Martin and Alonzo had gone to the dock quite early that morning. Martin was a retired sailor and liked to meet the Old cronies of his youth and talk Over the many voyages which they had made to Africa, to Asia and to Britain. They had told over and over again the stories Of storms and shipwrecks, Of fierce fights with enemies on the ocean, and Of races for life with pirates. Alonzo and the other boys Of his age drank in with greedy ears these stories Of adventure. On this particular day in the month Of March more than four hundred years ago, Martin and his comrades were fighting over again with great vigor the battles of their youth. Their keen eyes ?ashed fire as they told of the way they battled against the angry sea, or sent a pirate ship to the bottom in the blackness Of midnight. The boys hung around and were thrilled by these stories. They had daydreams Of the time in the near future when they too would contend against wind and wave, soldier and pirate, for the honor and glory Of Spain.