r the Indies on my own account; and perhaps return with my ship more
richly-laden than any ship has ever been before; and my name would ring
through England; I should be given honours; perhaps be called to court;
and who knows, Harry, where I should stop! Why, lad, it is enough to
fire the most sluggish blood, let alone mine, which is hot enough, God
wot, as is that of all the Trevose family."

"Ay, Roger," answered Harry, "but have you well weighed the risks; have
you thought of what your parents would feel if you left them all alone
to go to the Spanish Main, whence, perchance, you would never return?
Remember, lad, you are their only son, and heir to the old estate and
manor; and think what they would feel did you never come back."

"Harry," replied Roger, "never, never have I seen or met your equal for
caution! Why prate, lad, of what might happen? Think rather of what is
certain to befall, and that is that I shall come back a rich man, rich
enough to enable me to realise all my wishes and ambitions. Why, if
everyone thought as you do, where would now be the names of the heroes
who have already made our dear England the mistress of the seas?
`Nothing dare, nothing gain', lad; that's my motto!"

"You are quite right in what you say," replied Harry, "but only too well
do I know your careless and reckless disposition, Roger; and although
you would surely do daring deeds, and cover yourself with glory, I fear
me greatly that you would not live to bring home that treasure, even if
you did live long enough to gain it."

"Harry, if I did not know you as I do, lad," retorted Roger, "I should
be inclined to dub you craven; but, as it is, I know full well that you
only suffer from excess of caution, even as you say that I suffer from
lack of the same. But I do not agree with your prophecy that I should
not live to bring home my spoil. No, I feel within myself that I shall
succeed in my venture, if I can bring my father and mother to consent to
my going; and I am also convinced that I shall be able to bring my
riches safely home. Meanwhile, the question is: Can I persuade some
brave captain to take me on his ship?"

"Have you, then, truly made up your mind to sail for the Indies, Roger,
if you can get one of our adventurers to take you?" cried Harry.
"Methought you were only dreaming, and did not seriously entertain the
idea of leaving England."

"I was never more serious in my life," replied Roger; "in fact I had