That dignitary was by
no means so deferential as on the previous visit; indeed, he was barely
civil. Many things had happened during the previous weeks. A ship had
arrived from Spain, and she carried an important passenger--to wit,
Brother Basil. He was weeks behind the _Golden Boar_, but he soon made
up for lost time. In the first place he was able to prove that Captain
John Drake of the _Golden Boar_ was not the redoubtable Captain Francis
Drake so dreaded all along the shores of the Spanish Main. This largely
accounted for the altered demeanour of the governor. Rightly guessing
that the English ship would put into the harbour if she ever returned
from the Orinoco, Basil had at first tried to prepare a warm reception
for her. He failed in this, for soldiers were not easy to obtain, the
governor was not anxious for a fight, and the very name "Drake" still
inspired terror whether it was prefixed by Francis or John. As a second
resource he had sent boats into the delta in the hope of locating the
ship or her company, and stirring up the natives against the Englishmen.
His messengers searched the wrong mouths and channels, and it was only at
the last that one of them happed upon the foe; and he was still on the
mainland and had sent no tidings.

But the Jesuit, being cognizant of all the plans of the adventurers, and
knowing that the Johnsons would lead the way to the scene of Oxenham's
defeat and death, prepared yet a third scheme, and, deeming this the
surer one, was giving it his personal supervision. He calculated
correctly.

When Captain Drake and his retinue were leaving the castle, a native
youth who waited upon the soldiers slipped a packet into the hands of the
last man, with a whispered injunction to secrecy. The soldier handed the
papers to the captain as soon as he was aboard again. A few minutes
later Nick and Ned Johnson were sent for into the cabin. The first
question caused each one to prick up his single ear pretty sharply.

"Were you the only ones who escaped death when Captain Oxenham was slain?"

"No, some boys were spared."

"Have they ever reached England?"

"As far as we know, no. The priests told us that some of them abjured
their faith and had received pardon."

Captain Drake passed some papers across the table. "Look at this
drawing."

The brothers did so, and looked at one another pretty shrewdly also.

"What do you make out of it?"

"'Tis a guide to the buried spoil."