CHAPTER XIIThe same morning that the Turkish Council of War was held Francisco stood on the poop of the Curse of Islam (that being the name of the galliot of which he had been given command) which was patrolling about half a mile to the north of St. Elmo’s point.
The Curse of Islam was built in the style of the Flying Hawk, and was as swift but much smaller than she. It had but one mast, and was of light draught so that it could enter inlets and shallow bays without fear that it could be followed by larger ships. Small as it was, it had fourteen oars on each side, for it was in speed that its use alike with its safety lay, whether it were hunting Turkish merchant vessels that it could plunder and sink, or running from their fighting ships that it would be too weak to endure.
Now it tacke
