Ruggiero brought
the skiff alongside of the ledge where it was lowest.
"Get ashore, Bastianello," he said in the same quiet tone. Bastianello
obeyed and stood ready to help Beatrice, who came next.
As she stepped upon the rock Ruggiero raised the torch high with one
hand, so that the red light fell strong and full upon her face, and he
looked keenly at her, his eyes fixing themselves strangely, as she could
see, for she could not help glancing down at him as she stood still
upon the ledge.
"Now Teresina," said Ruggiero, still gazing up at Beatrice.
Teresina grasped Bastianello's hand and sprang ashore, happy as a child
at the touch. San Miniato was about to follow and had already risen from
his seat. But with a strong turn of his hand Ruggiero made the stern of
the skiff swing out across the narrow water that is twenty fathoms deep
between the mountain and the islet.
"What are you doing?" asked San Miniato impatiently. "Let me land!"
But Ruggiero pushed the boat's head off and she floated free between the
rocks.
"You and I can take a bath together," said the sailor very quietly. "The
water is very deep here.
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