ter to get out the masts."

"There would be no difficulty in getting the masts out," the captain
answered. "I have only to knock out the wedges, and loosen the stays,
and get up a tripod made of three spars to lift them out; but I don't
see how they are to be got in again."

"How is that, captain? I should have thought it no more difficult to
get a mast in than to take it out."

"Nor would it be so, under ordinary circumstances," the captain
replied; "but you see, our hold is full of grain, and as the mast comes
out, the hole it leaves will fill up, and there will be no getting it
down again to step it on the keel without discharging the cargo."

"Yes, I see that, captain. Then you think we had better cut down the
masts; but in that case how are we to raise them?"

"We will cut them off about six feet above the deck, Messer Francisco;
then when we want to set sail again, we have only to rear the masts up
by the side of the stumps, and lash them securely. Of course they will
be six feet shorter than before, but that is of little consequence."

"Then so let it be," Francis said, "the sooner we begin the better."

Just at this moment there was a violent knocking against the hatch of
the forecastle.

"I had forgotten all about the sailors," the captain said, laughing. "I
suppose the men who were to relieve the watch have woke up, and finding
they could not get out, have aroused their comrades."

"Shall we leave them there, or take them out and bind them?" Matteo
asked.

"We had better have them up," the captain said. "I don't suppose there
are more than twenty of them, and it would be best to bind them, and
put them down in the hold with the corn, otherwise they may manage to
break out when we are not expecting it, and might give us some
trouble."

Accordingly, the sailors gathered round the hatch. The ropes were then
removed, and the hatch taken off.

"What fooling are you up to?" one of the Genoese exclaimed, angrily, as
they rushed up on deck. "You have nearly stifled us down below putting
on the hatch and fastening it."

He stopped abruptly as, on gaining the deck, he saw a crowd of armed
figures round him, for a lantern had been placed so as to throw a light
upon the spot.

"You are prisoners," the captain said. "It is useless to attempt
resistance."

"Help, help, treachery!" one of the Genoese shouted at the top of his
voice.

"It is useless for you to shout," the captain said, "you are miles away