It is invaluable in case you have been getting into a scrape, and have one of the boats of the city watch in chase of you." "I hope I sha'n't want it for any purpose of that sort," Francis answered, laughing.

"I do not think I am likely to give cause to the city watch to chase me." "I don't think you are, Francisco, but there is never any saying." "At any rate it is always useful to be able to go fast if necessary, and if we did want to get away, I do not think there are many pair-oared gondolas afloat that would overtake us, though a good four oar might do so.

Giuseppi and I are so accustomed to each other's stroke now, that though in a heavy boat we might not be a match for two men, in a light craft like this, where weight does not count for so much, we would not mind entering her for a race against the two best gondoliers on the canals, in an ordinary boat." A few evenings later, Francis was returning homewards at about half past ten, when, in passing along a quiet canal, the boat was hailed from the shore.
"Shall we take him, Messer Francisco ?" Giuseppi asked in a low voice; for more than once they had late in the evening taken a fare.
Francis rowed, like Giuseppi, in his shirt, and in the darkness they were often taken for a pair-oared gondola on the lookout for a fare.
Francis had sometimes accepted the offer, because it was an amusement to see where the passenger wished to go--to guess whether he was a lover hastening to keep an appointment, a gambler on a visit to some quiet locality, where high play went on unknown to the authorities, or simply one who had by some error missed his own gondola, and was anxious to return home.

It made no difference to him which way he rowed.

It was always possible that some adventure was to be met with, and the fare paid was a not unwelcome addition to Giuseppi's funds.
"Yes, we may as well take him," he replied to Giuseppi's question.
"You are in no hurry to get to bed, I suppose ?" the man who had hailed them said as the boat drew up against the wall of the canal.
"It does not make much difference to us, if we are well paid, to keep awake," Giuseppi said.
Upon such occasions he was always the spokesman.
"You know San Nicolo ?" "Yes, I know it," Giuseppi said; "but it is a long row--six miles, if it's a foot." "You will have to wait there for an hour or two, but I will give you half a ducat for your night's work." "What do you say, partner ?" Giuseppi asked Francis.
"We may as well go," the lad replied after a moment's pause.
The row was certainly a long one, but the night was delightful, and the half ducat was a prize for Giuseppi; but what influenced Francis principally in accepting was curiosity.