按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
if you'll be as good as your word； he'll be as good as his； and bring a score more brave fellows with him。〃
So off went Yeo to Plymouth； and returned with Drew and a score of old never…strikes。 One look at their visages； as Yeo proudly ushered them into the Ship Tavern； showed Amyas that they were of the metal which he wanted； and that； with the four North…Devon men who had gone round the world with him in the Pelican （who all joined in the first week）； he had a reserve…force on which he could depend in utter need； and that utter need might come he knew as well as any。
Nor was this all which Yeo had brought； for he had with him a letter from Sir Francis Drake； full of regrets that he had not seen 〃his dear lad〃 as he went through Plymouth。 〃But indeed I was up to Dartmoor； surveying with cross…staff and chain； over my knees in bog for a three weeks or more。 For I have a project to bring down a leat of fair water from the hill…tops right into Plymouth town； cutting off the heads of Tavy； Meavy； Wallcomb； and West Dart； and thereby purging Plymouth harbor from the silt of the mines whereby it has been choked of late years； and giving pure drink not only to the townsmen； but to the fleets of the queen's majesty； which if I do； I shall both make some poor return to God for all His unspeakable mercies； and erect unto myself a monument better than of brass or marble； not merely honorable to me； but useful to my countrymen。〃* Whereon Frank sent Drake a pretty epigram； comparing Drake's projected leat to that river of eternal life whereof the just would drink throughout eternity； and quoting （after the fashion of those days） John vii。 38； while Amyas took more heed of a practical appendage to the same letter； which was a list of hints scrawled for his use by Captain John Hawkins himself； on all sea matters； from the mounting of ordnance to the use of vitriol against the scurvy； in default of oranges and 〃limmons；〃 all which stood Amyas in good stead during the ensuing month； while Frank grew more and more proud of his brother； and more and more humble about himself。
* This noble monument of Drake's piety and public spirit still remains in full use。
For he watched with astonishment how the simple sailor； without genius； scholarship； or fancy； had gained； by plain honesty； patience； and common sense； a power over the human heart； and a power over his work； whatsoever it might be； which Frank could only admire afar off。 The men looked up to him as infallible； prided themselves on forestalling his wishes； carried out his slightest hint； worked early and late to win a smile from him； while as for him； no detail escaped him； no drudgery sickened him； no disappointment angered him； till on the 15th of November； 1583； dropped down from Bideford Quay to Appledore Pool the tall ship Rose； with a hundred men on board （for sailors packed close in those days）； beef； pork； biscuit； and good ale （for ale went to sea always then） in abundance； four culverins on her main deck； her poop and forecastle well fitted with swivels of every size； and her racks so full of muskets； calivers； long bows； pikes； and swords； that all agreed so well…appointed a ship had never sailed 〃out over Bar。〃
The next day being Sunday； the whole crew received the Communion together at Northam Church； amid a mighty crowd； and then going on board again； hove anchor and sailed out over the Bar before a soft east wind； to the music of sacbut； fife； and drum； with discharge of all ordnance； great and small； with cheering of young and old from cliff and strand and quay； and with many a tearful prayer and blessing upon that gallant bark； and all brave hearts on board。
And Mrs。 Leigh who had kissed her sons for the last time after the Communion at the altar…steps （and what more fit place for a mother's kiss？） went to the rocky knoll outside the churchyard wall； and watched the ship glide out between the yellow denes； and lessen slowly hour by hour into the boundless West； till her hull sank below the dim horizon； and her white sails faded away into the gray Atlantic mist； perhaps forever。
And Mrs。 Leigh gathered her cloak about her； and bowed her head and worshipped； and then went home to loneliness and prayer。
CHAPTER XVII
HOW THEY CAME TO BARBADOS； AND FOUND NO MEN THEREIN
〃The sun's rim dips； the stars rush out； At one stride comes the dark。〃
COLERIDGE。
Land！ land！ land！ Yes； there it was； far away to the south and west； beside the setting sun； a long blue bar between the crimson sea and golden sky。 Land at last； with fresh streams； and cooling fruits； and free room for cramped and scurvy…weakened limbs。 And there； too； might be gold； and gems； and all the wealth of Ind。 Who knew？ Why not？ The old world of fact and prose lay thousands of miles behind them； and before them and around them was the realm of wonder and fable； of boundless hope and possibility。 Sick men crawled up out of their stifling hammocks； strong men fell on their knees and gave God thanks； and all eyes and hands were stretched eagerly toward the far blue cloud； fading as the sun sank down； yet rising higher and broader as the ship rushed on before the rich trade…wind； which whispered lovingly round brow and sail； 〃I am the faithful friend of those who dare！〃 〃Blow freshly； freshlier yet； thou good trade…wind； of whom it is written that He makes the winds His angels； ministering breaths to the heirs of His salvation。 Blow freshlier yet； and save； if not me from death； yet her from worse than death。 Blow on； and land me at her feet； to call the lost lamb home； and die！〃
So murmured Frank to himself； as with straining eyes he gazed upon that first outlier of the New World which held his all。 His cheeks were thin and wasted； and the hectic spot on each glowed crimson in the crimson light of the setting sun。 A few minutes more； and the rainbows of the West were gone； emerald and topaz； amethyst and ruby； had faded into silver…gray； and overhead； through the dark sapphire depths； the Moon and Venus reigned above the sea。
〃That should be Barbados； your worship；〃 said Drew； the master； 〃unless my reckoning is far out； which； Heaven knows； it has no right to be； after such a passage； and God be praised。〃
〃Barbados？ I never heard of it。〃
〃Very like； sir： but Yeo and I were here with Captain Drake； and I was here after； too； with poor Captain Barlow； and there is good harborage to the south and west of it； I remember。〃
〃And neither Spaniard； cannibal； or other evil beast；〃 said Yeo。 〃A very garden of the Lord； sir； hid away in the seas； for an inheritance to those who love Him。 I heard Captain Drake talk of planting it； if ever he had a chance。〃
〃I recollect now；〃 said Amyas； 〃some talk between him and poor Sir Humphrey about an island here。 Would God he had gone thither instead of to Newfoundland！〃
〃Nay； then；〃 said Yeo； 〃he is in bliss now with the Lord； and you would not have kept him from that； sir？〃
〃He would have waited as willingly as he went； if he could have served his queen thereby。 But what say you； my masters？ How can we do better than to spend a few days here； to get our sick round； before we m