Presently they heard a murmur of voices on the other side of the vessel.

Very quietly they crept towards the sound, and at length made out two figures leaning over the bulwarks, talking.
Each man's work had been settled, and there was no confusion.

One of the sailors and Francis stole towards one of the men, while the other and Matteo approached the second.

The captain stood with his sword bared, in readiness to cut down any other man who might be on deck.
The Genoese did not look round.

Francis gave the word, "Now," and in a moment the two sailors seized them from behind with a grasp of iron, while the lads at the same moment passed bandages tightly round their mouths, and before the Genoese were quite aware of what had happened, they were lying, bound hand and foot, gagged upon the deck.
The party now made a search, but found no one else about.