appeared no great
difficulty in getting down. Before starting they cut three stiff
slender rods twelve feet in length. They then set to work to make the
descent. It was by no means difficult, and in a few minutes they stood
by the edge of the water.

"It is a great advantage, the path being so easy," Francis said, "for
in case they did discover the ship we could land and climb to the top
before they had time to come to shore, and once there we could keep the
whole force in those galleys at bay. Now for the main point, the depth
of the water."

Matteo shook his head.

"It is useless to take the trouble to undress, Francis," he said, as
the latter threw off his jacket. "Giuseppi can wade out to the rocks
without wetting his knees."

"Giuseppi can try if he likes," Francis said, "but I will wager he will
not get far."

Giuseppi, as convinced as Matteo of the shallowness of the water,
stepped into it, but was surprised to find that, before he had gone
many paces, the water was up to his waist.

"Well, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it," Matteo said
when he returned, "but I think he must have got into a deep hole among
the rocks. However, we shall soon see," and he too began to undress.

In a few minutes the three lads were swimming out towards the rocks
which, as Francis had anticipated, rose from twenty to thirty feet
above the level of the sea. The water deepened fast, and for the last
thirty or forty yards, they were unable to touch the bottom, even when
thrusting down their rods to the fullest depth. They then tried the
depth in the passages at the end of the rocks, and found that there was
ample water for the Lido. When they ascertained this to their
satisfaction they swam back to the shore.

"I shall believe you in future, Francis, even if you assert that the
moon is made of cheese. I could have taken an oath that there was not a
foot of water between those rocks and the shore."

"I hardly ventured to hope that it was as deep as it is," Francis said,
"but I know how deceiving clear water is, when you look down upon it
from a height. However, that point is settled."

"But they would see our masts above the rocks, Francisco. They are sure
to keep a sharp lookout as they go along."

"We must take the masts out of her," Francis said. "I don't know how it
is to be done, but the captain will know, and if that can't be managed
we must cut them down. There is no difficulty about that.

"Now we wi