ndon Pool was a journey of some distance across the
streets of London. Will Law called out to the driver with savagery in
his voice. He shouted, cursed, implored, promised, and betimes held one
hand under the soft, heavy tresses of the head now sunk so humbly
forward.

The mad ride ended at the quay on Thames side, where the shadows of the
tall buildings lay rank and thick upon the earth, where tarry smells and
evil odors filled the heavy air, penetrated none the less by the savor
of the keen salt air. More than one giant form was outlined in the broad
stream, vessels tall and ghost-like in the gloom, shadowy, suggestive,
bearing imprint and promise of far lands across the sea.

Here was the initial point of England's greatness. Here on this heavy
stream had her captains taken ship. Thence had sailed her admirals to
encompass all the world. In these dark massed shadows, how much might
there not be of fate and mystery! Whither might not these vessels carry
one! To France, to the far-off Indies, to the new-owned islands, to
America with its little half-grown ports. Whence and whither? What might
not one do, here at this gateway of the world?

"To the brigantine beyond!" cried Will Law to the wherryman who came up.
"We want Captain McMasters, of the Polly Perkins. For God's sake, quick!
There's that afoot must be caught up within the moment, do you hear!"

The wherryman touched his cap and quickly made ready his boat. Will Law,
understanding naught of this swift coil of events, and not daring to
leave Lady Catharine behind him at the carriage, made down the stairway,
half carrying the drooping figure which now leaned weakly upon his
shoulder.

"Pull now, man! Pull as you never did before!" cried he, and the
wherryman bent hard to his oars.

Yet great as was the haste of those who put forth into the foggy
Thames, it was more than equalled by that of one who appeared upon the
dock, even as the creak of the oars grew fainter in the gloom. There
came the rattle of wheels upon the quay, and the sound of a driver
lashing his horses. A carriage rolled up, and there sprang from the box
a muffled figure which resolved itself into the very embodiment of
haste.

"Hold the horses, man!" he cried to the nearest by-stander, and sprang
swiftly to the head of the stairs, where a loiterer or two stood idly
gazing out into the mist which overhung the water.

"Saw you aught of a man," he demanded hastily, "a man and a woman, a
tall