"You shall go with us bird's-nesting," said the Admiral.
"That falls in with my humor," Master Sark made answer. "For, look you, there are such things as a heavy score and an ancient grudge, to say nothing of true service to a true Queen."
"Then," said the Admiral, you shall feed fat your grudge. But if what you have told me is leasing and not truth, I will hang you from the yard-arm of my ship!"
"It is God's truth," swore the other. Thus it was that, having, like all English adventurers upon Spanish seas, to trust to strange guides, the Mere Honour, the Cygnet, the Marigold, and the Phœnix shaped their course for the mainland and Nueva Cordoba, where were bars of silver, pearls, and gold crescents, and up in the castle that fierce hawk De Guardiola, who cared little for the town that was young and weak, but much for gold, the fortress, and his own grim will and pleasure.
[to be continued.]
The Wanderlust
OH, the voice came again when the fields were bare for sowing—
A-whispering, a-whispering, it never gave me rest,
"Oh, lad, the world is white with Spring, Oh, lad, be up and going—
Down the wide road, the free road that stretches to the West."
I looked adown the wide road and I was fain to go;
I looked into a stranger's eyes and I was fain to stay;
But still the whisper burned like flame that flickers to and fro,
"There's much to see and much to find, away, my lad, away!"
Oh, the voice came again when the grain was in the growing—
A-crying and a-crying, it followed where I went,
"Oh, lad, the Summer trails are clear. Oh, lad, be up and going—
Through the far way, the green way, the way of all content."
I looked upon the far trail and I was fain to go;
I looked within my sweetheart's eyes and fain to stay was I;
But still the voice kept pace with me adown the blossomed row,
"There's much to see and much to find, oh, lad, before you die."
Oh, the voice comes again when the fields are ripe for mowing—
A-clamoring, a-clamoring, I may not choose but heed,
"Oh, lad, the keen wind fills the sails. Oh, lad, be up and going—
The unplumbed seas, the unfound lands are waiting on your speed!"
I look across the wondrous world—I may not choose but go;
I kiss my wife upon her mouth nor make her prayers reply;
Oh, voice that is the soul of me, I follow high or low—
There's much to see and much to find—good-by, my sweet, good-by.
