ounted by sea, between Rio Francisco and Nombre
de Dios; but that way which we march by land, we found it above seven
leagues. We marched as in our former journey to Panama, both for order
and silence; to the great wonder of the French Captain and company, who
protested they knew not by any means how to recover the pinnaces, if
the Cimaroons (to whom what our Captain commanded was a law; though they
little regarded the French, as having no trust in them) should leave us:
our Captain assured him, "There was no cause of doubt of them, of whom
he had had such former trial."

When we were come within an English mile of the way, we stayed all
night, refreshing ourselves, in great stillness, in a most convenient
place: where we heard the carpenters, being many in number, working upon
their ships, as they usually do by reason of the great heat of the
day in Nombre de Dios; and might hear the mules coming from Panama, by
reason of the advantage of the ground.

The next morning (1st April), upon hearing of that number of bells, the
Cimaroons, rejoiced exceedingly, as though there could not have befallen
them a more joyful accident chiefly having been disappointed before. Now
they all assured us, "We should have more gold and silver than all of us
could bear away:" as in truth it fell out.

For there came three _Recuas_, one of 50 mules, the other two, of 70
each, every [one] of which carried 300 lbs. weight of silver; which in
all amounted to near thirty tons.

We putting ourselves in readiness, went down near the way to hear the
bells; where we stayed not long, but we saw of what metal they were
made; and took such hold on the heads of the foremost and hindmost
mules, that all the rest stayed and lay down, as their manner is.

These three _Recuas_ were guarded with forty-five soldiers or
thereabouts, fifteen to each _Recua_, which caused some exchange of
bullets and arrows for a time; in which conflict the French Captain was
sore wounded with hail-shot in the belly, and one Cimaroon was slain:
but in the end, these soldiers thought it the best way to leave their
mules with us, and to seek for more help abroad.

In which meantime we took some pain to ease some of the mules which
were heaviest loaden of their carriage. And because we ourselves were
somewhat weary, we were contented with a few bars and quoits of gold, as
we could well carry: burying about fifteen tons of silver, partly in
the burrows which the great land cra