d Charles Leigh （Amyas's merchant…cousin）； and with Aldworth the mayor of Bristol； and William Salterne； alderman thereof； and cousin of our friend at Bideford。 For Carlile； and Secretary Walsingham also； have been helping them heart and soul for the last two years to collect money for Humphrey and Adrian Gilbert's great adventures to the North…West； on one of which Carlile was indeed to have sailed himself； but did not go after all； I never could discover for what reason。
On the opposite side of the table is a group； scarcely less interesting。 Martin Frobisher and John Davis； the pioneers of the North…West passage； are talking with Alderman Sanderson； the great geographer and 〃setter forth of globes；〃 with Mr。 Towerson； Sir Gilbert Peckham； our old acquaintance Captain John Winter； and last； but not least； with Philip Sidney himself； who； with his accustomed courtesy； has given up his rightful place toward the head of the table that he may have a knot of virtuosi all to himself； and has brought with him； of course； his two especial intimates； Mr。 Edward Dyer and Mr。 Francis Leigh。 They too are talking of the North…West passage： and Sidney is lamenting that he is tied to diplomacy and courts； and expressing his envy of old Martin Frobisher in all sorts of pretty compliments； to which the other replies that；
〃It's all very fine to talk of here； a sailing on dry land with a good glass of wine before you； but you'd find it another guess sort of business； knocking about among the icebergs with your beard frozen fast to your ruff； Sir Philip； specially if you were a bit squeamish about the stomach。〃
〃That were a slight matter to endure； my dear sir； if by it I could win the honor which her majesty bestowed on you； when her own ivory hand waved a farewell 'kerchief to your ship from the windows of Greenwich Palace。〃
〃Well； sir； folks say you have no reason to complain of lack of favors； as you have no reason to deserve lack； and if you can get them by staying ashore； don't you go to sea to look for more； say I。 Eh； Master Towerson？〃
Towerson's gray beard； which has stood many a foreign voyage； both fair and foul； wags grim assent。 But at this moment a Waiter enters； and
〃Please my lord mayor's worship； there is a tall gentleman outside； would speak with the Right Honorable Sir Walter Raleigh。〃
〃Show him in； man。 Sir Walter's friends are ours。〃
Amyas enters； and stands hesitating in the doorway。
〃Captain Leigh！〃 cry half a…dozen voices。
〃Why did you not walk in； sir？〃 says Osborne。 〃You should know your way well enough between these decks。〃
〃Well enough； my lords and gentlemen。 But； Sir Walteryou will excuse me〃and he gave Raleigh a look which was enough for his quick wit。 Turning pale as death； he rose； and followed Amyas into an adjoining cabin。 They were five minutes together； and then Amyas came out alone。
In few words he told the company the sad story which we already know。 Ere it was ended； noble tears were glistening on some of those stern faces。
〃The old Egyptians；〃 said Sir Edward Osborne； 〃when they banqueted； set a corpse among their guests； for a memorial of human vanity。 Have we forgotten God and our own weakness in this our feast； that He Himself has sent us thus a message from the dead？〃
〃Nay； my lord mayor；〃 said Sidney； 〃not from the dead； but from the realm of everlasting life。〃
〃Amen！〃 answered Osborne。 〃But； gentlemen； our feast is at an end。 There are those here who would drink on merrily； as brave men should； in spite of the private losses of which they have just had news； but none here who can drink with the loss of so great a man still ringing in his ears。〃
It was true。 Though many of the guests had suffered severely by the failure of the expedition； they had utterly forgotten that fact in the awful news of Sir Humphrey's death； and the feast broke up sadly and hurriedly； while each man asked his neighbor； 〃What will the queen say？〃
Raleigh re…entered in a few minutes； but was silent； and pressing many an honest hand as he passed； went out to call a wherry； beckoning Amyas to follow him。 Sidney； Cumberland； and Frank went with them in another boat； leaving the two to talk over the sad details。
They disembarked at Whitehall…stairs； Raleigh； Sidney； and Cumberland went to the palace； and the two brothers to their mother's lodgings。
Amyas had prepared his speech to Frank about Rose Salterne； but now that it was come to the point； he had not courage to begin； and longed that Frank would open the matter。 Frank； too； shrank from what he knew must come； and all the more because he was ignorant that Amyas had been to Bideford； or knew aught of the Rose's disappearance。
So they went upstairs； and it was a relief to both of them to find that their mother was at the Abbey； for it was for her sake that both dreaded what was coming。 So they went and stood in the bay… window which looked out upon the river； and talked of things indifferent； and looked earnestly at each other's faces by the fading light； for it was now three years since they had met。
Years and events had deepened the contrast between the two brothers； and Frank smiled with affectionate pride as he looked up in Amyas's face； and saw that he was no longer merely the rollicking handy sailor…lad； but the self…confident and stately warrior； showing in every look and gesture
〃The reason firm； the temperate will； Endurance； foresight； strength； and skill；〃
worthy of one whose education had been begun by such men as Drake and Grenville； and finished by such as Raleigh and Gilbert。 His long locks were now cropped close to the head； but as a set…off； the lips and chin were covered with rich golden beard； his face was browned by a thousand suns and storms； a long scar； the trophy of some Irish fight； crossed his right temple； his huge figure had gained breadth in proportion to its height； and his hand； as it lay upon the window…sill； was hard and massive as a smith's。 Frank laid his own upon it； and sighed； and Amyas looked down； and started at the contrast between the twoso slender； bloodless； all but transparent； were the delicate fingers of the courtier。 Amyas looked anxiously into his brother's face。 It was changed； indeed； since they last met。 The brilliant red was still on either cheek； but the white had become dull and opaque； the lips were pale； the features sharpened； the eyes glittered with unnatural fire： and when Frank told Amyas that he looked aged； Amyas could not help thinking that the remark was far more true of the speaker himself。
Trying to shut his eyes to the palpable truth； he went on with his chat； asking the names of one building after another。
〃And so this is old Father Thames； with his bank of palaces？〃
〃Yes。 His banks are stately enough； yet； you see； he cannot stay to look at them。 He hurries down to the sea； and the sea into the ocean； and the ocean Westward…ho； forever。 All things move Westward…ho。 Perhaps we may move that way ourselves some day； Amyas。〃
〃What do you mean by that strange talk？〃
〃Only that the ocean follows the primum mobile of the heavens； and flows forever from east to west。 Is there anything so strange in my thinking of that； when I am just come from a party where we have been drinking success to Westward…ho？〃
〃And much good has come of it！ I have lost the best friend and the noblest captain upon earth； not to mention all my little earnings； in that same confounded gulf of Westward…ho。〃
〃Yes； Sir Humphrey Gilbert's star has set in the Westwhy not？ Sun； moon； and planets sink into the West： why not the meteors of this lower world？ why not a will…o'…the…wisp like me； Amyas？〃
〃God forbid； Frank！〃
〃Why； then？ Is not the West the land of peace； and the land of dreams？ Do not our hearts tell us so each time we look upon the setting sun； and long to float away with him upon the golden… cushioned clouds？ They bury men with their faces to the East。 I should rather have mine turned to the West； Amyas； when I die； for I cannot but think it some divine instinct which made the ancient poets guess that Elysium lay beneath the setting sun。 It is bound up in the heart of man； that longing for the West。 I complain of no one for fleeing away thither beyond the utmost sea； as David wished to flee； and be at peace。〃
〃Complain of no one for fleeing thither？〃 asked Amyas。 〃That is more than I do。〃
Frank looked inquiringly at him； and then
〃No。 If I had complained of any one； it would have been of you just now； for seeming to be tired of going Westward…ho。〃
〃Do you wish me to go； then？〃
〃God knows；〃 said Frank； after a moment's pause。 〃But I must tell you now； I suppose； once and for all。 That has happened at Bideford which〃
〃Spare us both； Frank； I know all。 I came through Bideford on my way hither； and came hither not merely to see you and my mother； but to ask your advice and her permission。〃
〃True heart！ noble heart！〃 cried Frank。 〃I knew you would be stanch！〃
〃Westward…ho it is； then？〃
〃Can we escape？〃
〃We？〃
〃Amyas； does not that which binds you bind me？〃
Amyas started back； and held Frank by the shoulders at arm's length； as he did so； he could feel through； that his brother's arms were but skin and bone。
〃You？ Dearest man； a month of it would kill you！〃
Frank smiled； and tossed his head on one side in his pretty way。
〃I belong to the school of Thales； who held that the ocean is the mother of all life； and feel no more repugnance at returning to her bosom again than Humphrey Gilbert did。〃
〃But； Frank；my mother？〃
〃My mother knows all； and would not have us unworthy of her。〃
〃Impossible！ She will never give you up！〃
〃All things are possible to them that believe in God； my brother； and she believes。 But； indeed； Doctor Dee； the wise man； gave her but this summer I know not what of prognostics and diagnostics concerning me。 I am born； it seems； under a cold and watery planet； and need； if I am to be long…lived； to go nearer to the vivifying heat of the sun； and there bask out my little life； like fly on wall。 To tell truth； he has bidden me spend no more winters here in the East； but return to our native sea…breezes； there to warm my frozen lungs； an