ward through the Straits of Magellan.

A favouring breeze filling her sails, the _Golden Hind_ pressed on. The
ports of Paita, Saint Helena, and Guayaquil were successively passed;
but, on the principle that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,
they hove to some time after leaving Callao to capture a ship they
sighted on their way, the one which had before escaped.

Another they took in the port of Paita, partly laden with wine, and a
third, laden with ships' stores, besides eighty pounds weight in gold.
They made quick work of it, however, for they had just heard that a
vastly superior force was on the look-out for them.

When near the Line they captured another vessel, belonging to Gabriel
Alvarez. From him, as well as from the prisoners taken in the other
ships, the information they had before received was confirmed, that the
_Cacafuego_ was but a short distance ahead of them. Their hopes,
therefore, rose higher than ever. Drake, who was not less eager than
his men to capture the rich argosy, to sharpen their eyesight promised
to the first that should discover her the gold chain he wore round his
neck.

It was the ist of March. The Line was passed. Far off, on the
starboard bow, the lofty headland of Cape Francisco was seen, though dim
and indistinct. All day long the seamen, with eager eyes, had been
looking out ahead and on either side, hoping to espy the tiny speck of
white just above the horizon. The day was clear, the sun shone brightly
down from an unclouded sky, and the _Golden Hind_ in hot haste sped on,
her canvas spread wide on either side to catch the breeze. Midday was
passed. In spite of the heat every one was on deck, the eyes of most of
the ship's company, whether there or aloft, looking in the direction
they were going.

Presently a shout rose from the summit of the highest mast, to which
John Drake, a seaman, had climbed--

"A sail, a sail! right ahead!"

"Should the stranger prove to be the _Cacafuego_, the chain of gold
shall be yours, John," replied the Admiral.

If human muscles could have urged on the _Golden Hind_ at a greater
speed than she was going, the men would have exerted their strength
until they had dropped. They could do nothing, however, but stand on
deck or cling to the masts and shrouds, looking at the distant sail with
still more eagerness than before.

Gradually the topsails of the stranger rose above the horizon, then her
courses or lower sails, the