Part 34 (1/2)
It was fortunate for them that in the hold, in which they were confined, there were some casks of water; for, for hours the Genoese paid no attention whatever to their prisoners, and the wounded were beginning to suffer agonies of thirst, when the barrels were fortunately discovered. The head of one was knocked in, and some shallow tubs, used for serving the water to the crew, filled, and the men knelt down and drank by turns from these. Many were too enfeebled by their wounds to rise, and their thirst was a.s.suaged by dipping articles of clothing into the water, and letting the fluid from these run into their mouths.
It was not until next morning that the prisoners were ordered to come on deck. Many had died during the night. Others were too weak to obey the summons. The names of the rest were taken, and not a little surprise was expressed, by the Genoese officers, at the extreme youth of the officer in command of the Pluto.
”I was only the second in command,” Francis said in answer to their questions. ”Carlo Bottini was in command of the s.h.i.+p, but he was killed at the commencement of the fight.”
”But how is it that one so young came to be second? You must belong to some great family to have been thus pushed forward above men so much your senior.
”It was a wise choice nevertheless,” the commander of one of the galleys which had been engaged with the Pluto said, ”for it is but justice to own that no s.h.i.+p was better handled, or fought, in the Venetian fleet. They were engaged with us first, and for over an hour they fought us on fair terms, yielding no foot of ground, although we had far more men than they carried. I noticed this youth fighting always in the front line with the Venetians, and marvelled at the strength and dexterity with which he used his weapons, and afterwards, when there were three of us around him, he fought like a boar surrounded by hounds. I am sure he is a brave youth, and well worthy the position he held, to whatsoever he owed it.”
”I belong to no n.o.ble family of Venice,” Francis said. ”My name is Francis Hammond, and my parents are English.”
”You are not a mercenary, I trust?” the Genoese captain asked earnestly.
”I am not,” Francis replied. ”I am a citizen of Venice, and my name is inscribed in her books, as my comrades will vouch.”
”Right glad am I that it is so,” the Genoese said, ”for Pietro Doria, who is now, by the death of his brother, in chief command, has ordered that every mercenary found among the prisoners shall today be slain.”
”It is a brutal order,” Francis said fearlessly, ”whosoever may have given it! A mercenary taken in fair fight has as much right to be held for ransom or fair exchange as any other prisoner; and if your admiral thus breaks the laws of war, there is not a free lance, from one end of Italy to the other, but will take it up as a personal quarrel.”
The Genoese frowned at the boldness with which Francis spoke, but at heart agreed in the sentiments he expressed; for among the Genoese officers, generally, there was a feeling that this brutal execution in cold blood was an impolitic, as well as a disgraceful deed.
The officers were now placed in the fore hold of the s.h.i.+p, the crew being confined in the after hold. Soon afterwards, they knew by the motion of the vessel that sail had been put on her.
”So we are on our way to a Genoese prison, Francisco,” Matteo said. ”We had a narrow escape of it before, but this time I suppose it is our fate.”
”There is certainly no hope of rescue, Matteo. It is too early, as yet, to say whether there is any hope of escape. The prospect looked darker when I was in the hands of Ruggiero, but I managed to get away. Then I was alone and closely guarded, now we have in the s.h.i.+p well nigh two hundred friends; prisoners like ourselves, it is true, but still to be counted on. Then, too, the Genoese are no doubt so elated with their triumph, that they are hardly likely to keep a very vigilant guard over us. Altogether, I should say that the chances are in our favour. Were I sure that the Pluto is sailing alone, I should be very confident that we might retake her, but probably the fifteen captured s.h.i.+ps are sailing in company, and would at once come to the aid of their comrades here, directly they saw any signs of a conflict going on, and we could hardly hope to recapture the s.h.i.+p without making some noise over it.”
”I should think not,” Matteo agreed.
”Then again, Matteo, even if we find it impossible to get at the crew, and with them to recapture the s.h.i.+p, some chance may occur by which you and I may manage to make our escape.”
”If you say so, Francisco, I at once believe it. You got us all out of the sc.r.a.pe down at Girgenti. You got Polani's daughters out of a worse sc.r.a.pe when they were captives on San Nicolo; and got yourself out of the worst sc.r.a.pe of all when you escaped from the grip of Ruggiero Mocenigo. Therefore, when you say that there is a fair chance of escape out of this business, I look upon it as almost as good as done.”
”It is a long way from that, Matteo,” Francis laughed. ”Still, I hope we may manage it somehow. I have the greatest horror of a Genoese prison, for it is notorious that they treat their prisoners of war shamefully, and I certainly do not mean to enter one, if there is the slightest chance of avoiding it. But for today, Matteo, I shall not even begin to think about it. In the first place, my head aches with the various thumps it has had; in the second, I feel weak from loss of blood; and in the third, my wounds smart most amazingly.”
”So do mine,” Matteo agreed. ”In addition, I am hungry, for the bread they gave us this morning was not fit for dogs, although I had to eat it, as it was that or nothing.”
”And now, Matteo, I shall try to get a few hours' sleep. I did not close my eyes last night, from the pain of my wounds, but I think I might manage to drop off now.”
The motion of the vessel aided the effect of the bodily weakness that Francis was feeling, and in spite of the pain of his wounds he soon went off into a sound sleep. Once or twice he woke, but hearing no voices or movement, he supposed his companions were all asleep, and again went off, until a stream of light coming in from the opening of the hatchway thoroughly roused him. Matteo, who was lying by his side, also woke and stretched himself, and there was a general movement among the ten young men who were their comrades in misfortune.
”Here is your breakfast,” a voice from above the hatchway said, and a basket containing bread and a bucket of water was lowered by ropes.
”Breakfast!” Matteo said. ”Why, it is not two hours since we breakfasted last.”
”I suspect it is twenty-two, Matteo. We have had a very long sleep, and I feel all the better of it. Now, let us divide the liberal breakfast our captors have given us; fortunately there is just enough light coming down from those scuttles to enable us to do so fairly.”
There was a general laugh, from his comrades, at the cheerful way in which Francis spoke. Only one of them had been an officer on the Pluto. The rest were, like Matteo, volunteers of good families. There was a good deal of light-hearted jesting over their meal. When it was over, Francis said:
”Now let us hold a council of war.”