He was thinking about his family over there in the Marina, enduring an existence of continual anxiety while he was aboard a vessel for which irresistible menace was lying in wait. He was thinking also of the wives and mothers of all the men of the crew who were suffering the same anguish. And Toni was asking himself for the first time whether Captain Ferragut had the right to drag them all to a sure death just because of his vengeful and crazy stubbornness.
"No; I have not the right," Ulysses told himself mentally.
But at the same time his mate, repentant of his former reflection, was affirming in a loud voice with heroic simplicity:
"If I counsel you to retire, it is for your own good; don't think it is because I am afraid…. I will follow you wherever you sail. I've got to die some time and it would be far better that it should be in the sea. The only thing that troubles me is worrying about my wife and children."
The captain continued walking in silence and, upon reaching his ship, spoke with brevity. "I was thinking of doing something that perhaps you would all like. Before next week your future will have been decided."
He passed the following day on land. Twice he returned with some gentlemen who examined the steamer minutely, going down into the engine room and the holds. Some of these visitors appeared to be experts in matters pertaining to the sea.
"He wants to sell the boat," said Toni to himself.
And the mate began to repent of his counsels. Abandon the Mare Nostrum, the best of all the ships on which he had ever sailed!… He accused himself of cowardice, believing that it was he who had impelled the captain to reach this decision. What were the two going to do on land when the steamer was the property of others?… Would he not have to sail on an inferior boat, running the same risks?… He decided to undo his work, and was about to counsel Ferragut again, declaring that his ideas were mere conjecture and that he must continue living as he was at present, when the captain gave the order for departure. The repairs were not yet entirely completed.
"We are going to Brest," said Ferragut laconically, "It's the last trip."
And the steamer put to sea without cargo as though going to fulfill a special mission.