Laugh arose above laugh, however, and taunt succeeded taunt more
bitterly, as the boats came among the gorgeous palaces which lined the
canal nearer to the goal. It was not that the owners of these lordly
piles indulged in the unfeeling triumph, but their dependants,
constantly subject themselves to the degrading influence of a superior
presence, let loose the long-pent torrents of their arrogance on the
head of the first unresisting subject which offered.
Antonio bore all these jibes manfully, if not in tranquillity, and
always without retort, until he again approached the spot occupied by
his companions of the Lagunes. Here his eye sank under the reproaches,
and his oar faltered. The taunts and denunciations increased as he lost
ground, and there was a moment when the rebuked and humbled spirit of
the old man seemed about to relinquish the contest. But dashing a hand
across his brow, as if to clear a sight which had become dimmed and
confused, he continued to ply the oar, and, happily, he was soon past
the point most trying to his resolution. From this moment the cries
against the fisherman diminished, and as the Bucentaur, though still
distant, was now in sight, interest in the issue of the race absorbed
all other feelings.
Enrico still kept the lead; but the judges of the gondolier's skill
began to detect signs of exhaustion in his faltering stroke. The
waterman of the Lido pressed him hard, and the Calabrian was drawing
more into a line with them both.
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