ay, 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."

"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."

"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."

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.

"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.

"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."

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.

Chapter 10: Recaptured.

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.

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.

The impetus was sufficient. The boat moved so slowly through the water,
indeed, before they reached the ship, that Francis thought