f the men who fought side by side. When upon the march
regularity and order were maintained, and the men kept together in
step. Nothing of this kind was apparent among the troops who
accompanied the Indian chief. They marched along by the side of the
elephants, and in groups ahead and in rear of them, in a confused
disorder; and it seemed to the lads that a mere handful of European
troops would rout such a rabble as this. They said as much to their
Portuguese friend, but he told them that the people on the coast
could scarcely be considered as a fair sample of those who dwelt in
the hill country behind.

"The climate here," he said, "is much more relaxing. Vegetation is
extremely abundant, and all the necessities of life can be obtained
in the easiest manner. Consequently the people here are enervated,
and cannot be compared to the horsemen of the plains. The seat of
the Indian power lies at Agra and Delhi--sometimes one and
sometimes the other. The emperors there can take the field with two
hundred thousand men, if necessary; and even these, with all their
power, have difficulty in maintaining their authority throughout
India. You may judge, therefore, of the power of the various
territorial chiefs."

A fortnight later, to their great delight, the lads heard that a
vessel would start in three days for Lisbon. She was taking home a
large cargo of spice, and articles of Indian manufacture, and a
number of invalided soldiers. She was said to be a slow sailer, but
as no other was likely to start for some months, the lads did not
hesitate to avail themselves of the offer of the viceroy.

At parting he presented them each with a sword set with diamonds,
and also purses of money, in token of his appreciation of the valor
displayed by them in the defense of Tidore.

"It is," the viceroy said, "an honor to us to honor the members of
the greatest marine expedition which has yet been made. We
Portuguese may boast that we have been among the foremost in
maritime discovery, and we can therefore the more admire the feats
of your valiant Captain Drake."

The ship, the Maria Pia, was a large one, far greater, indeed, than
the Golden Hind, and the boys felt that in a floating castle of
this description, their voyage ought to be a safe and pleasant one.
The captain had received instructions to do all in his power to
make the voyage agreeable to them. A handsome cabin had been placed
at their disposal, and their position on board