After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the followiing radio

message to London:" I feel as if I had wakened from a nightmare. Wild horses could not

drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again."

Juat before 9 o'clock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he aeeived back in England,

where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him. Queeh Elizabeth II

knigthed him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had sailed round the world for the

first time. The whole voyage from England and back had covered 28, 500 miles. It had

taken him nine months , of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he

wanted to accomplish.

Like many other adventurers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it. In

doing so, he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself. Moreover, in the modern

age when human beings depend so much on machines, he had given men throughout the

world new pride.

U3 They say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than

others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would

make an even bigger effort to please he?

The Present

It was the old lady's birthday.

She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the

postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought

up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.

Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldn't forget her mother's

birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband

had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work the aged.

The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never

married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school

round the corner.

One evening, however, Enid said, "I've arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for

a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital--just a minor operation, I'll soon

be home."

In the morning she went, but never came back--she died on the operating table. Myra

came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and

light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.

Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times,

but her husband never.

The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps--perhaps Myra