The Crew of the Water Wagtail

It is well that mankind cannot pry into the secrets of futurity. At all events, it is certain that if the crew of the Water Wagtail had known what was in store for them when they set sail from Bristol, one fine spring morning at the beginning of the sixteenth century, most of them would have remained at home though it is not improbable that, even with full knowledge of coming events, some of the romantic among them, and a few of the reckless, might have decided to go on. Undoubtedly Paul Burns would have scorned to draw back, for he was a hero of romance; an enthusiast of the deepest dye, with an inquiring mind, a sanguine disposition, and a fervent belief in all things great and good and grand. He was also a six footer in his socks, a horse in constitution, a Hercules in frame, with a hook nose and a hawk eye and a strong jaw and all the rest of it. Paul had a good brain, too, and was well educated as education went in those days. Yes, there can be little doubt that even though Paul Burns had been able to see into the future, he would have deliberately chosen to go on that voyage.