ou are still but a lad; but I saw
you did not give way an inch, but held your own against him; and I
believe you would have slain him unaided, for you were fighting with
greater coolness than he was. Still, I was relieved when I saw him
fall, for even then the combat was doubtful, and his men, to do them
justice, fought like demons. How comes it that one so young as you
should be so skilled with your weapon?"

"This is not the first time that my young friend has done good service
to the state," Polani said; "for it was he who led a crew of one of my
ships to the aid of Pisani, when his galley was boarded by the Genoese,
at the battle of Antium."

"Is this he?" the governor said, in surprise. "I heard, of course, by
the account of those who came from Venice a month since, how Pisani was
aided, when hard pressed, by the crew of one of your ships, headed by a
young Englishman, upon whom the state had conferred the rights of
citizenship as a recognition of his services; but I did not dream that
the Englishman was but a lad.

"What is your age, young sir?"

"I am just eighteen," Francis replied. "Our people are all fond of
strong exercise, and thus it was that I became more skilled, perhaps,
than many of my age, in the use of arms."

At nine o'clock the squadron arrived in the port, bringing with them
the captured galley. As soon as they were seen approaching, the church
bells rang, flags were hung out from the houses, and the whole
population assembled at the quay to welcome the victors and to hear the
news.

"Do you go on at once, directly we land, Francisco, and set the girls'
minds at ease. I must come on with the governor, and he is sure to be
detained, and will have much to say before he can make his way through
the crowd."

Francis was, on his arrival at the governor's, recognized by the
domestics, and at once shown into the room where the girls were
awaiting him. The fact that the pirate galley had been captured was
already known to them, the news having been brought some hours before,
by a horseman, from the other side of the island.

"Where is our father?" Maria exclaimed, as Francis entered alone.

"He is well, and sent me on to relieve your minds."

"Saint Mark be praised!" Maria said. "We have been sorely anxious about
you both. A messenger, who brought the news, said that it could be seen
from the shore that there was a desperate fight on board the pirate
ship, which was attacked by one galley only