as somehow missed us when
it returns without news. I hardly think that the idea, that we may be
hidden so close to them, will enter their minds, and the only fear I
entertain is that some peasant may happen to come to the edge of the
cliff and see us lying here, and may take the news back to Girgenti."

"Yes, there is certainly a danger of that," Francis said. "I think,
captain, it would be the best plan to land twenty men at once. Giuseppi
will show them the way up the cliff, and then they must take their
station, at short distances apart, along the edge of the cliff, from
point to point of this little bay, with orders to seize any one who may
approach and bring him down here. They must, of course, be told to lie
down, as a line of sentries along the top of the cliff might attract
the attention of somebody on the galleys, and lead to a search."

"Yes, I think that will be a wise precaution," the captain agreed.

"Thomaso, do you take twenty men and post them as you hear Messer
Francisco say. Tell them to lie in the bushes and keep out of sight,
and on no account to show themselves, unless someone comes along
sufficiently near to look over the edge of the cliff."

"Giuseppi," Francis said, "do you act as guide to the party. You will
have plenty of time to get to the top and to return before the galleys
come along."

A quarter of an hour later the captain, with Matteo and Francis, landed
on the ledge, and took the place of the sentries, and in twenty minutes
a simultaneous exclamation burst from them, as a Genoese galley was
seen rowing rapidly along.

"They have sent only one galley," Francis said. "Of course, they would
know that it was sufficiently strong to overpower us without
difficulty. I suppose one has gone west, and the others have put out to
sea in different directions. That certainly was the best course they
could have adopted, and it is very lucky that we did not attempt to
escape seaward, for they would assuredly have had us. I suppose,
captain, you intend to sail tonight."

"Certainly," the captain replied. "We will get everything in readiness
for hoisting the masts as soon as the galley has passed us on its way
back. There is no fear of their coming along again later on, for the
men will have had an eight hours' row of it; the first part, at any
rate, at full speed. Besides, they will not know, until all the galleys
return, that we have not been found, so I think it will be quite safe
to get up th