Part 19 (1/2)
”That does sound a serious undertaking,” Matteo said, laughing; ”and I am afraid that I shall never see the view from the top of Etna. Certainly I shall not, if it will be necessary beforehand to be always exercising my muscles by running up the stairs of high houses.”
The next day they were off Girgenti, the port at which they hoped to obtain a cargo. They steered in until they encountered a fis.h.i.+ng boat, and learned from those on board that there was no Genoese vessel in port, nor, as far as the men knew, any state galleys anywhere in the neighbourhood. Obtaining this news, they sailed boldly into the port and dropped anchor.
Francis, who had received before starting a list of houses with whom Signor Polani was in the habit of doing business, at once rowed ash.o.r.e, Matteo and Giuseppi accompanying him. His business arrangements were soon completed. The harvest had been a good one, and there was an abundance of corn to be had at a cheap rate. In half an hour he arranged for as large a quant.i.ty as the Lido would carry.
The work of loading soon commenced, and in four days the s.h.i.+p was full up to the hatches. Francis went on sh.o.r.e to settle the various accounts, and was just making the last payment when Matteo ran into the office.
”Four Genoese galleys are entering the bay!”
Francis ran out, and saw four Genoese galleys rowing in.
”It is too late to escape. Even were we empty we could not get away; but laden as the Lido is, they could row three feet to her one.”
”What shall we do, Francisco?”
Francis stood for half a minute thinking.
”You had better stay here, Matteo. I will row out to the s.h.i.+p, and send most of the men on sh.o.r.e. If they seize the s.h.i.+p, they may not take those on board prisoners; but if they do, there is no reason why they should take us all.”
”You had better come on sh.o.r.e too, Francisco, and leave the captain in charge. You can do no good by staying there; and Polani would be more concerned at your capture than he would at the loss of a dozen s.h.i.+ps. If you could do any good, it would be different; but as it is, it would be foolish to risk capture.”
”I will see,” Francis said. ”At any rate, do you stop here.”
Jumping into a boat, he rowed towards the Lido, which was lying but a cable's length from the sh.o.r.e. As he neared her, he shouted to the men to lower the boats.
”Captain,” he said, ”I do not know whether there is any danger of being captured by the Genoese. But it is useless to run any unnecessary risk. Therefore send all the crew but three or four men on sh.o.r.e. If the Genoese board us, we have our papers as peaceful traders buying wheat; but if, in spite of that, they capture us, we must take our chance.”
”Surely you are not thinking of stopping, Messer Francisco. The padrone would be terribly vexed if you were taken. He specially ordered me, before we started, to see that no unnecessary risk was run, and to prevent you from thrusting yourself into danger. Therefore, as captain of the s.h.i.+p, I must insist that you go on sh.o.r.e.”
”I think I ought to stay here,” Francis said.
”I do not think so,” the captain said firmly, ”and I will not suffer it. I have to answer for your safety to the padrone; and if you do not go by yourself, I shall order the men to put you into one of the boats by force. I mean no disrespect; but I know my duty, and that is to prevent you from falling into the hands of the Genoese.”
”I will not oblige you to use force, captain,” Francis said, smiling, ”and will do as you wish me.”
In five minutes the men were all--save four, whom the captain had selected--in the boat, and rowing towards sh.o.r.e. Matteo was awaiting them when they landed.
”That is right, Francisco. I was half afraid you would stay on board. I know how obstinate you are whenever you take a thing into your head.”
”The captain was more obstinate still, Matteo, and said that unless I came away he would send me on sh.o.r.e by force; but I don't like deserting the s.h.i.+p.”
”That is nonsense, Francisco. If the Genoese take her, they take her, and your remaining on board could not do any good. What are you going to do now?”
”We will at once leave the place with the men, Matteo, and retire into the country behind. It is not likely the Genoese would land and seize us here, but they might do so, or the inhabitants, to please Genoa, might seize us and send us on board. At any rate, we shall be safer in the country.”
The men had, by the captain's orders, brought their arms ash.o.r.e on leaving the s.h.i.+p. This was the suggestion of Francis, who said that, were they unarmed, the people might seize them and hand them over to the Genoese. At the head of this party, which was about fifty strong, Francis marched up through the little town and out into the country. He had really but little fear, either that the Genoese would arrest them on sh.o.r.e, or that the people would interfere with them, for they would not care to risk the anger of Venice by interfering in such a matter. He thought it probable, however, that if his men remained in the town, broils would arise between them and any of the Genoese sailors who might land.
As soon as the Genoese galleys came up to the head of the bay, a boat was lowered and rowed to the Lido, at whose masthead the Venetian flag was flying. An officer, followed by six men, climbed up on to the deck.
”Are you the captain of this s.h.i.+p?” the officer asked as the captain approached him.