be an hour before
your boat is in the water again. Indeed, I don't see the use of your
starting before daybreak."

"Nor do I, Matteo; but I must go, nevertheless. Pisani knows how long
it will take me to get to Chioggia and return. He will allow an hour or
two for me to reconnoitre, and will then be expecting me back. As it
is, I shall be two hours after the time when he will be expecting me,
for he knows nothing about the boat being carried across this island,
and will make no allowance for that. Moreover, Polani and his daughters
will be anxious about me."

"Oh, you flatter yourself they will be lying awake for you," Matteo
said, laughing. "Thinking over your dangers! Well, there's nothing like
having a good idea of one's self."

Francis joined in the laugh.

"It does sound rather conceited, Matteo; but I know they will be
anxious. They took up the idea it was a dangerous service I was going
on, and I have no doubt they fidgeted over it. Women are always
fancying things, you know."

"I don't know anyone who fidgets about me," Matteo said; "but then, you
see, I am not a rescuer of damsels in distress, nor have I received the
thanks of the republic for gallant actions."

"Well, you ought to have done," Francis replied. "You had just as much
to do with that fight on board Pisani's galley as I had, only it
happened I was in command.

"Oh, there is your brother's tent! I see there is a light burning, so I
suppose he has not gone to bed yet."

"All the better," Matteo said. "We shall get our hot wine all the
quicker. My teeth are chattering so, I hardly dare speak for fear of
biting my tongue."

Francis was warmly welcomed by Rufino Giustiniani.

"I need hardly ask you if you have succeeded in reconnoitring their
positions, for I know you would not come back before morning had you
not carried out your orders.

"Why, Matteo, what have you been doing--wading in the mud, apparently?
Why, you are wet up to the waist."

"We have captured an officer, and fourteen men, Rufino. They will be
here in a few minutes. Their boat got stuck fast while it was chasing
Francisco; so we waded out and took them. They made some resistance,
but beyond a few slashes, and two or three thumps from their oars, no
harm was done."

"That is right, Matteo. I am glad you have had a skirmish with them at
last. Now go in and change your things. I shall have you on my hands
with rheumatism."

"I will do that at once, and I hope you will