and tales and rumours arose along the shores of the sea concerning mariners and men forlorn upon the water who , by some fate or grace or favour of the valar , had entered in upon the straight way and seen the face of the world sink below them , and so had come to the lamplit quays of avallone , or verily to the last beaches on the margin of aman , and there had looked upon the white mountain , dreadful and beautiful , before they died .