Another frolicsome adventure of the English sailors was to hang about the rear of the Spanish 'silver fleet' on its way from America to Spain, and when any vessel became separated from her fellows, to fall upon her, remove the precious cargo to their own vessel, and then set fire to the Spanish ship and send her adrift upon the high seas. No wonder that after several years of these proceedings the Spanish king had made up his mind that the pride of the audacious islanders must be lowered, and a clean sweep made of the English pirates. And it was no wonder that Queen Elizabeth was uneasy, for she had received tidings that even then the Spaniards had a great fleet in the harbour of Cadiz, ready for the invasion of England. At that time the Spanish navy was the greatest in the world, while the English only had a few hundred small vessels. While the Queen was occupied with these gloomy thoughts, there was a knock at the door, and a short, pleasant-looking man stood on the threshold. The man bowed low, and the queen looked at him with an expression that was half angry and half pleased. 'Ha, Sir Francis Drake,' she said, 'what will you? [Illustration: Drake making his request of the Queen.] The great sailor smiled; and in spite of herself the sternness began to melt from the queen's face. Few people could have remained looking into that sunburnt countenance and still have felt annoyed. There was such a breezy determination about the man; and his large, clear bright eyes met the eyes of every one else with a look which made them trust him. He had the appearance of one to whom danger and adventure are sport, and who is strong enough to carry out the wildest adventures with success. Through his daring exploits he had been the cause of more trouble with the Spaniards than any other man in Queen Elizabeth's dominions, and she knew it; but then the queen dearly loved a brave man. 'How now, Sir Francis,' said the Queen, smiling a little in spite of herself, 'are you already weary of dry land?' The adventurer gravely bent his head, 'Please your Majesty,' he said, 'I should be glad to have a commission.' 'What do you want a commission for?' asked the queen. The explorer's eyes twinkled. 'So please your Majesty, to singe the King of Spain's beard; it has grown somewhat too long.' The queen understood what he meant, but she felt that she must try to look forbidding. 'Ha, Sir Francis,' she said, 'have you not already made me enough trouble with the King of Spain? Know you not that for your plunderings in the new lands yonder he has called you "the master thief of the unknown world"?' 'Your Majesty,' said Sir Francis, 'I am well aware of the King of Spain's opinion, and I think it the more reason that I should show him some good fighting nearer home.' Then, throwing off his jesting manner, he showed the queen his plans for destroying the mighty preparations which were being made against England.