n aboard the _Golden
Boar_. For the time, the treasure-hunt was forgotten. Seven members
of the company, two of them gentlemen partners in the expedition, were
in the hands of the Spaniards. What could be done for their release?
From the evidence of those of the watering-party that had escaped, it
was plain that the band that had attacked them was as numerous as that
which attacked the gold-seekers. The total forces, Spanish and Indian,
were considerably over a thousand. Now, if the ship was to be at all
adequately guarded and manned, Captain Drake could not spare more than
a score of men as a land force. Obviously, this was totally inadequate
if the foe stood his ground; so weak a band might be shot down one by
one in the forest. Yet no man would leave the coast without making
some real effort to aid his captured comrades. The brave fellows could
readily put themselves in thought into the places of the unfortunate
seven, and they shuddered as they contemplated their possible fate.
One man, Paignton Rob, knew Oxenham's route across the isthmus, and he
volunteered at once to lead any pursuing party. Should the Johnsons
escape, they would almost certainly take this route back. Pursuit was
decided upon, and Captain Drake resolved to lead it himself. The whole
of the gentlemen adventurers volunteered to accompany him, and Dan
Pengelly and Paignton Rob completed the available force. It was small
enough to be called a "forlorn hope;" it was brave enough to do
desperate deeds if occasion offered.

Since the retreat of the foe no sounds had been heard from the shore.
This did not prove that no enemies were lurking in the thickets, for
silence had prevailed until the moment of the double attack. Rob
offered to go scouting, but his services as guide were too precious for
him to run the risk; and Sir John Trelawny, like the valiant knight he
was, went instead. A boat was rowed down into the shelter of the
bluff, and he slipped ashore. Scaling the rock, he peered about on all
sides, saw nothing suspicious, and advanced into the thick woods.
There were plenty signs of the fray, but no sight of a foe. He wound
round one side of the curve of the bay, and startled nothing but the
birds and a few reptiles. He came down to the water, hailed the ship,
and was taken aboard. The captain resolved to start up the creek at
nightfall and follow its course into the river.

This was done. Signs of Basil's camp were discovered,