rn, at last Hugh produced a piece of gold and held it
before a number of men who were watching them idly, again explaining in
French that he wished to be led to the house of the English ambassador.
The sight of the money seemed to wake their wits, for two or three of
the fellows ran forward quarrelling with each other, till one of them
getting the mastery, seized Hugh's tired horse by the bridle and dragged
it down a side street to the banks of a broad canal.

Here he called something aloud, and presently two men appeared rowing
a large, flat-bottomed punt from a dock where it was hidden. Into this
boat the horses and pack-beast were driven, much against their will.
Hugh and Dick having followed them, the three Italians began to punt
them along the canal, which was bordered with tall houses. A mile or so
farther on it entered another canal, where the houses were much finer
and built in a style of which they had never seen the like, with
beautiful and fantastic arches supported upon pillars.

At length to their great joy they came opposite to a house over the
gateway of which, stirless in the still air, hung a flag whereon were
blazoned the leopards of England. Here the boatmen, pulling in their
poles, save one to which they made the punt fast in mid-stream, showed
by their gestures that they desired to be paid. Hugh handed the piece of
gold to the man who had led them to the boat, whereon he was seized with
a fit of uncontrollable fury. He swore, he raved, he took the piece of
gold and cast it down on the bilge-boards, he spat on it and his two
companions did likewise.

"Surely they are mad," said Hugh.

"Mad or no, I like not the looks of them," answered Dick. "Have a care,
they are drawing their knives," and as he spoke one of the rogues struck
him in the face; while another strove to snatch away the pouch that hung
at his side.

Now Grey Dick awoke, as it were. To the man who had tried to take his
pouch he dealt such a buffet that he plunged into the canal. But him who
had struck him he seized by the arm and twisted it till the knife fell
from his hand. Then gripping his neck in an iron grasp he forced him
downward and rubbed his nose backward and forward upon the rough edge of
the boat, for the Italian was but as a child to him when he put out his
strength.

In vain did his victim yell for mercy. He showed him none, till at
length wearying of the game, he dealt him such a kick that he also flew
over the thwar