The people thronged up to the governor’s house with shouts of “Down with Genoa!” The governor, being unsupported by any Greek or Genoese troops, bowed to the popular will, and declared that he did not recognize the revolution that had taken place in Constantinople, and refused to submit to the decree of Andronicus.  Donato Trono, a Venetian merchant resident in the island, and other Venetians, harangued the people, and pointed out to them that alone they could not hope to resist the united forces of Greece and Genoa, and that their only hope of safety lay in placing themselves under the protection of Venice.  The people, seeing the justice of the arguments of the Venetians, and preferring the Venetian rule to that of Genoa, agreed to the proposal.  The banner of St. Mark was raised amid great enthusiasm, and the island declared subject to Venice.

A Genoese galley in port immediately set sail, and quickly carried the news to Constantinople, where the emperor at once threw the whole of the Venetian residents into prison.  As soon as the news of this reached Tenedos the captain of the Bonito held a consultation with Francis.

“It is evident, Messer Francisco, that we cannot proceed upon our northward voyage.  We should be captured and held at Constantinople; and, even did we succeed in passing at night, we should fall into the hands of the Genoese—­who are far stronger in the Black Sea than we are—­for if Venice accepts the offer of the people of this place, and takes possession of the island, Genoa is sure to declare war.

“I think, then, that we had better make our way back to Venice with what cargo we have on board, and there get fresh orders from the padrone.  We have not done badly so far, and it is better to make sure of what we have got than to risk its loss, for at any day we may fall in with the Genoese fleet sailing hither.”

Francis quite agreed with the captain’s opinion, and the Bonito sailed for the south.  They touched, on their way, at several islands, and the news that an early outbreak of hostilities between Genoa and Venice was probable—­in which case there would be an almost complete cessation of trade—­produced so strong a desire, on the part of the islanders, to lay in a store of goods, that the captain was able to dispose of the rest of his cargo on good terms, and to fill up his ship with the produce of the islands.

Thus the Bonito was deep in the water when she re-entered the port of Venice after an absence of about three months.  As soon as the anchor was dropped the captain, accompanied by Francis, hired a gondola, and rowed into the city to give an account to Signor Polani of the success of his voyage, and to lay before him a list of the cargo with which the Bonito was laden.  The merchant received them with great cordiality, and embraced Francis with the affection of a father.

“Do you go at once into the salon, Francisco.  You will find my daughters expecting you there, for the news came an hour ago that the Bonito was entering port.  Of course, we heard from the letters from Candia of your adventures with the pirates, and the gallant way in which the Bonito defeated them.