280 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



that the owner would pilot him into Callao, which he did. Here 

 Drake found seventeen ships, twelve of which had sent their 

 sails ashore, so that they were as helpless as logs. He rifled 

 them of their silver, silk, and linen, and then cut their cables 

 and let them drift out to sea. Learning that a richly-laden 

 treasure-ship, named the Cacafuego, had lately sailed for Paita, 

 he at once gave chase. He stopped a vessel bound for Callao; 

 and such was his thirst for gain, that he took from it a small 

 silver lamp, the only article of value on board. In a ship bound 

 to Panama he found forty bars of silver, eighty pounds of gold, 

 and a golden crucifix set with large emeralds. Soon after cross- 

 ing the line, the Cacafuego was discovered ten miles to seaward, 

 by Drake's brother John. The .Pelican's sailing qualities were 

 now improved by what Sylva, the pilot, calls a "pretty device.' , 

 Empty jars were filled with water and hung with ropes over the 

 stern, in order to lighten her bow. The Spaniard, not dreaming 

 of an enemy, made towards her, whereupon Drake gave her 

 three broadsides, shot her mainmast overboard, and wounded her 

 captain. She then surrendered. Drake took possession, sailed 

 with her two days and two nights from the coast, and then lay 

 to to rifle her. He took from her an immense quantity of pearls 

 and precious stones, eighty pounds of gold, twenty-six tons of 

 silver in ingots, a large portion of which belonged to the king, 

 and thirteen boxes of coined silver. The value of this prize 

 was not far from one million of dollars. Then, as if he had 

 been engaged in a legal commercial transaction, Drake asked 

 the captain for his register of the cargo, and wrote a receipt in 

 the margin for the whole amount ! 



The prize, thus lightened of her metallic cargo, was then 

 allowed to depart. Her captain received from Drake a letter of 

 safe conduct in case he should fall in with the Elizabeth or the 

 Mary. This letter is remarkable for its deep and touching piety. 

 After recommending the despoiled captain to the friendly notice 

 of Winter and Thomas, Drake concludes thus: — "I commit you 



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