ck in good order to our boats,
and take to our ships, and then either return to Venice, or sail out
and give battle, as it may be decided."

The boats, before starting, had been told to hoist white flags should
the galleys be Venetian, but to show no signal if they were Genoese.
The boats were watched, from the mastheads, until they became specks in
the distance. An hour afterwards, the lookout signalled to those on
shore that they were returning.

"Go off again, Francisco. I must remain here to keep up the men's
hearts, if the news be bad. Take your stand on the poop of my ship, and
the moment the lookouts can say, with certainty, whether the boats
carry a white flag or not, hoist the Lion of Saint Mark to the
masthead, if it be Zeno. If not, run up a blue flag!"

Chapter 20: The Triumph Of Venice.

Francis rowed off to the ship, got the flags in readiness for hoisting,
and stood with the lines in his hand.

"Can you make them out, yet?" he hailed the men at the mastheads.

"They are mere specks yet, signor," the man at the foremast said.

The other did not reply at once, but presently he shouted down:

"Far as they are away, signor, I am almost sure that one or two of
them, at least, have something white flying."

There was a murmur of joy from the men on the deck, for Jacopo Zippo
was famous for his keenness of sight.

"Silence, men!" Francis said. "Do not let a man shout, or wave his cap,
till we are absolutely certain. Remember the agony with which those on
shore are watching us, and the awful disappointment it would be, were
their hopes raised only to be crushed, afterwards."

Another ten minutes, and Jacopo slid rapidly down by the stays, and
stood on the deck with bared head.

"God be praised, signor! I have no longer a doubt. I can tell you, for
certain, that white flags are flying from these boats."

"God be praised!" Francis replied.

"Now, up with the Lion!"

The flag was bent to the halyards and Francis hoisted it. As it rose
above the bulwark, Pisani, who was standing on a hillock of sand,
shouted out at the top of his voice:

"It is Zeno's fleet!"

A shout of joy broke from the troops. Cheer after cheer rent the air,
from ship and shore, and then the wildest excitement reigned. Some fell
on their knees, to thank God for the rescue thus sent when all seemed
lost. Others stood with clasped hands, and streaming eyes, looking
towards heaven. Some danced and shouted. Some wept with j