"I don't know for sure."

The captain looked grave.

"You have a daughter, perhaps, or a son at Cardiff?"

"No, neither," said Sara. "'Tis the oldest son of Garthowen I am
seeking for--Gethin Owens, have you ever seen him?"

"Gethin Owens!" said the captain, in a tone of surprise. "What? the
dark brown chap with the white teeth and the bright eyes like a
starling's?"--Sara nodded--"and gold rings in his ears?"

"That's him," said Sara. "Do you know him?"

"Caton pawb! as well as if he was my own son. He's mate of the
_Gwenllian_, trading to Monte Video and other foreign parts. The
_Gwenllian_ sailed about four months ago and would be back about now.
Is that what you are expecting?"

"Yes," said Sara, "Ebben Owens Garthowen is wearing his heart away
longing for his son, and I think if I can see him I have news for him
that will bring him to the old home."

"Well, well," said the captain, "little did I think the mate of the
_Gwenllian_ was the son of my old friend Ebben Owens Garthowen! Why!
long ago I have been stopping with him, when he was a young man and I
the same. I remember he was courting a handsome girl there, the finest
lass you ever set your eyes upon, straight she was, and tall, with
brown hair and dark blue eyes, like the night sky with the stars in it;