English oak, and masts of straight Scots pine. The Knight of
Sherborne had found her building in Plymouth dockyard, and had tempted
her would-be owner to part with her for a price he could not resist.
Captain John Drake had tested her in the Channel from the Goodwins
round to Lundy in fair weather and in foul, and had found no fault in
her. The critical crowd that stood on the Hoe and watched her as she
dipped below the horizon were of opinion that no better-found ship had
left the harbour to brave the perils of the Spanish Main. She was of a
hundred and fifty tons burthen--a goodly tonnage in those venturesome
days--and she carried a captain and crew of twenty men, an equal number
of skilled archers, six gunners, and some dozen and a half of gentlemen
adventurers, who for the most part could handle rope, sail, sword, bow,
pike, or gun as well as any captain might wish. As far as the voyage
was concerned, the expedition was under the absolute command of the
admiral's brother; on land he was bound to take council with the
gentlemen adventurers, all of whom had put some money into the
undertaking. Raleigh himself risked the greatest stake, and in order
after him came Morgan, Captain Dawe (who did not participate in the
voyage itself), the admiral, his brother the skipper, a certain Sir
John Trelawny, and Master Timothy Jeffreys, who had secretly speculated
his own savings and some of those of Mistress Stowe of Wood Street off
Chepe. There was no lack of money in the venture, and the ship was
well-found, well-manned, well-armed, and generously provisioned. Dan
Pengelly's papers were in the cabin; Dan himself was taking first spell
at the helm. Hope was high in every heart, and many a lusty voice
joined in the chorus of the helmsman's song:--

"Then ho! for the Spanish Main,
And ha! for the Spanish gold;
King Philip's ships are riding deep
With the weight of wealth untold.
They're prey for the saucy lads
Who dance on the Plymouth Hoe;
They'll all sail home thro' the fleecy foam,
With a rich galleon in tow-tow-tow,
With a rich galleon in tow!"

Johnnie Morgan was leaning against the stern bulwarks, watching the
heave and fall of the vessel and listening to the sailor's song.
"Hardly to the text, Dan, is it? We are to capture a city and spoil
its treasure houses, and have no idea of hitching a line of galleons
behind us."

"Sir," replied Dan, "as chief helmsman I know we shall go s