ll 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."

As they began to ascend the cliff, Francis stopped suddenly.

"We should never be able to find this place in the dark," he said.

"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."

"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."

"That will be the best way, Giuseppi; but how will you get the sticks
off without wetting them?"

"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."

"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.

"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.

"Now, Matteo, for a climb. We have no time to lose."

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.

"We were beginning to wonder what had become of you," the captain said
as they joined him.

"We have been settling how to carry off the Lido," Francis said, "and
have arranged everything."

The captain laughed.

"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 b