They would be sure to keep their eyes and ears open." "I can only just make them out now, Messer Francisco, and as we shall have the buildings behind us, they will not be able to see us as well as we can see them.

I think we can go now." "We will risk it, at any rate, Giuseppi.

I have lost sight of them already, and it will never do to let them give us the slip." They dipped their oars in the water, and the gondola darted out from the shore.

They had not gone fifty strokes when they heard the sound of oars close at hand.
"To the right, Giuseppi, hard!" Francis cried as he glanced over his shoulder.
A sweep with both oars brought the gondola's head, in a moment, almost at right angles to the course that she had been pursuing; and the next sent her dancing on a new line, just as a four-oared gondola swept down upon them, missing their stern by only three or four feet.

Had they been less quick in turning, the iron prow would have cut right through their light boat.
Giuseppi burst into a torrent of vituperation at the carelessness of the gondoliers who had so nearly run into them, but Francis silenced him at once.
"Row, Giuseppi.