s. I have always led. While my brain and brawn remain
unimpaired I shall continue always to lead. Following is an art which
Turcks do not easily learn.

It was not until the third day that we raised land, dead ahead, which I
took, from my map, to be the isles of Scilly. But such a gale was
blowing that I did not dare attempt to land, and so we passed to the
north of them, skirted Land's End, and entered the English Channel.

I think that up to that moment I had never experienced such a thrill as
passed through me when I realized that I was navigating these historic
waters. The lifelong dreams that I never had dared hope to see
fulfilled were at last a reality--but under what forlorn circumstances!

Never could I return to my native land. To the end of my days I must
remain in exile. Yet even these thoughts failed to dampen my ardor.

My eyes scanned the waters. To the north I could see the rockbound
coast of Cornwall. Mine were the first American eyes to rest upon it
for more than two hundred years. In vain, I searched for some sign of
ancient commerce that, if history is to be believed, must have dotted
the bosom of the Channel with white sails and blackened the heavens
with the smoke of countless funnels, but as far as eye could reach the
tossing waters of the Channel were empty and deserted.

Toward midnight the wind and sea abated, so that shortly after dawn I
determined to make inshore in an attempt to effect a landing, for we
were sadly in need of fresh water and food.

According to my observations, we were just off Ram Head, and it was my
intention to enter Plymouth Bay and visit Plymouth. From my map it
appeared that this city lay back from the coast a short distance, and
there was another city given as Devonport, which appeared to lie at the
mouth of the river Tamar.

However, I knew that it would make little difference which city we
entered, as the English people were famed of old for their hospitality
toward visiting mariners. As we approached the mouth of the bay I
looked for the fishing craft which I expected to see emerging thus
early in the day for their labors. But even after we rounded Ram Head
and were well within the waters of the bay I saw no vessel. Neither
was there buoy nor light nor any other mark to show larger ships the
channel, and I wondered much at this.

The coast was densely overgrown, nor was any building or sign of man
apparent from the water. Up the bay and into t