All the Spanish frigates of the Pacific were on the
watch. The _Golden Hind_ was so heavily freighted with treasure, it
was actually necessary to lighten ballast by throwing spices and silks
overboard. One can guess that the orchestra played a stirring refrain
off Cape Francisco that night. The Northeast Passage from Asia to
Europe was {159} still a myth of the geographers. Drake's friend,
Frobisher, had thought he found it on the Atlantic side. After taking
counsel with his ten chosen advisers, Drake decided to give the Spanish
frigates the slip by returning through the mythical Northeast Passage.
Stop was made at Guatalco, off the west coast of New Spain, for
repairs. Here, the poor Portuguese pilot brought all the way from the
islands off the west coast of Africa, was put ashore.[9] He was
tortured by the Spaniards for piloting Drake to the South Seas. In the
course of rifling port and ship at Guatalco, charts to the Philippines
and Indian Ocean were found; so that even if the voyage to England by
the Northeast Passage proved impossible, the _Golden Hind_ could follow
these charts home round the world by the Indian Ocean and Good Hope up
Africa.
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