And past him, far below, upon the soft southeastern breeze, the stately ships go sliding out to sea.

When shall he sail in them, and see the wonders of the deep?
And as he stands there with beating heart and kindling eye, the cool breeze whistling through his long fair curls, he is a symbol, though he knows it not, of brave young England longing to wing its way out of its island prison, to discover and to traffic, to colonize and to civilize, until no wind can sweep the earth which does not bear the echoes of an English voice.

Patience, young Amyas! Thou too shalt forth, and westward ho, beyond thy wildest dreams; and see brave sights, and do brave deeds, which no man has since the foundation of the world.

Thou too shalt face invaders stronger and more cruel far than Dane or Norman, and bear thy part in that great Titan strife before the renown of which the name of Salamis shall fade away! Mr.Oxenham came that evening to supper as he had promised: but as people supped in those days in much the same manner as they do now, we may drop the thread of the story for a few hours, and take it up again after supper is over.
"Come now, Dick Grenville, do thou talk the good man round, and I'll warrant myself to talk round the good wife." The personage whom Oxenham addressed thus familiarly answered by a somewhat sarcastic smile, and, "Mr.Oxenham gives Dick Grenville" (with just enough emphasis on the "Mr." and the "Dick," to hint that a liberty had been taken with him) "overmuch credit with the men.

Mr.Oxenham's credit with fair ladies, none can doubt.