surprised by a Venetian
galley, they might lose all the result of their toil. This was the
opinion of the majority, although a few sided with the captain, being
induced to do so by the fact that he offered to give up all his share
of the booty, if they would do so.

"The captain lost his temper and drew his sword, but he and his party
were quickly overpowered. He has kept to his cabin ever since,
suffering, they say, more from rage than from his wounds. However, it
seems that as soon as we and the cargo have been sold, they are to
start for Corfu to carry out the enterprise. We are on an island not
very far from Tunis, and a fast-rowing boat started early this morning
to the merchants with whom they deal, for it seems that a certain
amount of secrecy is observed, in order that if any complaints are made
by Venice, the Moorish authorities may disclaim all knowledge of the
matter."

Two days later the prisoners captured were again led out, their guards
telling them that the merchants who had been expected had arrived.
Giuseppi, who had hitherto borne up bravely, was in an agony of grief
at being separated from Francis. He threw himself upon the ground,
wept, tore his hair, and besought the guards to let him share his
master's fate, whatever that might be. He declared that he would kill
himself were they separated; and the guards would have been obliged to
use force, had not Francis begged Giuseppi not to struggle against
fate, but to go quietly, promising again and again that, if he himself
regained his freedom, he would not rest until Giuseppi was also set at
liberty. At last the lad yielded, and suffered himself to be led away,
in a heartbroken state, by the guards.

None of the captives returned to the hut, and Francis now turned his
whole thoughts to freeing himself from his chains. He had already
revolved in his mind every possible mode of escape. He had tried the
strong iron bars of the window, but found that they were so rigidly
fixed and embedded in the stonework, that there was no hope of escape
in this way; and even could he have got through the window, the weight
of his shackles would have crippled him.

He was fastened with two chains, each about two feet six inches long,
going from the wrist of the right hand to the left ankle, and from the
left hand to the right ankle. Thus he was unable to stand quite
upright, and anything like rapid movement was almost impossible. The
bottom of the window came within