Ruggiero saw him from the breakwater and
watched him with evident interest. The Count, as has been said before,
could not swim a stroke, and was probably too old to learn. But he liked
the sea and bathing none the less, as Ruggiero knew. He stayed outside
the bathing-house fully half an hour, and then disappeared.
"It was not worth while," said Ruggiero to himself, "since you are to
take another bath so soon."
Then he looked at the sun and saw that it lacked half an hour of sunset,
and he went to see that all was ready for the evening. He and
Bastianello launched the old tub between them, and Ruggiero ballasted
her with two heavy sacks of pebbles just amidships, where they would be
under his feet.
"Better shift them a little more forward," said Bastianello. "There will
be three passengers, you said."
"We do not know," answered Ruggiero. "If there are three I can shift
them quickly when every one is aboard."
So Bastianello said nothing more about it, and they got the kettle and
the torches and stowed them away in the bows.
"You had better go home and cook supper," said Ruggiero. "I will come
when it is dark, for then the others will have eaten and I will leave
two to look out.
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