The sails had been taken off the mainmast, but that on the foremast was dragging the Lido through the water at a good rate of speed, and before night they were off Cape Spartivento.

The wind held till next morning, when they were abreast of the Gulf of Taranto.

Then came a long spell of calms or baffling winds, and it was a fortnight before the campaniles of Venice were seen rising apparently from the water.
"I have been anxious about you," Signor Polani said when Francis arrived.

"One of our galleys brought the report that a Genoese fleet was cruising on the coast of Sicily, and as, although war had not yet been openly declared, both parties were making prizes, I was afraid that they might have snapped you up." "They did snap us up," Francis said smiling.

"They caught us in the port of Girgenti, and the standard of Genoa waved over the Lido." "But how can that be," Polani said, "when you have returned in her?
For she was signalled as approaching the port hours ago.