Then the boat moved out into the middle of the canal, where a few boats were still passing to and fro.

Francis kept his gondola close by the bank, so as to be in the deep shade of the houses.

The boat they were following again passed under the Ponto Maggiore, and for some distance followed the line of the Grand Canal.
"Keep your eye upon it, Giuseppi.

It is sure to turn off one way or the other soon, and if it is too far ahead of us when it does so, then it may give us the slip altogether." But the gondola continued its course the whole length of the canal, and then straight on until, nearly opposite Saint Mark's, it passed close to a larger gondola, with four rowers, coming slowly in the other direction; and it seemed to Francis that the two boats paused when opposite each other, and that a few words were exchanged.
Then the boat they were watching turned out straight into the lagoon.
It was rather lighter here than in the canal, bordered on each side by houses, and Francis did not turn the head of his gondola for a minute or two.
"It will be very difficult to keep them in sight out here without their making us out," Giuseppi said.
"Yes, and it is likely enough that they are only going out there in order that they may be quite sure that they are not followed, before striking off to the place they want to go to.

They may possibly have made us out, and guess that we are tracking them.