Accordingly, the party again broke into a run. A few minutes later one of the servants, looking back, exclaimed:
"They have fired the house, signor. There are flames issuing from one of the lower windows."
"I expected that," the merchant said, without looking back. "That scoundrel would, in any case, light it in his fury at finding that we have escaped; but he has probably done so, now, in hopes that the light will enable him to discover us. It is well that we are so far ahead, for the blaze will light up the country for a long way round."
"There is a wood a little way ahead, signor," the servant said. "Once through that we shall be hidden from sight, however great the light."
Arrived at the wood, they again broke into a walk. A few hundred yards beyond the wood was some rising ground, from which they could see far over the country.
"Let us stop here," the merchant said. "We are safe now. We have placed two miles between ourselves and those villains."
The villa was now a mass of flames. Exclamations of fury broke from the men servants, while the women cried with anger at the sight of the destruction.
"Do not concern yourselves," the merchant said. "The house can be rebuilt, and I will see that none of you are the poorer for the loss of your belongings.
"Now, girls, let us sit down here and hear from Francisco how it is that he has once again been your saviour."
"Before I begin, signor, tell me whether there are any ships of war in the port, and how far that is distant from us?"