e again.

"I suppose it is useless to argue with thee?"

"I never had any head for disputations."

"Very well then, ye must be my guests for the night. Call thy friends
from the kitchen, ask the widow for some ale, and let her be getting to
bed. Thou and I may get to blows if we sit alone."

Dan stared. His prisoner was actually asking for an increased guard,
and would be glad of more company. Not suspecting any trick, but
determined not to be caught napping, he got up, opened the door, and
stood with his hand on the latch calling for Nick. He bellowed twice
before he got an answer. With Nick's answering shout he caught sound
of a sudden crash in the room behind. He bounded back. Basil was
gone; the window was opened. He dashed to the opening, and the trick
was disclosed. The prisoner had silently unfastened the shutters,
smashed the lattice, and escaped. Nick came running along. The alarm
was given, and the whole village awakened to chase the Papist spy.
They did not catch him.

Dan returned to Plymouth next morning and handed his papers to Sir
Walter. The first packet proved to be a description of "El Dorado's"
land, and a guide to the fabled region. It was the work of a Spanish
missionary, and was written to King Philip himself. Basil's treatise
on philosophy was none other than a letter from a Spanish agent in
London, giving particulars of a plot against Elizabeth and in favour of
the Queen of Scots. Raleigh declared the latter paper to be of
immeasurably greater value than the Orinoco packet. The knight had had
experience of such papers before, and knew, only too well, that they
contained more fable than fact. He handed them to Captain John Drake,
and left it to him and the gentlemen adventurers who were to sail with
him to decide what faith they should put in the missionary's
disclosures.

Chapter XXX.

HO! FOR THE SPANISH MAIN.

With a brisk nor'easterly breeze behind her, the _Golden Boar_ slipped
through the sunlit waters of Plymouth Sound as gracefully as a fair
swan might cleave the bosom of a lake. Somewhat narrow in build,
moderately low in the waist, with bow and poop not too high-pitched,
masts tall and sails ample, she was built with an eye to speed. And
with carved posts and rails for her bulwarks, many-windowed cabins in
the after part, tapering, artistic prow with the gilded boar rampant,
her designer had had an eye to beauty also. Hull and decks were of
seasoned