Part 25 (1/2)

Marc and Cecile!

In a few seconds I was safe on the deck of the _Lepante_.

M. Andre, the crew, the spectators, were horror-struck.

A man goes mad in an instant. Marc was again raving, as he had raved in the madhouse at Benevent. But the sight of Cecile had given purpose to his language.

”Vengeance--vengeance! Fiend! The time has come! Fate--fate has brought us together! I could not escape you! I must kill you--kill you! We must be d.a.m.ned together! Hark at the roar of the waters! Hark at the wailing of the winds! Our shroud!--our dirge!--our requiem! that tells us of h.e.l.l! for I am a murderer, and you--”

He had the strength of ten strong men.

It took that number to hold him.

The wretched Andre fell p.r.o.ne in a swoon.

Cecile's women called on the Virgin and the saints.

We all held Marc.

Cecile turned upon me.

”You told me he was dead,” she said.

Then, to the captain of the _Lepante_--”I am innocent--innocent-- innocent!”

But, in moments of supreme danger, men's ears are deaf to other people's business.

It was save himself who can.

A leak had been sprung in the _Lepante_ by the collision with our yacht.

The pumps could not hold their own with the waters.

There was a panic on board.

The storm had abated. The boats were got ready. All rushed to them.

”_Place aux dames_!” I cried; and, with the spasmodic strength of great crises, I held back the men, and got the women off first. Then men enough to take charge of the boat.

M. Andre was in it; the first that was lowered. Another followed, filled with the crew of the _Lepante_. Her captain was the first to leap into it.

And Marc, freed from the arms that held him, dashed over the side into the foaming waters, to swim after Cecile.

His vengeance was not in this world.

As for me, I was left alone on the _Lepante_--with the rats.

I am a sailor, and have a sailor's prejudices, fears, hopes, beliefs.

I saw the rats. They had not left the s.h.i.+p. I accepted the omen. I knew the _Lepante_ was not doomed, if they stayed.