“It is all put down to pirates; but trust me, the Genoese are often at the bottom of it.  They are robbers, the Genoese.  In fair trade we can always beat them, and they know it, and so they are always seeking a pretext for a quarrel with us.”

Francis smiled quietly at the bigoted hatred which the captain bore the Genoese, but thought it useless to argue with him.  The next morning he came up on deck soon after daybreak.

“I see one of those vessels has taken her departure,” he said, as he glanced towards the spot where they had been lying.

“So she has,” the captain said.  “I had not noticed that before.  I wonder what that fellow has gone for?  No good, you may be sure.  Why, it is blowing hard outside still, as you may see by the rate those light clouds travel.  He would never have put to sea without having a motive, and he must have had a strong crew on board, to row out in the teeth of the gale far enough to make off the land.  That fellow is up to mischief of some sort.”

A few minutes later the captain ordered a boat to be lowered, and rowed out to the rocky islet at the mouth of the harbour, and landing, climbed up the rocks and looked out to sea.  In half an hour he returned to the ship.

“It is no use,” he said to Francis.  “The wind is blowing straight into the passage, and we could not row the Bonito out against it.  It was different with that craft that went out yesterday evening, for I have no doubt she started as soon as it became dark.  She was low in the water, and would not hold the wind; besides, no doubt they lowered the masts, and with a strong crew might well have swept her out.  But with the Bonito, with her high sides and heavy tonnage, it could not be done.”

“What do you think she went out for, captain?”

“It is likely enough that she may have gone to one of the other islands, and may return with a dozen other craft, pirates like herself.  The news that a Venetian merchant ship, without consorts, is weather bound here, would bring them upon us like bees.

“It is a dangerous thing, this sailing alone.  I have talked it over several times with the master.  Other merchants generally send their ships in companies of eight or ten, and they are then strong enough to beat off any attack of pirates.  Messer Polani always sends his vessels out singly.  What he says is this:  ’A single ship always travels faster than a convoy, because these must go at the rate of the slowest among them.  Then the captain is free to go where he will, without consulting others, according as he gets news where trade is to be done, and when he gets there he can drive his own bargains without the competition of other ships.

“So you see there are advantages both ways.  The padrone’s ships run greater risks, but, if they get through them safely, they bring home much larger profits than do those of others.  As a rule, I prefer sailing singly; but just at the present time I should be well pleased to see half a dozen consorts lying alongside.”