useppi, what do you think of this?"

"I don't know what to think yet, Messer Francisco. It all seems so big
and solid one does not feel as if one was on the water. It's more like
living in a house. It does not seem as if anything could move her."

"You will find the waves can move her about when we get fairly to sea,
Giuseppi, and the time will come when you will think our fast gondola
was a steady craft in comparison. How long have you been on board?"

"I came off three hours ago, signor, with the boat that brought the
furniture for your cabin. I have been putting that to rights since. A
supply of the best wine has been sent off, and extra stores of all
sorts, so you need not be afraid of being starved on the voyage."

"I wish he hadn't sent so much," Francis said. "It makes one feel like
a milksop. Whose cabin is it I have got?"

"I believe that it is the cabin usually used by the supercargo, who is
in charge of the goods and does the trading, but the men say the
captain of this ship has been a great many years in Polani's
employment, and often sails without a supercargo, being able to manage
the trading perfectly well by himself. But the usual cabin is only half
the size of yours, and two have been thrown into one to make it light
and airy."

"And where do you sleep, Giuseppi?"

"I am going to sleep in the passage outside your door, Messer
Francisco."

"Oh, but I sha'n't like that!" Francis said. "You ought to have a
better place than that."

Giuseppi laughed.

"Why, Messer Francisco, considering that half my time I slept in the
gondola, and the other half on some straw in our kitchen, I shall do
capitally. Of course I could sleep in the fo'castle with the crew if I
liked, but I should find it hot and stifling there. I chose the place
myself, and asked the captain if I could sleep there, and he has given
me leave."

In an hour the Bonito had passed through the Malamocco Channel, and was
out on the broad sea. The wind was very light, and but just sufficient
to keep the great sails bellied out. The sailors were all at work,
coiling down ropes, washing the decks, and making everything clean and
tidy.

"This is a good start, Messer Hammond," the captain said, coming up to
him. "If this wind holds, we shall be able to make our course round the
southern point of Greece, and then on to Candia, which is our first
port. I always like a light breeze when I first go out of port, it
gives time for everyone to get