y becoming fainter, of the
arrival of Drake's fleet; but it seemed that, by this time, it must
have failed in its object of doubling the Horn. Nearly six months
had elapsed, since they had been left on the eastern coast; and,
according to their calculation of distance, two months should have
amply sufficed to enable them to make the circuit of Southern
America.

They could not tell that the fleet had been delayed by
extraordinary accidents. When off the Cape they had met with
storms, which continued from the 7th of September to the 28th of
October, without intermission; and which the old chronicler of the
expedition describes as being "more violent, and of longer
continuance, than anything since Noah's flood." They had to waste
much time, owing to the fact that Captain Winter with one of the
ships had, missing his consorts in the storm, sailed back to
England, that two other ships were lost, and that Captain Drake
with his flagship, which alone remained, had spent much time in
searching for his consorts, in every inlet and island.

Among those saved, in the boat from the Spanish ship, was a young
gentleman of rank and fortune, and owner of large estates near
Lima, who had come down upon some business. He took a great
affection for the young Englishmen, and came each day to visit
them, there being no let or hindrance on the part of the governor.
This gentleman assured them that he possessed great influence at
Lima; and that, although he doubted not that the military
authorities would treat them with all courtesy, after the manner in
which they had risked their lives to save subjects of his majesty;
yet that, should it be otherwise, he would move heaven and earth in
their favor.

"There is but one thing I dread," he said, and a cloud came over
his handsome face.

"You need hardly say what it is," Ned said, gravely. "You mean, of
course, the Inquisition."

The Spaniard signified his assent by a silent movement of the head.

"We dare not speak, above our breath, of that dreaded tribunal," he
said. "The very walls appear to have ears; and it is better to face
a tiger, in his den, than to say ought against the Inquisition.
There are many Spaniards who, like myself, loathe and abhor it; but
we are powerless. Their agents are everywhere, and one knows not in
whom he dare confide. Even in our families there are spies, and
this tyranny, which is carried on in the name of religion, is past
all supporting.

"But, even s