More to the
left, and so near to the palaces as barely to allow room for the sweep
of his oar, was the masked competitor, whose progress seemed retarded by
some unseen cause, for he gradually fell behind all the others, until
several boats' lengths of open water lay between him and even the group
of his nameless opponents. Still he plied his arms steadily, and with
sufficient skill. As the interest of mystery had been excited in his
favor, a rumor passed up the canal, that the young cavalier had been
little favored by fortune in the choice of a boat. Others, who reflected
more deeply on causes, whispered of the folly of one of his habits
taking the risk of mortification by a competition with men whose daily
labor had hardened their sinews, and whose practice enabled them to
judge closely of every chance of the race. But when the eyes of the
multitude turned from the cluster of passing boats to the solitary barge
of the fisherman, who came singly on in the rear, admiration was again
turned to derision.
Antonio had cast aside the cap he wore of wont, and the few straggling
hairs that were left streamed about his hollow temples, leaving the
whole of his swarthy features exposed to view. More than once, as the
gondola came on, his eyes turned aside reproachfully, as if he keenly
felt the stings of so many unlicensed tongues applied to feelings which,
though blunted by his habits and condition, were far from extinguished.
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