Mare Nostrum (Our Sea) A Novel

Captain Ferragut

rmed of his former expeditions for the victualing of the allied troops. He knew his name and looked upon him as does a judge interested in the accused. He had receive

t that, C

such questions; it would be difficult for the German to prove his affirmation; but he preferred to tell the truth, with the simplicity of one who

with the melancholy smile of a magistrate who does not lo

in the Mediterranean.... But when the Spanish captain related how he had been one of the first victims, how hi

his encounter with t

sei

.. That man is denouncing me in order to avenge himself. I realize that my headlong blindness dragged me to a crime that I sh

us, intuitive, passional, attentive to the sentiments that have scarcely any weight in other tribunals, judging by the action of conscien

d by a woman. Who has not something like this in his own history?... "Ah, the women!" repeated the Frenchman, as though lamenting the most terrible form of

ll be just between ourselves. It is a sacred, confessional secret. I will arrange

ing him discreetly and keeping sight of him in order to convince themselves of his entire in

ce at a distance, greeting him with a grave smile which sho

les of which the troops of the Orient stood in need. Ferragut did not make this trip for mercantile reasons. An affection

g before him. It was not a resurrection of the old love; that would have been impossible.... But his

have all the past pardoned, so that she would no longer look at hi

comrade. The other women no longer existed. They were a troop of shadows that passed through his memory like specters of visible shape but without color. As for th

just as at parting, with her two nieces seated at her feet, making interminabl

her tears and permitting her to continue the deliberate mechanicalness of existence. Furthermore, she wished to remove the impression of the angry words, inspired by grief,-the remembrance of that scene of rebellion in which she had arisen like a wrathful accuser against the father. And Ferragut fo

uth could not be resuscitated. The remembrance of the son was always intervenin

g. His destiny was to live henceforth on the ship, to pass the rest of his days upon the waves like the accurs

r remaining idly in the cafés. He looked with interest on the human current passing through the Ramblas in

erragut noticed was th

n ref

, were everywhere kissing each other when meeting, and talking in shrieks. The German tongue, confounded with the Catalan and the Castilian, seemed to have become naturalized. On the roads and mountains could b

ona they had, at the beginning of the war, tried to return to their own country but were now interned, u

they had all clustered together in sight of the sea with the hope of being the f

rmans enriched by commerce were lodged in the hotels. The poor who had been working in the new world as farmers or shop clerks were quartered in a slaughter house on th

n refugees, finally convinced that their wait was going to be a very long one, were scattering themselves through the interior of the state, hunting a more satisfying and less expensive existence. Those who had been liv

gether in certain beer gardens to read the home pe

th America and were associated with those in Barcelona by the free-masonry of comradeship and patriotic interest. But they were all Germans, and that was enough to make the captain immediately recall his son, planning bloody vengeance. He sometimes wished to h

cut flowers that were still guarding in their corollas the dews of daybreak. Each iron table was a

ing themselves with leaves and in their shady branches were twitter

s who were selecting bouquets in the refreshing atmosphere. No situation, ho

retext for beginning conversation. Such insistence was not particularly gratifying to his pride; for she was a female of protruding bust and swaying hips,

es nor the glances from her sharp eyes, she plant

e you not a ship captai

A most beautiful lady was desirous of seeing him.... And she gave him the address of a towered villa situated

a look of sweet promise. "Yo

ly thing that could be gathered from her evasive answers was th

d repeatedly. Her astuteness was quite accustomed to eluding pursuit, and without Ferragut's

irst thing that Ferragut sa

n voyages, without any passion whatever, but through his vagabond curiosity, anxious for novelty. Perhaps some one of these had seen him in the Rambla, sending this intermediary in order

idered it useless to bother about this interview, to encounter

he kept repeating to himself his promise not to keep the tryst, made F

their counting-houses, or to meander through the Rambla. Why not go?... Perhaps he might be mistaken, and the interview might prove an interesting one

et car that conducted him to the new distric

to rest on Sundays and at the same time make a show of their wealth with these Gothic, Arabic, Greek, and Persian creations. The most patriotic were relying on the inspiration of native architects who had invented a Catalan art with p

ng forth their first growth. He looked at the fa?ades of the torres made of blocks of cement imitating the stone

look at the outside only of the house. Perhaps that would aid hi

architecture of a feudal castle whose interior was probably like that of the beer gardens, he saw

in, Ca

able to resist the sugge

es the size of walking-sticks, and old armor adorning the walls. Various wood-cuts reproducing modern pictures of Munich alternated with

the lightness of an immaterial being, as though swallowed up by the wall. While scowling at the portrait of the Kaiser,

resented herself with the

n, Don

ragut on advancing felt that t

oss it, with lance in rest and floating locks, upon a black steed that was expelling fire through its nostrils. In the d

so violent that it made her collide with the captain. Before the feminine embrace could close around him he saw a p

he stuttered,

shudder of surprise. A co

woman, trying again to

n repeated the sail

as F

e of his good counselor, accustomed to speak in his brain in critical instants, which now ass

...

ing him orders. "Hard!... No consideration!... This female is shifty." And he struck as though

f the German woman made him begin a second blow, fearing an attack from her and w

de m

tever.... She reeled from side to side as though she were drunk. Her knees doubled under her, and she fell with the limpness of a

to time by groans of pain. Freya was moaning wit

re. He was satisfied with his brutality; it had been an opportune relief; he could breathe better. At the same time he was begi

hooked in her earrings, perhaps a pin at her breast had scratched it. He sucked the blood from the

of the room. He was already beginning to see objects clearly. His

er half-opened eyes were encircled with temporary wrinkles. Her nose had taken on the livid sharpness of the dead; her great mass of hair, reddening under the blow, was disheveled in golden, undulating tangles. Something black was win

tep over the extended body, seeking the door. Why was he staying there?... Al

a plaintive voice. "Listen to

ith dolorous groans and this movement accelerated the flow of bl

, his eyes fixed on a tall crystal vase which stood upon the floor filled with flowers. With a bang he scattered over the carpet all the

ng her head upon the cushion. She let the wound be washed with the abandon of a sick crea

ng on the temple a red, coagulated s

at your feet. I am your bondslave ... your playth

mility, offering her lips with t

no!..

tred toward this woman, who little by little was appealing to his senses

s thoughts, felt

. And I have not defended myself! I shall not defend myself though you strike me again.... Had it b

th her body resting upon her heels. She reached out her arms while speaking with a

were in Barcelona; I have waited near your home; many times I have seen you through the doorway of a café, and I have taken my pen to write to you. But I feared that you would not come, upon recognizing my handwriting, or that you would pay no attention to a letter in another han

with distracted glance, as th

one lone man and you have awakened the suspicion, without knowing it, of a world-wide organization.... The blow has not yet fallen upon you, but it is going to fall at any moment, perhaps thi

ways did when people spoke to him of danger, and counseled prude

said dully. "It

long to cause them all the harm that I can; but there exists one exception: you!... All my desires of happiness are for you. My dreams of the future always have you as the central personage.... Do you want me to remain indifferent upon seeing you in danger?... No, I am not lying....

re trembling impatiently. He was going away. He did not wish to hear any mo

?... What have you done?" Fr

number of agents that were working for the greater glory of Germany. Von Kramer, from his pr

ould have denounced von Kramer without letting him suspect from whom the accusation came....

of doing was the better one. The only thing that he lamented was that that assassin

to death. We do not know whether the sentence has been carried out; but they are going to shoot

tion of the earth, the civilian battalions of men and women engaged in working for Germany's triumph were repeating his name at this moment. The commanders of the submarines were passing along information

ysses?... What have you

uine interest in his person, a terrible fear of th

will overtake you. Flee! I don't know where you c

ance. He was furious to think that those foreigners could pursue him in his own country; it w

aid. "I'd like to see

as though these innumerable and unknown en

r knows that I love you the same as before, in spite of the wrath that she feels against you. The others are talking of your 'treason' and I protest because I cannot stand such a lie.... Why are you a traitor?... You a

in her memory and she felt it

tion.'... From the very beginning your love and enthusiasm made an impression upon me. You represented an interesting diversion with your Spanish gallantry, waiting for me outside the hotel in order to besiege me with your promises and vows. I was greatly bored during the enfor

s a lie," murmured

her for a few hours, no more, each following his own road without further consideration. We belong to different worlds.... But we were mobilized in the same co

ith you along the gulf shores like two lovers out of a novel. Then reflection would come to my rescue. My past would come tumbling into my mind like an old bell fallen from its tower. I had forgotten that past, and its recurrence deafened me with its overwhelming jangle vibrating with memories. 'Poor man!... Into what a world of compromises and entanglements I am going to involve him!... No! No!' And I fled from you with the

the explanation of many hitherto incomprehensible acts. A curtain was goin

de directly subservient to our work.... She told the truth; I was in love. I recognized it the morning the overwhelming desire to go to the Aquarium took possession of me. I had passed many days without seeing you: I was living outside of the hotel in the doctor's house in order not to encounter my inamorato. And that mornin

her eyes toward him, in order to

e time I was afraid of not seeing you again. The night that you irritated me with the fury of your desires and I stupidly defended myself, as though it were an outrage, concentrating on your person the hatred which all men inspire in me,-that night, alone in my bed, I wept. I wept at the thought that I had lost you forever and at the same time I felt satisfied with myself because thus I was freeing you from my balefu

tude, as though relishing this period of her r

ne ... two ... three ... 'My adored sailor, my amorous shark, is going to come.... He is going to come!' And what came suddenly, while we were still believing it far away, was the blow of the war, rudely separating us. The doctor was cursing the Italians, thinking of Germany; I was cursing them, thinking of you,

knees, longing to embrace them, yet not daring to do so, fearing that he might

I hated her. She rejoiced in the event, passing indifferently over your name. You no longer existed for her, because she was no longer able to make use of you.... I wept for you, for your son whom I

n her eyes. A flicker of humble lo

esides, I am not the one who is really guilty: there are others. I have been deceived just as you have been. 'He is going to come, and we shall be happy again!'... Ay! If this room could speak ... if this divan on which I have dreamed so many times could talk!... I was always arranging some flowers in a vase, making believe that you were going to come. I was always fixing myself up a little bit, imagining it was for you.... I was living in your country, and it was nat

rowed as though dominated by a tenacious i

s the do

g around him as though awaiting the appearance of the imposing dame. Hi

drid, in San Sebastian, or in Cadiz. She goes off very frequently. She has frien

ction, abstaining from giving her any work whatever. She was doing everything herself, avoiding all intermediaries. What had happened

t cities or vagabonds from the inland forests, had grouped itself around her. At their head, as message-bearer

p of adventurers inflamed by patriotic enthusiasm who were forwarding supplies to the submarines in the Spanish Mediterranean. T

upon you, waiting for a favorable moment. Who knows if they have not alrea

ged his shoulders with

e in you a little compassion, if you are not comp

ected demand produced an impression of scandalized amazement. Was he to flee with her, with the one

absurd that the capta

it hanging over my head.... I am of absolutely no use to them now; I no longer have their confidence, and I know too many things. Since I possess too many secrets for them to give me up, leaving me

these supplications, finally b

th me, making me intervene again in the network of your life, co

many's adversaries. He was lamenting his former blindness and was satisfied with hi

time as the secret instrument of your espionage. 'Captain Ferragut is such an enamored simpleton,' you have said to one another. 'We have nothing to do but to make an appeal to his chivalry....' A

arm and foot, and was about to strike and crush the kneeling woman. But

es ... lis

radically. Her remorse, on thinking of what she had done, was making her a martyr. Her conscience was beginning to feel the wholesome transformation of repentant women who were formerly great sin

men; men with mothers, with wives, with daughters. And her woman's soul was horrified at the thought of the combats

o not know any way of earning my living and I am accustomed to living well. Poverty inspires me with greater fear than death. You will be able to maintain me; I will accept of you

smiled with

You are mistaken. I have not been that. There has to be a special predisposition, a certain talent for feigning what I do not feel.... I have tried to sell mysel

longed his atrocio

ll a lie. Make no further effor

ut's eyes. He saw her left temple with the torn skin; the spot caused by the blow extended around o

stigations in our happy days. I wished to keep my former life a secret ... to forget it. Now I must tell yo

o hear it. He protested in adva

onder when you will eve

re de guerre, my name as an adventuress. Talberg was the professor who accompanied me to the Andes, and who was not my

n did not inte

id. "Another novel!...

nds above her head, twisting the interlaced

eve me?... What oath can I take to convin

mes would be unavailing. There was no oath that could possibly convinc

, not wishing to protest a

... Furthermore, the Germanic empires always inspired him with a blind enthusiasm. He was

nking establishments and having interviews in the lobbies of the government departments. Eternally on the eve of surprising combinations that were bound

ple have never known existence in the Palace Hotels, nor have you known difficulties in meeting the mo

emarkable husband, would finally dry her tears, powder her face, and adorn herself with her pearls and her blonde laces of problematic value. Then she would descend to the magnificent hall, filled with perfumes, with the hum of conversation and the discreet wailin

the Palace Hotel with other children dressed up and adorned

been on familiar terms with great heiresses that are to-day, through their marriages, duchesses and even princesses of the blood royal. Many of them ha

t indispensable for his future negotiations. Life in the most expensive hotels, an automobile by the month, gowns designed by the greatest modistes for his wife and daughter, summers at the most fas

ife. Dishonor, death, anything is to me preferable to poverty.... I, w

e of young woman who lives among men from hotel to hotel, always somewhat masculine in her attitude;-a half-way virgin who knows everything, is not frightene

r fortune than her gowns and a few artistic gems of

g as her only fortune some knowledge of the piano, of dancing, and a few languages.... We yield our body as though fulfilling a material function, without shame

and most positive women do not escape. She believed that she had fallen in love with a Dutch officer, a blonde Apollo who used to skate with her in Saint Moritz. This had been her only husband. Finally she had

of their petticoats stretched over the seat. They were like the prostitutes waiting at the doors of their huts. How were they ever permitted to live there!... Nevertheless, the men bowed before them like slaves, or followed as suppliants these

humored, argumentative, and nervous. Perhaps I was born to be the mother of a famil

ted girls, if afraid of the misery of poverty, had no other recourse than prostitution. They lacked a

tches. Doctor Talberg, on returning from America, had abandoned her in order to marry a young and rich woman, the daughter of a trader, a senator from Hamburg. Ot

ted at the very thought that she needed them to live and could never free her

owed after me, desiring the female, and ridiculing the actress. Besides-the life behind t

a great nation, to be a secret functionary, laboring in the shadow for its grandeur. Besides, at the beginning she was fascinated by the novelty of the work,

n account of its being irremediable,-she had tried to divorce herself from her life of tantalizing tourist and theatrical woman; but whoever enters into the secret service can nevermore go from it. She learns too many things; slo

I were still only in my teens and being courted for the first time!... Besides, you are not a selfish person. You gave with noble enthusiasm. I believe that if we had known each other in our early youth you would never have deserted me in order to make yourself rich by marrying some one else. I resisted you at first, because I loved you and did not wish to do yo

to raise her hands in order to put them on his

world, had gone through shameful adventures, and would know how to free herself by her own efforts without the necessity

shall believe you.... Each time that we meet you tell me a new tale.... Who

g anxiously of her future, as though perceiving

ast. Any one of my former achievements would be enough to make them shoot me: I deserve nothing less. Besides, the vengeance of my own people fills me with terror. I know the methods of the 'service,' when they find it necessary to rid themselves of an inconvenient agent who is in the enemy's territor

her desperation. The world was large. She c

had had the same thought, but the

us surely in its clutches because of our past, it gives us only what is necessary in order to live with a certain freedom. What can I

ng on the admirable cushion of her bosom, the great emeralds in her ears, the diamonds that were sparkling coldly on her hands. She g

and smile before their brilliancy. She who possesses them does not arouse suspicion however late she may be in paying the weekly account.... The employees at the frontier become exceedingly gallant: there is no passport more powerful. The haughty ladies become more cordial before their sparkle, at the tea hour i

few hours before were receiving his blows. She would meet courageously all dangers and sufferings rather than lay aside her helmet and shield, the symbols of her superior caste. The gown more than a year old, shabby, patched shoes, negligee with badly

norance of the sailor in venturing

ople imagine them as numerous and close together as the flagstones of a pavement, but only one vessel in a thousand is the vi

his neck with a passion that was equal to an embrace. While speaking, her mouth came n

a?... Do you no longer remember ou

seductive memories whirling through his brain, guessed what they were by the contraction of his face. And smiling triumphantly, she placed her mouth agains

she felt herself repelled, shot back by a brutal hand-thrust similar to the

between the two, in spit

ns of limitless pleasure, suddenly beheld the face of the dead Esteban with his glassy eyes fixed upon him. Further on he saw another ima

no!..

the roar of a wounded beast, the dry howling

ied to draw near to him, enlacing him again in

!... My

ain repelled her, but so violently that her

t made its two leaves open at the same

icing the pain of her fall. Nimbleness only could serve her now

!... Uly

ric-a-brac that had obtruded themselves and confused the fugitive in his blind fl

reet with a hostile glance.... Nobody! He longed to meet the enemy of whom that woman had been speaking, to find vent for that wrath which h

enacingly. Was he perhaps one of those charged with killing him?... Then he would pass on, regretting his irritation, sure that they were tradesmen from South America, a

began to ridicule Fr

to engage my interest again and make

k of his steamer, Toni approached him with a m

the stern, the mate spoke in a

thing better. From it he used to bring back the humming songs with which he beguiled his long watches on the bridge. Besides, it had a feminine chorus brilliantly clad and bare-legged

ed to assassinate him. Hearing footsteps, he fancied that he had seen forms hiding behind a mountain of merc

r the ship, almost to the prow. I had only to take a few leaps to

Then they were true, those reports of Freya's!... He could not pretend increduli

meant for me. What enemies have I? Who would want to harm a poor mate who never sees anybody?...

on guarded as a secret, relating it to this nocturnal attack. But neither his voice nor his eyes j

else know what

r, pacifying the dog on board, that was howling furiously. The man on

ported this to t

Mediterranean who never remembers authority in moments of danger and whose only d

e he happened to be in Barcelona. Ay, with this he might shoot if he were not wou

l affection which appeared to evoke the flashing battle-axes used by his ancestors, h

me that he was skipper of a small boat,-a shining blade which reproduced the faces

days ago were strolling slowly along the wharf examining the vessel, and spying upon those going on and of

" ordered Ferragut. "I'll take

be Germans. To the aggressiveness of his character was now added the indignation of a proprietor who finds himself assaulted within his h

e was only awaiting the nightfall to carry out a certain idea that had clamped itself between his

anything idiotic, Ferragut; don't hunt the enemy, don

n vessels destined to shipwreck, and had pushed him toward danger for

"To try to assassinate me when I am on my own lan

ers of the fishing boats and tramp vessels. A gramophone was continually playing there, grinding out shrill songs to which the guests responded in roaring chorus. When war news favorable to the German Empire was received, the songs and drinking would redouble until midnight and

burg underneath his own counter.... He'd just like to see thi

the bar with an irresistible impulse wh

handled the latch with too much force. And the captain final

lectric bulbs which had just been lit, and men around the various tables, facing him or with their backs turned. The gramophone was shrilling in a

ain Ulysse

l tales which held the life of an entire city in suspense, leaving persons and obj

se in front remained with their eyes fixed on the one who was entering, eyes widened with surprise as if they could not believe what they saw. The gramop

all and sprightly, whose escapades had brought him to Barcelona. He usually served his customers with indifference, without taking any interest in their words and their hymns. He "didn't mix hi

equently used and that there were many there who desired to see him. He coul

so," said th

er, bringing him, in a little

bles. Some, turning their backs upon him, were absolutely rigid; others ha

ise having vanished, they seemed disposed to rise up and fall upon the recent arrival. But some one behind him appeared

to assail in a place where they avoided his glance and all contact with him. On the nearest table there was an illustrated newsp

opening of his pocket, ready to take up arms in case of attack. In a little while he regretted this excessively swaggering posture. They we

on something that was provoking his jibes. As though this were not enough, he raised

tisfaction, occupied with the contents of their glasses. Hindenburg, turning his mighty back upon his clientele, was reading an evening newspaper on the counter. The Andalusian, seated in the background, was looking at t

had driven away all those people that Freya was so afra

the arcades of the old edifices near the harbor, groups of workers from the maritime establishments were filing by. Barcelona, dazzling with sple

the fugitives from that dirty cafe were near, intending to follow him. In vain he glanced searchingly around: he co

re at the bar. Besides, it seemed to him a fitting finale to his escapade to offer to any enemies that might be following him a favorable occasion

long storehouses and winding in and out among mountains of merchandise. At first he met little gr

coal. The black water reflected the red and green serpents from the lights on the boats. A transatlantic liner was prolonging its

eet lamp, the muzzle of his gun gleaming. Others were lying in ambush among

shadows, close to a pile of crates and saw some men advancing in his direction, passing rapidly

gnize them, he was positive, nevertheless,

e dock most deserted at that hour. "You'v

as further away than the steamer, and his enemies would fall upon him just as soon as th

Go on!" cri

count upon the conventions of civilized life. Night was swallowing him up with all the ambushed traps of a virgin forest while b

em. "Forward! Only women had to ask assistance...." Besides, perhaps he was und

r who scents the pack of hounds trying to cross his tracks. At his right, was the water. At his left, men were prowl

join in the pursuit. A human hunt was going to take place in the night, and he, Ferragut, would be the deer pursued by the low crowds from the bar. "Ah, no!

hemselves in that part of the harbor obstructed by mountains of cases, fearing that he might hide himself

" The steamer was near. He could recognize now its black silhouette fast to the wharf. At that moment t

ing over an open space. He concentrated all his will

from different sides of the dock, followed by reports of a gun. It was a sharp cross-fire; behind him, they were firing,

m. And, without knowing exactly what he was doing, yielding t

en all was silent. Only on the nearby

, coming out from the group in order to examine him at close range. He let hi

litting blaze of fire made him see a familiar face.... Was it really Karl, the doctor's factotum?... The second explosion aided his memory. Yes, it was Karl, wi

elf now, and springing up with a bound, he ran and ran, bending hi

rs hesitated a few moments, confused in the darkness and not know

assed between the balls along the edge of the wharf, the whole length of the Mare Nostrum. His salvation was now

eing a man advancing toward him with something gleaming in one

ed that he might

voice almost breathless becaus

his vessel, he instantly r

ings, cries of alarm, the noise of running. The Carabineers and guards were called and grouped

angplank!" ord

come up to retire the gangplank hastily. Then h

n their arms. A remnant of his wrath made him raise his right hand, still armed, aiming at the group. Then he lowered it again.... He

ered the saloon under

ight that a hanging lamp spread upon the tabl

ood

scratch. The proof of it

certain difficulty, feeling the

happened.... I don't believe t

ed thoughtful

for us to get away fro

ot one of them is to

ago

s on his way to the saloon, without being called, anxious to know what had occurred, and fearing to

... My captain's

n and bandages. He was something of a quack docto

uld accept his services, b

yly. "I shall be content with whatever you