y be running
straight down upon some rocky coast."

The idea was not a pleasant one, and Francis strained his eyes, gazing
through the mist.

"What should we do if we saw land, captain?" he asked presently.

"Get out the oars, row her head round, and try to work either to the
right or left, whichever point of land seemed easiest to weather. Of
course, if it was the mainland we were being driven on there would be
no use, and we should try and row into the teeth of the gale, so as to
keep her off land as long as possible, in the hope of the wind
dropping. When we got into shallow water we should drop our anchors,
and still keep on rowing to lessen the strain upon them. If they gave,
there would be an end to the Bonito. But if, as I think, we are driving
towards Mitylene, there is a safe harbour on this side of the island,
and I shall certainly run into it. It is well sheltered and
landlocked."

Two more hours passed, and then there was a startling transformation.
The clouds broke suddenly and cleared off, as if by magic, and the sun
streamed brightly out. The wind was blowing as strong as ever, but the
change in the hue of sky and sea would at once have raised the spirits
of the tired crew, had not a long line of land been seen stretching
ahead of them at a distance of four or five miles.

"Just as I thought," the captain exclaimed as he saw it. "That is
Mitylene, sure enough, and the entrance to the harbour I spoke of lies
away there on that beam."

The oars were at once got out, the sail braced up a little, and the
Bonito made for the point indicated by the captain, who himself took
the helm.

Another half hour and they were close to land. Francis could see no
sign of a port, but in a few minutes the Bonito rounded the end of a
low island, and a passage opened before her. She passed through this
and found herself in still water, in a harbour large enough to hold the
fleet of Venice. The anchor was speedily let drop.

"It seems almost bewildering," Francis said, "the hush and quiet here
after the turmoil of the storm outside. To whom does Mitylene belong?"

"The Genoese have a trading station and a castle at the other side of
the island, but it belongs to Constantinople. The other side of the
island is rich and fertile, but this, as you see, is mountainous and
barren. The people have not a very good reputation, and if we had been
wrecked we should have been plundered, if not murdered.

"You see those two ves