n the world, while the English only had
a few hundred small vessels.

While the Queen was occupied with these gloomy thoughts, there was a
knock at the door, and a short, pleasant-looking man stood on the
threshold.

The man bowed low, and the queen looked at him with an expression that
was half angry and half pleased.

'Ha, Sir Francis Drake,' she said, 'what will you?

[Illustration: Drake making his request of the Queen.]

The great sailor smiled; and in spite of herself the sternness began to
melt from the queen's face.

Few people could have remained looking into that sunburnt countenance
and still have felt annoyed. There was such a breezy determination
about the man; and his large, clear bright eyes met the eyes of every
one else with a look which made them trust him. He had the appearance
of one to whom danger and adventure are sport, and who is strong enough
to carry out the wildest adventures with success. Through his daring
exploits he had been the cause of more trouble with the Spaniards than
any other man in Queen Elizabeth's dominions, and she knew it; but then
the queen dearly loved a brave man.

'How now, Sir Francis,' said the Queen, smiling a little in spite of
herself, 'are you already weary of dry land?'

The adventurer gravely bent his head,

'Please your Majesty,' he said, 'I should be glad to have a commission.'

'What do you want a commission for?' asked the queen.

The explorer's eyes twinkled.

'So please your Majesty, to singe the King of Spain's beard; it has
grown somewhat too long.'

The queen understood what he meant, but she felt that she must try to
look forbidding.

'Ha, Sir Francis,' she said, 'have you not already made me enough
trouble with the King of Spain? Know you not that for your plunderings
in the new lands yonder he has called you "the master thief of the
unknown world"?'

'Your Majesty,' said Sir Francis, 'I am well aware of the King of
Spain's opinion, and I think it the more reason that I should show him
some good fighting nearer home.'

Then, throwing off his jesting manner, he showed the queen his plans
for destroying the mighty preparations which were being made against
England.

By the time the audience was over, the clouds had lifted from the
queen's brow, and the explorer had obtained leave to carry out his
daring project.

A few weeks later, the harbour of Cadiz showed the same scene of
animation which it had presented for many months pa