Part 23 (2/2)

”I don't call that talk. I call it chatter. And now, Matteo, I shall leave you to your own devices, for I am going to turn in and get a sleep for a few hours.”

”You look as if you wanted it,” Matteo said; ”but I think that you stand in even more need of a wash. You are grimy with dust. It is just as well that my cousin Giulia did not come on board with her father this morning, for the sight of your face would have given her quite a shock, and would have dissipated any illusions she may have had that you were a good-looking fellow.”

Francis went off to his cabin with a laugh, and took Matteo's advice as to the wash before he turned in. In a few minutes he was asleep, and did not wake until Giuseppi came to say that the midday meal was just ready.

The Bonito made a rapid voyage. The winds were light, and for the most part favourable, and the twenty-four oars were kept going night and day, the men relieving each other every two hours, so that they had six hours' rest between the spells of rowing.

When they rounded the southern point of Italy a sharp lookout was kept for the fleet of Fieschi, but they pa.s.sed through the straits without catching sight of a single vessel carrying the Genoese flag. The most vigilant watch was now kept for Pisani's galleys, and they always anch.o.r.ed at the close of day, lest they should pa.s.s him in the dark.

Occasionally they overhauled a fis.h.i.+ng boat, and endeavoured to obtain news of the two squadrons; but beyond the fact that Fieschi had been seen steering north some days before, and that no signs had been seen of Pisani's returning fleet, they could learn nothing.

Chapter 11: The Battle Of Antium.

”We are running very far north,” the captain said on the 29th of May. ”We are near Antium now, and are getting into what we may call Genoese waters. If anything has occurred to prevent Pisani carrying out his intention of sailing back along this coast, or if he has pa.s.sed us on the way up, our position would be a hazardous one, for as soon as he has rowed away the Genoese galleys will be on the move again, and even if we do not fall in with Fieschi, we may be snapped up by one of their cruisers.”

”It is rather risky, captain,” Francis agreed; ”but our orders are distinct. We were to sail north till we met Pisani, and we must do so till we are within sight of the walls of Genoa. If we then see he is not lying off the port, we shall put about and make our way back again.”

”Yes, if they give us the chance, Messer Francisco; but long before we are sufficiently near to Genoa to make out whether Pisani is lying off the port, they will see us from the hills, and will send off a galley to bring us in. However, we must take our chance, and if we get into a sc.r.a.pe I shall look to you confidently to get us out again.”

”I should advise you not to count on that,” Francis said, laughing. ”It is not always one gets such a lucky combination of circ.u.mstances as we did at Girgenti.”

At last, they obtained news from a fis.h.i.+ng boat that Fieschi's fleet had pa.s.sed, going northward, on the previous day, and was now lying in the bay of Antium. As Antium lay but a few miles north, they held a consultation as to the best method to pursue. If they sailed on there was a risk of capture; but that risk did not appear to be very great. The Genoese admiral would not expect to find a Venetian merchant s.h.i.+p so near to Genoa, and they might be able to pa.s.s without being interfered with. On the other hand, news might possibly have come of the departure of store s.h.i.+ps from Venice for Pisani's fleet, and in that case a strict lookout would certainly be kept, and it would be necessary to keep so far to sea as to be out of sight of the Genoese; but in that case there would be a risk of their missing Pisani's fleet on the way down.

”I think,” the captain said, after a long debate, ”that we had better anchor here close under the sh.o.r.e tonight. If I am not mistaken, we shall have a gale in the morning. I do not like the look of the sky. Tomorrow we shall see how the weather is, and can then come to a decision.”

By morning, as the captain had predicted, the wind was blowing strongly, and a heavy sea was running, and it was agreed to keep along under the lee of the sh.o.r.e until they could obtain a view of the Bay of Antium, and see if the fleet of Fieschi was still there. If so, they would tack and run back some distance, and make straight out to sea, so as to pa.s.s along four or five miles from the sh.o.r.e, as it would be unlikely in the extreme that the Genoese admiral would send a galley out to overhaul a pa.s.sing s.h.i.+p in such weather.

They sailed along till they neared the slight depression known as the Bay of Antium, and then bore farther out to sea. Suddenly a fleet was seen running down the coast at some distance away.

”'Bout s.h.i.+p,” the captain cried. ”The Genoese have been cruising further north, and are coming down the coast. In such weather as this, the Bonito ought to be able to get away from them.”

”It may be Pisani's fleet,” Francis said, as the s.h.i.+p was put round.

”It is possible,” the captain agreed; ”but we cannot run the risk of stopping until we make inquiries.”

”No, captain; but, at least, if we run a mile or so out to sea, we should be able to see round the point, and discover whether Fieschi's galleys are there.”

The captain a.s.sented. The vessel's head was turned from the land. In ten minutes there was a joyous shout on board the Bonito, for the Genoese fleet was seen lying in the bay. The distant fleet must then form that of Pisani.

”See!” Francis exclaimed. ”The Genoese have just caught sight of them, and are hoisting sail. They are either going to meet them or to run away. Our vessels are the most numerous; but no, there is not much difference. Pisani has fourteen s.h.i.+ps, but some must be lagging behind, or have been lost. How many do you make them out to be, captain?”

”I think there are only nine,” the captain answered, ”and that is just the number of the Genoese.”

”Then Fieschi will fight, if he is not a coward,” Matteo said; ”but, in that case, why are they making out to sea?”

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