But he is a good padrone, everybody says, and does not cheat his men." "I hope not." By and by the two went down to the beach again, and Sebastiano looked about him for a crew.

The Marchesa wanted four men in her boat, or even five, and Sebastiano picked out at once the Gull, the Son of the American, Black Rag--otherwise known as Saint Peter from his resemblance to the pictures of the Apostle as a fisherman--and the Deaf Man.

The latter is a fellow of strange ways, who lost his hearing from falling into the water in winter when overheated, and who has almost lost the power of speech in consequence, but a good sailor withal, tough, untiring, and patient.
They all set to work with a good will, and before four o'clock that day the two boats were launched, ballasted and rigged, the sails were bent to the yards and the brasses polished, so that Ruggiero and Sebastiano went up to their respective masters to ask if there were any orders for the afternoon..