d not say then "whatever is
fated will happen," Donna Pina, for I was anxious to say the second
versicle of the Psalm before I was drowned, and I tried what I could to
keep my head up long enough for that. Then, just as a big wave was
breaking, I saw something flying through the air, and as it was a dark
thing I was afraid it was the devil coming for my soul, because my
mother, blessed soul, when she was dying, had recommended me to pay
three Carlini which she owed for milk, and I had wickedly forgotten it.
But I have since paid it. However, it was not the devil, but Maestro
Stradella, who had thrown himself into the sea, as he was, to save my
life, only because he had spoken two or three times to me on the voyage.
The ship was not going on fast, but though one of the sailors threw him
a rope he could not catch it, for he was holding up my head and telling
me not to be frightened, as well as he could amongst the waves, and not
to catch hold of him, for he would save me. Then the passengers and
sailors took a great board ten ells long that was on the deck, and
served for landing, and they threw it over; and somehow the Maestro got
me to it and we climbed upon it, while the ship was getting farther and
farther away, and the black squall was coming nearer and nearer.'

'The master swims like a water-rat,' said Pina. 'I remember that night
in Venice, when the Signors of the Night were after him!'

'Ah, you should have seen him in the sea, God bless him!' answered
Cucurullo. 'He had the strength and the long wind of a dolphin. When the
squall came upon us we held each other fast, sitting astride of the
plank, for it was a very heavy one, and did not sink with us. Then came
the rain. Lord, how it rained, Donna Pina! You have never seen rain like
that!'

'I remember how it rained that night when the master climbed into our
balcony! That was enough for me!'

'Imagine ten times that, Donna Pina. The wind had blown the plank round,
so that we got the rain in our backs, but even then I had to keep my
mouth shut to hinder the water from running down my throat! And it must
have lasted two hours, but the sea went down like magic in that time,
and there was only a long, smooth, swelling motion, and the wind came
from another quarter and carried us with it. That was how we were
saved.'

'The ship came back and picked you up, I suppose?'

'After the squall we did not see the ship again, though the clouds
rolled away and the sun s