Page:Royalnavyhistory01clow.djvu/696

 Drake continued to harass the Spaniards. His brother John was killed in boarding an enemy's ship, and another brother Joseph died of fever with twenty-eight of the men, but several prizes were captured in the autumn of 1572.

During these closing months of the year, the active brain of the illustrious leader was elaborating a plan for crossing the isthmus of Darien, and intercepting the train of treasure mules. He made his preparations with great care. He had succeeded in opening friendly relations with a chief of the Cimarrones or runaway slaves named Pedro, and he selected the best of his own men. His expedition finally consisted of eighteen picked English seamen and thirty Cimarrones, and he started for the journey across the isthmus on the 3rd of February, 1573. The way led through dense tropical forests, up steep declivities, and along rocky water-courses. On the 11th, they reached the top of a hill on which, the narrative tells us, there was "a goodlie and great high tree." Francis Drake climbed into the branches by means of notches cut in the trunk, and, for the first time, beheld the South Sea stretching away to the western horizon. His mind was filled with enthusiasm, and when he reached the ground he knelt down and besought God "to give him life and leave once to sail an English ship on that sea."

The little party had reached the water-parting of the isthmus. They now began to force their way through the almost impervious tangle of forest vegetation until at length they came in sight of the city of Panama. Drake had intelligence that eight mules laden with gold were about to make their way from Panama to Nombre de Dios. He secreted his men near the roadside, and after about an hour the tinkling of the leading mule's bell was heard. One of the seamen, unable longer to restrain his excitement, dashed forward. This prevented the plan of a surprise, but Drake was not to be beaten. He got his little force in order, and boldly attacked the escort. The Spaniards were seized with panic and fled, leaving their precious charge in the hands of the victors. Drake then re-crossed the isthmus and, near Nombre de Dios, captured another train of 109 mules, each carrying 300 pounds of silver. The quantity was so great that only a portion could be taken away.

When Drake came down to the appointed place of embarkation he found that, instead of his pinnaces, there were seven armed Spanish boats at anchor in the bay. It is on such occasions that