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runs into the South Sea。
〃And there； having cut wood； we made a pinnace （and work enough we had at it） of five…and…forty foot in the keel； and in her down the stream； and to the Isle of Pearls in the Gulf of Panama。〃
〃Into the South Sea？ Impossible！〃 said Sir Richard。 〃Have a care what you say； my man； for there is that about you which would make me sorry to find you out a liar。〃
〃Impossible or not； liar or none； we went there； sir。〃
〃Question him； Amyas； lest he turn out to have been beforehand with you。〃
The man looked inquiringly at Amyas； who said
〃Well； my man； of the Gulf of Panama I cannot ask you； for I never was inside it； but what other parts of the coast do you know？〃
〃Every inch； sir； from Cabo San Francisco to Lima； more is my sorrow； for I was a galley…slave there for two years and more。〃
〃You know Lima？〃
〃I was there three times； worshipful gentlemen； and the last was February come two years； and there I helped lade a great plate… ship； the Cacafuogo；' they called her。〃
Amyas started。 Sir Richard nodded to him gently to be silent； and then
〃And what became of her； my lad？〃
〃God knows； who knows all； and the devil who freighted her。 I broke prison six weeks afterwards； and never heard but that she got safe into Panama。〃
〃You never heard； then； that she was taken？〃
〃Taken； your worships？ Who should take her？〃
〃Why should not a good English ship take her as well as another？〃 said Amyas。
〃Lord love you； sir； yes； faith； if they had but been there。 Many's the time that I thought to myself； as we went alongside； 'Oh； if Captain Drake was but here； well to windward； and our old crew of the 〃Dragon〃！' Ask your pardon； gentles： but how is Captain Drake； if I may make so bold？〃
Neither could hold out longer。
〃Fellow； fellow！〃 cried Sir Richard； springing up； 〃either thou art the cunningest liar that ever earned a halter； or thou hast done a deed the like of which never man adventured。 Dost thou not know that Captain Drake took that 'Cacafuogo' and all her freight； in February come two years？〃
〃Captain Drake！ God forgive me； sir； butCaptain Drake in the South Seas？ He saw them； sir； from the tree…top over Panama； when I was with him； and I too； but sailed them； sir？sailed them？〃
〃Yes； and round the world too；〃 said Amyas； 〃and I with him； and took that very 'Cacafuogo' off Cape San Francisco； as she came up to Panama。〃
One glance at the man's face was enough to prove his sincerity。 The great stern Anabaptist； who had not winced at the news of his mother's death； dropt right on his knees on the floor； and burst into violent sobs。
〃Glory to God！ Glory to God！ O Lord； I thank thee！ Captain Drake in the South Seas！ The blood of thy innocents avenged； O Lord！ The spoiler spoiled； and the proud robbed； and all they whose hands were mighty have found nothing。 Glory； glory！ Oh； tell me； sir； did she fight？〃
〃We gave her three pieces of ordnance only； and struck down her mizzenmast； and then boarded sword in hand； but never had need to strike a blow； and before we left her； one of her own boys had changed her name； and rechristened her the 'Cacaplata。'〃
〃Glory； glory！ Cowards they are； as I told them。 I told them they never could stand the Devon mastiffs； and well they flogged me for saying it； but they could not stop my mouth。 O sir； tell me； did you get the ship that came up after her？〃
〃What was that？〃
〃A long race…ship； sir； from Guayaquil； with an old gentleman on board；Don Francisco de Xararte was his name； and by token； he had a gold falcon hanging to a chain round his neck； and a green stone in the breast of it。 I saw it as we rowed him aboard。 O tell me； sir； tell me for the love of God； did you take that ship？〃
〃We did take that ship； and the jewel too； and her majesty has it at this very hour。〃
〃Then tell me； sir；〃 said he slowly； as if he dreaded an answer； 〃tell me； sir； and oh； try and mindwas there a little maid aboard with the old gentleman？〃
〃A little maid？ Let me think。 No； I saw none。〃
The man settled his features again sadly。
〃I thought not。 I never saw her come aboard。 Still I hoped； like； I hoped。 Alackaday！ God help me； Salvation Yeo！〃
〃What have you to do with this little maid； then； good fellow！〃 asked Grenville。
〃Ah； sir； before I tell you that； I must go back and finish the story of Mr。 Oxenham； if you will believe me enough to hear it。〃
〃I do believe thee； good fellow； and honor thee too。〃
〃Then； sir； I can speak with a free tongue。 Where was I？〃
〃Where was he； Amyas？〃
〃At the Isle of Pearls。〃
〃And yet； O gentles； tell me first； how Captain Drake came into the South Seas：over the neck； as we did？〃
〃Through the Straits； good fellow； like any Spaniard： but go on with thy story； and thou shalt have Mr。 Leigh's after。〃
〃Through the Straits！ O glory！ But I'll tell my tale。 Well； sirs bothTo the Island of Pearls we came； we and some of the negroes。 We found many huts； and Indians fishing for pearls； and also a fair house； with porches； but no Spaniard therein； save one man； at which Mr。 Oxenham was like a man transported； and fell on that Spaniard； crying； 'Perro； where is your mistress？ Where is the bark from Lima？' To which he boldly enough； 'What was his mistress to the Englishman？' But Mr。 O。 threatened to twine a cord round his head till his eyes burst out； and the Spaniard； being terrified； said that the ship from Lima was expected in a fortnight's time。 So for ten days we lay quiet； letting neither negro nor Spaniard leave the island； and took good store of pearls； feeding sumptuously on wild cattle and hogs until the tenth day； when there came by a small bark； her we took； and found her from Quito； and on board 60；000 pezos of gold and other store。 With which if we had been content； gentlemen； all had gone well。 And some were willing to go back at once； having both treasure and pearls in plenty； but Mr。 O。； he waxed right mad； and swore to slay any one who made that motion again； assuring us that the Lima ship of which he had news was far greater and richer； and would make princes of us all； which bark came in sight on the sixteenth day； and was taken without shot or slaughter。 The taking of which bark； I verily believe； was the ruin of every mother's son of us。〃
And being asked why； he answered； 〃First； because of the discontent which was bred thereby； for on board was found no gold； but only 100；000 pezos of silver。〃
Sir Richard Grenville。Thou greedy fellow； and was not that enough to stay your stomachs？
Yeo answered that he would to God it had been； and that； moreover； the weight of that silver was afterwards a hindrance to them； and fresh cause of discontent； as he would afterwards declare。 〃So that it had been well for us； sirs； if we had left it behind； as Mr。 Drake left his three years before； and carried away the gold only。 In which I do see the evident hand of God； and His just punishment for our greediness of gain； who caused Mr。 Oxenham； by whom we had hoped to attain great wealth； to be a snare to us； and a cause of utter ruin。〃
〃Do you think； then；〃 said Sir Richard； 〃that Mr。 Oxenham deceived you wilfully？〃
〃I will never