The land was lost, for Elizabeth could not bear to part with her gold pieces unless she could be sure of a generous return. Raleigh did not give up his plan, however, and soon a company of colonists was sent to Roanoke Island, off the coast of what is now North Carolina. The colony failed because the new settlers were too eager to search for gold to spend their time planting corn and beans, or even peas that would grow fourteen inches in ten days. "They are lazy and homesick, and they talk too much," reported the governor, and when a fleet of Drake's came to shore, they all went aboard and sailed for home. These homesick colonists carried tobacco with them to England, and smoking soon became the fashionable amusement. Sir Walter was enthusiastic in its praise. "One would think that this wonderful plant of yours was your own child," said the queen to him as he sat puffing out the smoke from his silver pipe, "you claim for it so many virtues." "You say well, Madam," declared Sir Walter. "It is verily a wonderful plant." "And I suppose you would even say that you could tell the weight of that smoke of yours. There's no boundary to your impudence." "Indeed I can, your Majesty," returned Sir Walter calmly. "I'll wager this pin against your buckle that you cannot," retorted the queen. "I'll take the wager," said he, "and with the more joy since the experiment will secure me the delight of your presence." He weighed some tobacco and put it into his pipe. Then after he had smoked it he weighed the ashes. "The difference is the weight of the smoke," said he, and Elizabeth paid the bet. "Many a man have I known who has turned his gold into smoke," she declared merrily, "but you are surely the first who has turned his smoke into gold. You're a marvelous man, Sir Walter." CHAPTER XIV THE QUEEN OF SCOTS The councilor's words that Elizabeth was more queen than woman were shown to be true whenever matters came to the proof. She gave her favorite Leicester everything that he asked save her own royal hand, but on occasion she could be as severe with Leicester as if he had been her enemy.