Grapnels were thrown, and the crew, seizing their weapons, sprang on to
the deck of the pirate.

The crew of the latter knew that they had no mercy to expect, and
although weakened by the loss of nearly a third of their number in the
fighting on shore, sprang from their benches, and rushed to oppose
their assailants, with the desperation of despair. They were led by
Ruggiero Mocenigo, who, furious at the failure of his schemes, and
preferring death to the shame of being carried to Venice as a pirate
and a traitor, rushed upon the Venetians with a fury which, at first,
carried all before it. Supported by his Moors and renegades he drove
back the boarders, and almost succeeded in clearing the deck of his
vessel.

He himself engaged hand-to-hand with the commander of the Venetian
galley, and at the third thrust ran him through the throat; but the
Venetians, although they had yielded to the first onslaught, again
poured over the bulwarks of the galley. Polani, burning to punish the
man who had so repeatedly tried to injure him, accompanied them,
Francis keeping close beside him.

"Ruggiero Mocenigo, traitor and villain, your time has come!"

Ruggiero started at hearing his name thus proclaimed, for on board his
own ship he was simply known as the captain; but in the dim light he
recognized Polani, and at once crossed swords with him.

"Be not so sure, Polani. Perhaps it is your time that has come."

The two engaged with fury. Polani was still strong and vigorous. His