ve his story in full. I have not heard much about it
yet, and you have heard nothing; and I want to know how he managed to
get out of the hands of that man, when he had once fallen into them."

"That is what we want to know, too, father. We know what a sharp watch
was kept upon us, and I am sure they must have been much more severe
with him."

"They were certainly more severe," Francis said smiling, "for my right
hand was chained to my left ankle, and the left hand to to my right
ankle--not tightly, you know, but the chain was so short that I could
not stand upright. But, on the other hand, I do not think my guards
were as vigilant as yours. However, I will tell you the whole story."

The girls listened with rapt attention to the story of the capture, the
escape, and of his hiding in the hold of the pirate in order to be able
to give them a warning in time.

"Your escape was fortunate, indeed," the merchant said when he had
finished. "Fortunate both for you and for us, for I have no doubt that
Mocenigo had intended to put you to a lingering death, on his return.
As for the girls, nothing could have saved them from the fate he
designed for them, save the method which you took of arriving here
before him."

"What are we to do for him, father?" Maria exclaimed. "We are not tired
of thanking him, but he hates being thanked. If he would only get into
some terrible scrape, Giulia and I would set out to rescue him at once;
but you see he gets out of his scrapes before we hear of them. It is
quite disheartening not to be able to do anything."

Francis laughed merrily.

"It is terrible, is it not, signora? But if I manage to get into any
scrape, and have time to summon you to my assistance, be sure I will do
so. But, you see, one cannot get into a scrape when one chooses, and I
must be content, while I am away, in knowing that I have the good
wishes of you and your sister."

"Do not trouble yourself, Maria," her father said. "Some day an
opportunity may come for our paying our debts, and in the meantime
Francis is content that we should be his debtors."

"And now, what are you going to do, papa?"

"I shall sail with you for Venice tomorrow. The governor will be
sending one of the galleys with the news of the capture of the pirate,
and doubtless he will give us all a passage in her. I shall order steps
to be taken at once for rebuilding the villa, and will get it completed
by the spring, before which time you will be