Upon the edge of the forest, patches of plantation ground made their appearance; and the treaty was, upon the whole, well observed on both sides.
It was about a year after they had taken to the hills that news reached the boys that an English ship had come into those waters.
It was brought them across at an island?
?
by some Simeroons who had been where the English ship anchored.

They said that it was commanded by Master John Oxenford.

The boys knew him, as he had been on board Captain Francis Drake's ship during the last expedition, and they determined to make an effort to join him.

He had, however, left the island before the natives started with the news; and they made an arrangement with them, to convey them across to that place, when it should be learned that the vessel was returning, or was again there.
It was not long before they were filled with grief at the news that reached them, although they felt not a little thankful that they had not been able to join Captain Oxenford, when he first reached the islands.

This adventurous seaman had, after the return to England of Captain Francis Drake's expedition, waited for some time on shore; and then, fretting under forced inactivity--for Captain Drake had, for the time, abandoned any project which he had entertained of a return to the Spanish seas, and had engaged in a war in Ireland--determined to equip an expedition of his own, with the assistance of several of those who had sailed in the last voyage with him, and of some Devonshire gentlemen who thought that a large booty might be made out of the venture.
He equipped a sloop of 140 tons burden, and sailed for Darien.