and
now go to rest and dream of those you hope to meet, and the beautiful
land to be your future home. Come, Master Audley, urge your sister to
take my good advice."

Vaughan, knowing that the captain was right, led Lettice to the cabin.

CHAPTER FIVE.

"Land! land!" was shouted from the masthead just before the sun rose
above the horizon, and Vaughan and Gilbert, with many others who hurried
on deck, soon saw, just emerging from the ocean to the westward, two
blue hummocks. In a short time the land was discerned, stretching away
to the northward. The captain at once recognised the hummocks as
landmarks to the southward of Chesapeake Bay, towards the mouth of which
magnificent estuary the ship was now steered. The day was far advanced
when they entered between two capes, since known as Cape Charles on the
north and Cape Henry on the south of the bay, about twelve miles apart.
Their destined harbour was still far away, and it was not till nearly
two days more had passed that, early in the morning a small fort was
seen about two miles south of Cape Comfort, at the entrance of James
River. A gun was fired, and the English flag flying from the fort
showed them that it was garrisoned by their friends. Captain Newport
therefore sent a boat on shore to inform the commandant who they were.

While the vessels came to an anchor those on board eagerly looked out
for the return of the boat, when they hoped that their many doubts and
fears would be brought to an end. At length she came, bringing a
stranger seated in the stern-sheets. The eyes of all on board were
directed towards him. As the boat approached, he stood up and waved his
hat, gazing eagerly at the ship.

"It is Roger Layton," shouted Gilbert, whose vision was one of the
keenest of all on board.

"Yes, yes! it is he! it is he!" echoed Lettice, forgetting the presence
of bystanders. The _boat came alongside_, and Roger sprang on deck; he,
too, at first seemed not to recollect that there were others besides
Lettice lookers-on, and, advancing towards her, he took her hand and
pressed it to his lips, afterwards greeting Mistress Audley in the same
manner.

"My father and sister are well," he answered to Audley's eager queries,
as they warmly shook hands. He was quickly, however, plied with eager
questions by many others, to which he could but briefly reply. The
fleet had arrived safely, the ketch _Susan_ excepted, which had
foundered during the gale.