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ny was to be sent out the next year； with miners； assayers； and； what was more； Parmenius Budaeus； Frank's old friend； who had come to England full of thirst to see the wonders of the New World； and over and above this； as Raleigh told Amyas in strictest secrecy； Adrian Gilbert； Humphrey's brother； was turning every stone at Court for a patent of discovery in the North…West； and this Newfoundland colony； though it was to produce gold； silver； merchandise； and what not； was but a basis of operations； a halfway house from whence to work out the North…West passage to the Indiesthat golden dream； as fatal to English valor as the Guiana one to Spanishand yet hardly； hardly to be regretted； when we remember the seamanship； the science； the chivalry； the heroism； unequalled in the history of the English nation； which it has called forth among those our later Arctic voyagers； who have combined the knight…errantry of the middle age with the practical prudence of the modern； and dared for duty more than Cortez or Pizarro dared for gold。
Amyas； simple fellow； took all in greedily； he knew enough of the dangers of the Magellan passage to appreciate the boundless value of a road to the East Indies which would （as all supposed then） save half the distance； and be as it were a private possession of the English； safe from Spanish interference； and he listened reverently to Sir Humphrey's quaint proofs； half true； half fantastic； of such a passage； which Raleigh detailed to himof the Primum Mobile； and its diurnal motion from east to west； in obedience to which the sea…current flowed westward ever round the Cape of Good Hope； and being unable to pass through the narrow strait between South America and the Antarctic Continent； rushed up the American shore； as the Gulf Stream； and poured northwestward between Greenland and Labrador towards Cathay and India； of that most crafty argument of Sir Humphrey'show Aristotle in his book 〃De Mundo；〃 and Simon Gryneus in his annotations thereon； declare that the world （the Old World） is an island； compassed by that which Homer calls the river Oceanus； ergo； the New World is an island also； and there is a North…West passage； of the three brothers （names unknown） who had actually made the voyage； and named what was afterwards called Davis's Strait after themselves； of the Indians who were cast ashore in Germany in the reign of Frederic Barbarossa who； as Sir Humphrey had learnedly proved per modum tollendi； could have come only by the North…West； and above all； of Salvaterra； the Spaniard； who in 1568 had told Sir Henry Sidney （Philip's father）； there in Ireland； how he had spoken with a Mexican friar named Urdaneta； who had himself come from Mar del Zur （the Pacific） into Germany by that very North…West passage； at which last Amyas shook his head； and said that friars were liars； and seeing believing； 〃but if you must needs have an adventure； you insatiable soul you； why not try for the golden city of Manoa？〃
〃Manoa？〃 asked Raleigh； who had heard； as most had； dim rumors of the place。 〃What do you know of it？〃
Whereon Amyas told him all that he had gathered from the Spaniard； and Raleigh； in his turn； believed every word。
〃Humph！〃 said he after a long silence。 〃To find that golden emperor； offer him help and friendship from the queen of England； defend him against the Spaniards； if we became strong enough； conquer back all Peru from the Popish tyrants； and reinstate him on the throne of the Incas； with ourselves for his body…guard； as the Norman Varangians were to the effeminate emperors of ByzantHey； Amyas？ You would make a gallant chieftain of Varangs。 We'll do it； lad！〃
〃We'll try；〃 said Amyas； 〃but we must be quick； for there's one Berreo sworn to carry out the quest to the death； and if the Spaniards once get thither； their plan of works will be much more like Pizarro's than like yours； and by the time we come； there will be neither gold nor city left。〃
〃Nor Indians either； I'll warrant the butchers； but； lad； I am promised to Humphrey； I have a bark fitting out already； and all I have； and more； adventured in her； so Manoa must wait。〃
〃It will wait well enough； if the Spaniards prosper no better on the Amazon than they have done； but must I come with you？ To tell the truth； I am quite shore…sick； and to sea I must go。 What will my mother say？〃
〃I'll manage thy mother；〃 said Raleigh； and so he did； for； to cut a long story short； he went back the month after； and he not only took home letters from Amyas to his mother； but so impressed on that good lady the enormous profits and honors to be derived from Meta Incognita； and （which was most true） the advantage to any young man of sailing with such a general as Humphrey Gilbert； most pious and most learned of seamen and of cavaliers； beloved and honored above all his compeers by Queen Elizabeth； that she consented to Amyas's adventuring in the voyage some two hundred pounds which had come to him as his share of prize…money； after the ever memorable circumnavigation。 For Mrs。 Leigh； be it understood； was no longer at Burrough Court。 By Frank's persuasion； she had let the old place； moved up to London with her eldest son； and taken for herself a lodging somewhere by Palace Stairs； which looked out upon the silver Thames （for Thames was silver then）； with its busy ferries and gliding boats； across to the pleasant fields of Lambeth； and the Archbishop's palace； and the wooded Surrey hills； and there she spent her peaceful days； close to her Frank and to the Court。 Elizabeth would have had her re…enter it； offering her a small place in the household： but she declined； saying that she was too old and heart…weary for aught but prayer。 So by prayer she lived； under the sheltering shadow of the tall minster where she went morn and even to worship； and to entreat for the two in whom her heart was bound up； and Frank slipped in every day if but for five minutes； and brought with him Spenser； or Raleigh； or Dyer； or Budaeus or sometimes Sidney's self： and there was talk of high and holy things； of which none could speak better than could she； and each guest went from that hallowed room a humbler and yet a loftier man。 So slipped on the peaceful months； and few and far between came Irish letters； for Ireland was then farther from Westminster than is the Black Sea now； but those were days in which wives and mothers had learned （as they have learned once more； sweet souls！） to walk by faith and not by sight for those they love： and Mrs。 Leigh was content （though when was she not content？） to hear that Amyas was winning a good report as a brave and prudent officer； sober； just； and faithful； beloved and obeyed alike by English soldiers and Irish kernes。
Those two years； and the one which followed； were the happiest which she had known since her husband's death。 But the cloud was fast coming up the horizon； though she saw it not。 A little longer； and the sun would be hid for many a wintry day。
Amyas went to Plymouth （with Yeo； of course； at his heels）； and there beheld； for the first time； the majestic countenance of the philosopher of Compton castle。 He lodged with Drake； and found him not over…sanguine as to the success of the voyag