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ays he has heard fair music at night up in the Gulf； far away from land。〃
〃The Spaniards report that at certain seasons choirs of these nymphs assemble in the sea； and with ravishing music sing their watery loves。 It may be so。 For Nature； which has peopled the land with rational souls； may not have left the sea altogether barren of them； above all； when we remember that the ocean is as it were the very fount of all fertility； and its slime （as the most learned hold with Thales of Miletus） that prima materia out of which all things were one by one concocted。 Therefore； the ancients feigned wisely that Venus； the mother of all living things； whereby they designed the plastic force of nature； was born of the sea…foam； and rising from the deep； floated ashore upon the isles of Greece。〃
〃I don't know what plastic force is； but I wish I had had the luck to be by when the pretty poppet came up： however； the nearest thing I ever saw to that was maidens swimming alongside of us when we were in the South Seas； and would have come aboard； too； but Drake sent them all off again for a lot of naughty packs； and I verily believe they were no better。 Look at the butterflies； now！ Don't you wish you were a boy again； and not too proud to go catching them in your cap？〃
And so the two wandered on together through the glorious tropic woods； and then returned to the beach to find the sick already grown cheerful； and many who that morning could not stir from their hammocks； pacing up and down； and gaining strength with every step。
〃Well done； lads！〃 cried Amyas； 〃keep a cheerful mind。 We will have the music ashore after dinner； for want of mermaids to sing to us； and those that can dance may。〃
And so those four days were spent； and the men； like schoolboys on a holiday； gave themselves up to simple merriment； not forgetting； however； to wash the clothes； take in fresh water； and store up a good supply of such fruit as seemed likely to keep； until； tired with fruitless rambles after gold； which they expected to find in every bush； in spite of Yeo's warnings that none had been heard of on the island； they were fain to lounge about； full…grown babies； picking up shells and sea…fans to take home to their sweethearts； smoking agoutis out of the hollow trees； with shout and laughter； and tormenting every living thing they could come near； till not a land…crab dare look out of his hole； or an armadillo unroll himself； till they were safe out of the bay； and off again to the westward； unconscious pioneers of all the wealth； and commerce； and beauty； and science which has in later centuries made that lovely isle the richest gem of all the tropic seas。
CHAPTER XVIII
HOW THEY TOOK THE PEARLS AT MARGARITA
P。 Henry。 Why； what a rascal art thou； then； to praise him so for running！ Falstaff。 O' horseback； ye cuckoo！ but a…foot； he will not budge a foot。 P。 Henry。 Yes； Jack； upon instinct。 Falstaff。 I grant ye； upon instinct。
Henry IV。 Pt。 I。
They had slipped past the southern point of Grenada in the night； and were at last within that fairy ring of islands； on which nature had concentrated all her beauty； and man all his sin。 If Barbados had been invested in the eyes of the newcomers with some strange glory； how much more the seas on which they now entered； which smile in almost perpetual calm； untouched by the hurricane which roars past them far to northward！ Sky； sea； and islands were one vast rainbow； though little marked； perhaps； by those sturdy practical sailors； whose main thought was of Spanish gold and pearls； and as little by Amyas； who； accustomed to the scenery of the tropics； was speculating inwardly on the possibility of extirpating the Spaniards； and annexing the West Indies to the domains of Queen Elizabeth。 And yet even their unpoetic eyes could not behold without awe and excitement lands so famous and yet so new； around which all the wonder； all the pity； and all the greed of the age had concentrated itself。 It was an awful thought； and yet inspiriting； that they were entering regions all but unknown to Englishmen； where the penalty of failure would be worse than death the torments of the Inquisition。 Not more than five times before； perhaps； had those mysterious seas been visited by English keels； but there were those on board who knew them well； and too well； who； first of all British mariners； had attempted under Captain John Hawkins to trade along those very coasts； and； interdicted from the necessaries of life by Spanish jealousy； had； in true English fashion； won their markets at the sword's point； and then bought and sold honestly and peaceably therein。 The old mariners of the Pelican and the Minion were questioned all day long for the names of every isle and cape； every fish and bird； while Frank stood by； listening serious and silent。
A great awe seemed to have possessed his soul； yet not a sad one： for his face seemed daily to drink in glory from the glory round him； and murmuring to himself at whiles； 〃This is the gate of heaven；〃 he stood watching all day long； careless of food and rest； as every forward plunge of the ship displayed some fresh wonder。 Islands and capes hung high in air； with their inverted images below them； long sand…hills rolled and weltered in the mirage； and the yellow flower…beds； and huge thorny cacti like giant candelabra； which clothed the glaring slopes； twisted； tossed； and flickered； till the whole scene seemed one blazing phantom…world； in which everything was as unstable as it was fantastic； even to the sun itself； distorted into strange oval and pear…shaped figures by the beds of crimson mist through which he sank to rest。 But while Frank wondered； Yeo rejoiced； for to the southward of that setting sun a cluster of tall peaks rose from the sea； and they； unless his reckonings were wrong； were the mountains of Macanao； at the western end of Margarita； the Isle of Pearls； then famous in all the cities of the Mediterranean； and at the great German fairs； and second only in richness to that pearl island in the gulf of Panama； which fifteen years before had cost John Oxenham his life。
The next day saw them running along the north side of the island； having passed undiscovered （as far as they could see） the castle which the Spaniards had built at the eastern end for the protection of the pearl fisheries。
At last they opened a deep and still bight； wooded to the water's edge； and lying in the roadstead a caravel； and three boats by her。 And at that sight there was not a man but was on deck at once； and not a mouth but was giving its opinion of what should be done。 Some were for sailing right into the roadstead； the breeze blowing fresh toward the shore （as it usually does throughout those islands in the afternoon）。 However； seeing the billows break here and there off the bay's mouth； they thought it better； for fear of rocks； to run by quietly； and then send in the pinnace and the boat。 Yeo would have had them show Spanish colors； for fear of alarming the caravel； but Amyas stoutly refused； 〃counting it；〃 he said； 〃a mean thing to tell a lie in that way； unless in extreme dan