“Yes, and it is likely enough that they are only going out there in order that they may be quite sure that they are not followed, before striking off to the place they want to go to.  They may possibly have made us out, and guess that we are tracking them.  They would be sure to keep their eyes and ears open.”

“I can only just make them out now, Messer Francisco, and as we shall have the buildings behind us, they will not be able to see us as well as we can see them.  I think we can go now.”

“We will risk it, at any rate, Giuseppi.  I have lost sight of them already, and it will never do to let them give us the slip.”

They dipped their oars in the water, and the gondola darted out from the shore.  They had not gone fifty strokes when they heard the sound of oars close at hand.

“To the right, Giuseppi, hard!” Francis cried as he glanced over his shoulder.

A sweep with both oars brought the gondola’s head, in a moment, almost at right angles to the course that she had been pursuing; and the next sent her dancing on a new line, just as a four-oared gondola swept down upon them, missing their stern by only three or four feet.  Had they been less quick in turning, the iron prow would have cut right through their light boat.

Giuseppi burst into a torrent of vituperation at the carelessness of the gondoliers who had so nearly run into them, but Francis silenced him at once.

“Row, Giuseppi.  It was done on purpose.  It is the gondola the other spoke to.”

Their assailant was turning also, and in a few seconds was in pursuit.  Francis understood it now.  The gondola they had been following had noticed them, and had informed their friends, waiting off Saint Mark’s, of the fact.  Intent upon watching the receding boat, he had paid no further attention to the four-oared craft, which had made a turn, and lay waiting in readiness to run them down, should they follow in the track of the other boat.

Francis soon saw that the craft behind them was a fast one, and rowed by men who were first-rate gondoliers.  Fast as his own boat was flying through the water, the other gained upon them steadily.  He was heading now for the entrance to the Grand Canal, for their pursuer, in the wider sweep he had made in turning, was nearer to the Piazza than they were, and cut off their flight in that direction.

“Keep cool, Giuseppi,” he said.  “They will be up to us in a minute or two.  When their bow is within a yard or two of us, and I say, ‘Now!’ sweep her head straight round towards the lagoon.  We can turn quicker than they can.  Then let them gain upon us, and we will then turn again.”

The gondola in pursuit came up hand over hand.  Francis kept looking over his shoulder, and when he saw its bow gliding up within a few feet of her stern he exclaimed “Now!” and, with a sudden turn, the gondola again swept out seaward.

Their pursuer rushed on for a length or two before she could sweep round, while a volley of imprecations and threats burst from three men who were standing up in her with drawn swords.  Francis and Giuseppi were now rowing less strongly, and gaining breath for their next effort.  When the gondola again came up to them they swept round to the left, and as their pursuers followed they headed for the Grand Canal.