and with deep anguish told me, what he hoped the sorrowing mother knew not yet—the frightful claim of the Inquisition. His best hope was your death. As for your rescue, no wilder dream could enter the imagination of man. ‘Still,’ I pleaded, ‘in any wise let me go. Wild dreams come true sometimes. At all events, my heart burns within me. I must needs fight the Spaniards—and avenge him, if I cannot deliver him; or I will die.’ Then he said,—Walter, you know how good, how generous he is. And you also, my friends,”—glancing round the table—“you know him well. This was the outcome of all: I went to Kent, Walter, and I saw your mother face to face.” Here, for a moment, George Noble’s voice trembled; and the blunt, simple frankness of his manner was almost swept away by a rising tide of emotion. “No; I cannot tell you what she said to me. But this I will say,” he added reverently. “When a woman’s tender heart is bowed to the will of God, He puts a strength and calmness there of which we men could not dream unless we saw it; and we are better men all our lives for having seen it once. “At last, I laid my hand in hers, and I said, ‘Mother, if he lives, I will bring him back to you, God helping me.’ How I came to promise that, without fear or faltering, dead against all human probability of fulfilment, to this hour I know not. The words seemed put into my mouth; I could not but speak them. I knew she knew _the worst_; and whether or not my rash promise gave her any comfort, I could scarcely tell. But you all know, comrades, a promise is a promise. If a man cannot redeem it, he can die in the effort; and death wipes all scores out. So I sold my share in the _Royal Tudor_; and it brought me a goodly sum, for God had prospered us. We bought the _Sea Snake_, then almost ready for the Spanish Main. My father helped largely therein; and, moreover, invested a share for my brother James, who must needs go out with me. These gentlemen, my friends, have shares also. We were chartered for the Pacific, to get sandal-wood.” “Ay, sandal-wood, to be sure!—and _nothing_ else!” It was young James Noble who spoke, glancing round the board with a significant smile. “Hold thy tongue, lad!” said Captain Noble. “Nothing else that matters now,—especially in the presence of these honourable gentlemen;” and he looked at Fray Fernando and José. “Who, as our captain seems to have forgotten, do not understand a word he has been saying for the last ten minutes,” said the chaplain.