ced the high raised poop
alone, overlooking them, when the lookout suddenly reported three sail
in sight. The half-drunken sailor who had been sent aloft at daybreak
had kept negligent watch, for almost as soon as he had made his report
the ships were observed from the deck of the frigate.

The _Mary Rose_ had the wind on her quarter, her best point of sailing,
and she was covered with canvas from her trucks to her decks, from her
spritsail yard to her huge mizzen crossjack, a lateen sail. The wind was
light, but she was making rapid progress toward the approaching
strangers, who, with their larboard tacks aboard, were beating up toward
the English.

Attended by the maroon, Morgan, pistol in hand, went forward to the
forecastle, kicking his way clear through the sullen, black-browed mass
of sailors. He ran a short distance up the weather fore-shrouds and
took a long look at the strangers. They all flew the yellow flag of
Spain. One was a huge galleon, the other two smaller ships, though
larger in each instance than the _Mary Rose_, and all heavily armed.

One of the plate ships from Porto Bello was due in this latitude about
this time, and Morgan instantly surmised that the galleon was she, and
that the two others were Spanish frigates to give her safe convoy across
the ocean. Spain was at peace with all the world at that time, and the
two frigates would have been ample to ward off the attack of any of the
small piratical craft which had succeeded the buccaneer ships of the
Caribbean. The Spaniards had no idea that such a vulture as Morgan was
afloat; therefore, although they had sighted the _Mary Rose_ long before
she had seen them because they kept better watch, they came on
fearlessly and without hesitation. It was evident to the experienced
officers among them that the vessel was an English frigate, and as
England was a country with which there was profound peace at the time
they apprehended nothing.

The position of the approaching ships with reference to one another was
somewhat peculiar. The first and smallest frigate was perhaps half a
mile ahead of her consorts, who were sailing side by side, a cable's
length apart. Morgan at once determined to attack them. He knew that he
possessed the handiest ship, and he believed that he had discovered a
way to master the other three. The two frigates were the most dangerous
antagonists. If he could dispose of them the galleon would be at his
mercy. He did not hesitate