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whole and some with their blades broken off and their shafts bundles
of jagged splinters。 Certain sails were still set on the ship's mast；
in tatters for the most part； though a few remained sound； and it was
by these that she moved； for with the moonrise a faint wind had sprung
up。 Lastly； she showed no light at peak or poop； and no sound of
officer's command or of boatswain's whistle came from her deck。 Only
slowly and yet as though of set purpose she drifted in toward the
quay。
Those who watched her； sailors such as ever linger about harbours
seeking their bread from the waters； though among these were mingled
people from the town who had come to this open place to escape the
heat； began to talk together affrightedly； but always in the dread
whisper that was the voice of this fearful knight。 Yes； even the
hoarse…throated sailormen whispered like a dying woman。
〃She's no ship；〃 said one； 〃she's the wraith of a ship。 When I was a
lad I saw such a craft in the Indian seas； and afterward we foundered；
and I and the cook's mate alone were saved。〃
〃Pshaw！〃 answered another； 〃she's a ship right enough。 Look at the
weed and barnacles on her sides when she heaves。 Only where in
Christ's name are her crew？〃
〃Yes；〃 said a third； 〃and how could she win through all the secret
channels without a pilot？〃
〃What use would be a pilot；〃 said a fourth； 〃if there are none to work
the rudder and shift the sails？ Do I not know； who am of the trade？〃
〃At least she is coming straight to the quay；〃 exclaimed a fifth；
〃though what sends her Satan alone knows； for the tide is slack and
this wind would scarce move a sponge boat。 Stand by with the hawser；
or she'll swing round and stave herself against the pier。〃
So they talked； and all the while the great galley drifted onward with
a slow； majestic motion； her decks hid in shadow； for a sail cut off
the light of the low moon from them。 Presently； too； even this was
gone； for the veil of cloud crept again over the moon's face；
obscuring everything。
Then of a sudden a meteor blazed out in the sky； such a meteor as no
living man had ever seen in Venice； for the size of it was that of the
sun。 It seemed to rise out of the ocean to the east and to travel very
slowly across the whole arc of the firmament till at last it burst
with a terrible noise over the city and vanished。 While it shone； the
light it gave was that of mid…day； only pale blue in colour； turning
all it touched to a livid and unnatural white。
It showed the placid sea and fish leaping on its silver face half…a…
mile or more away。 It showed the distant land with every rock and
house and bush。 It showed the wharf and the watchers on it； among them
Hugh noted a man embracing his sweetheart； as he thought under cover
of the cloud。 But most of all it showed that galley down to her last
rope and even the lines of caulking on her deck。 Oh； and now they saw
the rowers； for they lay in heaps about the oars。 Some of them even
hung over these limply； moving to and fro as they swung； while others
were stretched upon the benches as though they slept。 They were dead
all dead； the wind following the meteor and blowing straight on shore
told them that they were certainly all dead。 Three hundred men and
more upon that great ship； and all dead！
Nay； not all； for now on the high poop stood a single figure who
seemed to wear a strange red head…dress； and about his shoulders a
black robe。 Straight and silent he stood； a very fearful figure； and
in his hand a coil of rope。 The sight of him sent those watchers mad。
They ceased from their whisperings； they raved aloud。
〃It is Satan！〃 they shouted； 〃Satan； who comes to drag the folk of
Venice down to hell。 Kill him ere he lands。 Kill him！〃
Even Grey Dick went mad like a dog when he meets a ghost。 His pale
hair rose upon his head； his cold； quiet eyes started。 He set an arrow
on the string of the black bow； drew it to his ear and loosed at the
figure on the poop。 But that arrow never left the string； it shattered
to flinders where it was and fell tinkling to the marble floor。 Only
the barb of it turned and wounded Grey Dick in the chin； yes； and
stuck there for a while； for his right arm was numbed so that he could
not lift his hand to pull it forth。
〃Truly； I have shot at the Fiend and hit that at which I did not aim；〃
muttered Grey Dick； and sat himself down on a post of the quay to
consider the matter。 Only； as it seemed to him； he who stood on the
poop of the ship not ten yards away smiled a little。
Unheeding of the clamour； this man upon the poop suddenly lifted the
coil of rope and threw it shoreward。 It was a thick and heavy rope；
with a noose at its end； so heavy that none would have believed that
one mortal could handle it。 Yet it shot from him till it stood out
stiff as an iron bar。 Yes； and the noose fell over one of the stone
posts on the quay； and caught there。 Now the rope grew straighter
still； stretching and groaning like a thing in pain as it took the
weight of the great； drifting ship。 She stayed； she swung round slowly
and ranged herself broadside on against the quay as a berthed ship
does。 Then down the ladder on her side came the Man。 Deliberately he
set his white…sandalled feet upon the quay； advanced a few paces into
the full light of the bright moon and stood still as though to suffer
himself to be seen of every eye。
Truly he was worth the seeing。 Hugh noted his garments first； and
particularly the head…dress； which caught his glance and held it； for
never had he known such a one before。 It was a cap fitting tight to
the skull； only running across the crown of it was a stiff raised
ridge； of leather perhaps； jagged and pointed something like the comb
of a cock。 This comb； of brilliant red； was surmounted at its highest
point by a ball of black of the size of a small apple。 The cap itself
was yellow； except its lowest band； which stood out from it and was
also black。 In the centre of this band upon the forehead glowed a
stone like a ruby。
Such was the head…dress。 The broad shoulders beneath were covered with
a cape of long and glossy fur blacker than coal； on to either shoulder
of which drooped ear…rings made of rings of green stone which
afterward Hugh came to know was jade。 The cape of fur； which hung down
to the knees and was set over a kind of surplice of yellow silk； was
open in front； revealing its wearer's naked bosom that was clothed
only with row upon row of round gems of the size of a hazel nut。 These
like the fur were black； but shone with a strange and lustrous sheen。
The man's thick arms were naked； but on his hands he wore white
leather gloves made without division like a sock； as though to match
the white sandals on his feet。
This was the Man's attire。 Now for him who wore it。 He was tall； but
not taller than are many other men； he was broad； but not broader than
many other men； and yet he looked stronger than all the men in the
world。 On his brow； which was prominent； smooth black hair parted in
the middle was plastered back as that of women sometimes is； making
hard lines against the yellow skin below。 He had very thin eyebrows
that ran upwa