so that our Captain
could not send any letter, but yet with the point of his knife, he wrote
something upon the toothpike, "which," he said, "should be sufficient to
gain credit to the messenger."

Thereupon, the Master looked upon it, and saw written, _By me, FRANCIS
DRAKE_: wherefore he believed, and according to the message, prepared
what provision he could, and repaired to the mouth of the river of
Tortugos, as the Cimaroons that went with him then named it.

That afternoon towards three a clock, we were come down to that river,
not past half-an-hour before we saw our pinnace ready come to receive
us: which was unto us all a double rejoicing: first that we saw them,
and next, so soon. Our Captain with all our company praised GOD most
heartily, for that we saw our pinnace and fellows again.

We all seemed to these, who had lived at rest and plenty all this while
aboard, as men strangely changed (our Captain yet not much changed) in
countenance and plight: and indeed our long fasting and sore travail
might somewhat forepine and waste us; but the grief we drew inwardly,
for that we returned without that gold and treasure we hoped for did no
doubt show her print and footsteps in our faces.

The rest of our men which were then missed, could not travel so well
as our Captain, and therefore were left at the Indian new town: and the
next day (23rd February) we rowed to another river in the bottom of the
bay and took them all aboard. Thus being returned from Panama, to the
great rejoicing of our company, who were thoroughly revived with the
report we brought from thence: especially understanding our Captain's
purpose, that he meant not to leave off thus, but would once again
attempt the same journey, whereof they also might be partakers.

Our Captain would not, in the meantime, suffer this edge and forwardness
of his men to be dulled or rebated, by lying still idly unemployed, as
knowing right well by continual experience, that no sickness was more
noisome to impeach any enterprise than delay and idleness.

Therefore considering deeply the intelligences of other places of
importance thereabouts, which he had gotten the former years; and
particularly of Veragua, a rich town lying to the Westward; between
Nombre de Dios and Nicaragua, where is the richest mine of fine gold
that is on this North side: he consulted with his company touching
their opinions, what was to be done in this meantime, and how they stood
affected