Mistress of the Sea Read Online Free PDF

but the Lord’s servants.’ He brought his fist down on the table. ‘Are you with me?’
    ‘Aye, Captain,’ Will answered with the rest. He had burned with the desire to see justice done ever since the Spaniards’ treachery off the coast of Mexico.
    Drake leaned closer to the candle, drawing the circle tight, until the last traces of levity drained away from his face.
    ‘England cannot risk war.’ Drake kept his voice low. ‘Our armies are no match for Spain’s. There must be no hint of association between what we do and the Queen. We are on our own.’
    ‘We understand,’ said Simon.
    Will muttered his agreement along with everyone else. He had never expected any levies in support but a bleak reality began to take substance in his mind, and it had the taint of piracy. They would be beyond any protection if they were caught.
    In an instant, Drake’s mood changed, and Will noticed a glint of devilry in his eye.
    ‘How did David bring down Goliath?’
    Hix gave a straight reply: ‘With a sling.’
    ‘With his wits,’ Drake countered. He turned about, making sure of their attention. ‘Spain’s might is fuelled by her wealth, and we’ve all seen the source.’
    ‘The Americas,’ hissed the captain’s brother, giving voice to Will’s thoughts. Most were nodding, though patch-eyed Simon was squirming on his stool.
    ‘But we can’t attack the treasure fleet without a fleet of our own! And even with good warships, General Hawkins was routed . . .’
    ‘Think of that treasure,’ Drake insisted in a steadier pitch. ‘It is well guarded once it leaves the Americas, but not before.’
    ‘Spain controls all the ports,’ Hix said bluntly.
    ‘Does she?’ Drake smiled as he threw back the challenge. ‘Every inlet and every bay?’
    Hix shrugged. Through the hole in his cheek, Will watched his broken teeth grind.
    ‘There are no bays along the Mexican shore,’ Hix answered. ‘We know that. The Spaniards have the only safe harbour there is, at San Juan de Ulúa, where we all fought and lost.’
    Drake looked pleased.
    ‘Think further south,’ he encouraged.
    The candle flame wavered.
    ‘Where?’ Will asked softly.
    ‘The land they call Panamá in Tierra Firme: the narrow isthmus between the two great seas – the land across which they take all the riches from Peru. There are reefs along the north coast forming thousands of small islands. There are hundreds of coves. I took note on my last voyage. There are many places that would make excellent bases for mounting an attack.’ Drake drew out his purse. Around the candle he began to lay out coins: Spanish silver
reals
and pieces of eight, then gold doubloons. ‘Imagine it,’ Drake said, as he continued to spread the doubloons out. ‘Every year enough silver leaves Tierra Firme to fill St Andrew’s Church. Over two hundred tons.’ His fingers played with the coins. ‘And enough gold is shipped away to pack out this tavern.’
    Will stared. He had never seen so much money, and neither had the other men, from the looks on their faces. Fingers reached for the coins. Some touched.
    ‘This room, and more, solid with gold,’ Drake continued. ‘I would like to find out where that treasure is stored, how it’s carried, and the route by which it’s taken between the seas.’
    ‘Aye,’ someone answered. ‘So would I.’
    ‘With that knowledge we can strike, but not too soon.’ One by one, Drake began to return the pieces of eight to his purse. ‘We must plan carefully and cause no alarm till we’re prepared. Our outward endeavour will be to trade. Let us bring back a few fancies for our ladies.’
    Grins and chuckles followed while Drake gathered in the
reals
until only the doubloons remained: nine of them. Drake pushed one to each man.
    ‘We must keep our true purpose to ourselves.’ He bared his palms. ‘Let us swear an oath to see our purpose through. I would trust my life in your hands, every one of you.’ He looked slowly round and caught