At seven o’clock all was in readiness for a start.  Signor Polani set out alone in his gondola, and picked up Francis, and four men, at a secluded spot some distance from the house.  A messenger had been sent, two hours before, to the captain of one of the merchant ships lying in the port.  He at once put ten men into a large boat, and rowed down to within half a mile of the island.  Here a grapnel was thrown overboard, most of the men lay down in the bottom, and the captain, according to his instructions, kept a sharp lookout to see that no boat left San Nicolo—­his instructions being to overhaul any boat coming out, and to see that no one was concealed on board it.

There he remained until Polani’s gondola rowed past him.  After it had gone a few hundred yards, the grapnel was got up, the men took to their oars and followed the gondola, keeping so far behind that it would not seem there was any connection between them.

Francis made for the narrow channel which separated San Nicolo from the next island, and then directed the gondola to be run ashore, where a low sand hill, close by, hid them from the sight of anyone on the lookout.  A few minutes later the ship’s boat arrived.

Francis now led the way direct for the hut, accompanied by Polani and six men, while four sailors advanced, at a distance of a hundred yards on either flank, to cut off anyone making for the water.

“We may as well go fast,” he said, “for we can scarcely get there without being seen by a lookout, should there be one on the sand hills, and the distance is so short that there will be no possibility of their carrying your daughters off, before we get there.”

“The faster the better,” the merchant said.  “This suspense is terrible.”

Accordingly, the party started at a brisk run.  Francis kept his eyes on the spot where he believed the hut lay.

“I see no one anywhere near there,” he said, as they came over one of the sand ridges.  “Had there been anyone on the watch I think we should see him now.”

On they ran, until, passing over one of the sand hills, Francis came to a standstill.  The hut lay in the hollow below them.

“There is the house, signor.  Now we shall soon know.”

They dashed down the short slope, and gathered round the door.

“Within there, open!” the merchant shouted, hammering with the hilt of his sword on the door.

All was silent within.

“Break it down!” he said; and two of the sailors, who had brought axes with them, began to hew away at the door.

A few blows, and it suddenly opened, and two men dressed as fishermen appeared in the doorway.

“What means this attack upon the house of quiet people?” they demanded.

“Bind them securely,” Polani said, as he rushed in, followed closely by Francis, while those who followed seized the men.

Polani paused as he crossed the threshold, with a cry of disappointment—­the hut was empty.  Francis was almost equally disappointed.