out some more daring project —­ to sack and burn towns along the coast, carry off the leading people for ransom, and fill the vessels with slaves —­ the attack being made simultaneously on several unprotected towns.  A vast amount of plunder could thus be reaped, together with captives of even greater money value.  Were this their plan, they would doubtless delay until all those who had promised to join in the expedition had arrived.  The balance of opinion, then, was that the corsairs were still in hiding.

By daybreak next morning they were moored in a sheltered little bay to the north of Madalena, the galley lying inside the prizes, so as to be concealed as much as possible from view of any craft that might happen to pass the mouth of the bay.  Fosco started as soon as darkness fell in the evening, and returned early in the morning.

“They are there,” he shouted, as he neared the galley, “hidden in a deep inlet that runs into one of the narrow bays.”

“How many are there of them?”

“Seventeen or eighteen, I could not say which.  They are all moored side by side.”

By this time Fosco’s boat had reached the galley.

“You have done well indeed,” Gervaise said, as the young knight ascended to the poop.  “Now give us a full account of what you have seen.”

“As you know, Sir Gervaise, the bay opposite this island splits up into two, running a long way inland, like the fangs of a great tooth.  I had, of course, no difficulty in finding the entrance to the bay itself, as it is but a short distance across the strait.  I steered first for the left hand shore, and kept close along under the shadow of the cliffs, which, in many cases, rise almost straight out from the water.  We rowed very quietly, fearing to run against a rock; for although it was light enough to see across the water, and to make out any craft that might be anchored there, it was very dark along the foot of the cliffs.  There was no need for haste, as I knew I had plenty of time to explore both arms of the bay, and to be back here before day began to break.

“We rowed up to the end of the inlet, and then, having assured ourselves that it was empty, came down the other side, and turned up the western arm.  We had got some distance along when I fancied I heard voices, and so let the boat drift along, only dipping the oars in the water occasionally.  I could make out no signs whatever of the corsairs, when suddenly we came upon a break in the cliffs.  It was only some fifty yards across, and here a creek came in at right angles to the shore.  I could have given a shout of pleasure as I looked up it, for there a score of lights were burning above a dark mass, and we could hear the sound of talking and laughter.  It was but a glimpse I caught, for the men at once backed water, and we were soon round the corner again.