If the gondola moves off, we will make straight for the steps and try to follow them, though our chance of hitting upon them in the narrow lanes and turnings is slight indeed.
"But if, as I hope, the gondola stops at the steps, most likely they will return to it in time.

So we will row in to the bank a hundred yards farther up the canal and wait." The persons who had been seen in the gondola had disappeared when they came abreast of it, and the gondolier had seated himself in the boat, with the evident intention of waiting.

Francis steered his gondola at a distance of a few yards from it as he shot past, but did not abate his speed, and continued to row till they were three or four hundred yards farther up the canal.

Then he turned the gondola, and paddled noiselessly back until he could see the outline of the boat he was watching.
An hour elapsed before any movement was visible.

Then Francis heard the sound of footsteps, and could just make out the figures of persons descending the steps and entering the gondola.