At the end of October, 1578, Sir Francis Drake, the Sea-King of Devon, as
he was called, and the most daring and persistent of the enemies of the
Spanish settlements in America, sailed from Cape Horn, at the southern
extremity of the continent, and steered northward into the great Pacific,
with the golden realm of Peru for his goal. A year before he had left the
harbor of Plymouth, England, with a fleet of five well-armed ships. But
these had been lost or left behind until only the "Golden Hind," a ship of
one hundred tons burden, was left, the flag-ship of the little squadron.
Of the one hundred and sixty men with whom he started only about sixty
remained.
The bold Drake had previously made himself terrible to the Spaniards of
Mexico and the West Indies, and had won treasure within sight of the walls
of Panama. Now for the first time the foot of a white man trod the barren
rocks of Cape Horn and the keel of an English ship cut the Pacific waves.
Here were treasure-laden Spanish galleons to take and rich Spanish cities
to raid, and the hearts of the adventurers were full of hope of a golden
harvest as they sailed north into that unknown sea.
Onward they sailed, nearing the scene of the famous adventures of Pizarro,
and about the 1st of December entered a harbor on the coast of Chili.
Before them, at no great distance, lay sloping hills on which sheep and
cattle were grazing and corn and potatoes growing. They landed to meet the
natives, who came to the shore and seemed delighted with the presents
which were given them. But soon afterwards Drake and a boatload of his
men, who had gone on shore to procure fresh water, were fiercely attacked
by ambushed Indians, and every man on board was wounded before they could
pull away. Even some of their oars were snatched from them by the Indians,
and Drake was wounded by an arrow in the cheek and struck by a stone on
the side of his face.
[Illustration: THE HARBOR OF VALPARAISO.]