"There will be three passengers, you said." "We do not know," answered Ruggiero.

"If there are three I can shift them quickly when every one is aboard." So Bastianello said nothing more about it, and they got the kettle and the torches and stowed them away in the bows.
"You had better go home and cook supper," said Ruggiero.

"I will come when it is dark, for then the others will have eaten and I will leave two to look out." Bastianello went ashore on the pier and his brother pulled the skiff out till he was alongside of the sailboat, to which he made her fast.

He busied himself with trifles until it grew dark and there was no one on the pier.

Then he got into the boat again, taking a bit of strong line with him, a couple of fathoms long, or a little less.