s ship with the
produce of the islands.

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.

"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.

"You will find, captain, that I have ordered an extra month's pay to be
given to all on board.

"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."

Francis at once took himself off and joined the girls, who received him
with the heartiest greeting.

"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."

"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."

"For a sight of Venice and--" Maria repeated, holding up her finger
reprovingly.

"And of you both," Franci