ady to aid with oars the light
wind which was blowing. The governor now informed the commander of the
vessels the reason of the sudden orders for sailing. The news was
passed to the captains of the other two vessels, and in a very few
minutes the anchors were weighed, and the vessels started on their way.

Francis was closely questioned as to the spot at which the pirate
vessel was lying, but could only reply that, beyond the fact that it
was some four miles from Polani's villa, he had no idea of the
locality.

"But can you not describe to us the nature of the coast?" the commander
said.

"That I cannot," Francis replied; "for I was hidden away in the hold of
the vessel, and did not come on deck until after it was dark, at which
time the land abreast of us was only a dark mass."

"Signor Polani has informed me," the governor said, "that, although
your attire does not betoken it, you are a dear friend of his; but he
has not yet informed me how it comes that you were upon this pirate
ship."

"He has been telling me as we came along," Polani replied; "and a
strange story it is. He was on his voyage hither in the Naxos, which,
as you doubtless remember, was a little craft of mine, which should
have arrived here a month since. As we supposed, it was captured by the
pirates, the leader of whom is Ruggiero Mocenigo, who, as of course you
know, made his escape from the custody of the officers of the state,
they being overpowered by a party of Paduans. The sentence of
banishment for life has been passed against him, and, until I heard
from my friend here that he was captain of the pirate which has been
seen off this island, I knew not what had become of him.

"Those on board the Naxos were taken prisoners, and confined in the
pirate's hold, which they found already filled with captives taken from
other ships. The pirate at once sailed for Africa, where all the
prisoners were sold as slaves to the Moors, my friend here alone
excepted, Mocenigo having an old feud with him, and a design to keep
him in his hands. Learning that a raid was intended upon Corfu, with
the special design of carrying off my daughters, whom Mocenigo had
twice previously tried to abduct, Francisco managed to get on board the
vessel, and conceal himself in her hold, in order that he might
frustrate the design. He managed, in the dark, to mingle with the
landing party; and then, separating from them, made his way on ahead,
and fortunately was able to o