een the
rocks and the shore."

"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."

"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."

"Don't you understand, you silly fellow, what I am thinking about?"
Francis said impatiently.

"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."

"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."

"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.

"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."

"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."

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