four feet of the ground, and it was
only by standing on one leg, and lifting the other as high as he could,
that he was able to grasp one of the bars to try its strength.

The news he had heard from his fellow prisoner almost maddened him, and
he thought far less of his own fate, than of that of the girls, who
would be living in their quiet country retreat in ignorance of danger,
until suddenly seized by Mocenigo and his band of pirates.

He had, on the first day, tried whether it was possible to draw his
hand through the iron band round his wrist, but had concluded it could
not be done, for it was riveted so tightly as to press upon the flesh.
Therefore there was no hope of freeing himself in that manner. The only
possible means, then, would be to cut through the rivet or chain, and
for this a tool would be required.

Suddenly an idea struck him. The guard who brought in his food was a
Sicilian, and was evidently of a talkative disposition, for he had
several times entered into conversation with the captives. In addition
to a long knife, he carried a small stiletto in his girdle, and Francis
thought that, if he could obtain this, he might possibly free himself.
Accordingly, at the hour when he expected his guard to enter, Francis
placed himself at his window, with his face against the bars. When he
heard the guard come in, and, as usual, close the door behind him, he
turned round and said:

"Who is that damsel there? She is very beautiful, and she passes here
frequently. There she is, just going among those trees."

The guard moved to the window and looked out.

"Do you see her just going round that corner there? Ah! She is gone."

The guard was pressing his face against the bars, to look in the
direction indicated, and Francis, who was already standing on his left
leg, with the right raised so as to give freedom to the hand next to
the man, had no difficulty in drawing the stiletto from its sheath, and
slipping it into his trousers.

"You were just too late," he said, "but no doubt you often see her."

"I don't see any beautiful damsels about in this wretched place," the
man replied. "I suppose she is the daughter of the head man in the
village. They say he has some good-looking ones, but he takes pretty
good care that they are not about when we are here. I suppose she
thought she wouldn't be seen along that path. I will keep a good
lookout for her in future."

"Don't frighten her away," Francis said, laug