nce started for the scene of the action, to destroy any pirates she
might find there or among the neighbouring islands, or in the various
inlets and bays of the mainland.

Having delivered their letters and landed a portion of their cargo for
the use of Polani's agents in the islands, the Bonito proceeded to
Cyprus. For some weeks she cruised along the coast of Syria, trading in
the various Turkish ports, for Venice, although she had shared in some
of the crusades, was now, as she had often been before, on friendly
terms with the Turks. Her interests all lay in that direction. She
carried on a large trade with them; and in the days when she lay under
the interdict of the pope, and all Europe stood aloof from her, she
drew her stores of provisions from the Moslem ports, and was thus
enabled successfully to resist the pressure which she suffered from the
interdict. She foresaw, too, the growing power of the Turks, and
perceived that in the future they would triumph over the degenerate
Greek empire at Constantinople. She had spent her blood and treasure
freely in maintaining that empire; but the weakness and profligacy of
its emperors, the intestine quarrels and disturbances which were
forever going on, and the ingratitude with which she had always treated
Venice, had completely alienated the Venetians from her. Genoa had,
indeed, for many years exercised a far more preponderating influence at
Constantinople than Venice had done.

Having completed the tour of the Syrian ports, the Bonito sailed north,
with the intention of passing the Dardanelles and Bosphorus, and
proceeding to Azoph.

When she reached the little island of Tenedos, a few miles from the
entrance to the strait, she heard news which compelled the captain to
alter his intentions. A revolution had broken out in Constantinople,
aided by the Genoese of Pera. The cruel tyrant Calojohannes the 5th had
been deposed, and his heir Andronicus, whom he had deprived of sight
and thrown into a dungeon, released and placed on the throne.

As a reward for the services she had rendered him, Andronicus issued a
decree conferring Tenedos upon Genoa. The news had just arrived when
the Bonito entered the port, and the town was in a ferment. There were
two or three Venetian warships in the harbour; but the Venetian
admiral, being without orders from home as to what part to take in such
an emergency, remained neutral. The matter was, however, an important
one, for the possess