ng game alone, for, hiding behind the fo'castle door myself, I
heard him say it,--that here lay that famous island, San--how is't they
call it? San Catlina--I know not how 'tis spoken,--some Spanish lingo
not fit for English tongues! At any rate 'twas here your Spanish robber,
Don Cabrillo, and, for the matter of that, his precious son as well,
stopped to seek direction ere they found the land of gold. The savage
sware besides they were a gentle tribe, not given to war and murder like
the rest. I hearkened well, forsooth, knowing past doubt I would be
een one o' those chosen to try 'em out. The devil take the Apache an
he lied," he added fiercely, "I'll break his head across till even he
shrieks out for help when I get back!"

He paused to gaze fearfully at the stern cliffs now looming close
at hand, beneath which the excited natives still ran back and forth,
pointing with frantic gestures at the boat.

The third man spoke. He was smaller than the other two and darker, with
a sly look about his eyes and mouth in strong contrast to the bluff
frankness of his comrades. So far he had appeared content to listen in
amused silence, but now with a short laugh he interrupted.

"The Apache did not lie. This is the island Santa Catalina, though that,
mark you, is not the Indian name. And right well can the chief who
rules here direct our captain also to the goldfields of the north. But
hearkee, comrades. 'Tis not Drake will reap the profits this time!" He
lowered his voice mysteriously as though fearful of being overheard,
albeit nothing was nearer than his two companions and the clear, green
stretch of water. "Have ye not observed the boy who travels with the
captain?--the boy I serve,--the one they call Sir Harry? To my mind,
cub though he be, 'tis he who rules the ship. Hast never noticed how the
great Drake himself bends to his slightest wish?"

"Aye, marry, that have I! And who, then, is he, think'st thou?" inquired
the man who had spoken first.

"Some close kin to the queen,--that much I know," the other answered
quickly, "the heir to some great dukedom, mayhap, in disguise to see the
world and make a fortune. 'Tis his desire we land, so much he told
me, and 'tis to learn more than directions, my hearties, and that I'll
warrant ye! But, look ye, the water grows too shallow! We can use the
oars no longer."

And even as he spoke the boat grated upon the pebbles. An incoming
breaker would have carried it ashore, but befo