The new friends then struck
inland to a lonely spot which another Spanish train of gold and jewels
had to pass on its way to Nombre de Dios. This time there was no
mistake. When Drake's whistle blew, and the leading mules were
stopped, the others lay down, as mule trains will. Then the guard was
quickly killed or put to flight, and all the gold and jewels were
safely seized and carried to the coast. Here again disaster stared
Drake in the face; for all his boats were gone, and not one of the men
left with them was in sight. But once more Drake got through, this
time by setting up an empty biscuit bag as a sail on a raft he quickly
put together. With one other Englishman and two Frenchmen he soon
found his boats, divided the treasure with the French, put the English
share on board ship, and, after giving many presents to the friendly
Maroons, sailed for home. "And so," says one of his men, "we arrived
at Plymouth on Sunday, the 9th of August, 1573, at what time the news
of our Captain's return did so speedily pass over all the church that
very few remained with the preacher, all hastening to see the evidence
of God's love towards our Gracious Queen and Country.
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