The lad had risen, and stood facing me, his eyes flashing fire. "And dost thou think that I would take my own life, when thou dost lose thine? I owe mine to thee--dost think that I would leave thee?" The moisture stood in my eyes as I looked at him. When all others had deserted me, he had stood faithful and true; there was left some drop of balm in existence while it held such souls as this, few though they be. "I shall not drive thee away," I said smilingly, "for I am but too glad to have thee with me." An hour--two--and then the door opened, and Stone entered. "Sir Francis wishes to see both of you," he said. We followed him down into the room where Drake sat alone. He motioned us to chairs. "Sir Thomas," he said, "dost thou, on the honor of a gentleman, know where the plunder of DeNortier is hidden? If either of you will but tell me, you shall have a liberal share, and so can perhaps buy your liberty from the Queen." "Sir Francis," I answered, "I know naught of it; none but the Count knew where it was concealed." "And he has escaped," he muttered. "I regret that I must leave without finding the gold, but time is precious. It may be that this fellow will bring a swarm about our ears, did I but linger here a day. The Spaniards would be but too glad of an excuse to repay me for the blows that I have struck them before now, and we have but one ship. No, we must go," and he arose. "And now, gentlemen, give me but your word, that you will not attempt to escape, and you shall be free to come and go without a guard." "Thou hast it," I answered; "that is if Oliver assents," and I looked at the boy. "Aye," he said, "if Sir Thomas gives the word, so will I." Drake walked over to the window and looked out, his back towards us. The lad plucked my sleeve. "Look," he whispered, "everything of value has been taken by these vandals." I glanced around me; it was true. The gold and silver goblets, the candlesticks of precious metal, the draperies and statues, the paintings and ornaments, even the very skins and rugs upon the floor were gone. Naught but the heavy furniture remained. I doubted not that they would take that, did they but have a way to carry it on the ship. I glanced through the open door, it was the same in the other room; even as I looked, I saw the men descending the stairs, bringing the booty from above and stripping the hall as they passed through. Drake had made a clean job of it, yet even now he mourned because he could not discover the treasure of DeNortier. He turned from the window. "'Tis a pity that thou dost not know where the treasure is hidden," he said. "The gold would have more weight with Elizabeth in freeing thee, than would the innocence of Saint George himself," and with these words he waited silently a moment to see what effect they would have upon me. But I stood cold and unmoved, and growling out indistinctly a word or two, which I could not understand, he picked up his hat and strode away.