But with the Bonito, with her high sides and heavy tonnage, it could not be done." "What do you think she went out for, captain ?" "It is likely enough that she may have gone to one of the other islands, and may return with a dozen other craft, pirates like herself.
The news that a Venetian merchant ship, without consorts, is weather bound here, would bring them upon us like bees.
"It is a dangerous thing, this sailing alone.

I have talked it over several times with the master.

Other merchants generally send their ships in companies of eight or ten, and they are then strong enough to beat off any attack of pirates.

Messer Polani always sends his vessels out singly.

What he says is this: 'A single ship always travels faster than a convoy, because these must go at the rate of the slowest among them.