The fisherman threw every effort of his body on the coming effort, and he gained a fathom.  Another stroke caused the boat to quiver to its centre, and the water curled from its bows like the ripple of a rapid.  Then the gondola darted between the two goal-barges, and the little flags that marked the point of victory fell into the water.  The action was scarce noted ere the glittering beak of the masquer shot past the eyes of the judges, who doubted for an instant on whom success had fallen.  Gino was not long behind, and after him came Bartolomeo, fourth and last in the best contested race which had ever been seen on the waters of Venice.

When the flags fell, men held their breaths in suspense.  Few knew the victor, so close had been the struggle.  But a flourish of the trumpets soon commanded attention, and then a herald proclaimed that—­

“Antonio, a fisherman of the Lagunes, favored by his holy patron of the Miraculous Draught, had borne away the prize of gold—­while a waterman who wore his face concealed, but who hath trusted to the care of the blessed San Giovanni of the Wilderness, is worthy of the silver prize, and that the third had fallen to the fortunes of Gino of Calabria, a servitor of the illustrious Don Camillo Monforte, Duca di Sant’ Agata, and lord of many Neapolitan Seignories.”

When this formal announcement was made, there succeeded a silence like that of the tomb.  Then there arose a general shout among the living mass, which bore on high the name of Antonio as if they celebrated the success of some conqueror.  All feeling of contempt was lost in the influence of his triumph.  The fishermen of the Lagunes, who so lately had loaded their aged companion with contumely, shouted for his glory with a zeal that manifested the violence of the transition from mortification to pride; and, as has ever been and ever will be the meed of success, he who was thought least likely to obtain it was most greeted with praise and adulation when it was found that the end had disappointed expectation.  Ten thousand voices were lifted in proclaiming his skill and victory, and young and old, the fair, the gay, the noble, the winner of sequins and he who lost, struggled alike to catch a glimpse of the humble old man, who had so unexpectedly wrought this change of sentiment in the feelings of a multitude.

Antonio bore his triumph meekly.  When his gondola had reached the goal he checked its course, and, without discovering any of the usual signs of exhaustion, he remained standing, though the deep heaving of his broad and tawny chest proved that his powers had been taxed to their utmost.  He smiled as the shouts arose on his ear, for praise is grateful even to the meek; still he seemed oppressed with an emotion of a character deeper than pride.  Age had somewhat dimmed his eye, but it was now full of hope.  His features worked, and a single burning drop fell on each rugged cheek.  The fisherman then breathed more freely.