e is peace between the republics," the captain said. "I protest
against the seizure of this ship, as an act of piracy."

"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?"

"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.

The Genoese officer briefly examined the vessel.

"Whom have you here on board with you?" he asked, struck with the
furniture and fittings of Francis' cabin.

"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."

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.

"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."

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.

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