The country was open, with few walls or fences; therefore on leaving the road he was able to run rapidly forwards, and in a few minutes knew that he must be ahead of the pirates.

Then he again changed his course so as to strike the road he had left.
After running for about a mile he saw a light ahead of him, and soon arrived at a cottage.

He knocked at the door, and then entered.

The occupants of the room--a man and woman, a lad, and several children--rose to their feet at the sudden entrance of the stranger.
"Good people," Francis said.

"I have just landed from a ship, and am the bearer of important messages to the Signoras Polani.