The cable was then cut.  One of the sailors had already ascended the shrouds, and poured oil over the blocks through which the halyards ran, so that the sails should ascend noiselessly.  The wind was very light, scarcely enough to belly out the sails, but it was fortunately in the right direction, and the Lido began to steal through the water.

Not a word had been spoken since they first started, but Francis now whispered to the captain, “I think I can make out the Genoese ships.”

“So can I,” the captain said, “but they cannot see us.  They are against the skyline, while we are in the shadow of the shore.  So far all is perfectly safe, and if this breath of wind will but carry us far enough out to be able to use our oars without their hearing us, we shall certainly get away.”

The progress of the Lido was so slow, that it was nearly an hour before the captain said that he thought they were now fairly round the point of the bay, and could use their oars.

“We had better tow,” he said; “the sweeps make a noise that can be heard miles away on a calm night like this, whereas, if they are careful, men in a boat can row almost noiselessly.”

Ten of the men accordingly took their places in one of the large boats in which they had come on board, and a rope being passed down to them they began rowing at the head of the ship.

“We may as well lower the sails,” the captain said, “they are doing no good now.  Indeed I think it is a current rather than the wind that has helped us so far.”

“I will put two lanterns over the side,” Francis said.  “We may have gone farther than we think, and it would never do to pass our hiding place.”

The men in the boat rowed vigorously, but it was slow work towing the deeply-laden vessel.  At last, however, a light burst suddenly up from the shore.

“There is Giuseppi,” Francis exclaimed.  “We are further out than we thought we were.  He must be fully a mile and a half away.”

The men in the boat were told to row direct for the light, and some of the sweeps were got out and helped the vessel through the water.  As they drew near, they could make out Giuseppi throwing fresh wood on the fire.

“You can steer within ten yards of where he is standing, captain, and directly you are abreast of him, put your helm hard to port.  You had better get the sweeps in now, the less way she has on her the better.”

“All well?” Giuseppi hailed, as they came within fifty yards of it.

“All well, Giuseppi!  There has been no fighting, so you have lost nothing.  Put all your wood on the fire, we want as much light as we can to get in.”

The flames shot up high, and the captain had no difficulty in rounding the corner of the rocks, and bringing up his vessel behind them.  A kedge was dropped, and the men in the boat rowed to the end of the rocks, and brought off Giuseppi.

“I was beginning to be anxious,” the lad said, as he joined them on deck, “and when I first saw your signal I took you for a fishing boat.  You were so far off that the two lights looked like one, but by dint of gazing I made them out at last, and then lit the fire.”