The boy let go of him and, still staring at him, burst into a passion of tears that seemed almost angry.
"Gaspare! What is it? What's the matter?"
He put out his hand to touch the boy's dripping clothes.
"What has happened?"
"Niente! Niente!" said Gaspare, between violent sobs. "Mamma mia! Mamma mia!"
He threw himself down in the bottom of the boat and wept stormily, without shame, without any attempt to check or conceal his emotion. As in the tarantella he had given himself up utterly to joy, so now he gave himself up utterly to something that seemed like despair. He cried loudly. His whole body shook. The sea-water ran down from his matted hair and mingled with the tears that rushed over his brown cheeks.
"What is it?" Maurice asked of Salvatore.
"He thought the sea had taken you, signore."
"That was it? Gaspare—"
"Let him alone. Per Dio, signore, you gave me a fright, too."