Spaniard who crossed his path.

CHAPTER XIX.

HOME WITH DRAKE.

During our awful captivity on board the galleon we had well-nigh lost
all count or notion of time. To us one day was pretty much like another.
If we slept it was only to be awakened by the overseer's whip. Day or
night it was all one with us; never did our tormentors cease to afflict
us. We were reduced to the condition of animals, and had not even the
comfort which is allowed to them. Thus when the time of our rescue came,
we had no notion of where we were or what part of the year it was.

We now found that it was the middle of August, and that we were in the
North Pacific Ocean and bearing direct for the Moluccas, where Drake
intended to trade before continuing his voyage homeward by way of the
Cape. We also learnt that this great captain was now taking his first
voyage round the world, and that he had had many great and remarkable
adventures on the Spanish Main and on the coast of Peru, and had
enriched his vessels with the spoils of Spanish treasure-ships, so that
he now had with him a store of great and unusual value. For from some
ships he had taken bars of silver, and from others blocks of gold,
together with rich ladings, merchandise and silks, so rare and curious
as to be worth great sums of money. And all this treasure had been
chiefly won from the Spaniards in fair fight, and that without any
cruelty or lust of blood or revenge.

About the thirteenth day of September we came within view of some
islands, situated about eight degrees northward from the line. From
these the islanders came out to us in canoes hollowed out of solid
trunks of a tree, and raised very high out of the water at both ends, so
that they almost formed a semicircle. These canoes were polished so
highly that they shone like ebony, and were kept steady by pieces of
timber fixed on each side of them by strong canes, fastened at one end
to the canoe, and at the other to the timber.

The first company that came out to us brought fruits, potatoes, and
other commodities, none of any great value, and seemed anxious to trade
with us, making a great show of good-will and honesty. Soon after,
however, they sent out another fleet of canoes, the crews of which
showed themselves to be nothing better than thieves, for if we placed
anything in their hands they immediately considered it to belong to
them, and would neither restore nor pay for it. Upon this we were
obliged to get