Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-01

ed might detect the probable evidence OF defeat
or success. Phe whole ten, which formed the
front line, skinned the water with an equal We
locity, beak to beak, If some secret attraction
held each in its place. while the humble. though
equally light bark of the fisherman, steadily kept
its position in the rear.
The boats were soon held in command. Inc
oars got their justest poise and widest sweep anu
the wrists of the men accustomed to their play.
The line began to waver. 1t undulated. theglit-
terins PROV Of one protrudiug beyond the others;
and then it changed its form. Enrico Of Eusina
shot ahead, and. privileged BY success, he insen-
sibly sheered more into the centre of the canal,
avoiding, by the change, the eddies. and the other
distractions OF the shore. This maneuvre, which,
in the language of the course. would have been
called g taking the track" had the additional
advantage Of throwing upon those who followed
some trifling impedment from the back-water.
The sturdy and practsed Bartolomeo OF the LII
do, as his companions usually called him, came
next, occupying the space on his leaders quar-
ter. where he suffered least from the reaction
caused by the stroke Of his oar. The gondolier
of Don Camilo, also, SOON shot out ot the crowd,
and was seen plying bis arms vigorously still fur-
Their to the right. and little in the rear OF Barto-
lomeo. Then came, in the centre OF the canal,
and near as might be in the tear OF the triumphant
waterman Of the main. dense body, with little
order and varying positions. compelling each
other to give way, and otherwise increasing the
difficulties Of their struggle. More to the left,
and so near to the palaces as barely to allow room
for the sweep of his oar, was the masked comPe-
titor. whose progress seemed retarded by some
unseen cause, for he gradually fell behind all the
others, until several boats Length OF water lay
between him aud even the groups OF his naIne-
Iess opponents. Still he piled his arms steadily,
and with sufficient skill. As the interest ofmys-
tery had been excited in his favor, rumor pass
ed up the canal, that the young cavalier had been
little favored by fortune in the choice OF boat.
Others, who reflected more deeply on causes,
whispered of the folly OF one Of his habits taking
the risk of modification by competition with
men whose daily labor bad hardened their sinews,
and whose practice enabled them TO Judge closely
of every chance Of the race But when the eyes
of the multitude turned from the cluster of pass
ing boats to the solitary barge OF the fisherman,
who came sngy on in the rear, admiration was
again turned to derision.
Antonio had cast aside the cape he wore of
wont, and the few struggling hairs that were left
streamed about his hollow temples, leaving the
whole of his swarthy features exposed TO view.
More than once, as the gondola came on, his eyes
turned aside reproachfully, as if he keenly felt
the stnss of so many unlicensed tongues applied
to feelings which, though blunted by his habits
and condition, were far from extinguished.-
Laugh rose above laugh. however, and taunt sue
ceeded taunt more bitterly, as the boats came
among the gorgeous palaces, which lined the Ca
nal nearer to the goal. 1t was not that the own
ers of these lordy piles INDUCED in the unteel-
ing triumph, but their dependents, constantly
subject, themselves, to the degrading influence
of superior presence, let loose the long pent tor
rents Of their arrogance, on the head Of the first
---:..;s,g object which offered.
Antonio bore all these jibes manfully, if not in
tranquility. and always wita~ut retort, until he
again 81 Ire fasunes. Here his eye sunk un
der the reproaches. and bis oar faltered. The
taunts and denunciatiOns increased as he lost
ground, and there was moment when the rebuk-
ed and humbed spirit of the old man seemed
about to relinquish the contest But dashing
hand across his brows. as if to clear sight which
had become dilnmed and confused, he continued
to ply the oar, and, happily, he was soon past the
point most trying to bis resolution. From this
moment the cries against the fisherman diminish
ed, and as the Bucentaur, though still distant,
was now IN sight, interest in the issue of the race
absorbed all other feelings.
Enrico still kept the lead; but the judges of
the gondoler's skill began to detect signs of ex-
in his faultering stroke. The waterman
Of the Lido pressed him hard, and the CaabriaD
was drawing more into line with them BOTH
At this moment, too, the masked competitor ex-
hibited force and skill that none had expected
10 see in of his supposed rank. His body was
thrown more upon the effort of the oar, and as his
eg was stretched behind TO aid the stroke, it dis
covered volume OF muscle and an excellence of
proportion, that excited murmurs of applause
The consequence was soon apparent. His gon-
lola gIided past the crowd, in the centre of the
;anal, and, BY change that was nearly insens-
de. he became the fourth in the race. The shouts
which rewarded his success had scarcely parted
rom the multitude, ere their admiration was cal
ed to new and an entirely unexpected aspect
n the struggle.
Left to his own exertions, and less ANNOYED by {
hat derision and contempt, which often defeats I
ven more generous exertlons, Antonio had drawn [
earer to the crowd of namelcss competitors. {
though undistinguished IN this narrative. there {
we're seen. in that group Of gondoliers, faces well
nown on the canals of Venice. as belonging to t
,atermen, in whose dexterity and force the city 8
,ok pride. Either favored by his insulated posi- a
oil a.