It was a question of speed alone, and so hard did they row that the gondola in pursuit gained but slowly on them, and they were still two lengths ahead when they dashed up to the steps of the church.
Simultaneously they sprang on shore, leaped up the steps, and dashed off at the top of their speed, hearing, as they did so, a crash as the gondola ran into their light craft.

There was a moment's delay, as the men had to step across their boat to gain the shore, and they were fifty yards ahead before they heard the sound of their pursuers' feet on the stone steps; but they were lightly clad and shoeless, and carried nothing to impede their movements, and they had therefore little fear of being overtaken.
After racing on at the top of their speed for a few minutes, they stopped and listened.

The sound of their pursuers' footsteps died away in the distance; and, after taking a few turns to put them off their track, they pursued their way at a more leisurely pace.
"They have smashed the gondola," Giuseppi said with a sob, for he was very proud of the light craft.
"Never mind the gondola," Francis said cheerfully.

"If they had smashed a hundred it would not matter." "But the woman has got away and we have learned nothing," Giuseppi said, surprised at his master's cheerfulness.
"I think we have learned something, Giuseppi.

I think we have learned everything.