water, and slowly the Bonito moved towards the
mouth of the harbour. Scarcely had the oars touched the water, than a
bustle was perceived on board the piratical ships. Oars were put out,
and in two or three minutes the pirates were under way, advancing at a
rapid pace towards the Bonito.

The crew made no reply to the shouts and yells of the pirates, but, in
accordance with the orders of the captain, remained in a stooping
position, so that the figure of the captain, as he hauled up the flag
with the lion of Venice to the masthead, was alone visible to the
pirates. As these approached volleys of arrows were shot at the Bonito,
but not a shot replied until they were within fifty yards of the ship.

Then the captain gave the word. The archers sprang to their feet, and
from their eminence poured their arrows thick and fast on to the
crowded decks of the pirates. The captain gave the word to the rowers,
and they relinquished their oars, which swung in by the side of the
vessel.

A moment later two of the largest craft of the pirates dashed
alongside. The instant they did so they were saluted with showers of
boiling pitch, while pots full of Greek fire were thrown down upon
them. Those who tried to climb up the side of the Bonito were speared
with lances or cut down with battleaxes.

The combat was of short duration. Many of those on whom the boiling
pitch had fallen jumped overboard in their agony, while others did the
same to escape the Greek fire, which they in vain endeavoured to
extinguish. The fire quickly spread to the woodwork, and in five
minutes after the beginning of the fight, the two craft dropped astern
from the Bonito, with the flames already rising fiercely from them.

In the meantime the other vessels had not been idle, and a storm of
missiles was poured upon the Bonito. The fate which befell their
comrades, however, showed them how formidable was the vessel they had
regarded as an easy prey, and when the first assailants of the Bonito
dropped astern, none of the others cared to take their places.

"Man the oars again!" the captain ordered, and the Bonito again moved
forward, her crew stooping behind the bulwarks, while the archers only
rose from time to time to discharge their shafts.

"The thing I am most afraid of," the captain said to Francis, who was
standing beside him, "is, that they will ram us with their prows. The
Bonito is strongly built, but the chances are that they would knock a
hole i