hopes may mock me, but
this is about the time I have been expecting my son, who sailed with
John Davis for India, to return, unless any unexpected accident should
have delayed them. Those two ships are, as far as I can judge at this
distance, the size of the _Tiger_ and the _Tiger's Whelp_."

Still the captain sat on, yet doubting whether he was right. The ships
rapidly approached, for the wind was fresh and fair. Now they came
gliding up the Sound, the larger leading some way ahead of the smaller.
The captain, as he watched them, gave expression to his hopes and
doubts.

"See! see! sir," exclaimed Gilbert, whose eyes were unusually sharp;
"there is a flag at the mainmast-head of the tall ship. On it I discern
the figure of a tiger, and if I mistake not, the smaller bears one of
the same description."

"Then there can be no doubt about the matter," exclaimed Captain Layton.
"We will at once return home. Go find your brother and my daughter;
tell them the news, and bid them forthwith join us."

While the captain walked on to the house, Gilbert went, as he was
directed, in search of Vaughan and Cicely. They, too, had been seated
on a bank some way further on, watching the ships, but neither had
suspected what they were. Indeed, so absorbed were they in their own
conversation, that they had not even observed Gilbert's approach.
Cicely started when she heard his voice, and on receiving the
intelligence he brought, rose quickly, and, accompanied by the brothers,
hastened homewards.

"The news seems almost too good to be true; but, alack!" she added, with
a sigh, as if the thought had just struck her, "suppose he is not on
board--what a blow will it be to my poor father! Roger is his only son;
and he has ever looked forward with pride to the thought of his becoming
a great navigator like Sir Francis Drake or Sir Thomas Cavendish."

Vaughan endeavoured to reassure her.

"My fears are foolish and wrong," said Cicely; "but if you knew how we
love him, and how worthy he is of our love, you would understand my
anxious fears as to his safety."

"I can understand them, and sympathise with you fully," said Vaughan.
His reply seemed to please her.

On reaching the house, they found that the captain had already gone down
to the beach, where his boat lay; and, his anxiety not allowing him to
wait for the young men, he had rowed off to the headmost ship, which had
now come to an anchor, the crew being busily engaged in