“You are quite right,” Polani said, rising at once.  “We will go on without a moment’s delay!  The girls can follow slowly under the escort of the servants.”

“Oh, papa,” Maria exclaimed, “you are not going to take Francisco away till we have heard his story!  Can you not send forward the servants with a message to the governor?”

“No, my dear.  The governor will have gone to bed, and the servants might not be able to obtain admittance to him.  I must go myself.  It is for your sakes, as well as for my own.  We shall never feel a moment’s safety, as long as this villain is at large.  Francisco’s story will keep till tomorrow.

“As to your gratitude and mine, that needs no telling.  He cannot but know what we are feeling, at the thought of the almost miraculous escape you have had from falling into the hands of your persecutor.

“Now come along, Francisco.

“One of you men who knows the road had better come with us.  Do the rest of you all keep together.

“Two miles further, girls, as you know, is a villa of Carlo Maffene.  If you feel tired, you had best stop and ask for shelter there.  There is no fear that the pirates will extend their ravages so far.  They will keep on the side of the island where they landed, so as to be able to return with their booty before daybreak to the ship.”

Chapter 14:  The End Of The Persecutor.

Signor Polani was so well known, that upon his arrival at the governor’s house the domestics, upon being aroused, did not hesitate to awaken the governor at once.  The latter, as soon as he heard that the pirates had landed and were devastating the other side of the island, and that their ship was lying close in to the coast under the charge of a few sailors only, at once despatched a messenger to the commander of the galleys; ordering them to arouse the crews and make ready to put out to sea instantly.  He added that he, himself, should follow his messenger on board in a few minutes, and should accompany them.  He then issued orders that the bell should toll to summon the inhabitants to arms; and directed an officer to take the command, and to start with them at once across the island, and to fall upon the pirates while engaged in their work of pillage.  They were to take a party with them with litters to carry Polani’s daughters to the town, and an apartment was to be assigned to them in his palace, until his return.

While he was issuing this order, refreshments had been placed upon the table, and he pressed Polani and his companions to partake of these before starting.

Francis needed no second invitation.  He had been too excited, at the news he had heard on board the ship, to think of eating; and he now remembered that it was a good many hours since he had taken his last meal.  He was but a few minutes, however, in satisfying his hunger.  By the time he had finished, the governor had seen that his orders had been carried out.