gaze on the
sunlit waters and exchange tidings. Raleigh--for the visitor was none
other than the famous knight of Devon--placed his sword across his knee
and began the conversation; the rough and ready admiral was a better
listener than talker.

"The Queen hath sent thee some coils of stout rope by my hand."

"Oh!"

"She saith that she hath had no news of Spanish acorns dangling from
the Dean oaks. Her words to me were: 'Tell my knight of the seas not
to spare the hemp where traitors are concerned. To hang none is to let
all escape, whereas to hang on reasonable suspicion is a sure way to
rid his plantations of many knaves. If he should make a mistake,
through excess of zeal, tell him that our pardon is assured
beforehand.'"

Drake smiled. "'Tis a good thing there is but one woman in the
government, and that men are entrusted with the carrying out of her
orders. Beshrew me, Wat, let but a scare be started and she would hang
every ill-favoured fellow she clapped eyes on."

Raleigh laughed. "Thou hast no faculty for comprehending the whimsies
and oddities of womankind, especially royal womankind."

"That is but sober truth. I can see in a bee-line as well as most men,
but I cannot follow all the twists and turns of our royal lady's
pathway. Bethink thee how she treated me when I came home from my
voyage round the world, my vessel crammed to the hatchway with Spanish
treasure. Before the court she frowned on me, called me no better than
a sea-thief, and threatened me with a hanging. Aboard my vessel, when
none were there but Cecil, Leicester, and thyself, she praised me
without stint, flattered me, well-nigh took me in her arms and kissed
me, offered me knighthood, and then seized upon the best part of my
hard-won spoils! Her mind doubles like a hare; there is no catching it
and holding it and seeing of what colour it is. I have navigated
unknown seas enough, but I should be shipwrecked in one month of court
life. A palace is as full of guile as an egg is full of meat!"

The admiral was waxing warm, and his companion was laughingly enjoying
his tirade.

"Every man to his trade, Frank," he said. "Thou art a striker of
straight blows, and hast no cunning save when the foe is in gunshot.
The sea breeze is life to thee, but some of us would choke with too
much of it. We must breathe ever and anon of the scented atmosphere of
courts. The turns and twists of intrigue attract us; we love to ruffle
it i