls and I might have spared
ourselves the pain of fretting for you. But how did it all come
about?"</p>

<p>"If you will take me to the Piazza in your gondola, I will tell
you all about on the way," Francis replied. "For, absurd as it
seems, I am the senior officer of the squadron, and must, I
suppose, report to the council what has happened."</p>

<p>"Take me, too, kinsman," Matteo said. "I know Francisco so well
that I am quite sure that, of himself, he will never tell the facts
of this affair, and will simply say that we broke out, avoiding all
mention of his share in it, and how it was that under his orders we
recaptured the other ships."</p>

<p>"I think that a very good plan, Matteo; so do you come with us,
and you shall tell me all about it, instead of my hearing it from
Francis, and I will take care the council know the truth of the
matter."</p>

<p>"The admiral got safely back, I hope?" Francis asked. "We saw
that his galley, with five others, broke through the Genoese fleet
and got safely away, but of course, we knew not whether the brave
admiral was himself hurt."</p>

<p>"He arrived here safely," Polani replied; "but knowing the
Venetians as you do, you will be scarcely surprised to hear that he
has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment, for losing the
battle."</p>

<p>"But that is shameful," Francis exclaimed indignantly. "I heard
from our captain, who was present at the council, that Pisani was
opposed to fighting, and that he was only overruled by the
proveditors. It is shameful. I will go on shore and make my report,
and then I will come back to you, for I swear that not another blow
will I strike on behalf of the republic, as long as Pisani is in
prison."</p>

<p>"It is a bad business, my lad," Polani said; "but you know that
Pisani, popular as he is with the people, has few friends among the
nobles. They are jealous of his fame and popularity, and, to say
the truth, he has often irritated them, by his bluntness and his
disregard for their opinion and rank. Consequently, they seized
upon his defeat as an occasion for accusing him, and it was even a
question in the council of taking his life, and he may be
considered fortunate in getting off with the sentence of six
months' imprisonment.</p>

<p>"I do not think he will have to remain very long in confinement.
We may expect the Genoese fleet here in a few days, for the Paduan
army is already moving, as we heard last night. No doubt it is
going to cooperate with the fleet. Once the danger presses, the
populace will demand Pisani's release. There have already been
demonstrations, and shouts of 'Viva Pisani!' have been raised in
the Piazza.</p>

<p>"At any rate, Francis, let me advise you, most strongly, not to
suffer any expression of your feelings concerning him to escape you
before the council. I need scarcely say it would do no good to the
admiral, and would set the whole of his enemies against you. It is
no affair of yours, if the governors of Venice behave ungratefully
to one who deserves well at their hands, and you have made more
than enough enemies by mingling in my affairs, without drawing upon
yourself more foes, by your championship of Pisani."</p>

<p>"I will, of course, follow your counsel," Francis said; "but I
will certainly serve the state no more, until Pisani is freed."</p>

<p>Several of the councillors were already assembled, on hearing
the strange news that four of the ships, which had been captured by
the Genoese, had entered port. Francis, on announcing his errand,
was at once shown in to them. Polani accompanied him, explaining
his presence to the council by saying:</p>

<p>"I have ventured, signors, to accompany my young friend here, in
order that I may give you a much further detail of the affair in
which he has been engaged, than you are likely to hear from his own
lips. I have just come on shore from his ship, the Pluto, and have
heard the story from my kinsman, Matteo Giustiniani."</p>

<p>"We have surely seen this young gentleman before, Messer
Polani," one of the council said.</p>

<p>"You have, signor," Polani replied. "You may remember that he
greatly distinguished himself at the fight of Antium, was sent home
by the admiral with his despatches, and had the honour of
receiving, from you, the thanks of the republic and the gift of
citizenship."</p>

<p>"I remember now," the councillor said; and a murmur of assent
from the others showed that they also recalled the circumstance.
"Is he again the bearer of despatches, from the officer in command
of the little squadron which, as it seems, has just, by some
miracle, entered the port? And how is it that the officer did not
present himself in person before us?"</p>

<p>"The officer has presented himself," Polani said. "Messer
Hammond is in command of the four ships which have just arrived.
Not only is he in command by virtue of senior rank, but it is to
him that their recapture from the Genoese is entirely due."</p>

<p>There was a murmur of incredulity from the circle of
councillors, but Polani went on quietly.</p>

<p>"It may seem well nigh impossible to you, signors, but what I
say is strictly true. If Messer Hammond will first relate to you
the broad facts of the recapture of the ships, I will furnish you
with such details as he may omit."</p>

<p>Francis then briefly related the events which had led to the
capture of the four galleys. He explained that by the death of the
captain he, as second officer, succeeded to the command of the
Pluto, and that afterwards being captured by the Genoese, Signor
Parucchi, the sole other surviving officer, and ten gentlemen
belonging to noble families and serving as volunteers on board the
Pluto, were confined in one hold of that ship on her voyage as a
prize to Genoa, the crew being shut up in the other; that by
working at night they had effected a junction with the crew, and
choosing a stormy night, when any noise that might be made would
not be heard on board the ship, they made their way up to the deck
above, through a hole they had cut in the planks, and overpowered
the Genoese almost without resistance; that they had then, in the
darkness, ran alongside another of the ships and captured her with
equal ease; and Parucchi, with a portion of the crew of the Pluto,
and the Venetian prisoners on board that ship, had retaken a third;
while the Pluto had captured a fourth.</p>

<p>"It may seem to you, signors," Francis concluded, "that we
might, in the same way, have recaptured the rest of our ships, and
it was a bitter disappointment to me that we failed to do so; but
the storm was so high, and the sea so rough, that it was only with
the greatest danger and difficulty that ships could lie alongside
each other. The bulwarks of all four vessels were greatly damaged,
and the Pluto lost her foremast while alongside the last ship we
captured, and as the storm was increasing, rather than abating, we
were, to our great chagrin, obliged to let the rest escape, since
in striving for more we might have lost, not only our lives, but
the vessels we had taken."</p>

<p>"This is indeed a most notable achievement, Messer Hammond, and
the restoration of four ships and their crews, at the present
moment, is of great importance to the republic, threatened as she
is with invasion by land and sea.</p>

<p>"Now, Messer Polani, if you will give us the full details of
which you spoke, we shall be glad."</p>

<p>Polani then related to the council the full story of the means
by which the crew of the Pluto had gained their liberty, showing
how the recapture was entirely due to the initiative of Francis,
and to the ingenuity with which he overcame all difficulties. He
ended by saying:</p>

<p>"My kinsman, Matteo, said that should you doubt whether this
account is not tinged by his friendship and partiality for Messer
Hammond, Signor Parucchi, and all the gentlemen who were confined
with them in the hold, can substantiate the account that he has
given. He said that Parucchi's evidence would be all the more
valuable, since he and the other officers were in the first place
much prejudiced against Messer Hammond, deeming it an indignity
that one so young, and a foreigner by birth, should be appointed to
the command over the heads of others, Venetian born, of good
family, and his seniors in age. The circumstances which I have
related to you have, however, completely altered his opinion, and
he is as enthusiastic, with respect to Messer Hammond's conduct, as
are my kinsman and all on board the ship."</p>

<p>"I remember now," one of the council said, "that we had a letter
from the admiral in the spring, and that, when describing how
terribly the crews had been diminished and weakened by the severity
of the winter, he said that the sole exception was the Pluto, whose
crew was kept up to their full strength, and in excellent health,
owing entirely to the care and attention that Messer Hammond, the
officer second in command, had bestowed upon them."</p>

<p>"Thanks, Messer Polani," the president of the council said, "for
the light you have thrown on this matter.</p>

<p>"Messer Hammond, it is difficult to overestimate the services
that you have rendered to the state. We shall, at an early day,
decide in what manner most fitly to reward them, and in the
meantime you will remain in command of the squadron you have
brought in."</p>

<p>Francis returned thanks for the promise of the president, but
expressed his desire to resign the command of the squadron at
once.</p>

<p>"I am in business," he said, "with Messer Polani, and although,
for a short time, I abandoned commerce in order to sail under
Admiral Pisani, I now, from various reasons, desire, as soon as my
successor is appointed, to return to my work with Signor
Polani.</p>

<p>"I desire to recommend warmly to your excellencies Signor
Parucchi, who is, except myself, the sole remaining officer of the
Pluto. He seconded me most admirably in our enterprise, and himself
commanded at the recapture of one of the ships. The gentlemen
volunteers also worked with the greatest energy and spirit. Matteo
Giustiniani has been acting as third officer, and to him also the
thanks of the republic are due."</p>

<p>On leaving the ship, Messer Polani had despatched a boat, to
carry to his house the news that Francis had returned; and when
they came back from the palace they found Giulia anxiously
expecting them, and a few minutes later Matteo arrived with his
brother Rufino, and Maria. The latter was far more effusive in her
greeting of Francis than Giulia had been.</p>

<p>"Matteo has been telling us all about it, Francis, and that he,
and everyone else, owed their escape from the dungeons of Genoa
entirely to your cleverness."</p>

<p>"Not so much to his cleverness, Maria," Matteo corrected,
"although he is wonderful in inventing things, but to his energy,
determination, and steadfastness. There was not one of us but
regarded a visit to the dungeons of Genoa as a foregone conclusion,
and when Francis spoke of our recapturing the Pluto, as if it were
the easiest and most natural thing in the world, it was as much as
we could do not to laugh in his face. However, he set about it as
quietly and calmly as if he were carrying on the regular work of a
ship. We gradually caught some of his spirit, and when we began to
see that there was a method in his madness, did our best to carry
out his orders."</p>

<p>"It is wonderful," Maria said; "and do you know, Francisco, that
when we first knew you, after you had rescued us from the attack on
the canal, I absolutely thought that, though you were brave and
straightforward and honourable, yet that by the side of our own
people of your age, you were rather stupid, and ever since then I
have been learning how mistaken I was."</p>

<p>Francis laughed.</p>

<p>"I think your estimate of me was correct enough," he said. "You
see people are often stupid one way, and sharp another. Matteo will
tell you I was far behind most of those in the seminary in learning
lessons, and certainly when it came to talking, and bandying jokes,
I had no chance at all. I suppose that every lady I have ever
spoken to, when I have been with you at entertainments, has thought
me exceptionally stupid; and I am sure I am, in most things, only I
suppose I have got a fair share of common sense, and a habit of
thinking for myself. There was no cleverness at all in anything
that Matteo is telling you of.</p>

<p>"It was just the same here as it was when I was in that cell
near Tunis. I wanted to get out. I supposed there must be some way
out, if I could but discover it, and so I sat down to think how it
was to be done; and of course, after trying in my mind every
possible scheme, I hit upon the right one. There certainly was
nothing clever in that."</p>

<p>"But I have heard nothing about it yet," Giulia said; "and
everyone else seems to know how it was done."</p>

<p>"Matteo, do you tell Giulia," Maria ordered. "I have lots of
questions to ask Francis."</p>

<p>"By the way, Francis," Messer Polani said, "you will be glad to
hear that I have succeeded in getting home your man Giuseppi. He
returned two days ago, and I have no doubt is somewhere below
waiting to see you."</p>

<p>"I will go and see him at once," Francis said, hurrying away. "I
am indeed glad to know that you have rescued him."</p>

<p>Maria laughed, as the door closed behind Francis.</p>

<p>"There, Rufino," she said, turning to him, "you pretend
sometimes to be jealous of Francisco Hammond; and there, you see,
just when I have said I have lots of questions to ask him, and five
minutes after my arrival here to greet him, he races away without a
word, directly he hears that his man Giuseppi has returned."</p>

<p>"And he is quite right, Maria," Matteo said indignantly.
"Giuseppi would give his life for Francisco, and the two have been
together every day for the last six or seven years. I don't doubt
the faithful fellow is crying with joy now. Francisco is quite
right, not to keep him waiting for a minute."</p>

<p>"Perhaps I cried for joy, too, Master Matteo," Maria said.</p>

<p>"I believe I did see tears in your eyes, Maria; but I put them
down to my own account. You would naturally be delighted to know
that your brother-in-law was safe and sound, to say nothing of the
fact that the family would be spared the expense of sending a
thousand ducats or so to ransom him."</p>

<p>"A thousand ducats, Matteo! A thousand soldi would more nearly
represent your value, if the Genoese did but know it. But why don't
you tell Giulia your adventures, as I ordered you?"</p>

<p>"Because Giulia would very much rather hear them from
Francisco's lips, and I have no doubt he will be equally glad to
tell her himself, though certainly he is a bad hand at recounting
his own doings. However, he shall have the pleasure of telling her
of it, and I can fill up the details for her, afterwards."</p>

<p>Two days later, a decree was published by the council stating
that, in consideration of the very great service rendered to the
state by Francisco Hammond, a citizen of Venice, in recapturing
four galleys from the Genoese, the council decreed the settlement
upon him, for life, of a pension of three hundred ducats a
year.</p>

<p>"You will not want it, Francisco," Messer Polani said, as he
brought in the news, "for I intend, at the end of these troubles,
to take you as a partner in my business. I told your father that I
should do so; and you have not only proved yourself earnest in
business, quick at learning, and full of resources, but you have
vastly added to the debt of gratitude which first caused me to make
the proposition, by again saving my daughters from falling into the
hands of their enemy. I told your father that I should regard you
in the light of a son, and I do so regard you, and as a son of whom
I have every reason to be proud.</p>

<p>"I need no thanks, my lad. I am still, and shall always remain,
your debtor. You have very much more than fulfilled my
expectations, and I shall be glad to place some of the burden of my
business upon your shoulders.</p>

<p>"There is another matter, which I have long had in my mind, but
of which I will not speak just at present.</p>

<p>"Thus, then, the three hundred ducats, which you will receive
each year from the state, may not be needed by you. Still, you are
to be congratulated upon the grant, because being the recipient of
a pension, for distinguished services, will add to your weight and
influence in the city. And so long as you do not need it--and no
man can say what may occur, in the course of years, to hinder the
trade of Venice--you can bestow the sum annually upon the poor of
the city, and thus increase your popularity."</p>

<p>"I shall be happy to do that, signor," Francis said, "although
it seems to me that popularity is of little value in Venice. It has
not saved the man whom, a short time since, the people hailed as
their father, from unmerited disgrace and imprisonment."</p>

<p>"It has not, Francisco, but it has saved his life. You may take
my word for it, that the proposal, absolutely made in the council,
for the execution of Pisani, would have been voted had it not been
for fear of the people; and it may be that you will yet see, that
the voice of the people will bring Pisani from his prison, long
before the expiration of his term of imprisonment. Popularity is
not to be despised, for it is a great power. That power may be
abused, as when one, having gained the ear of the people, leads
them astray for his own base ends, and uses the popularity he has
gained to attack, and hurl from power, men less eloquent and less
gifted in the arts of cajoling the people, but more worthy than
himself. But, used rightly, the power of swaying and influencing
the people is a great one, and especially valuable in a city like
Venice, where private enmities and private feuds are carried to so
great an extent. Already your name is in every mouth. Your rescue
of Pisani, when sorely beset by the enemy, has been the theme of
talk in every house; and this feat, which retrieves, to some
extent, the misfortune of Pola, will make your name a household
word in Venice."</p>

<p>Immediately after the battle of Pola, the Venetians had entered
into negotiations with Hungary, to endeavour to detach that power
from the league against them. But the demands of King Louis were
too extravagant to be accepted. He demanded the cession of Trieste,
the recognition of the suzerainty of his crown on the part of the
present doge, and all his successors, an annual tribute of one
hundred thousand ducats, and half a million of ready money. This
demand was so excessive that, even in their distress, the Venetians
refused to accept it, and hastened on their preparations for a
struggle for life or death.</p>

<p>Fortunately, the Genoese continued for three months, after their
success at Pola, to capture the outlying possessions of Venice,
instead of striking at the capital. Towards the end of July,
seventeen Genoese vessels appeared off Pelestrina, burned a
merchant ship lying there, and spent the day in reconnoitring
positions, and in taking soundings of the shallows and canals off
Brondolo. They then sailed away for Dalmatia. In less than a week
six galleys again hove in sight; and Admiral Giustiniani, who was
in supreme command of the forces, issued out from the Lido, with an
equal number of ships, to give them battle.</p>

<p>On his way, however, a black object was seen in the water. As
they neared it, this was seen to be the head of a swimmer. He was
soon picked up, and was found to be a Venetian citizen, named
Savadia, who had been captured by the enemy, but had managed to
escape, and was swimming towards land to warn his countrymen that
the whole Genoese fleet, of forty-seven sail, under Pietro Doria,
was close at hand; and that the six ships in the offing were simply
a decoy, to tempt the Venetians to come out and give battle.</p>

<p>Giustiniani at once returned to port, and scarcely had he done
so, than the whole Genoese fleet made its appearance. They
approached the passage of the Lido; but the respite that had been
afforded them had enabled the Venetians to make their preparations,
and the Genoese found, to their disappointment, that the channels
of the Lido and Malamocco were completely closed up with sunken
vessels, palisades, and chains; and they sailed away to seek
another entry through which they could strike at Venice.</p>

<p>Had the same precautions, that had proved so effective at the
Lido and Malamocco passages, been taken at all the other channels;
Venice could have defied all the efforts of Doria's fleet.</p>

<p>The city is situated on a group of small islands, rising in the
midst of a shallow basin twenty-five miles long and five wide, and
separated from the sea by a long sandbank, formed by the sediment
brought down by the rivers Piave and Adige. Through this sandbank
the sea had pierced several channels. Treporti, the northern of
these channels, contained water only for the smallest craft. The
next opening was known as the port of Lido, and separated the
island of San Nicolo from Malamocco. Five miles farther on is the
passage of Malamocco, between that island and Pelestrina. Southwest
of Pelestrina lay Brondolo, behind which stood Chioggia, twenty
miles distant from Venice. The southern point of Brondolo was only
separated by a small channel--called the Canal of Lombardy--from
the mainland.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, at Brondolo the channel had not been closed. All
preparations had been made for doing so, but the work had been
postponed until the last moment, in order that trading vessels
might enter and leave the harbour, the Chioggians believing that
there was sure to be sufficient warning, of the approach of an
enemy, to enable them to close the entrance in time. The sudden
appearance of Doria's fleet before Brondolo upset all these
calculations, and the Genoese easily carried the position. Little
Chioggia, the portion of the town separated from the rest by the
Canal of Santa Caterina, was captured without difficulty; but the
bridge across the canal was strongly defended by bastions and
redoubts, and here Pietro Emo made a brave stand, with his garrison
of three thousand five hundred men.</p>

<p>The enemy at once erected his batteries, and, on the 12th of
August, the Genoese opened fire. The Venetians replied stoutly, and
for three days a heavy cannonade was kept up on both sides.
Reinforcements had reached the garrison from Venice, and, hour by
hour, swift boats brought the news to the city of the progress of
the fight.</p>

<p>So far, all seemed going on well. The Genoese had suffered
heavily, and made no impression upon the batteries at the head of
the bridge. The days passed in Venice in a state of restless
disquietude. It was hoped and believed that Chioggia could
successfully defend itself; but if it fell, the consequence would
be terrible.</p>

<p>Already the Hungarians had overrun the Venetian possessions on
the mainland, the Lord of Padua was in the field with his army, and
communication was cut with Ferrara, their sole ally. Should
Chioggia fall, the Genoese fleet would enter the lagoons, and would
sail, by the great channel through the flats, from Chioggia to
Venice; and their light galleys could overrun the whole of the
lagoons, and cut off all communication with the mainland, and
starvation would rapidly stare the city in the face.</p>

<p>Polani made all preparations for the worst. Many of his
valuables were hidden away, in recesses beneath the floors. Others
were taken on board one of his ships in the port, and this was held
in readiness to convey Giulia and Maria, whose husband had
willingly accepted Polani's offer, to endeavour to carry her off by
sea with Giulia, in case the Genoese should enter the city.</p>

<p>The merchant made an excursion to Chioggia, with Francis, to see
for himself how things were going, and returned somewhat reassured.
Francis spent much of his time at the port visiting Polani's ships,
talking to the sailors, and expressing to them his opinion, that
the Genoese and Paduans would never have dared to lay siege to
Chioggia, had they not known that Pisani was no longer in command
of the Venetian forces.</p>

<p>"I regard the present state of affairs," he said, over and over
again, "as a judgment upon the city, for its base ingratitude to
the brave admiral, and I am convinced that things will never come
right, until we have him again in command of our fleet.</p>

<p>"Giustiniani is no doubt an able man; but what has he ever done
in comparison to what Pisani has accomplished? Why should we place
our only hope of safety in the hands of an untried man? I warrant,
if Pisani was out and about, you would see Venice as active as a
swarm of bees, pouring out against our aggressors. What is being
done now? Preparations are being made; but of what kind? Ships are
sunk in the channel; but what will be the use of this if Chioggia
falls? The canals to that place will be blocked, but that will not
prevent the Genoese from passing, in their light boats, from island
to island, until they enter Venice itself.</p>

<p>"Do you think all these ships would be lying idly here, if
Pisani were in command? Talk to your comrades, talk to the sailors
in the port, talk to those on shore when you land, and urge,
everywhere, that the cry should be raised for Pisani's release, and
restoration to command."</p>

<h2><a id="Ch18">Chapter 18</a>: The Release Of Pisani.</h2>

<p>On the morning of the 17th, the party were sitting at breakfast,
when Giulia suddenly sprang to her feet.</p>

<p>"Listen!" she exclaimed.</p>

<p>Her father and Francis looked at her in surprise, but
instinctively listened for whatever sound she could have heard.
Then a deep, solemn sound boomed through the air.</p>

<p>"It is the bell of the Campanile tolling," the merchant
exclaimed. "It is the signal for all citizens to take up arms. Some
terrible news has arrived."</p>

<p>Hastily putting on his armour, the merchant started to Saint
Mark's, accompanied by Francis, who put on a steel cap, which he
preferred to the heavy helmet, and a breastplate. A crowd of
citizens were pursuing the same direction. The numbers thickened as
they approached the Piazza, which they found on their arrival to be
already thronged with people, who were densely packed in front of
the palace, awaiting an explanation of the summons.</p>

<p>There was a look of deep anxiety on every face, for all felt
that the news must be bad, indeed, which could have necessitated
such a call. Presently the doge, accompanied by the council,
appeared in the balcony. A complete silence fell upon the
multitude, the bell ceased tolling, and not the slightest sound
disturbed the stillness. One of the councillors stepped to the
front, for the doge, Contarini, was now seventy-two years old, and
his voice could hardly have been heard over so wide an area.</p>

<p>"Citizens of the republic, gather, I pray you, all your
fortitude and constancy, to hear the news which I have to tell. It
is bad news; but there is no reason for repining, still less for
despair. If Venice has but confidence in herself, such as she has
throughout her history shown, when danger seemed imminent, be
assured that we shall weather this storm, as we have done all that
have preceded it. Chioggia has fallen!"</p>

<p>An exclamation of pain and grief went up from the crowd. The
speaker held up his hand for silence.</p>

<p>"Chioggia, contrary to our hopes and expectations, has fallen;
but we are proud to say, it has fallen from no lack of bravery on
the part of its defenders. As you know, for six days the brave
podesta, Emo, and his troops have repulsed every attack; but
yesterday an unforeseen accident occurred. While our soldiers were
holding their own, as usual, a Genoese fire ship exploded in the
canal behind them. The idea, unfortunately, seized the troops that
the bridge was on fire. The Genoese shouted 'The bridge is in
flames!' and pressed onward, and our soldiers fell back, in some
confusion, towards the bridge. Here Emo, with four brave
companions, made a noble stand, and for a time checked the advance
of the foe; but he was driven back. There was no time to destroy
the communication behind him. The enemy pressed on, and, mingled
with our retreating soldiers, entered the town. And so Chioggia was
taken. Our loss in killed is said to be eight hundred and sixty
men; while the rest of the garrison--four thousand in number--were
taken prisoners."</p>

<p>A loud cry of anguish burst from the crowd. Numbers of those
present had relatives and friends among the garrison of Chioggia;
and to all, the news of this terrible disaster was a profound blow.
Venice was open now to invasion. In a few hours, the enemy might
appear in her canals.</p>

<p>The council and the nobles endeavoured to dispel the feeling of
despair. While some harangued the people from the balconies, others
went down and mingled with the crowd, assuring them that all was
not yet lost, that already messengers had been despatched to Doria,
and the Lord of Padua, asking for terms of peace; and even should
these be refused, Venice might yet defend herself until Zeno
arrived, with his fleet, to their rescue. The doge himself received
deputations of the citizens, and, by his calmness and serenity, did
much to allay the first feeling of terror and dismay; and in a few
hours the city recovered its wonted aspect of tranquillity.</p>

<p>The next morning the answer to the overtures was received. The
Lord of Padua, who was doubtless beginning to feel some misgiving
as to the final issue of the struggle, declared that he himself was
not unwilling to treat upon certain terms, but that the decision
must rest in the hands of his colleague. Doria, believing that
Venice was now in his grasp, rejected the idea of terms with
scorn.</p>

<p>"By God's faith, my lords of Venice," he cried, "ye shall have
no peace from the Lord of Padua, nor from our commune of Genoa,
until I have put a bit in the mouths of the horses of your
evangelist of Saint Mark. When they have been bridled you shall
then, in sooth, have a good peace; and this is our purpose and that
of our commune!</p>

<p>"As for these captives, my brethren," he said, pointing to some
Genoese prisoners of rank, whom the Venetians had sent with their
embassy, in hopes of conciliating the Genoese, "take them back. I
want them not; for in a few days I am coming to release, from your
prisons, them and the rest."</p>

<p>As soon as the message was received, the bell summoned the
popular assembly together, and, in the name of the doge, Pietro
Mocenigo described to them the terrible nature of the peril that
threatened them, told them that, after the insolent reply of Doria,
there was now no hope save in their own exertions, and invited all
to rally round the national standard, for the protection of their
hearths and homes. The reply of the assembly was unanimous; and
shouts were raised:</p>

<p>"Let us arm ourselves! Let us equip and man what galleys are in
the arsenal! Let us sally out to the combat! It is better to die in
the defence of our country, than to perish here from want."</p>

<p>A universal conscription was at once ordered, new taxes were
imposed, and the salaries of the magistrates and civil
functionaries suspended. All business came to a standstill, and
property fell to a fourth of its former value. The imposts were not
found adequate to produce the sums required, and a new loan, at
five per cent, was decreed. All subscribed to the utmost of their
ability, raising the enormous sum of 6,294,040 lire. A new captain
general was elected, and the government nominated Taddeo
Giustiniani to the post.</p>

<p>The fortification of the city, with earthworks, was commenced.
Lines of defence were drawn from Lido to San Spirito, and two
wooden towers constructed at the former point, to guard the pass of
San Nicolo. Events succeeded each other with the greatest rapidity,
and all these matters were settled within thirty-six hours of the
fall of Chioggia. In all respects the people, at first, yielded
implicit obedience to the order of the council. They enrolled
themselves for service. They subscribed to the loan. They laboured
at the outworks. But from the moment the appointment of Taddeo
Giustiniani was announced, they grew sullen. It was not that they
objected to the new captain general, who was a popular nobleman,
but every man felt that something more than this was required, in
such an emergency, and that the best man that Venice could produce
should be at the helm.</p>

<p>The sailors of the port were the first to move in the matter,
and shouts for Vettore Pisani were heard in the streets. Others
took up the cry, and soon a large multitude assembled in the
Piazza, and with menacing shouts, demanded that Pisani should be
freed and appointed. So serious did the tumult become, that the
council were summoned in haste. Pisani--so popular with the lower
class that they called him their father--was viewed with
corresponding dislike and distrust by the nobles, who were at once
jealous of his fame and superiority, and were alarmed at a
popularity which could have made him, had he chosen it, the master
of the state.</p>

<p>It was not, therefore, until after some hours of stormy debate,
that they decided to give in to the wishes of the crowd, which was
continually growing larger and more threatening; and it was late in
the evening before the senators deputed by the council, followed by
the exulting populace, hurried to the prison to apprise Pisani that
he was free, and that the doge and senate were expecting him.
Pisani heard the message without emotion, and placidly replied that
he should prefer to pass the night where he was in reflection, and
would wait on the seignory in the morning.</p>

<p>At daybreak on Friday, the 19th of August, the senatorial
delegates and the people, accompanied by the other officers who had
been involved in the disgrace of Pisani, and who had now been
freed, reappeared at the gates of the prison. These were
immediately opened, and Pisani appeared, with his usual expression
of cheerfulness and good humour on his face. He was at once lifted
on to the shoulders of some sailors, and borne in triumph to the
palace, amid the deafening cheers of the populace. On the staircase
he was met by the doge and senators, who saluted him cordially.
Mass was heard in the chapel, and Pisani and the council then set
to business, and were for some time closeted together.</p>

<p>The crowd waited outside the building, continuing to shout, and
when Pisani issued out from the palace, he was seized and carried
in triumph to his house in San Fantino. As he was passing the
Campanile of Saint Mark, his old pilot, Marino Corbaro, a
remarkably able seaman, but a perpetual grumbler against those in
authority, met him, and elbowing his way through the crowd, drew
close to him, loudly shouting at the same time:</p>

<p>"Now is the time, admiral, for revenging yourself, by seizing
the dictatorship of this city. Behold, all are at your service. All
are willing, at this very instant, to proclaim you prince, if you
choose."</p>

<p>The loyalty of Pisani's nature was so affronted by this offer,
that, in a fury of rage, he leaned forward and struck Corbaro a
heavy blow with his fist, and then raising his voice shouted to
those about him:</p>

<p>"Let none who wish me well say, 'Viva Pisani!' but, 'Viva San
Marco!'"</p>

<p>And the populace then shouted, "Viva San Marco and our Father
Pisani!"</p>

<p>No sooner had Pisani reached his house than the news was bruited
about, that the admiral had been merely appointed governor of Lido,
and that Giustiniani remained in command of the navy. The people
were furious; and a deputation of 600 waited upon Pisani and
said:</p>

<p>"We are yours. Command us as you will."</p>

<p>Pisani told them that it was for the republic, and not for him,
to command their services. The deputation then went to the council,
and declared, in the name of fifty thousand Venetians, that not a
man would embark on the galleys until Pisani received his command,
as captain general of all the forces of the republic, by land and
sea. The Council of Ten, finding it impossible to resist the
popular demand, and terrified at the idea of the tumult that a
refusal would arouse, at last agreed to their request.</p>

<p>Fortunately for the republic, the four days which elapsed
between the fall of Chioggia, and the appointment of Pisani to the
supreme command, had not been utilized by the enemy. Carrara and
Doria had always been at variance as to their plans of operations,
and, as usual, they differed now. The Lord of Padua urged the
necessity for following up their success by an instant attack upon
Venice, while Doria insisted upon carrying out his original plan,
and trusting as much to starvation as to military operations. He,
however, gradually pushed forward two outposts, at Poreja and
Malamocco, and on the latter island, at a distance of three miles
from Venice, he erected a battery, many of whose shot fell at San
Spirito.</p>

<p>Francis had borne his share in the events which had led to the
installation of Pisani in the supreme command. He had at first
instigated the sailors of Polani to raise a cry in the streets for
the restoration of the admiral, and had gone about with two or
three of his friends, mingling with knots of persons, and urging
that the only hope of the republic lay in the energy and talent of
Pisani. Even Matteo had joined him, although Taddeo Giustiniani was
his own uncle. But, as the lad said, "what matters it about
relationship now? What will become of relationship, if the Genoese
and Paduans land here, raze the city to the ground, and scatter us
over the face of the earth? No. When it comes to a question of
ordinary command, of course I should go with my family; but when
Venice is in danger, and only one man can save her, I should vote
for him, whoever the other may be."</p>

<p>Polani had also exerted the great influence he possessed among
the commercial classes, and had aided the efforts of Francis, by
giving leave to the sailors of all his ships in port to go on
shore. A few hours after Pisani's release the merchant, accompanied
by Francis, called upon him.</p>

<p>"Welcome, my friends," he said heartily.</p>

<p>"Well, you see, Messer Hammond, that I was a true prophet, and
that I have had my share of the dungeon. However, we need not talk
of that now. I am up to my eyes in business."</p>

<p>"I have no doubt of that, admiral," Polani said. "I have called
to offer every ship I have in the harbour, for the defence of the
city. I myself will continue to pay their crews, as at present. Use
the vessels as you like. Make fire ships of them if you will. I can
afford the loss."</p>

<p>"Thanks, my friend," the admiral said. "We shall find a use for
them, never fear.</p>

<p>"As for you, Messer Hammond, even in my prison I heard of your
gallant feat, in recapturing the Pluto and three other ships from
the Genoese, and thus retrieving, to some extent, the losses of
Pola. I hope to wipe off the rest of the score before long. I shall
find a command for you, in a day or two. Age and rank go for
nothing now. I am going to put the best men in the best
position.</p>

<p>"I have just appointed that old rascal, Corbaro, vice admiral of
the Lido. He is a grumbling old scoundrel, and would have had me
get up a revolution today, for which I had to knock him down; but
he is one of the best sailors Venice ever turned out, and just the
man for the place."</p>

<p>"I would rather act as a general aide-de-camp to you, admiral,
than have a separate command, if you will allow me," Francis said.
"I am still too young to command, and should be thwarted by rivalry
and jealousies. I would, therefore, far rather act under your
immediate orders, if you will allow me."</p>

<p>"So be it, then, lad. Come to me tomorrow, and I have no doubt I
shall have plenty for you to do. At present, I cannot say what
course I may adopt, for in truth, I don't know what position I
shall hold. The people do not seem content with my having only the
government of Lido; but for myself, I care nothing whether I hold
that command, or that of captain general. It is all one to me, so
that I can serve the republic. And Giustiniani is an able man, and
will no doubt do his business well.</p>

<p>"You do not think so, young man?" he broke off, when Francis
shook his head.</p>

<p>"I do not, indeed, sir. He has erected two wooden towers at the
mouth of the Lido, which the first stone from a Genoese ballista
would knock to splinters; and has put up a fence to San Spirito,
which a Genoese soldier in full armour could jump over."</p>

<p>"Well, we shall see, Messer Hammond," the admiral said, smiling.
"I fear you have one bad quality among your many good ones, and
that is that you are a partisan. But go along now. I have no more
time to spare to you."</p>

<p>No sooner had Pisani obtained the supreme command, than he set
to work in earnest to provide for the safety of the city, the
reorganization of the navy, and the conversion of the new levies
into soldiers and sailors. The hulls of forty galleys, which were
lying in the arsenals, were taken in hand, and two-thirds of them
were equipped and ready for sea in three days.</p>

<p>The population was full of ardour and enthusiasm, and crowded to
the offices to register their names for service. The women brought
their jewels, to be melted down into money; and all vied with each
other in zeal.</p>

<p>Pisani's first task, after seeing the galleys put in hand, was
to examine the defences Giustiniani had erected. He at once
pronounced the two wooden towers--of which Francis had spoken so
disrespectfully--to be utterly useless, and ordered two tall
towers, of solid masonry, to be erected in their stead.</p>

<p>Giustiniani was indignant at this condemnation of his work; and
he and his friends so worked upon the minds of those who were to
carry out the work, that they laid down their tools, and refused to
embark upon such useless operations. The news was brought to Pisani
by one of his friends, and, starting in his gondola, he was soon
upon the spot.</p>

<p>He wasted no time in remonstrating with the workmen on their
conduct, but, seizing a trowel, lifted a heavy stone into its
place, shouting:</p>

<p>"Let him who loves Saint Mark follow my example!"</p>

<p>The success of the appeal was instantaneous. The workmen grasped
their tools. A host of volunteers seized the stones and carried
them to their places. When they were exhausted, fresh workmen took
their places, and in the incredibly short time of four days, the
two castles were finished.</p>

<p>The workmen were next set to level the paling and earthwork,
from Lido to San Spirito, and in the course of a fortnight the
lofty and massive stone walls were erected. By this time, something
like a fleet was at Pisani's disposal. In spite of the conduct of
Taddeo Giustiniani, Pisani, with his usual magnanimity, gave him
the command of three large ships, mounting the heaviest guns in the
arsenal. The light boats were under the command of Giovanni
Barberigo. Federigo Cornaro was stationed with a force of galleys
at San Spirito. Nicholo Gallieano was charged with the defence of
the Lazaretto, San Clemente, Santa Elena, and the neighbourhood;
while on the strand between Lido and Malamocco, behind the main
wall, were the mercenaries, eight thousand strong, under Jacopo
Cavalli. Heavy booms were placed across all the canals by which it
was likely that the enemy's fleet might advance.</p>

<p>Francis found his office, under the energetic admiral, no
sinecure. He was kept constantly moving from one point to the
other, to see that all was going on well, and to report the
progress made. The work never ceased, night or day, and for the
first week neither Francis, nor his commander, ever went to bed,
contenting themselves with such chance sleep as they could
snatch.</p>

<p>Having wasted eight precious days, the enemy, on the 24th of
August, advanced to the attack. A Genoese force, under Doria's
brother, landed upon San Nicolo; while the Paduans attacked San
Spirito and Santa Marta. They found the besieged in readiness.
Directly the alarm was given, the Venetians flocked to the
threatened points, and repulsed the enemy with slaughter.</p>

<p>The latter then attempted to make a junction of their forces,
but Cornaro with his galleys occupied the canal, drove back the
boats in which they intended to cross, and defeated the attempt.
Doria had felt certain that the movement, which was attempted under
cover of night, would succeed, and his disappointment was
extreme.</p>

<p>The Lord of Padua was so disgusted that he withdrew his troops
to the mainland. Doria remained before Venice until the early part
of October, but without making another attack. Indeed, the defences
had long before become so formidable, that attack was well-nigh
hopeless. At the end of that time he destroyed all his works and
fell back upon Chioggia, and determined to wait there until Venice
was starved into surrender.</p>

<p>The suffering in the city was intense. It was cut off from all
access to the mainland behind, but occasionally a ship, laden with
provisions from Egypt or Syria, managed to evade the Genoese
galleys. These precarious supplies, however, availed but little for
the wants of the starving city, eked out though they were by the
exertions of the sailors, who occasionally sailed across the
lagoon, landed on the mainland, and cut off the supplies sent from
Padua and elsewhere to the Genoese camp.</p>

<p>The price of provisions was so enormous, that the bulk of the
people were famishing, and even in the houses of the wealthy the
pressure was great. The nobility, however, did their utmost for
their starving countrymen, and the words of Pietro Mocenigo,
speaking in the name of the doge to the popular assembly, were
literally carried into effect.</p>

<p>"Let all," he said, "who are pressed by hunger, go to the
dwellings of the patricians. There you will find friends and
brothers, who will divide with you their last crust."</p>

<p>So desperate, indeed, did the position become, that a motion was
made by some members of the council for emigrating from the
lagoons, and founding a new home in Candia or Negropont; but this
proposal was at once negatived, and the Venetians declared that,
sooner than abandon their city, they would bury themselves under
her ruins.</p>

<p>So October and November passed. Carlo Zeno had not yet arrived,
but by some letters which had been captured with a convoy of
provisions, it was learned that he had been achieving the most
triumphant success, had swept the seas from Genoa to
Constantinople, had captured a Genoese galleon valued at three
hundred thousand ducats, and was at Candia.</p>

<p>This intelligence revived the hopes of Venice, and on the 16th
of November Luigi Moroceni was despatched to order him, in the name
of the government, peremptorily to hasten to the rescue of Venice.
Almost at the same time, Giovanni Barberigo, with his light craft,
surprised and captured three of the enemy's vessels, killing many
of the sailors, and taking a hundred and fifty prisoners. The
success was not in itself important, but it raised the hopes of the
Venetians, as being the first time they had taken the offensive.
Pisani himself had endeavoured to reconnoitre the position of the
enemy, but had each time been sharply repulsed, losing ten boats
and thirty men upon one occasion, when the doge's nephew, Antonio
Gradenigo, was also killed by the enemy; but in spite of this, he
advised government to make a great effort to recover Chioggia.</p>

<p>He admitted that the chances of failure were great. Still, he
maintained that success was possible, and it was better that the
Venetians should die fighting than by hunger.</p>

<p>As the result of his expeditions, he had found that Doria had at
least thirty thousand men, fifty great ships, and from seven to
eight hundred light craft. Moreover his troops were in high
spirits, well fed, and well cared for, and should therefore be, man
to man, more than a match for the starving soldiers of Venice.
Nevertheless, there was a possibility of success, as Zeno would
doubtless arrive by the time the siege had fairly commenced.</p>

<p>After much debate, the council determined that the undertaking
should be attempted. To stir the people to the utmost exertion, the
senate, on the 1st of December, published a decree that the thirty
plebeians, who should most liberally meet the urgent necessities of
the state by the proffer of their persons or estates, should, after
peace was made, be raised to the rank of nobility, and summoned to
the great council; that thirty-five thousand ducats of gold should
be distributed annually among those who were not elected, and their
heirs, forever; that any foreign merchant, who should display
peculiar zeal for the cause of the republic, should be admitted to
the full privileges of citizenship; and that, on the other hand,
such Venetians as might endeavour to elude a participation in the
common burdens, and hardships, should be held by so doing to have
forfeited all their civil rights.</p>

<p>Seventy-five candidates came forward. Some offered money, some
personal service or the service of their sons and relatives; some
presented galleys and offered to pay their crews. Immense efforts
were made, and by the 21st of December sixty ships, four hundred
boats of all sizes, and thirty-four war galleys were equipped. The
doge, although just seventy-three years old, signified his wish to
assume the supreme command of the expedition, Pisani acting as his
lieutenant and admiral.</p>

<p>During the long weeks the siege continued, Francis saw little of
the Polanis, his duties keeping him constantly near Pisani, with
whom he took such meals as the time would afford, sleeping in his
house, in readiness for instant service. Maria had returned to her
father's house, for her husband was in command of the outpost
nearest to the enemy, and was therefore constantly away from home.
Maria's spirits were higher than ever. She made light of the
hardships in the way of food, bantered Francis when he came on his
business engagements, and affected to treat him with extreme
respect, as the trusted lieutenant of Pisani. Giulia, too, kept up
her spirits, and no one would have thought, listening to the lively
talk of the two girls with their father and Francis, that Venice
was besieged by an overwhelming force, and reduced to the direst
straits by hunger.</p>

<p>The greater part of Polani's ships were now in the service of
the state. Those which remained, were constantly engaged in running
across to the Dalmatian coast, and bringing in cargoes of
provisions through the cordon of the Genoese galleys.</p>

<p>The light gondola which, after being repaired, had been lying
for two years under cover in Messer Polani's yard, had again been
made useful. Giuseppi had returned to his old work, and he and
another powerful oarsman made the light boat fly through the water,
as Francis carried the orders of the admiral to the various posts.
He had also been in it upon several of the reconnoitring
expeditions, in the canals leading to Chioggia, and although hotly
chased he had, on each occasion, left his pursuers behind. The
evening before the expedition was to start Pisani said to him:</p>

<p>"I think you have brought me more news, with that fast little
craft of yours, than I have been able to obtain even at the cost of
some hard fighting, and a good many lives. I wish that you would
make an excursion for me tonight, and find out, if you can, whether
the enemy have moved their position since the last time I
reconnoitred them. I particularly wish to learn if they have strong
forces near the outlets of the channels of Chioggia, and Brondolo,
and the Canal of Lombardy. You know my plans, and with such a host
of recruits as I shall have with me, it is all important that there
should be no failure at first. Veterans can stand defeat, but a
reverse is fatal to young troops. Heaven knows, they will have
enough to bear, with wet, cold, exposure, and hunger, and success
will be necessary to keep up their spirits. Do not push your
adventure too far. Run no risk if you can help it. I would not, for
much, that harm befell you."</p>

<p>Francis at once accepted the commission, and left the admiral in
order to make his preparations.</p>

<p>"Giuseppi," he said, as he took his place in the boat, "I want
you to find for me, for service tonight, a gondolier who is a
native of Chioggia, and who knows every foot of the country round,
and every winding of the canals. He must be intelligent and brave,
for the risk will be no slight one."</p>

<p>"I think I know such a man, Messer Francisco; but if he happens
to be away, there will be no difficulty in finding another, for
there are many fishermen here who escaped before the Genoese
captured Chioggia."</p>

<p>"When will you see him?"</p>

<p>"As soon as you have landed me at Messer Polani's."</p>

<p>"Go and fetch him, Giuseppi; and if you can find one or two old
fishermen of Chioggia, bring them also with you. I want to gain as
much information as possible regarding the country."</p>

<p>"Is it true that the fleet starts tomorrow, Francisco?" Maria
asked as he entered. "Everyone says so."</p>

<p>"It is quite true. There will be no further change. The orders
have been all issued, and you may rely upon it that we are going to
sea."</p>

<p>"And when will you return?"</p>

<p>"That's another matter altogether," Francis laughed. "It may be
a week, it may be three months."</p>

<p>"But I thought we were going to fight the Genoese galleys. It
does not seem to me that a week is wanted to do that. A day to go
to Chioggia, a day to fight, and a day to return. What can you want
more than that for?"</p>

<p>"I do not think that we are going to fight the Genoese galleys,"
Francis answered. "Certainly we shall not do so if we can help it.
They are vastly stronger than we are; but I do not know that we
need fear them for all that."</p>

<p>"What do you mean, Francisco? You do not mean to fight--they are
vastly stronger than you are--and yet you do not fear them. You are
not given to speak in riddles; but you have puzzled me this
time."</p>

<p>"Well, I will explain myself a little," Francis said; "but you
must remember that it is a secret, and not to be whispered to
anyone."</p>

<p>"That is right," Maria said. "I love a secret, especially a
state secret.</p>

<p>"Giulia, come and sit quite close, so that he can whisper it
into our ears, and even the walls shall not hear it.</p>

<p>"Now, sir, explain yourself!"</p>

<p>"I will explain it without telling you," Francis said. "Have you
not gone to see African lions, who were very much stronger and
fiercer than yourself, and yet you did not fear them?"</p>

<p>"Because they have been in cages," Maria said. "But what has
that to do with it?"</p>

<p>"It explains the whole matter," Francis said. "We do not mean to
fight the Genoese fleet, if we can help it; but we are going to try
to put them in a cage, and then we shall not be afraid of
them."</p>

<p>"Do not trifle with us, sir," Maria said sternly. "How can you
put Genoese galleys in a cage?"</p>

<p>"We cannot put them in a cage, but we can cage them up," Francis
said. "Pisani's intention is, if possible, to close all the
entrances to the canals round Chioggia. Thus, not only will the
Genoese galleys be unable to sally out to attack us, but the whole
of the Genoese army will be cooped up, and we shall then do to them
what they have been doing to us, namely, starve them out!"</p>

<p>"Capital, capital!" Maria said, clapping her hands. "Your Pisani
is a grand man, Francisco. And if he can do this for us, there is
nothing which we would not do to show our gratitude. But you won't
find it easy; besides, in the game of starving out, are we likely
to win? The contest will not be even, for they start on it full men
and strong, while our people are half starved already."</p>

<p>"I do not regard success as certain," Francis replied; "and
Pisani himself acknowledges the chances are very great against us.
Still, it is possible; and as nothing else seems possible, we are
going to attempt it."</p>

<p>Polani looked grave, when he heard of the mission which Francis
was going to undertake. Giulia's bright colour fled at once, and
Maria said angrily:</p>

<p>"You have no right to be always running into danger, Francisco.
You are not a Venetian, and there is no reason why you should be
always running risks greater than those which most Venetians are
likely to encounter. You ought to think of us who care for you, if
you don't choose to think of yourself."</p>

<p>"I did not volunteer for the service," Francis said. "I was
asked by the admiral to undertake it, and even had I wished it, I
could hardly have refused. The admiral selected me, not from any
merit on my part, but because he knows that my boat is one of the
fastest on the lagoons, and that I can easily run away from any of
the Genoese rowboats. He particularly ordered me to run no
unnecessary risks."</p>

<p>"That is all very well," Maria said; "but you know very well
that you will run risks, and put yourself in the way of danger, if
there is a chance of doing so.</p>

<p>"You should tell him not to go, father!"</p>

<p>"I cannot do that, Maria; for the service he has undertaken is a
very important one to Venice. Everything depends upon the success
of Pisani's attempt, and undertaken, as it is, against great odds,
it is of the utmost importance that there should be no mistake as
to the position of the enemy. Whether Francis was wise or not, in
accepting Pisani's offer that he should act as his aide-de-camp,
may be doubted; but now that he has undertaken it, he must carry
out his orders, especially as it is now too late to make other
arrangements, did he draw back.</p>

<p>"If you will come into my room, Francisco, I will give you a
chart of the passages around Chioggia. You can study that, and you
will then the better understand the information you may receive,
from the men you are expecting."</p>

<p>Half an hour later Giuseppi arrived with the gondolier he had
spoken of, and two old fishermen, and from their explanations, and
a study of the map, Francis gained an exact idea of the localities.
From his previous expeditions he had learned where the Genoese were
generally posted, and something of the strength of the forces at
the various points.</p>

<p>In truth, they kept but a careless watch. Feeling convinced that
the Venetians possessed no forces capable of attacking him, and
that their surrender must now be a matter of a few days only, Doria
took no precautions. His troops were all quartered in the houses of
Chioggia, his galleys moored alongside its quays, and the utmost he
did was to post small bodies of men, with rowboats, at the
entrances to the passages from the sea, and up the lagoons, to give
warning of any sudden attempt on the part of Barberigo, with his
light flotilla, to make a dash at the galleys, and endeavour to
burn them.</p>

<p>Having obtained all the information he could from the old
fishermen, Francis dismissed them.</p>

<p>"It is evident," he said to Giuseppi, "that we can hardly hope
to succeed in passing the boats at the entrance to the canal
seaward, or by going up the lagoon. The only plan that I can see is
for us to land on the island of Pelestrina, which is held by us, to
carry the boat across it, and to embark in the Malamocco channel.
In this way, we should be within their cordon of boats, and can row
fearlessly either out to the entrances, or to Chioggia itself. We
are not likely to be detected, and if we are, we must make a race
of it to Pelestrina."</p>

<p>The gondolier agreed that the scheme was practicable, and
Francis ordered Giuseppi and him to remove the burdens, and every
bit of wood that could be dispensed with from the gondola, so as to
facilitate its transport.</p>

<h2><a id="Ch19">Chapter 19</a>: The Siege Of Chioggia.</h2>

<p>Late in the afternoon, Francis embarked in his gondola, and in
an hour and a half landed at Pelestrina. He was well known, to
those posted there, as the bearer of Pisani's orders, and as soon
as it became dark, Rufino Giustiniani, who was in command, ordered
a dozen men to carry the light gondola across the island to the
Malamocco channel. While this was being done, Francis went to
Rufino's tent, and informed him of what was going on in Venice, and
that the whole fleet would set sail on the morrow.</p>

<p>"We heard rumours, from the men who brought our rations, that it
was to be so," Rufino said; "but we have heard the same story a
dozen times. So, now, it is really true! But what can the admiral
be thinking of! Sure he can't intend to attack Doria with this
newly-manned fleet and rabble army. He could not hope for victory
against such odds!"</p>

<p>"The admiral's intentions are kept a profound secret," Francis
said, "and are only known to the doge and the Council of Ten."</p>

<p>"And to yourself," Rufino said laughing.</p>

<p>"The admiral is good enough to honour me with his fullest
confidence," Francis said; "and in this matter, it is so important
that the nature of the design should be kept wholly secret, that I
cannot tell it even to you!"</p>

<p>"You are quite right, Francisco; nor do I wish to know it,
though I would wager that Maria, and her pretty sister, have some
inkling of what is going on."</p>

<p>Francis laughed.</p>

<p>"The signoras are good enough to treat me as a brother," he
said, "and I will not affirm that they have not obtained some
slight information."</p>

<p>"I will warrant they have!" Rufino said. "When my wife has made
up her mind to get to the bottom of a matter, she will tease and
coax till she succeeds.</p>

<p>"Ah, here is Matteo! he has been out posting the sentries for
the night."</p>

<p>The two friends had not indulged in a talk for some weeks,
though they had occasionally met when Francis paid one of his
flying visits to the island.</p>

<p>"I have just seen your boat being carried along," Matteo said,
as he entered the tent. "I could not think what it was till I got
close; but of course, when I saw Giuseppi, I knew all about it.
What are you going to do--scout among the Genoese?"</p>

<p>"I am going to find out as much as I can," Francis said.</p>

<p>"It's a capital idea your bringing the boat across the island,"
Matteo said. "You are always full of good ideas, Francis. I can't
make it out. They never seem to occur to me, and at the present
time, especially, the only ideas that come into my mind are as to
the comfortable meals I will eat, when this business is over. I
never thought I cared much for eating before, but since I have had
nothing but bread--and not enough of that--and an occasional fish,
I have discovered that I am really fond of good living. My bones
ache perpetually with lying on the bare ground, and if I escape
from this, without being a cripple for life from rheumatism, I
shall consider myself lucky, indeed. You are a fortunate fellow,
Francisco; spending your time in the admiral's comfortable palace,
or flying about in a smooth-rowing gondola!"</p>

<p>"That is one side of the question certainly," Francis said,
laughing; "but there is a good deal of hard work, too, in the way
of writing."</p>

<p>"I should not like that," Matteo said. "Still, I think you have
the best of it. If the Genoese would come sometimes, and try and
drive us off the island, there would be some excitement. But,
except when the admiral wishes a reconnaissance, or Barberigo's
galleys come down and stir them up, there is really nothing doing
here."</p>

<p>"That ought to suit you exactly, Matteo, for never but once did
I hear you say you wanted to do anything."</p>

<p>"When was that?" Rufino asked, laughing.</p>

<p>"Matteo conceived a violent desire to climb Mount Etna," Francis
said, "and it needed all my arguments to prevent his leaving the
ship at Girgenti, while she was loading, and starting to make the
ascent."</p>

<p>"He would have repented before he had gone a quarter of the way
up," Rufino said.</p>

<p>"I might have repented," Matteo replied stoutly, "but I would
have done it, if I had begun. You don't know me yet, Rufino. I have
a large store of energy, only at present I have had no opportunity
of showing what I am made of.</p>

<p>"And now, how do you intend to proceed, Francisco? Have you any
plan?"</p>

<p>"None at all," Francis replied. "I simply want to assure myself
that the galleys are all in their usual places, and that the
Genoese are making no special preparations against our coming."</p>

<p>"I have seen no unusual stir," Rufino said. "Their ships, as far
as one can see their masts, seem all in their usual position. I
fancy that, since Barberigo carried off two of them, they have put
booms across the channels to prevent sudden attacks. I saw a lot of
rowboats busy about something, but I could not make out exactly
what they were doing; but still, I fancy they were constructing a
boom. Their galleys keep a sharp lookout at night, and you
certainly would not have succeeded in passing them, had you not hit
upon this plan of carrying your boat over.</p>

<p>"Your greatest danger will be at first. When once you have
fairly entered the inner canals, you are not likely to be suspected
of being an enemy. They will take you for Chioggian fishermen late.
We often make out their returning boats near the town. No doubt
Doria is fond of fresh fish. Otherwise you would be detected, for
the Genoese boats are, of course, quite different to ours, and even
in the dark they would make out that you belonged to the
lagoons.</p>

<p>"Ah, here is supper! It is not often that I should have anything
to offer you, but one of my men managed to catch three or four fish
today, and sold them to me at about their weight in silver.
However, I have some good wine from my own cellars, and a man who
has good wine, fish, and bread can do royally, whatever this
grumbling brother of mine may say."</p>

<p>Half an hour later, a soldier brought the news that the gondola
was in the water, and Francis bade adieu to his friends, and
started at once.</p>

<p>"Row slowly and quietly," he said, as he took his seat. "Do not
let your oars make the slightest splash in the water, until we are
well across to the opposite shore. They may have a guard boat lying
in the channel."</p>

<p>The light craft made her way noiselessly across the water. Once
or twice they heard the sound of oars, as some Genoese galley
passed up or down, but none came near enough to perceive them, and
they crossed the main channel, and entered one of the numerous
passages practicable only for boats of very light draught, without
being once hailed. A broad shallow tract of water was now crossed,
passable only by craft drawing but a few inches of water; then
again they were in a deeper channel, and the lights of Chioggia
rose but a short distance ahead.</p>

<p>They paused and listened, now, for they were nearing the ship
channel, and here the enemy would, if anywhere, be on the alert.
Coming across the water they could hear the sound of voices, and
the dull noise made by the movement of men in a boat.</p>

<p>"Those are the galleys watching the boom, I expect," Francis
said.</p>

<p>"Now, Philippo, we can move on. I suppose there is plenty of
water, across the flats, for us to get into the channel without
going near the boom."</p>

<p>"Plenty for us, signor; but if the boom goes right across the
channel, heavy rowboats would not be able to pass. There are few
shallower places in the lagoons than just about here. It may be
that in one or two places even we might touch, but if we do, the
bottom is firm enough for us to get out and float the boat
over."</p>

<p>But they did not touch any shoal sufficiently shallow to
necessitate this. Several times Francis could feel, by the dragging
pace, that she was touching the oozy bottom; but each time she
passed over without coming to a standstill. At last Philippo
said:</p>

<p>"We are in the deep channel now, signor. The boom is right
astern of us. The town is only a few hundred yards ahead."</p>

<p>"Then we shall be passing the Genoese galleys, directly,"
Francis said. "Row slowly as we go, and splash sometimes with the
oars. If we go quickly and noiselessly past, they might possibly
suspect something, but if we row without an attempt at concealment,
they will take us for a fisherman's boat."</p>

<p>Soon the dark mass of Genoese ships, with their forests of
masts, rose before them. There were lights in the cabins, and a
buzz of talking, laughing, and singing among the crews on
board.</p>

<p>"What luck today?" a sailor asked them as they rowed past,
twenty or thirty yards from the side of one of the ships.</p>

<p>"Very poor," Giuseppi replied. "I think your ships, and the
boats lying about, and the firing, have frightened the fish away
from this end of the lagoons."</p>

<p>It was half a mile before they passed the last of the crowd of
vessels.</p>

<p>"Would you like me to land here, signor?" Philippo said. "There
would be no danger in my doing so. I can make my way, through the
streets, to the house of some of my relatives, and find out from
them whether there are any fresh movements among the Genoese. I
will not enter any house; for aught I know there are soldiers
quartered everywhere; but I am sure not to go many yards before I
run against someone I know."</p>

<p>"I think it will be a very good plan, Philippo. We will lie
under the bank here, and wait your return."</p>

<p>It was not more than twenty minutes before the gondolier was
back.</p>

<p>"I have spoken to three men I know, signor. They are agreed that
there are no movements among the enemy, and no one seems to have an
idea that the Venetians are about to put to sea. Of course, I was
cautious not to let drop a word on the subject, and only said we
had managed to get through the enemy's cordon to learn the latest
news, and I expected to earn a ducat or two by my night's
work."</p>

<p>"That is excellent," Francis said. "Now, we will row out to the
sea mouths of the channels, to assure ourselves that no ships are
lying on guard there, for some are going in or out every day to
cruise along the coast. A few may have taken up their station
there, without attracting notice among the townspeople."</p>

<p>The opening of the passage known as the Canal of Lombardy was
first visited. To gain this, they had to retrace their steps for
some distance, and to row through the town of Chioggia, passing
several boats and galleys, but without attracting notice. They
found the mouth of the canal entirely unguarded, and then returned
and rowed out to the mouth of the Brondolo passage. Some blazing
fires on the shore showed that there were parties of soldiers here,
but no ships were lying anywhere in the channel.</p>

<p>After some consultation they determined that, as no watch seemed
to be kept, it would be shorter to row on outside the islands, and
to enter by the third passage to be examined, that between
Pelestrina and Brondolo. Here, however, the Genoese were more on
the alert, as the Pelestrina shore was held by the Venetians.
Scarcely had they entered the channel, when a large rowboat shot
out from the shadow of the shore and hailed them.</p>

<p>"Stop rowing in that boat! Who are you that are entering so
late?"</p>

<p>"Fishermen," Philippo shouted back, but without stopping
rowing.</p>

<p>"Stop!" shouted the officer, "till we examine you! It is
forbidden to enter the channel after dark."</p>

<p>But the gondoliers rowed steadily on, until ahead of the boat
coming out. This fell into their wake, and its angry officer
shouted threats against the fugitives, and exhorted his men to row
their hardest.</p>

<p>"There are two more boats ahead, signor. They are lying on their
oars to cut us off. One is a good deal further out than the other,
and I don't think we shall gain Pelestrina."</p>

<p>"Then make for the Brondolo shore till we have passed them,"
Francis said.</p>

<p>The boat whirled off her course, and made towards the shore. The
Genoese galleys ahead at once made towards them; but in spite of
the numerous oars they pulled, the craft could not keep up with the
racing gondola, and it crossed ahead of them. In another five
minutes' rowing, the three galleys were well astern, and the
gondola again made out from the shore, her head pointing obliquely
towards Pelestrina. The galleys were now fifty yards behind, and
although their crews rowed their hardest, the gondola gradually
gained upon them, and crossing their bows made over towards
Pelestrina.</p>

<p>"We are out of the channel now," Philippo said, "and there will
not be water enough for them to follow us much further."</p>

<p>A minute or two later a sudden shout proclaimed that the nearest
of their pursuers had touched the ground.</p>

<p>"We can take it easy now," Giuseppi said, "and I am not sorry,
for we could not have rowed harder if we had been racing."</p>

<p>A few minutes later, the light craft touched the mud a few yards
distant from the shore.</p>

<p>"Is that you, Francisco?" a voice, which Francis recognized as
Matteo's, asked.</p>

<p>"All right, Matteo!" he replied. "No one hurt this time."</p>

<p>"I have been on the lookout for you the last hour. I have got a
body of my men here, in case you were chased. We heard the shouting
and guessed it was you."</p>

<p>"If you have got some men there, Matteo, there is a chance for
you to take a prize. A galley rowing twelve or fourteen oars is in
the mud, a few hundred yards out. She was chasing us, and ran
aground when at full speed, and I imagine they will have some
trouble in getting her off. I suppose she draws a couple of feet of
water. There! Don't you hear the hubbub they are making?"</p>

<p>"I hear them," Matteo said.</p>

<p>"Come along, lads. The night is cold, and I don't suppose the
water is any warmer, but a skirmish will heat our blood."</p>

<p>Matteo, followed by a company of some forty men, at once entered
the water, and made in the direction of the sounds. Five minutes
later, Francis heard shouts and a clashing of weapons suddenly
break out. It lasted but a short time. Matteo and his band soon
returned with the prisoners.</p>

<p>"What! Have you waited, Francisco? I thought you would be on the
other side of the island by this time."</p>

<p>"I was in no particular hurry, Matteo; and besides, I want my
boat; and although two men can lift her easily enough, she would be
a heavy weight to carry so far."</p>

<p>"You shall have a dozen, Francisco. It is owing to you we have
taken these prisoners, and that I have had my first bit of
excitement since I came out here.</p>

<p>"Sergeant, here are a couple of ducats. When you have given the
prisoners into safe custody, spend the money in wine for the
company.</p>

<p>"The water is bitterly cold, I can tell you, Francisco; but
otherwise I am warm enough, for one's feet stick to the mud, and it
seems, each step, as if one had fifty pounds of lead on one's
shoes. But come along to my brother's tent at once. Your feet must
be cold, too, though the water was only a few inches deep where you
got out of your boat. A glass of hot wine will do us both good; and
it will be an hour before your boat is in the water again. Indeed,
I don't see the use of your starting before daybreak."</p>

<p>"Nor do I, Matteo; but I must go, nevertheless. Pisani knows how
long it will take me to get to Chioggia and return. He will allow
an hour or two for me to reconnoitre, and will then be expecting me
back. As it is, I shall be two hours after the time when he will be
expecting me, for he knows nothing about the boat being carried
across this island, and will make no allowance for that. Moreover,
Polani and his daughters will be anxious about me."</p>

<p>"Oh, you flatter yourself they will be lying awake for you,"
Matteo said, laughing. "Thinking over your dangers! Well, there's
nothing like having a good idea of one's self."</p>

<p>Francis joined in the laugh.</p>

<p>"It does sound rather conceited, Matteo; but I know they will be
anxious. They took up the idea it was a dangerous service I was
going on, and I have no doubt they fidgeted over it. Women are
always fancying things, you know."</p>

<p>"I don't know anyone who fidgets about me," Matteo said; "but
then, you see, I am not a rescuer of damsels in distress, nor have
I received the thanks of the republic for gallant actions."</p>

<p>"Well, you ought to have done," Francis replied. "You had just
as much to do with that fight on board Pisani's galley as I had,
only it happened I was in command.</p>

<p>"Oh, there is your brother's tent! I see there is a light
burning, so I suppose he has not gone to bed yet."</p>

<p>"All the better," Matteo said. "We shall get our hot wine all
the quicker. My teeth are chattering so, I hardly dare speak for
fear of biting my tongue."</p>

<p>Francis was warmly welcomed by Rufino Giustiniani.</p>

<p>"I need hardly ask you if you have succeeded in reconnoitring
their positions, for I know you would not come back before morning
had you not carried out your orders.</p>

<p>"Why, Matteo, what have you been doing--wading in the mud,
apparently? Why, you are wet up to the waist."</p>

<p>"We have captured an officer, and fourteen men, Rufino. They
will be here in a few minutes. Their boat got stuck fast while it
was chasing Francisco; so we waded out and took them. They made
some resistance, but beyond a few slashes, and two or three thumps
from their oars, no harm was done."</p>

<p>"That is right, Matteo. I am glad you have had a skirmish with
them at last. Now go in and change your things. I shall have you on
my hands with rheumatism."</p>

<p>"I will do that at once, and I hope you will have some hot
spiced wine ready, by the time I have changed, for I am nearly
frozen."</p>

<p>The embers of a fire, outside the tent, were soon stirred
together, and in a few minutes the wine was prepared. In the
meantime, Francis had been telling Rufino the incidents of his
trip. In half an hour, the message came that the gondola was again
in the water, and Francis was soon on his way back to the city.</p>

<p>"I was beginning to be anxious about you," was Pisani's
greeting, as, upon being informed of his return, he sprang from the
couch, on which he had thrown himself for an hour's sleep, and
hurried downstairs. "I reckoned that you might have been back an
hour before this, and began to think that you must have got into
some scrape. Well, what have you discovered?"</p>

<p>"The Genoese have no idea that you are going to put to sea.
Their ships and galleys are, as usual, moored off the quays of
Chioggia. The entrance to the Canal of Lombardy, and the Brondolo
passage, are both quite open, and there appear to be no troops
anywhere near; but between Pelestrina and Brondolo they have
rowboats watching the entrance, but no craft of any size. There are
a few troops there, but, so far as I could judge by the number of
fires, not more than two hundred men or so."</p>

<p>"Your news is excellent, Francisco. I will not ask you more,
now. It is three o'clock already, and at five I must be up and
doing; so get off to bed as soon as you can. You can give me the
details in the morning."</p>

<p>The gondola was still waiting at the steps, and in a few minutes
Francis arrived at the Palazzo Polani. A servant was sleeping on a
bench in the hall. He started up as Francis entered.</p>

<p>"I have orders to let my master know, as soon as you return,
signor."</p>

<p>"You can tell him, at the same time, that I have returned
without hurt, and pray him not to disturb himself, as I can tell
him what has taken place in the morning."</p>

<p>Polani, however, at once came to Francis' room.</p>

<p>"Thank Heaven you have returned safe to us, my boy!" he said. "I
have just knocked at the girls' doors, to tell them of your return,
and, by the quickness with which they answered, I am sure that
they, like myself, have had no sleep. Have you succeeded in your
mission?"</p>

<p>"Perfectly, signor. I have been to Chioggia itself, and to the
entrances of the three passages, and have discovered that none of
them are guarded by any force that could resist us."</p>

<p>"But how did you manage to pass through their galleys?"</p>

<p>"I landed on this side of Pelestrina, and had the gondola
carried across, and launched in the channel inside their cordon;
and it was not until we entered the last passage--that by
Brondolo--that we were noticed. Then there was a sharp chase for a
bit, but we outstripped them, and got safely across to Pelestrina.
One of the galleys, in the excitement of the chase, ran fast into
the mud; and Matteo, with some of his men, waded out and captured
the officer and crew. So there is every prospect of our succeeding
tomorrow."</p>

<p>"All that is good," Polani said; "but to me, just at present, I
own that the principal thing is that you have got safely back. Now
I will not keep you from your bed, for I suppose that you will not
be able to lie late in the morning."</p>

<p>Francis certainly did not intend to do so, but the sun was high
before he woke. He hurriedly dressed, and went downstairs.</p>

<p>"I have seen the admiral," Polani said as he entered, "and told
him that you were sound asleep, and I did not intend to wake you,
for that you were looking worn and knocked up. He said: 'Quite
right! The lad is so willing and active, that I forget sometimes
that he is not an old sea dog like myself, accustomed to sleep with
one eye open, and to go without sleep altogether for days if
necessary.' So you need not hurry over your breakfast. The girls
are dying to hear your adventures."</p>

<p>As he took his breakfast, Francis gave the girls an account of
his expedition.</p>

<p>"And so, you saw Rufino!" Maria said. "Did he inquire after me?
You told him, I hope, that I was fading away rapidly from grief at
his absence."</p>

<p>"I did not venture upon so flagrant an untruth as that," Francis
replied.</p>

<p>"Is he very uncomfortable?"</p>

<p>"Not very, signora. He has a good tent, some excellent wine, an
allowance of bread, which might be larger, and occasionally fish.
As he has also the gift of excellent spirits, I do not think he is
greatly to be pitied--except, of course, for his absence from
you."</p>

<p>"That, of course," Maria said. "When he does come here, he
always tells me a moving tale of his privations, in hopes of
exciting pity; but, unfortunately, I cannot help laughing at his
tales of hardship. But we were really anxious about you last night,
Francisco, and very thankful when we heard you had returned.</p>

<p>"Weren't we, Giulia?"</p>

<p>Giulia nodded.</p>

<p>"Giulia hasn't much to say when you are here, Francisco, but she
can chatter about you fast enough when we are alone."</p>

<p>"How can you say so, Maria?" Giulia said reproachfully.</p>

<p>"Well, my dear, there is no harm in that. For aught he knows,
you may be saying the most unkind things about him, all the
time."</p>

<p>"I am sure he knows that I should not do that," Giulia said
indignantly.</p>

<p>"By the way, do you know, Francisco, that all Venice is in a
state of excitement! A proclamation has been issued by the doge,
this morning, that all should be in their galleys and at their
posts at noon, under pain of death. So everyone knows that
something is about to be done, at last."</p>

<p>"Then it is time for me to be off," Francis said, rising
hastily, "for it is ten o'clock already."</p>

<p>"Take your time, my lad," the merchant said. "There is no hurry,
for Pisani told me, privately, that they should not sail until
after dark."</p>

<p>It was not, indeed, until nearly eight o'clock in the evening,
that the expedition started. At the hour of vespers, the doge,
Pisani, and the other leaders of the expedition, attended mass in
the church of Saint Mark, and then proceeded to their galleys,
where all was now in readiness.</p>

<p>Pisani led the first division, which consisted of fourteen
galleys. The doge, assisted by Cavalli, commanded in the centre;
and Corbaro brought up the rear, with ten large ships. The night
was beautifully bright and calm, a light and favourable breeze was
blowing, and all Venice assembled to see the departure of the
fleet.</p>

<p>Just after it passed through the passage of the Lido, a thick
mist came on. Pisani stamped up and down the deck impatiently.</p>

<p>"If this goes on, it will ruin us," he said. "Instead of
arriving in proper order at the mouth of the passages, and
occupying them before the Genoese wake up to a sense of their
danger, we shall get there one by one, they will take the alarm,
and we shall have their whole fleet to deal with. It will be simply
ruin to our scheme."</p>

<p>Fortunately, however, the fog speedily lifted. The vessels
closed up together, and, in two hours after starting, arrived off
the entrances to the channels. Pisani anchored until daylight
appeared, and nearly five thousand men were then landed on the
Brondolo's shore, easily driving back the small detachment placed
there. But the alarm was soon given, and the Genoese poured out in
such overwhelming force that the Venetians were driven in disorder
to their boats, leaving behind them six hundred killed, drowned, or
prisoners.</p>

<p>But Pisani had not supposed that he would be able to hold his
position in front of the whole Genoese force, and he had succeeded
in his main object. While the fighting had been going on on shore,
a party of sailors had managed to moor a great ship, laden with
stones, across the channel. As soon as the Genoese had driven the
Venetians to their boats, they took possession of this vessel, and,
finding that she was aground, they set her on fire, thus
unconsciously aiding Pisani's object, for when she had burned to
the water's edge she sank.</p>

<p>Barberigo, with his light galleys, now arrived upon the spot,
and emptied their loads of stone into the passage around the wreck.
The Genoese kept up a heavy fire with their artillery, many of the
galleys were sunk, and numbers of the Venetians drowned, or killed
by the shot.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, they worked on unflinchingly. As soon as the pile
of stones had risen sufficiently for the men to stand upon them,
waist deep, they took their places upon it, and packed in order the
stones that their comrades handed them, and fixed heavy chains
binding the whole together.</p>

<p>The work was terribly severe. The cold was bitter. The men were
badly fed, and most of them altogether unaccustomed to hardships.
In addition to the fire from the enemy's guns, they were exposed to
a rain of arrows, and at the end of two days and nights they were
utterly worn out and exhausted, and protested that they could do no
more. Pisani, who had himself laboured among them in the thickest
of the danger, strove to keep up their spirits by pointing out the
importance of their work, and requested the doge to swear on his
sword that, old as he was, he would never return to Venice unless
Chioggia was conquered.</p>

<p>The doge took the oath, and for the moment the murmuring ceased;
and, on the night of the 24th, the channel of Chioggia was entirely
choked from shore to shore. On that day, Corbaro succeeded in
sinking two hulks in the passage of Brondolo. Doria, who had
hitherto believed that the Venetians would attempt nothing serious,
now perceived for the first time the object of Pisani, and
despatched fourteen great galleys to crush Corbaro, who had with
him but four vessels. Pisani at once sailed to his assistance, with
ten more ships, and the passage was now so narrow that the Genoese
did not venture to attack, and Corbaro completed the operation of
blocking up the Brondolo passage. The next day the Canal of
Lombardy was similarly blocked; and thus, on the fourth day after
leaving Venice, Pisani had accomplished his object, and had shut
out the Genoese galleys from the sea.</p>

<p>But the work had been terrible, and the losses great. The
soldiers were on half rations. The cold was piercing. They were
engaged night and day with the enemy, and were continually wet
through, and the labour was tremendous.</p>

<p>A fort had already been begun on the southern shore of the port
of Brondolo, facing the convent, which Doria had transformed into a
citadel. The new work was christened the Lova, and the heaviest
guns in the Venetian arsenal were planted there. One of these,
named the Trevisan, discharged stones of a hundred and ninety-five
pounds in weight, and the Victory was little smaller. But the
science of artillery was then in its youth, and these guns could
only be discharged once in twenty-four hours.</p>

<p>But, on the 29th, the Venetians could do no more, and officers,
soldiers, and sailors united in the demand that they should return
to Venice. Even Pisani felt that the enterprise was beyond him, and
that his men, exhausted by cold, hunger, and their incessant
exertions, could no longer resist the overwhelming odds brought
against him. Still, he maintained a brave front, and once again his
cheery words, and unfeigned good temper, and the example set them
by the aged doge, had their effect; but the soldiers required a
pledge that, if Zeno should not be signalled in sight by New Year's
Day, he would raise the siege. If Pisani and the doge would pledge
themselves to this, the people agreed to maintain the struggle for
the intervening forty-eight hours.</p>

<p>The pledge was given, and the fight continued. Thus, the fate of
Venice hung in the balance. If Zeno arrived, not only would she be
saved, but she had it in her power to inflict upon Genoa a terrible
blow. Should Zeno still tarry, not only would the siege be raised,
and the Genoese be at liberty to remove the dams which the
Venetians had placed, at such a cost of suffering and blood; but
there would be nothing left for Venice but to accept the terms,
however onerous, her triumphant foes might dictate, terms which
would certainly strip her of all her possessions, and probably
involve even her independence.</p>

<p>Never, from her first foundation, had Venice been in such
terrible risk. Her very existence trembled in the balance. The 30th
passed as the days preceding it. There was but little fighting, for
the Genoese knew how terrible were the straits to which Venice was
reduced, and learned, from the prisoners they had taken, that in a
few days, at the outside, the army besieging them would cease to
exist.</p>

<p>At daybreak, on the 31st, men ascended the masts of the ships,
and gazed over the sea, in hopes of making out the long-expected
sails. But the sea was bare. It was terrible to see the faces of
the Venetians, gaunt with famine, broken down by cold and fatigue.
Even the most enduring began to despair.</p>

<p>Men spoke no more of Zeno. He had been away for months. Was it
likely that he would come just at this moment? They talked rather
of their homes. The next day they would return. If they must die,
they would die with those they loved, in Venice. They should not
mind that. And so the day went on, and as they lay down at night,
hungry and cold, they thanked God that it was their last day.
Whatever might come would be better than this.</p>

<p>Men were at the mastheads again, before daylight, on the 1st of
January. Then, as the first streak of dawn broke, the cry went from
masthead to masthead:</p>

<p>"There are ships out at sea!"</p>

<p>The cry was heard on shore. Pisani jumped into a boat with
Francis, rowed out to his ship, and climbed the mast.</p>

<p>"Yes, there are ships!" he said. And then, after a pause:
"Fifteen of them! Who are they? God grant it be Zeno!"</p>

<p>This was the question everyone on ship and on shore was asking
himself, for it was known that the Genoese, too, were expecting
reinforcements.</p>

<p>"The wind is scarce strong enough to move them through the
water," Pisani said. "Let some light boats go off to reconnoitre.
Let us know the best or the worst. If it be Zeno, Venice is saved!
If it be the Genoese, I, and those who agree with me that it is
better to die fighting, than to perish of hunger, will go out and
attack them."</p>

<p>In a few minutes, several fast galleys started for the fleet,
which was still so far away that the vessels could scarcely be made
out, still less their rig and nationality. It would be some time
before the boats would return with the news, and Pisani went
ashore, and, with the doge, moved among the men, exhorting them to
be steadfast, above all things not to give way to panic, should the
newcomers prove to be enemies.</p>

<p>"If all is done in order," he said, "they cannot interfere with
our retreat to Venice. They do not know how weak we are, and will
not venture to attack so large a fleet. Therefore, when the signal
is made that they are Genoese, we will fall back in good order to
our boats, and take to our ships, and then either return to Venice,
or sail out and give battle, as it may be decided."</p>

<p>The boats, before starting, had been told to hoist white flags
should the galleys be Venetian, but to show no signal if they were
Genoese. The boats were watched, from the mastheads, until they
became specks in the distance. An hour afterwards, the lookout
signalled to those on shore that they were returning.</p>

<p>"Go off again, Francisco. I must remain here to keep up the
men's hearts, if the news be bad. Take your stand on the poop of my
ship, and the moment the lookouts can say, with certainty, whether
the boats carry a white flag or not, hoist the Lion of Saint Mark
to the masthead, if it be Zeno. If not, run up a blue flag!"</p>

<h2><a id="Ch20">Chapter 20</a>: The Triumph Of Venice.</h2>

<p>Francis rowed off to the ship, got the flags in readiness for
hoisting, and stood with the lines in his hand.</p>

<p>"Can you make them out, yet?" he hailed the men at the
mastheads.</p>

<p>"They are mere specks yet, signor," the man at the foremast
said.</p>

<p>The other did not reply at once, but presently he shouted
down:</p>

<p>"Far as they are away, signor, I am almost sure that one or two
of them, at least, have something white flying."</p>

<p>There was a murmur of joy from the men on the deck, for Jacopo
Zippo was famous for his keenness of sight.</p>

<p>"Silence, men!" Francis said. "Do not let a man shout, or wave
his cap, till we are absolutely certain. Remember the agony with
which those on shore are watching us, and the awful disappointment
it would be, were their hopes raised only to be crushed,
afterwards."</p>

<p>Another ten minutes, and Jacopo slid rapidly down by the stays,
and stood on the deck with bared head.</p>

<p>"God be praised, signor! I have no longer a doubt. I can tell
you, for certain, that white flags are flying from these
boats."</p>

<p>"God be praised!" Francis replied.</p>

<p>"Now, up with the Lion!"</p>

<p>The flag was bent to the halyards and Francis hoisted it. As it
rose above the bulwark, Pisani, who was standing on a hillock of
sand, shouted out at the top of his voice:</p>

<p>"It is Zeno's fleet!"</p>

<p>A shout of joy broke from the troops. Cheer after cheer rent the
air, from ship and shore, and then the wildest excitement reigned.
Some fell on their knees, to thank God for the rescue thus sent
when all seemed lost. Others stood with clasped hands, and
streaming eyes, looking towards heaven. Some danced and shouted.
Some wept with joy. Men fell on to each other's necks, and
embraced. Some threw up their caps. All were wild with joy, and
pent-up excitement.</p>

<p>Zeno, who, in ignorance of the terrible straits to which his
countrymen were reduced, was making with his fleet direct to
Venice, was intercepted by one of the galleys, and at once bore up
for Brondolo, and presently dropped anchor near the shore. As he
did so, a boat was lowered, and he rowed to the strand, where the
Venetians crowded down to greet him. With difficulty, he made his
way through the shouting multitude to the spot, a little distance
away, where the doge was awaiting him.</p>

<p>Zeno was of medium height, square shouldered and broad chested.
His head was manly and handsome, his nose aquiline, his eyes large,
dark, and piercingly bright, and shaded by strongly-marked
eyebrows. His air was grave and thoughtful, and in strong contrast
to that of the merry and buoyant Pisani. His temper was more
equable, but his character was as impulsive as that of the admiral.
He was now forty-five years of age--ten years the junior of Pisani.
Zeno was intended for the church, and was presented by the pope
with the reversion of a rich prebendal stall at Patras. On his way
to Padua, to complete his studies at the university, he was
attacked by robbers, who left him for dead. He recovered, however,
and went to Padua. He became an accomplished scholar; but was so
fond of gambling that he lost every penny, and was obliged to
escape from his creditors by flight. For five years he wandered
over Italy, taking part in all sorts of adventures, and then
suddenly returned to Venice, and was persuaded by his friends to
proceed to Patras, where his stall was now vacant.</p>

<p>When he arrived there, he found the city besieged by the Turks.
In spite of his clerical dignity, he placed himself in the front
rank of its defenders, and distinguished himself by extreme
bravery. He was desperately wounded, and was again believed to be
dead. He was even placed in his coffin; but just as it was being
nailed down, he showed signs of returning life. He did not stay
long at Patras, but travelled in Germany, France, and England.</p>

<p>Soon after he returned to Patras he fought a duel, and thereby
forfeited his stall. He now renounced the clerical profession, and
married a wealthy heiress. She died shortly afterwards, and he
married the daughter of the Admiral Marco Giustiniani.</p>

<p>He now entered upon political life, and soon showed brilliant
talents. He was then appointed to the military command of the
district of Treviso, which the Paduans were then invading. Here he
very greatly distinguished himself, and in numberless engagements
was always successful, so that he became known as Zeno the
Unconquered.</p>

<p>When Pisani was appointed captain general, in April, 1378, he
was appointed governor of Negropont, and soon afterwards received a
separate naval command. He had been lost sight of for many months,
prior to his appearance so opportunely before Brondolo, and he now
confirmed to the doge the news that had been received shortly
before. He had captured nearly seventy Genoese vessels, of various
sizes, had cruised for some time in sight of Genoa, struck a heavy
blow at her commerce, and prevented the despatch of the
reinforcements promised to Doria. Among the vessels taken was one
which was carrying three hundred thousand ducats from Genoa.</p>

<p>He reported himself ready with his men to take up the brunt of
the siege forthwith, and selecting Brondolo as the most dangerous
position, at once landed his crews. The stores on board ship were
also brought ashore, and proved ample for the present necessities
of the army.</p>

<p>In a few days, he sailed with his galleys and recaptured Loredo,
driving out the Paduan garrison there. This conquest was all
important to Venice, for it opened their communication with
Ferrara, and vast stores of provisions were at once sent by their
ally to Venice, and the pressure of starvation immediately
ceased.</p>

<p>The siege of Brondolo was now pushed on, and on the 22nd of
January the great bombard, the Victory, so battered the wall
opposite to it that it fell suddenly, crushing beneath its ruins
the Genoese commander, Doria.</p>

<p>The change which three weeks had made in the appearance of the
Venetian forces was marvellous. Ample food, firing, and shelter had
restored their wasted frames, and assurance of victory had taken
the place of the courage of despair. A month of toil, hardship, and
fighting had converted a mob of recruits into disciplined soldiers,
and Zeno and Pisani seemed to have filled all with their own energy
and courage. Zeno, indeed, was so rash and fearless that he had
innumerable escapes from death.</p>

<p>One evening after dusk his own vessel, having been accidentally
torn from its anchorage near the Lova Fort by the force of the wind
and currents, was driven across the passage against the enemy's
forts, whence showers of missiles were poured into it. One arrow
pierced his throat. Dragging it out, he continued to issue his
orders for getting the galley off the shore--bade a seaman swim
with a line to the moorings, and angrily rebuked those who,
believing destruction to be inevitable, entreated him to strike his
flag. The sailor reached the moorings, and, with a line he had
taken, made fast a strong rope to it, and the vessel was then
hauled off into a place of safety. As Zeno hurried along the deck,
superintending the operation, he tumbled down an open hatchway, and
fell on his back, almost unconscious. In a few moments he would
have been suffocated by the blood from the wound in his throat, but
with a final effort he managed to roll over on to his face, the
wound was thus permitted to bleed freely, and he soon
recovered.</p>

<p>On the 28th of February, he was appointed general in chief of
the land forces, and the next day drove the Genoese from all their
positions on the islands of Brondolo and Little Chioggia, and on
the following morning established his headquarters under the
ramparts of Chioggia, and directed a destructive fire upon the
citadel. As the Genoese fell back across the bridge over the Canal
of Santa Caterina, the structure gave way under their weight, and
great numbers were drowned. The retreat of the Genoese was indeed
so hurried and confused, and they left behind them an immense
quantity of arms, accoutrements, and war material, so much so that
suits of mail were selling for a few shillings in the Venetian
camp.</p>

<p>So completely were the Genoese disheartened, by the change in
their position, that many thought that the Venetians could at once
have taken Chioggia by assault; but the leaders were determined to
risk no failure, and knew that the enemy must yield to hunger. They
therefore contented themselves with a rigorous blockade, cutting
off all the supplies which the Lord of Padua endeavoured to throw
into the city. The Venetians, however, allowed the besieged to send
away their women and children, who were taken to Venice and kindly
treated there.</p>

<p>The army of Venice had now been vastly increased, by the arrival
of the Star Company of Milan, and the Condottieri commanded by Sir
John Hawkwood. The dikes, erected across the channels with so much
labour, were removed, and the fleet took their part in the
siege.</p>

<p>On the 14th of May there was joy in Chioggia, similar to that
which the Venetians had felt at the sight of Zeno's fleet, for on
that morning the squadron, which Genoa had sent to their assistance
under the command of Matteo Maruffo, appeared in sight. This
admiral had wasted much valuable time on the way, but had fallen in
with and captured, after a most gallant resistance, five Venetian
galleys under Giustiniani, who had been despatched to Apulia to
fetch grain.</p>

<p>The Genoese fleet drew up in order of battle, and challenged
Pisani to come out to engage them. But, impetuous as was the
disposition of the admiral, and greatly as he longed to avenge his
defeat at Pola, he refused to stir. He knew that Chioggia must, ere
long, fall, and he would not risk all the advantages gained, by so
many months of toil and effort, upon the hazard of a battle. Day
after day Maruffo repeated his challenge, accompanied by such
insolent taunts that the blood of the Venetian sailors was so
stirred that Pisani could no longer restrain them. After obtaining
leave from the doge to go out and give battle, he sailed into the
roadstead on the 25th. The two fleets drew up in line of battle,
facing each other. Just as the combat was about to commence a
strange panic seized the Genoese, and, without exchanging a blow or
firing a shot, they fled hastily. Pisani pursued them for some
miles, and then returned to his old station.</p>

<p>The grief and despair of the garrison of Chioggia, at the sight
of the retreat of their fleet, was in proportion to the joy with
which they had hailed its approach. Their supply of fresh water was
all but exhausted. Their rations had become so scanty that, from
sheer weakness, they were unable, after the first week in June, to
work their guns.</p>

<p>Genoa, in despair at the position of her troops, laboured
unceasingly to relieve them. Emissaries were sent to tamper with
the free companies, and succeeded so far that these would have
marched away, had they not been appeased by the promise of a three
days' sack of Chioggia, and a month's extra pay at the end of the
war. Attempts were made to assassinate Zeno, but these also failed.
The Genoese then induced the pope to intercede on their behalf; but
the council remembered that when Venice was at the edge of
destruction, on the 31st of December, no power had come forward to
save her, and refused now to be robbed of the well-earned
triumph.</p>

<p>On the 15th of July, Maruffo, who had received reinforcements
again made his appearance; but Pisani this time refused to be
tempted out. On the 21st a deputation was sent out from Chioggia to
ask for terms, and though, on being told that an unconditional
surrender alone would be accepted, they returned to the city, yet
the following day the Genoese flag was hauled down from the
battlements.</p>

<p>On the 24th the doge, accompanied by Pisani and Zeno, made his
formal entry into Chioggia. The booty was enormous; and the
companies received the promised bounty, and were allowed to pillage
for three days. So large was the plunder collected, in this time,
by the adventurers, that the share of one of them amounted to five
hundred ducats. The republic, however, did not come off altogether
without spoil--they obtained nineteen seaworthy galleys, four
thousand four hundred and forty prisoners, and a vast amount of
valuable stores, the salt alone being computed as worth ninety
thousand crowns.</p>

<p>Not even when the triumphant fleet returned, after the conquest
of Constantinople, was Venice so wild with delight, as when the
doge, accompanied by Pisani and Zeno, entered the city in triumph
after the capture of Chioggia. From the danger, more imminent than
any that had threatened Venice from her first foundation, they had
emerged with a success which would cripple the strength, and lower
the pride of Genoa for years. Each citizen felt that he had some
share in the triumph, for each had taken his share in the
sufferings, the sacrifices, and the efforts of the struggle. There
had been no unmanly giving way to despair, no pitiful entreaty for
aid in their peril. Venice had relied upon herself, and had come
out triumphant.</p>

<p>From every house hung flags and banners, every balcony was hung
with tapestry and drapery. The Grand Canal was closely packed with
gondolas, which, for once, disregarded the sumptuary law that
enforced black as their only hue, and shone in a mass of colour.
Gaily dressed ladies sat beneath canopies of silk and velvet; flags
floated from every boat, and the rowers were dressed in the bright
liveries of their employers. The church bells rang out with a
deafening clang, and from roof and balcony, from wharf and river,
rang out a mighty shout of welcome and triumph from the crowded
mass, as the great state gondola, bearing the doge and the two
commanders, made its way, slowly and with difficulty, along the
centre of the canal.</p>

<p>Francis was on board one of the gondolas that followed in the
wake of that of the doge, and as soon as the grand service in Saint
Mark's was over, he slipped off and made his way back to the
Palazzo Polani. The merchant and Giulia had both been present at
the ceremony, and had just returned when he arrived.</p>

<p>"I guessed you would be off at once, Francisco, directly the
ceremony was over. I own that I, myself, would have stayed for a
time to see the grand doings in the Piazza, but this child would
not hear of our doing so. She said it would be a shame, indeed, if
you should arrive home and find no one to greet you."</p>

<p>"So it would have been," Giulia said. "I am sure I should not
have liked, when I have been away, even on a visit of pleasure to
Corfu, to return and find the house empty; and after the terrible
dangers and hardships you have gone through, Francisco, it would
have been unkind, indeed, had we not been here. You still look thin
and worn."</p>

<p>"I think that is fancy on your part, Giulia. To my eyes he looks
as stout as ever I saw him. But certainly he looked as lean and
famished as a wolf, when I paid that visit to the camp the day
before Zeno's arrival. His clothes hung loose about him, his cheeks
were hollow, and his eyes sunken. He would have been a sight for
men to stare at, had not every one else been in an equally bad
case.</p>

<p>"Well, I thank God there is an end of it, now! Genoa will be
glad to make peace on any terms, and the sea will once more be open
to our ships. So now, Francisco, you have done with fighting, and
will be able to turn your attention to the humbler occupation of a
merchant."</p>

<p>"That will I right gladly," Francis said. "I used to think,
once, I should like to be a man-at-arms; but I have seen enough of
it, and hope I never will draw my sword again, unless it be in
conflict with some Moorish rover. I have had many letters from my
father, chiding me for mingling in frays in which I have no
concern, and shall be able to gladden his heart, by writing to
assure him that I have done with fighting."</p>

<p>"It has done you no harm, Francisco, or rather it has done you
much good. It has given you the citizenship of Venice, in itself no
slight advantage to you as a trader here. It has given you three
hundred ducats a year, which, as a mark of honour, is not to be
despised. It has won for you a name throughout the republic, and
has given you a fame and popularity such as few, if any, citizens
of Venice ever attained at your age. Lastly, it has made a man of
you. It has given you confidence and self possession. You have
acquired the habit of commanding men. You have been placed in
positions which have called for the exercise of rare judgment,
prudence, and courage; and you have come well through it all. It is
but four years since your father left you a lad in my keeping. Now
you are a man, whom the highest noble in Venice might be proud of
calling his son. You have no reason to regret, therefore, that you
have, for a year, taken up soldiering instead of trading,
especially as our business was all stopped by the war, and you must
have passed your time in inactivity."</p>

<p>In the evening, when the merchant and Francis were alone
together, the former said:</p>

<p>"I told you last autumn, Francis, when I informed you that,
henceforth, you would enter into my house as a partner in the
business, when we again recommenced trade, that I had something
else in my mind, but the time to speak of it had not then arrived.
I think it has now come. Tell me, my boy, frankly, if there is
anything that you would wish to ask of me."</p>

<p>Francis was silent for a moment; then he said:</p>

<p>"You have done so much, Signor Polani. You have heaped kindness
upon me, altogether beyond anything I could have hoped for, that,
even did I wish for more, I could not ask it."</p>

<p>"Then there is something more you would like, Francisco.
Remember that I have told you that I regard you as a son, and
therefore I wish you to speak to me, as frankly as if I was really
your father."</p>

<p>"I fear, signor, that you will think me audacious, but since you
thus urge upon me to speak all that is in my mind, I cannot but
tell you the truth. I love your daughter, Giulia, and have done so
ever since the first day that my eyes fell on her. It has seemed to
me too much, even to hope, that she can ever be mine, and I have
been careful in letting no word expressive of my feelings pass my
lips. It still seems, to me, beyond the bounds of possibility that
I could successfully aspire to the hand of the daughter of one of
the noblest families in Venice."</p>

<p>"I am glad you have spoken frankly, dear lad," the merchant
said. "Ever since you rescued my daughters from the hands of
Mocenigo, it has been on my mind that someday, perhaps, you would
be my son-in-law, as well as my son by adoption. I have watched
with approval that, as Giulia grew from a child into a young woman,
her liking for you seemed to ripen into affection. This afternoon I
have spoken to her, and she has acknowledged that she would obey my
commands, to regard you as her future husband, with gladness.</p>

<p>"I could not, however, offer my daughter's hand to one who might
reject it, or who, if he accepted it, would only do so because he
considered the match to be a desirable one, from a business point
of view. Now that you have told me you love her, all difficulties
are at an end. I am not one of those fathers who would force a
marriage upon their daughters, regardless of their feelings. I gave
to Maria free choice among her various suitors, and so I would give
it to Giulia. Her choice is in accordance with my own secret hopes,
and I therefore, freely and gladly, bestow her upon you. You must
promise only that you do not carry her away altogether to England,
so long as I live. You can, if you like, pay long visits with her
from time to time to your native country, but make Venice your
headquarters.</p>

<p>"I need say nothing to you about her dowry. I intended that, as
my partner, you should take a fourth share of the profits of the
business; but as Giulia's husband, I shall now propose that you
have a third. This will give you an income equal to that of all but
the wealthiest of the nobles of Venice. At my death, my fortune
will be divided between my girls."</p>

<p>Francis expressed, in a few words, his joy and gratitude at the
merchant's offer. Giulia had inspired him, four years before, with
a boyish love, and it had steadily increased until he felt that,
however great his success in life as Messer Polani's partner, his
happiness would be incomplete unless shared by Giulia. Polani cut
short his words by saying:</p>

<p>"My dear boy, I am as pleased that this should be so as you are.
I now feel that I have, indeed, gained a son and secured the
happiness of my daughter. Go in to her now. You will find her in
the embroidery room. I told her that I should speak to you this
evening, and she is doubtless in a tremble as to the result, for
she told me frankly that, although she loved you, she feared you
only regarded her with the affection of a brother, and she implored
me, above all, not to give you a hint of her feelings towards you,
until I was convinced that you really loved her."</p>

<p>Two months later, the marriage of Francis Hammond and Giulia
Polani took place. There were great festivities, and the merchant
spent a considerable sum in giving a feast, on the occasion, to all
the poor of Venice. Maria told Francis, in confidence, that she had
always made up her mind that he would marry Giulia.</p>

<p>"The child was silly enough to fall in love with you from the
first, Francisco, and I was sure that you, in your dull English
fashion, cared for her. My father confided to me, long since, that
he hoped it would come about."</p>

<p>Francis Hammond lived for many years with his wife in Venice,
paying occasional visits to England. He was joined, soon after his
marriage, by his brother, who, after serving for some years in the
business, entered it as a partner, when Messer Polani's increasing
years rendered it necessary for him to retire from an active
participation in it.</p>

<p>Some months after his marriage, Francis was saddened by the
death of Admiral Pisani, who never recovered from the fatigue and
hardships he suffered during the siege of Chioggia. He had, with
the fleet, recovered most of the places that the Genoese had
captured, and after chasing a Genoese fleet to Zara, had a partial
engagement with them there. In this, Corbaro, now holding the
commission of admiral of the squadron, was killed, and Pisani
himself wounded. He was already suffering from fever; and the loss
of Corbaro, and the check that the fleet had suffered, increased
his malady, and he expired three days later.</p>

<p>Venice made peace with Genoa, but the grudge which she bore to
Padua was not wiped out until some years later, when, in 1404, that
city was besieged by the Venetians, and forced by famine to
surrender in the autumn of the following year; after which Zeno,
having been proved to have kept up secret communications with the
Lord of Padua, was deprived of his honours and sentenced to a
year's imprisonment. Thus, in turn, the two great Venetian
commanders suffered disgrace and imprisonment.</p>

<p>As she had been patient and steadfast in her time of distress,
Venice was clement in her hour of triumph, and granted far more
favourable terms to Padua than that city deserved.</p>

<p>At the death of Messer Polani, Francis returned with his wife
and family to England, and established himself in London, where he
at once took rank as one of the leading merchants. His fortune,
however, was so large, that he had no occasion to continue in
commerce, and he did so only to afford him a certain amount of
occupation. His brother carried on the business in Venice, and
became one of the leading citizens there, in partnership with
Matteo Giustiniani. Every two or three years Francis made a voyage
with his wife to Venice and spent some months there, and to the end
of his life never broke off his close connection with the City of
the Waters.</p>

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