ome with us. Do the rest
of you all keep together.

"Two miles further, girls, as you know, is a villa of Carlo Maffene. If
you feel tired, you had best stop and ask for shelter there. There is
no fear that the pirates will extend their ravages so far. They will
keep on the side of the island where they landed, so as to be able to
return with their booty before daybreak to the ship."

Chapter 14: The End Of The Persecutor.

Signor Polani was so well known, that upon his arrival at the
governor's house the domestics, upon being aroused, did not hesitate to
awaken the governor at once. The latter, as soon as he heard that the
pirates had landed and were devastating the other side of the island,
and that their ship was lying close in to the coast under the charge of
a few sailors only, at once despatched a messenger to the commander of
the galleys; ordering them to arouse the crews and make ready to put
out to sea instantly. He added that he, himself, should follow his
messenger on board in a few minutes, and should accompany them. He then
issued orders that the bell should toll to summon the inhabitants to
arms; and directed an officer to take the command, and to start with
them at once across the island, and to fall upon the pirates while
engaged in their work of pillage. They were to take a party with them
with litters to carry Polani's daughters to the town, and an apartment
was to be assigned to them in his palace, until his return.

While he was issuing this order, refreshments had been placed upon the
table, and he pressed Polani and his companions to partake of these
before starting.

Francis needed no second invitation. He had been too excited, at the
news he had heard on board the ship, to think of eating; and he now
remembered that it was a good many hours since he had taken his last
meal. He was but a few minutes, however, in satisfying his hunger. By
the time he had finished, the governor had seen that his orders had
been carried out.

Two hundred armed citizens had already mustered in companies, and were
now on the point of setting out, burning with indignation at what they
had heard of the depredations which the pirates had committed. After
seeing his preparations complete the governor, accompanied by Polani
and Francis, made his way down to the port, and was rowed out to the
galleys.

Here he found all on the alert. The sails were ready for hoisting, and
the men were seated at the benches, re