It is necessary, however, to have at least one perfectly reliable man in charge of each, and so soon as the Children of the King had returned from their last long voyage the Greek had engaged them both for this purpose, as being in every way superior to the common run of boatmen who hung about the place waiting for jobs.

It was consequently impossible that the two brothers could be in the same boat's crew during the summer.
Ruggiero found the Cripple asleep in the shade, having been out all night fishing, and the Son of the Fool was seated not far from him, plaiting sinnet for gaskets.

The two were inseparable, so far as their varied life permitted them to be together, and were generally to be found in the same crew.

Average able seamen both, much of the same height and build, broad, heavy fellows good at the oar, peaceable and uncomplaining.
While Ruggiero was talking with the one who was awake, his own brother appeared, and Ruggiero gave him the message, whereupon Sebastiano went off to array himself in his best before presenting himself to the Marchesa di Mola.

The Son of the Fool gathered up his work.
"Mola ?" he repeated in a tone of inquiry.
Ruggiero nodded carelessly.
"A Sicilian lady who has a cutter ?" "Yes." "Her daughter is going to marry a certain Conte di San Miniato--a great signore--of those without soldi." The sailor coiled the plaited sinnet neatly over his bare arm, but looked up as Ruggiero uttered an exclamation.
"What is the matter with you ?" he asked.
Ruggiero's face was quite red and his broad chest heaved as he bit his lip and thrust his hands into his pockets.