Francis ordered four of the sailors to conduct them to the captain's cabin, and remain in guard over them; then with the rest he hurried forward to assist Parucchi's party.
But the work was already done.

The Genoese, taken completely by surprise, had at once surrendered, as the armed party rushed in the forecastle, and the ship was already theirs.

As soon as the prisoners were secured, the after hatch was thrown off, and those whose turn to crawl up through the hole had not yet arrived came up on deck.
"Rinaldo," Francis said, as soon as the crew had fallen into their places, "send a man aloft, and let him suddenly knock out the light in the lantern." "But we can lower it down, captain, from the deck." "Of course we can, Rinaldo, but I don't want it lowered down, I want it put suddenly out." Rinaldo at once sent a man up, and a minute later the light suddenly disappeared.
"If we were seen to lower it down," Francis said to Matteo, "the suspicions of those who noticed it would be at once aroused, for the only motive for doing so would be concealment; whereas now, if it is missed, it will be supposed that the wind has blown it out.

Now we have only to lower our sails, and we can drop unobserved out of the fleet." "There are sixteen lights, I have just been counting them," Matteo said.
"These are probably the fourteen galleys captured with us, and two galleys as guards, in case, on their way, they should fall in with any of our ships.
"Parucchi, will you at once muster the men, and see that all are armed and in readiness for fighting?
"Matteo, do you and some of your friends assist the lieutenant." In a few minutes, Parucchi reported that the men were all ready for action.
"Rinaldo, brail up the sails, so that we may drop into the rear of the squadron.

Watch the lights of the vessels behind, and steer so that they shall pass us as widely as possible." This was the order the men were expecting to receive, but they were surprised when, just as the last light was abreast of them, Francis gave the order for the brails to be loosed again.
"Signor Parucchi, do you tell off fifty men.