concealed until an opportunity might occur for our
removing it. By a sad mishap, one of our seamen fell into the hands of
the Spaniards, and when I sent a party to recover the treasure, it had
been carried off; the poor fellow, as we found, having been put to the
torture to reveal its hiding-place. On our march back we surprised and
burnt Venta Cruz, and obtained more booty, returning to our ships just
in time to escape a large body of Spaniards, who had been assembled to
attack us.

"We safely reached Plymouth on Sunday the 9th of August, 1573, when the
people in the church, hearing of our arrival, rushed out to welcome us,
leaving few to hear the preacher finish his discourse.

"Though not relating to myself, I must tell your Majesty how my faithful
friend John Oxenham sailed away forthwith, accompanied by carpenters and
other artificers, determined to do that which never man had before
enterprised. Crossing the Isthmus of Darien, he built a pinnace, in
which he embarked on the South Sea. Having taken two prizes, he was
returning with his booty across the isthmus to his ship, when he was
assailed by overwhelming numbers of the Spaniards and made prisoner. Of
his sad fate I have gained tidings. He was carried to Lima, and there,
according to the vile custom of those foes of the human race, cruelly
tortured and put to death. It makes the heart of a man burn within him
to avenge such treatment of your Majesty's subjects."

The Queen did not reply, but she had no desire to check the ardour of
the brave captain.

"Master Drake has not mentioned to your Majesty a circumstance of which
I have been told," observed Sir Christopher Hatton. "Before coming
away, he presented his cutlass to the chief of the Cimarrones, who had
shown a great longing for it; and when in exchange the cacique gave him
four large wedges of gold, Master Drake, declining to appropriate them,
threw them into the common stock, observing he thought it just that such
as bore the charge of so uncertain a voyage on his credit, should share
the utmost advantage that the voyage produced; and good fortune
deservedly attended him to the end of his enterprise."

"On what matter have you desired this interview, Captain Drake?" asked
the Queen.

"It is one which, for obvious reasons, Master Drake desires should not
be made public," observed Sir Christopher Hatton.

On this her Majesty signed to her courtiers to retire out of earshot,
and then ordered