usions she may have had that
you were a good-looking fellow."

Francis went off to his cabin with a laugh, and took Matteo's advice as
to the wash before he turned in. In a few minutes he was asleep, and
did not wake until Giuseppi came to say that the midday meal was just
ready.

The Bonito made a rapid voyage. The winds were light, and for the most
part favourable, and the twenty-four oars were kept going night and
day, the men relieving each other every two hours, so that they had six
hours' rest between the spells of rowing.

When they rounded the southern point of Italy a sharp lookout was kept
for the fleet of Fieschi, but they passed through the straits without
catching sight of a single vessel carrying the Genoese flag. The most
vigilant watch was now kept for Pisani's galleys, and they always
anchored at the close of day, lest they should pass him in the dark.

Occasionally they overhauled a fishing boat, and endeavoured to obtain
news of the two squadrons; but beyond the fact that Fieschi had been
seen steering north some days before, and that no signs had been seen
of Pisani's returning fleet, they could learn nothing.

Chapter 11: The Battle Of Antium.

"We are running very far north," the captain said on the 29th of May.
"We are near Antium now, and are getting into what we may call Genoese
waters. If anything has occurred to prevent Pisani carrying out his
intention of sailing back along this coast, or if he has passed us on
the way up, our position would be a hazardous one, for as soon as he
has rowed away the Genoese galleys will be on the move again, and even
if we do not fall in with Fieschi, we may be snapped up by one of their
cruisers."

"It is rather risky, captain," Francis agreed; "but our orders are
distinct. We were to sail north till we met Pisani, and we must do so
till we are within sight of the walls of Genoa. If we then see he is
not lying off the port, we shall put about and make our way back
again."

"Yes, if they give us the chance, Messer Francisco; but long before we
are sufficiently near to Genoa to make out whether Pisani is lying off
the port, they will see us from the hills, and will send off a galley
to bring us in. However, we must take our chance, and if we get into a
scrape I shall look to you confidently to get us out again."

"I should advise you not to count on that," Francis said, laughing. "It
is not always one gets such a lucky combination of circumstanc