After leaving Palermo, Caboto headed west along the same route.
This time, the fleet had no favorable wind and did not return to Trapani until three in the afternoon.
Judging by the timing, the main fleet had not yet received the news. It would probably take another three or four days for them to reach Palermo.
"No, we have to make another trip to Palermo."
Caboto inspected the remaining two battleships.
They were in relatively good condition. Replacing the damaged sails and replenishing their ammunition would leave them ready for another raid.
The other two battleships were in worse condition. One had a broken bowsprit, while the other had damage near the waterline on its port side and needed to enter the dry dock to have its hull planking replaced.
Clang! Clang!
An alarm bell rang from the battery to the northwest. Caboto ran toward the nearest watchtower.
Out on the distant sea, a French cruiser prowled slowly, always staying beyond the coastal guns' effective range. Caboto worried that this warship was merely scouting ahead, gathering information for a night-raiding force.
"We've barely struck them, and they're already looking for revenge. Back and forth like this-it's getting rather tedious."
The crew had been through a bitter fight. Caboto left only a handful of men aboard on watch and moved the rest to two estates outside town.
The name of Trapani's harbor came from the Greek word for "sickle." A long, narrow natural sandspit extended into the sea, enclosing these waters.
Now the harbor held only three battleships, one transport, one mail ship, and a dozen or so fishing boats. The water lay largely empty, making it difficult for enemy rockets to hit any vessels.
Caboto patrolled the docks, ordering his men to remove all unnecessary supplies to keep them clear