184 ST IVES' WELCOME 



which he sailed was attacked off the Land's 

 End by a privateer which had been harassing 

 St Ives, and compelled to run before the wind 

 in order to escape capture. Under cover of 

 darkness she got away, and reached St Ives 

 with no more damage than a hole in her 

 mainsail and the loss of her topmast. But 

 the mayor and the watch mistaking the rakish- 

 looking craft for another Frenchman, had 

 opened fire from the three four-pounders on 

 the "Island" — luckily without effect, the balls 

 dropping at least fifty yards short. 



The incident had so greatly amused the squire 

 that the very memory of it brought a smile to 

 his face again and again as he rode through 

 the grey dawn. By and by the sun rose, 

 making a jewel of every dewdrop, and calling 

 forth the carols of the birds. 



This changed the train of his thoughts. His 

 mind reverted to Gaston de Foix, of all followers 

 of the chase the one dearest to his heart, and 

 after passing the farmhouse at Lanyon as he 

 descended the hill to the millpool he was quot- 

 ing aloud : '* Et quant le soleil sera leve, il 

 verra celle douce rosee sur rincelles et herbettes 

 et le soleil par sa vertu les fera reluysir. C'est 

 grant plaisance et joye au coeur du veneur." 



** We turn in here, sir," presently interposed 



