d be a coward, indeed, who would not
fight with thumbscrews and a bonfire behind him."

"It is said that the queen and her ministers favor, though not
openly, these adventures."

"She cannot do it openly," said the old man, "for here in Europe we
are at peace with Spain--worse luck."

"How is it, then, that if we are at peace here, we can be at war in
the Indian Seas?"

"That is more than I can tell thee, lad. I guess the queen's writ
runs not so far as that; and while her majesty's commands must be
obeyed, and the Spanish flag suffered to pass unchallenged, on
these seas; on the Spanish main there are none to keep the peace,
and the Don and the Englishman go at each other's throats, as a
thing of nature."

"The storm is rising, methinks. It is not often I have heard the
wind howl more loudly. It is well that the adventurers have not yet
started. It would be bad for any craft caught in the Channel,
today."

As he spoke, he looked from the casement. Several people were seen
hurrying towards the beach.

"Something is the matter, lads; maybe a ship is driving on the
rocks, even now."

Seizing their hats and cloaks, the party sallied out, and hurried
down to the shore. There they saw a large ship, driving in before
the wind into the bay. She was making every effort that seamanship
could suggest, to beat clear of the head; but the sailors saw, at
once, that her case was hopeless.

"She will go on the Black Shoal, to a certainty," the old sailor
said; "and then, may God have mercy on their souls."

"Can we do nothing to help them?" a woman standing near asked.

"No, no," the sailor said; "we could not launch a boat, in the
teeth of this tremendous sea. All we can do is to look out, and
throw a line to any who may be washed ashore, on a spar, when she
goes to pieces."

Presently a group of men, whose dress belonged to the upper class,
moved down through the street to the beach.

"Aye! there is Mr. Trevelyan," said the sailor, "and the gentleman
beside him is Captain Drake, himself."

The group moved on to where the fishermen were standing.

"Is there no hope," they asked, "of helping the ship?"

The seamen shook their heads.

"You will see for yourself, Master Drake, that no boat could live
in such a sea as this."

"It could not put out from here," the Captain said; "but if they
could lower one from the ship, it might live until it got into the
breakers."

"Aye, aye," said a sailor; "but there is no