“None at all,” Francis replied.  “I simply want to assure myself that the galleys are all in their usual places, and that the Genoese are making no special preparations against our coming.”

“I have seen no unusual stir,” Rufino said.  “Their ships, as far as one can see their masts, seem all in their usual position.  I fancy that, since Barberigo carried off two of them, they have put booms across the channels to prevent sudden attacks.  I saw a lot of rowboats busy about something, but I could not make out exactly what they were doing; but still, I fancy they were constructing a boom.  Their galleys keep a sharp lookout at night, and you certainly would not have succeeded in passing them, had you not hit upon this plan of carrying your boat over.

“Your greatest danger will be at first.  When once you have fairly entered the inner canals, you are not likely to be suspected of being an enemy.  They will take you for Chioggian fishermen late.  We often make out their returning boats near the town.  No doubt Doria is fond of fresh fish.  Otherwise you would be detected, for the Genoese boats are, of course, quite different to ours, and even in the dark they would make out that you belonged to the lagoons.

“Ah, here is supper!  It is not often that I should have anything to offer you, but one of my men managed to catch three or four fish today, and sold them to me at about their weight in silver.  However, I have some good wine from my own cellars, and a man who has good wine, fish, and bread can do royally, whatever this grumbling brother of mine may say.”

Half an hour later, a soldier brought the news that the gondola was in the water, and Francis bade adieu to his friends, and started at once.

“Row slowly and quietly,” he said, as he took his seat.  “Do not let your oars make the slightest splash in the water, until we are well across to the opposite shore.  They may have a guard boat lying in the channel.”

The light craft made her way noiselessly across the water.  Once or twice they heard the sound of oars, as some Genoese galley passed up or down, but none came near enough to perceive them, and they crossed the main channel, and entered one of the numerous passages practicable only for boats of very light draught, without being once hailed.  A broad shallow tract of water was now crossed, passable only by craft drawing but a few inches of water; then again they were in a deeper channel, and the lights of Chioggia rose but a short distance ahead.

They paused and listened, now, for they were nearing the ship channel, and here the enemy would, if anywhere, be on the alert.  Coming across the water they could hear the sound of voices, and the dull noise made by the movement of men in a boat.

“Those are the galleys watching the boom, I expect,” Francis said.

“Now, Philippo, we can move on.  I suppose there is plenty of water, across the flats, for us to get into the channel without going near the boom.”