Glancing down at his feet, Captain Delano saw the freed hand of theservant aiming with a second dagger—a small one, before concealed inhis wool—with this he was snakishly writhing up from the boat's bottom,at the heart of his master, his countenance lividly vindictive,expressing the centred purpose of his soul; while the Spaniard,half-choked, was vainly shrinking away, with husky words, incoherent toall but the Portuguese.
That moment, across the long-benighted mind of Captain Delano, a flashof revelation swept, illuminating, in unanticipated clearness, hishost's whole mysterious demeanor, with every enigmatic event of the day,as well as the entire past voyage of the San Dominick. He smote Babo'shand down, but his own heart smote him harder. With infinite pity hewithdrew his hold from Don
