Then she turned to Mitsos.
"We may leave them, I think," she said; "they are more than a mile from land."
Kanaris and his charge were out of sight, and the Revenge put about to the ship she had left before. She was sinking fast, but they saw that the crew had manned some half-dozen boats, which were rowing to land, and the Capsina called Dimitri.
"Sink all," she said.
The hindermost boat was not more than two hundred yards ahead, but the Capsina delayed her fire. Then, as they got within fifty yards of it, she walked slowly and calmly to the side of the ship, and spoke in Turkish.
"We are more merciful than those who crucify," she cried. And then, "Fire!"
The other boats seeing what had happened, and resolving, if possible, to sell their lives more dearly, got ready their muskets. But the Capsina saw this, and while they were out of musket range:
"The bow guns for the rest," she said. "It is good target practice."
Five out of the six boats had been sunk, and they were already preparing to fire on the sixth when a sudden pity came over Mitsos.
"Look," he said, "there are women in that boat!"