The doge announced the decision.
"The council thank you for your suggestion, Signor Polani, and have resolved, by a majority, to confer upon Messer Francisco Hammond the high honour of placing his name upon the list of the citizens of Venice, without requiring from him the oaths of allegiance to the state. As such an honour has never before been conferred, save upon personages of the highest rank, it will be a proof of the gratitude4 which Venice feels towards one who has done her such distinguished5 service. The decree to that effect will be published tomorrow."
The merchant retired6, highly gratified. The honour was a great and signal one, and the material advantages considerable. The fact that Francis was a foreigner had been the sole obstacle which had presented itself to him, in associating him with his business, for it would prevent Francis from trading personally with any of the countries in which Venetian citizens enjoyed special advantages.
Francis was immensely gratified, when he heard from the merchant of the honour to be conferred upon him. It was of all others the reward he would have selected, had a free choice been given him, but it was so great and unusual an honour, that he could indeed scarcely credit it when the merchant told him the result of his interviews with the council. The difficulty which his being a foreigner would throw in the way of his career as a merchant in Eastern waters, had been frequently in his mind, and would, he foresaw, greatly lessen7 his usefulness, but that he should be able to obtain naturalization, without renouncing8 his allegiance to England, he had never even hoped.
"It is a very high honour, doubtless," Polani said, "but no whit9 higher than you deserve. Besides, after all, it costs Venice nothing, and money is scarce at present. At any rate, I can congratulate myself as well as you, for I foresaw many difficulties in our way. Although the ships carrying the Venetian flag could enter the ports of all countries trading with us, you would personally be liable to arrest, at any time, on being denounced as not being a native of Venice, which you assuredly would be by my rivals in trade."
The next day a bulletin was published, giving the substance of Pisani's despatch10, and announcing that, in token of the gratitude of the republic for the great service he had rendered, Messer Hammond would be at once granted the freedom of Venice, and his name inserted on the list of her citizens.
During these two days the delight of Venice at the news of the victory had been extreme. The houses had been decorated with flags, and the bells of all the churches had peeled out joyously11. Crowds assembled round the Polani Palace, and insisted upon Francis making his appearance, when they greeted him with tremendous shouts of applause. Upon the evening of the second day he said to Polani:
"Have you any ship fit for sea, signor, because if so, I pray you to send me away, no matter where. I cannot stand this. Since the decree was published, this morning, I have not had a moment's peace, and it is too absurd, when I did no more than any sailor on board the ship. If it went on, I should very soon be heartily13 sorry I ever interfered15 on behalf of the admiral."
The merchant smiled.
"I have half promised to take you with me to the reception at the Persanis' this evening, and have had a dozen requests of a similar nature for every night this week and next."
"Then, if you have no ship ready, signor, I will charter a fishing boat, engage a couple of men, and go off for a fortnight. By the end of that time something fresh will have happened."
"I can send you off, if you really wish it, Francisco, the first thing tomorrow morning. I am despatching a small craft with a message to my agent in Corfu, and with letters for my daughters. They will be delighted to see you, and indeed, I shall be glad to know that you are with them, until I can wind up several affairs which I have in hand, and join them myself. She is fast, and you should be at Corfu in eight-and-forty hours after sailing."
Francis gladly embraced the offer, and started the next morning. The vessel16 was a small one, designed either to sail or row. Her crew consisted of twenty men, who rowed sixteen sweeps when the wind was light or unfavourable. She was an open boat, except that she was decked at each end, a small cabin being formed aft for the captain, and any passengers there might be on board, while the crew stowed themselves in the little forecastle.
When the boat was halfway17 across, a sail was seen approaching, and the captain recognized her as one of Polani's vessels18.
"In that case," Francis said, "we may as well direct our course so as to pass them within hailing distance. When you approach them, hoist19 the Polani flag, and signal to them to lay to."
This was done, and the two craft brought up within thirty yards of each other. The captain appeared at the side of the vessel, and doffed20 his cap when he recognized Francis.
"Have you any news from the East?" the latter asked.
"But little, signor. A few Genoese pirates are among the islands, and are reported to have made some captures, but I have seen none. There is nothing new from Constantinople. No fresh attempt has been made by the emperor to recapture Tenedos."
"Did you touch at Corfu on your way back?"
"I left there yesterday, signor. A strange craft has been reported as having been seen on the coast. She carries no flag, but from her appearance she is judged to be a Moor21."
"But we are at peace with the Moors22," Francis said, "and it is years since they ventured on any depredations23, excepting on their own waters."
"That is so, signor, and I only tell you what was the report at Corfu. She appeared to be a swift craft, rowing a great many oars25. Her movements certainly seem mysterious, as she has several times appeared off the coast. Two vessels which sailed from Cyprus, and were to have touched at Corfu, had not arrived there when I left, and they say that several others are overdue26. I do not say that has anything to do with the strange galley27, but it is the general opinion in Corfu that it has something to do with it, and I am the bearer of letters from the governor to the seignory, praying that two or three war ships may at once be sent down to the island."
"It looks strange, certainly," Francis said; "but I cannot believe that any Moorish28 pirates would be so daring as to come up into Venetian waters."
"I should not have thought so either, signor; but it may be that, knowing there is war between Venice and Genoa, and that the state galleys29 of the republics, instead of being scattered30 over the seas, are now collected in fleets, and thinking only of fighting each other, they might consider it a good opportunity for picking prizes."
"It is a good opportunity, certainly," Francis said; "but they would know that Venice would, sooner or later, reckon with them; and would demand a four-fold indemnity31 for any losses her merchants may have suffered.
"However, I will not detain you longer. Will you tell Signor Polani that you met us, and that we were making good progress, and hoped to reach Corfu some time tomorrow?"
"This is a curious thing about this galley," the captain of the boat said to Francis, as the men again dipped their oars into the water, and the boat once more proceeded on the way.
"It is much more likely to be a Genoese pirate than a Moor," Francis said. "They may have purposely altered their rig a little, in order to deceive vessels who may sight them. It is very many years since any Moorish craft have been bold enough to commit acts of piracy32 on this side of Sicily. However, we must hope that we shall not fall in with her, and if we see anything answering to her description we will give it a wide berth33. Besides, it is hardly likely they would interfere14 with so small a craft as ours, for they would be sure we should be carrying no cargo34 of any great value."
"Twenty Christian35 slaves would fetch money among the Moors," the captain said. "Let us hope we shall see nothing of them; for we should have no chance of resistance against such a craft, and she would go two feet to our one."
The next morning Francis was aroused by a hurried summons from the captain. Half awake, and wondering what could be the cause of the call, for the boat lay motionless on the water, he hurried out from the little cabin. Day had just broken, the sky was aglow36 with ruddy light in the east.
"Look there, signor!" the captain said, pointing to the south. "The watch made them out a quarter of an hour since, but, thinking nothing of it, they did not call me. What do you think of that?"
Two vessels were lying in close proximity37 to each other, at a distance of about two miles from the boat. One of them was a large trader, the other was a long galley rigged quite differently to those of either Venice or Genoa.
"That is the craft they were speaking of," the captain said. "There is no mistaking her. She may be an Egyptian or a Moor, but certainly she comes from the African coast."
"Or is got up in African fashion," Francis said. "She may be, as we agreed yesterday, a Genoese masquerading in that fashion, in order to be able to approach our traders without their suspicions being aroused. She looks as if she has made a captive of that vessel. I imagine she must have come up to her late yesterday evening, and has been at work all night stripping her. I hope she is too busy to attend to us."
The sail had been lowered the instant the captain caught sight of the vessels, for there was scarcely enough wind to fill it, and the men were now rowing steadily38.
"I do not think she could have taken much of her cargo out. She is very deep in the water."
"Very deep," Francis agreed. "She seems to me to be deeper than she did three minutes ago."
"She is a great deal deeper than when we first caught sight of her," one of the sailors said. "She stood much higher in the water than the galley did, and now, if anything, the galley stands highest."
"See!" the captain exclaimed suddenly, "the galley is rowing her oars on the port bow, and bringing her head round. She has noticed us, and is going to chase us! We have seen too much.
"Row, men--it is for life! If they overtake us it is a question between death, and slavery among the Moors."
A sudden exclamation39 from one of the men caused the captain to glance round again at the galley. She was alone now on the water--the trader had sunk!
"Do you take the helm, signor," the captain said. "All hands will help at the oars."
Some of the oars were double banked, and beneath the strength of the twenty men, the boat moved fast through the water. The galley was now rowing all her oars, and in full pursuit. For a quarter of an hour not a word was spoken. Every man on board was doing his utmost. Francis had glanced backwards40 several times, and at the end of a quarter of an hour, he could see that the distance between the boat and her pursuer had distinctly lessened41.
"Is she gaining on us?" the captain asked, for the cabin in the stern hid the galley from the sight of the oarsmen.
"She is gaining," Francis said quietly, "but not rapidly. Row steadily, my lads, and do not despair. When they find how slowly they gain, they may give up the chase and think us not worth the trouble.
"Jacopo," he said to an old sailor who was rowing in the bow, and who already was getting exhausted42 from the exertion43, "do you lay in your oar12 and come aft. I will take your place."
At the end of an hour the galley was little more than a quarter of a mile away.
"We had better stop," the captain said. "We have no chance of getting away, and the longer the chase the more furious they will be. What do you think, signor?"
"I agree with you," Francis replied. "We have done all that we could. There is no use in rowing longer."
The oars fell motionless in the water, and a few minutes later the long galley came rushing up by their side.
"A fine row you have given us, you dogs!" a man shouted angrily as she came alongside. "If you haven't something on board that will pay us for the chase we have had, it will be the worse for you. What boat is that?"
"It is the Naxos, and belongs to Messer Polani of Venice. We are bound to Corfu, and bear letters from the padrone to his agent there. We have no cargo on board."
"The letters, perhaps, may be worth more than any cargo such a boat would carry. So come on board, and let us see what the excellent Polani says to his agent. Now, make haste all of you, or it will be the worse for you."
It was useless hesitating. The captain, Francis, and the crew stepped on board the galley.
"Just look round her," the captain said to one of his sailors. "If there is anything worth taking, take it, and then knock a hole in her bottom with your axe44."
Francis, as he stepped on board the galley, looked round at the crew. They were not Genoese, as he had expected, but a mixture of ruffians from all the ports in the Mediterranean45, as he saw at once by their costumes. Some were Greeks from the islands, some Smyrniots, Moors, and Spaniards; but the Moors predominated, nearly half the crew belonging to that race.
Then he looked at the captain, who was eagerly perusing46 the documents the captain had handed him. As his eye fell upon him, Francis started, for he recognized at once the man whose designs he had twice thwarted47, Ruggiero Mocenigo, and felt that he was in deadly peril48.
After reading the merchant's communication to his agent, Ruggiero opened the letter addressed to Maria. He had read but a few lines when he suddenly looked up, and then, with an expression of savage49 pleasure in his face, stepped up to Francis.
"So, Messer Hammond, the good Polani sends you to stay for a while with his daughters! Truly, when I set out in chase this morning of that wretched rowboat, I little deemed that she carried a prize that I valued more than a loaded caravel! It is to you I owe it that I am an exile, instead of being the honoured son-in-law of the wealthy Polani. It was your accursed interference that brought all my misfortunes upon me; but thank Heaven my vengeance50 has come at last!
"Take them all below," he said, turning to his men. "Put the heaviest irons you have got on this fellow, and fasten them with staples51 into the deck.
"You thought I was going to hang you, or throw you overboard," he went on, turning to Francis. "Do not flatter yourself that your death will be so easy a one--you shall suffer a thousand torments52 before you die!"
Francis had not spoken a word since Ruggiero first turned to him, but had stood with a tranquil53 and almost contemptuous expression upon his face; but every nerve and muscle of his body were strained, and in readiness to spring into action. He had expected that Ruggiero would at once attack him, and was determined54 to leap upon him, and to sell his life as dearly as possible.
The sailors seized Francis and his companions, and thrust them down into the hold, which was already crowded with upwards55 of a hundred captives. He was chained with heavy manacles. In obedience56 to Ruggiero's orders, staples were driven through the links of his chain deep into the deck, so that he was forced to remain in a sitting or lying posture57. The captain of the Naxos came and sat beside him.
"Who is this pirate captain, Messer Francisco, who thus knows and has an enmity against you? By his speech he is surely a Venetian. And yet, how comes a Venetian in command of a pirate?"
"That man is Ruggiero Mocenigo--the same who twice attempted to carry off Messer Polani's daughters. The second time he succeeded, and would have been tried for the offence by the state had he not, aided by a band of Paduans, escaped from the keeping of his guard."
"Of course I heard of it, signor. I was away at sea at the time, but I heard how you came up at the moment when the padrone's gondoliers had been overcome, and rescued his daughters. And this is that villain58 Mocenigo, a disgrace to his name and family!"
"Remember the name, captain, and tell it to each of your men, so that if they ever escape from this slavery, into which, no doubt, he intends to sell you, they may tell it in Venice that Ruggiero Mocenigo is a pirate, and an ally of the Moors. As for me, there is, I think, but small chance of escape; but at any rate, if you ever reach Venice, you will be able to tell the padrone how it was that we never arrived at Corfu, and how I fell into the hands of his old enemy. Still, I do not despair that I may carry the message myself. There is many a slip between the cup and the lip, and Mocenigo may have cause, yet, to regret that he did not make an end of me as soon as he got me into his hands."
"It may be so," the captain said, "and indeed I cannot think that so brave a young gentleman is destined59 to die, miserably60, at the hands of such a scoundrel as this man has shown himself to be. As for death, did it come but speedily and sharply, I would far sooner die than live a Moorish slave. Santa Maria, how they will wonder at home, when the days go on, and the Naxos does not return, and how at last they will give up all hope, thinking that she has gone down in a sudden squall, and never dreaming that we are sold as slaves to the Moors by a countryman!"
"Keep up your heart, captain. Be sure that when the war with Genoa is over, Venice will take the matter in hand. As you know, a vessel has already carried tidings thither61 of the depredation24 of a Moorish cruiser, and she will take vengeance on the Moors, and may even force them to liberate62 the captives they have taken; and besides, you may be sure that the padrone, when he hears of the Moorish galley, and finds we never reached Corfu although the weather continued fine, will guess that we have fallen into her hands, and will never rest till he finds where we have been taken, and will ransom63 those who survive at whatever price they may put upon them."
"He will do his best, I know. He is a good master to serve. But once a prisoner among the Moors, the hope of one's ever being heard of again is slight. Sometimes, of course, men have been ransomed64; but most, as I have heard, can never be found by their friends, however ready they may be to pay any ransom that might be asked. It just depends whether they are sold to a Moor living in a seaport65 or not. If they are, there would be no great difficulty in hearing of them, but if they are sold into the interior, no inquiries66 are ever likely to discover them."
"You must hope for the best," Francis said. "Chances of escape may occur, and I have heard that Christian captives, who have been released, say that the Moors are for the most part kind masters."
"I have heard so, too," the captain said; "and anyhow, I would rather be a Moorish slave than lie in a Genoese dungeon67. The Genoese are not like us. When we take prisoners we treat them fairly and honourably68, while they treat their prisoners worse than dogs. I wish I could do something for you, Messer Francisco. Your case is a deal worse than ours.
"Listen, they are quarrelling up on deck!"
There was indeed a sound of men in hot dispute, a trampling69 of feet, a clash of steel, and the sound of bodies falling.
"It is not possible that one of our cruisers can have come up, and is boarding the pirate," the captain said, "for no sail was in sight when we were brought here. I looked round the last thing before I left the deck. What can they be fighting about?"
"Likely enough, as to their course. They have probably, from what we heard, taken and sunk several ships, and some may be in favour of returning to dispose of their booty, while others may be for cruising longer. I only hope that scoundrel Ruggiero is among those we heard fall. They are quiet now, and one party or the other has evidently got the best of it. There, they are taking to the oars again."
Several days passed. Sometimes the oars were heard going, but generally the galley was under sail. The sailors brought down food and water, morning and evening, but paid no other attention to the captives. Francis discussed, with some of the other prisoners, the chances of making a sudden rush on to the deck, and overpowering the crew; but all their arms had been taken from them, and the galley, they calculated, contained fully a hundred and fifty men. They noticed, too, when the sailors brought down the food, a party armed and in readiness were assembled round the hatchway.
At all other times the hatchway was nearly closed, being only left sufficiently70 open to allow a certain amount of air to pass down into the hold, and by the steady tramp of steps, up and down, they knew that two sentries71 were also on guard above. Most of the prisoners were so overcome with the misfortune which had befallen them, and the prospect72 of a life in hopeless slavery, that they had no spirit to attempt any enterprise whatever, and there was nothing to do but to wait the termination of the voyage.
At the end of six days there was a bustle73 on deck, and the chain of the anchor was heard to run out. Two or three hours afterwards the hatchway was taken off. When the rest had ascended74, two men came below with hammers, and drew the staples which fastened Francis to the deck.
On going up, he was at first so blinded with the glare of the sunshine--after six days in almost total darkness--that he could scarce see where he was. The ship was lying at anchor in a bay. The shores were low, and a group of houses stood abreast75 of where the ship was anchored. By their appearance Francis saw at once that he was on the coast of Africa, or of some island near it.
The prisoners were ordered to descend76 into the boats which lay alongside, some sailors taking their places with them. Ruggiero was not at first to be seen, but just as Francis was preparing to take his place in the boat, he came out from the cabin. One of his arms was in a sling77, and his head bandaged.
"Take special care of that prisoner," he said to the men. "Do not take off his chains, and place a sentinel at the door of the place of his confinement78. I would rather lose my share of all the spoil we have taken, than he should escape me!"
The shackles79 had been removed from the rest of the captives, and on landing they were driven into some huts which stood a little apart from the village. Francis was thrust into a small chamber with five or six companions. The next morning the other prisoners were called out, and Francis was left alone by himself all day. On their return in the evening, they told him that all the prisoners had been employed in assisting to get out the cargo, with which the vessel was crammed80, and in carrying it to a large storehouse in the village.
"They must have taken a rich booty, indeed," said one of the prisoners, who had already told Francis that he was the captain of the vessel they had seen founder81. "I could tell pretty well what all the bales contain, by the manner of packing, and I should say that there were the pick of the cargoes82 of a dozen ships there. All of us here belong to three ships, except those taken with you; but from the talk of the sailors, I heard that they had already sent off two batches83 of captives, by another ship which was cruising in company of them. I also learned that the quarrel, which took place just after you were captured, arose from the fact that the captain wished a party to land, to carry off two women from somewhere in the island of Corfu; but the crew insisted on first returning with the booty, urging, that if surprised by a Venetian galley, they might lose all the result of their toil84. This was the opinion of the majority, although a few sided with the captain, being induced to do so by the fact that he offered to give up all his share of the booty, if they would do so.
"The captain lost his temper and drew his sword, but he and his party were quickly overpowered. He has kept to his cabin ever since, suffering, they say, more from rage than from his wounds. However, it seems that as soon as we and the cargo have been sold, they are to start for Corfu to carry out the enterprise. We are on an island not very far from Tunis, and a fast-rowing boat started early this morning to the merchants with whom they deal, for it seems that a certain amount of secrecy85 is observed, in order that if any complaints are made by Venice, the Moorish authorities may disclaim86 all knowledge of the matter."
Two days later the prisoners captured were again led out, their guards telling them that the merchants who had been expected had arrived. Giuseppi, who had hitherto borne up bravely, was in an agony of grief at being separated from Francis. He threw himself upon the ground, wept, tore his hair, and besought87 the guards to let him share his master's fate, whatever that might be. He declared that he would kill himself were they separated; and the guards would have been obliged to use force, had not Francis begged Giuseppi not to struggle against fate, but to go quietly, promising88 again and again that, if he himself regained89 his freedom, he would not rest until Giuseppi was also set at liberty. At last the lad yielded, and suffered himself to be led away, in a heartbroken state, by the guards.
None of the captives returned to the hut, and Francis now turned his whole thoughts to freeing himself from his chains. He had already revolved90 in his mind every possible mode of escape. He had tried the strong iron bars of the window, but found that they were so rigidly91 fixed92 and embedded93 in the stonework, that there was no hope of escape in this way; and even could he have got through the window, the weight of his shackles would have crippled him.
He was fastened with two chains, each about two feet six inches long, going from the wrist of the right hand to the left ankle, and from the left hand to the right ankle. Thus he was unable to stand quite upright, and anything like rapid movement was almost impossible. The bottom of the window came within four feet of the ground, and it was only by standing94 on one leg, and lifting the other as high as he could, that he was able to grasp one of the bars to try its strength.
The news he had heard from his fellow prisoner almost maddened him, and he thought far less of his own fate, than of that of the girls, who would be living in their quiet country retreat in ignorance of danger, until suddenly seized by Mocenigo and his band of pirates.
He had, on the first day, tried whether it was possible to draw his hand through the iron band round his wrist, but had concluded it could not be done, for it was riveted95 so tightly as to press upon the flesh. Therefore there was no hope of freeing himself in that manner. The only possible means, then, would be to cut through the rivet96 or chain, and for this a tool would be required.
Suddenly an idea struck him. The guard who brought in his food was a Sicilian, and was evidently of a talkative disposition97, for he had several times entered into conversation with the captives. In addition to a long knife, he carried a small stiletto in his girdle, and Francis thought that, if he could obtain this, he might possibly free himself. Accordingly, at the hour when he expected his guard to enter, Francis placed himself at his window, with his face against the bars. When he heard the guard come in, and, as usual, close the door behind him, he turned round and said:
"Who is that damsel there? She is very beautiful, and she passes here frequently. There she is, just going among those trees."
The guard moved to the window and looked out.
"Do you see her just going round that corner there? Ah! She is gone."
The guard was pressing his face against the bars, to look in the direction indicated, and Francis, who was already standing on his left leg, with the right raised so as to give freedom to the hand next to the man, had no difficulty in drawing the stiletto from its sheath, and slipping it into his trousers.
"You were just too late," he said, "but no doubt you often see her."
"I don't see any beautiful damsels about in this wretched place," the man replied. "I suppose she is the daughter of the head man in the village. They say he has some good-looking ones, but he takes pretty good care that they are not about when we are here. I suppose she thought she wouldn't be seen along that path. I will keep a good lookout98 for her in future."
"Don't frighten her away," Francis said, laughing. "She is the one pleasant thing I have in the day to look at."
After some more talk the man retired, and Francis examined his prize. It was a thin blade of fine steel, and he at once hid it in the earth which formed the floor of the hut.
An hour later the guard opened the door suddenly. It was now dusk, and Francis was sitting quietly in a corner.
"Bring a light, Thomaso," the guard shouted to his comrade outside. "It is getting dark in here."
The other brought a torch, and they carefully examined the floor of the cell.
"What is it that you are searching for?" Francis asked.
"When did you see it last?"
"Not since dinner time. I know I had it then. I thought possibly I might have dropped it here, and a dagger is not the sort of plaything one cares about giving to prisoners."
"Chained as I am," Francis said, "a dagger would not be a formidable weapon in my hands."
"No," the man agreed. "It would be useless to you, unless you wanted to stick it into your own ribs100."
"I should have to sit down to be able to do even that."
"That is so, lad. It is not for me to question what the captain says, I just do as I am told. But I own it does seem hard, keeping a young fellow like you chained up as if you were a wild beast. If he had got Pisani or Zeno as a prisoner, and wanted to make doubly sure that they would not escape, it would be all well enough, but for a lad like you, with one man always at the door, and the window barred so that a lion couldn't break through, I do think it hard to keep you chained like this; and the worst of it is, we are going to have to stop here to look after you till the captain gets back, and that may be three weeks or a month, who knows!"
"Why don't you keep your mouth shut, Philippo?" the other man growled101. "It's always talk, talk with you. We are chosen because the captain can rely upon us."
"He can rely upon anyone," Philippo retorted, "who knows that he will get his throat cut if he fails in his duty."
"Well, come along," the other said, "I don't want to be staying here all night. Your dagger isn't here, that's certain, and as I am off guard at present, I want to be going."
As soon as he was left alone, Francis unearthed102 the dagger, feeling sure that no fresh visit would be made him that evening. As he had hoped, his first attempt showed him that the iron of the rivet was soft, and the keen dagger at once notched103 off a small piece of the burred end. Again and again he tried, and each time a small piece of metal flew off. After each cut he examined the edge of the dagger, but it was well tempered, and seemed entirely104 unaffected.
He now felt certain that, with patience, he should be able to cut off the projecting edges of the rivets105, and so be able to free his hands. He, therefore, now examined the fastenings at the ankles. These were more heavy, and on trying them, the iron of the rivet appeared to be much harder than that which kept the manacles together. It was, however, now too dark to see what he was doing, and concealing106 the dagger again, he lay down with a lighter107 heart than he had from the moment of his capture.
Even if he found that the lower fastenings of the chain defied all his efforts, he could cut the rivets at the wrists, and so free one end of each chain. He could then tie the chains round his legs, and their weight would not be sufficient to prevent his walking.
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chamber
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vehemently
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gratitude
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distinguished
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retired
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lessen
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renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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12
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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14
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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16
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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18
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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19
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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20
doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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22
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23
depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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24
depredation
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| n.掠夺，蹂躏 | |
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25
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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27
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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28
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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29
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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30
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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31
indemnity
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| n.赔偿，赔款，补偿金 | |
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32
piracy
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| n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害 | |
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33
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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34
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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35
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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36
aglow
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| adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地 | |
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37
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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38
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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39
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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40
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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41
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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42
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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43
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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44
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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45
Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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46
perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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47
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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48
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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49
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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50
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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51
staples
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| n.（某国的）主要产品( staple的名词复数 )；钉书钉；U 形钉；主要部份v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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52
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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53
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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54
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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55
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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56
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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57
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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58
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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59
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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60
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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61
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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62
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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63
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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64
ransomed
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| 付赎金救人，赎金( ransom的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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66
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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67
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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68
honourably
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| adv.可尊敬地，光荣地，体面地 | |
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69
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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70
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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71
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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72
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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73
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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74
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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76
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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77
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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78
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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79
shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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80
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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81
Founder
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| n.创始者，缔造者 | |
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82
cargoes
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| n.（船或飞机装载的）货物( cargo的名词复数 )；大量，重负 | |
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83
batches
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| 一批( batch的名词复数 )； 一炉； （食物、药物等的）一批生产的量； 成批作业 | |
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84
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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85
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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86
disclaim
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| v.放弃权利，拒绝承认 | |
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87
besought
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| v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
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88
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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89
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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90
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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91
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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92
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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93
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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94
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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95
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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96
rivet
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| n.铆钉；vt.铆接，铆牢；集中(目光或注意力) | |
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97
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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98
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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99
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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100
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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101
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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102
unearthed
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| 出土的（考古） | |
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103
notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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104
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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105
rivets
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| 铆钉( rivet的名词复数 ) | |
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106
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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107
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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