t
circumnavigator of the globe, and it struck him that it would be a great
and glorious thing to take the "Golden Hind" around the earth, and win him
the credit of being the first Englishman to accomplish this wonderful
task.

The prow of the "Golden Hind" was thereupon turned to the west. Quick and
prosperous was the voyage, the sea being almost free from storms, and
after sixty-eight days in which land had not been seen a green shore came
in view. It was the last day of September, 1579.

The voyagers had many interesting experiences in the eastern archipelago,
but no mishaps except that the ship grounded on a rocky shoal near one of
the islands. Fortunately there was no leak, and after throwing overboard
eight of their cannon, three tons of cloves they had gathered in their
voyage through the isles of spices, and many bags of meal, the "Golden
Hind" was got afloat again, none the worse for her dangerous misadventure.

Stocking their vessel once more with spices and sago at the island of
Booten, and meeting with a hospitable reception at the large island of
Java, they sailed to the south, doubling the stormy Cape of Good Hope
without mishap and entering the Atlantic again. Finally, on the 26th of
September, 1580, the "Golden Hind" dropped anchor in Plymouth harbor, from
which she had sailed nearly three years before, and with wealth enough to
make all on board rich.

Never had England been more full of joy and pride than when the news of
the wonderful voyage of the "Golden Hind" round the world was received and
its strange adventures told. Queen Elizabeth was glad to make a knight of
the bold sea-rover, changing his name from plain Francis Drake to Sir
Francis Drake, and the people looked on him as their greatest hero of the
sea. In our days acts like his would have been called piracy, for England
was not at war with Spain. But Drake was made a hero all the same, and in
the war that soon after began he did noble work in the great sea fight
with the Spanish Armada.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH AND THE QUEST FOR EL DORADO.

Gold was the beacon that lured the Spaniards to America, and dazzling
stories were told by them of the riches of the countries they explored,
stories illustrated by the marvellous wealth of Peru. It was well known
that Cortez had not obtained all the treasures of Montezuma, or Pizarro
all those of Atahualpa, and many believed that these treasures had been
carried far away by the servants of tho