THE FIRST SUBMARINE CABLE 31 He looked at me reproachfully, as if I doubted his veracity. "This place has been practically dug to pieces," he went on, heedless of the interruption. "They do say," he lowered his voice confidentially, " that it 'ud be so powerful now that a drop of it would make a man drunk for a week . . . When I find it"—his chest expanded and his eyes glowed suddenly —"I'll be drunk for ten years!" "Something to look forward to! But do you know any legends about this place?" "Waal, now, they do say around these parts that one of the early governors . . ." "Wait a minute! Outside of the early governors, are there any legends?" "But aren't you interested in the early governors?" "Not to-day, thank you." So I left the governors' Plutarch. Sometimes, I wonder just what other legend . . . about the early governors . . . he'd have put in his pipe and smoked . . . But this is —and Holland preceded the governors. His life both before and after his arrival on the lonely isle was singularly romantic and exciting. His grandfather, Cornelius, had been active on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War, and at the Restoration, he had fled to the Low Countries. There his grandson, Samuel, was born and brought up by two aunts. With true aunt-like ambitions, they planned that he should study for the ministry. He must have been a problem at times. "Where is Samuel?" "Oh, out on the canal skating, I guess, probably with Wilhelmina."