I am sure I do not want to be bothered with them, but we cannot land them before we leave, or they would carry the news to Girgenti in an hour, and we should be caught the first thing in the morning." It was late in the afternoon before the galley was seen returning, rowing slowly and heavily.
"I expect," the captain said, "they kept up the racing pace at which they started for some four hours.

By that time they must have been completely worn out, and no doubt they anchored and waited for some hours for the men to feed and rest themselves, for from the hurry with which they started you may be sure that they did not wait to break their fast.
"I would give a month's pay to be in that harbour this evening.

What tempers they must be in when they find, after all their toil, that we have slipped through their fingers, How they will talk the matter over, and discuss which way we went.

How the men in each ship will say that the others cannot have used their eyes or exerted themselves, else we must have been overtaken.

Messer Francisco, I am indebted to you, not only for having saved the ship, but for giving me a joke, which I shall laugh over whenever I think of it.