consisting of a hundred soldiers under Don Juan de Ortega, was sent from Panama to surprise them. Ortega reached the delta of the river, but he was at a loss which mouth to enter, for it discharged its waters into the sea by three channels. Presently a quantity of feathers of plucked fowls came floating down one of them. Ortega at once went up that channel, and on the fourth day came to the pinnace with only six men in her. Soon the Spaniards discovered where the booty was concealed, and were returning to their boats, when they were overtaken by Oxenham and the main body. The fearless Englishman led on a desperate attack, and his men fought with impetuous valour. But they were overpowered by numbers. Eleven were killed, and twelve, including the gallant leader, were captured and sent to Lima. All were put to death except two boys. It was a sad ending for an exploit almost without an equal in the annals of maritime daring. Its reckless audacity has been condemned, though it is a quality which should be fostered and encouraged, for it has made England the mistress of the sea. It must be remembered too that Oxenham and his men showed that, although they knew no fear and counted no odds, they, and especially their leader, had the minds to plan out an undertaking of extreme difficulty, and to execute it with skill and foresight. Above all we should be proud that the cause of their disaster was their generous humanity. If they had done to their prisoners what the Spaniards did to theirs, they would have returned home safely with their little ship laden with treasure. The training of an explorer alone could have enabled Oxenham to achieve what he did. The noble attribute of mercy to the vanquished caused his failure and death.
While Drake, fired by the sight of the South Sea from the tall tree on Darien, was dreaming of a great voyage round the world, the attention of some of his brother adventurers was turned to the discovery of a way to the Indies by the north-west. Michael Lok was a leading spirit in advocating an attempt; and the bold Yorkshireman who commanded the expedition was fortunate in having a man on board who was so well able to give an interesting account of his voyages. Mr. George Best knew what he was writing about, for he had "applied himself wholly to the study of cosmographie and the secrets of navigation." He tells us that Captain Martin Frobiser fitted out two very small vessels — the Gabriel of 25, and the Michael of 20, tons — and sailed on the 1st
