igate to pass as close to windward of that Spanish ship as
you can bring her without touching. Let her not suspect our desire, but
whirl into her as we get abreast. Don't fall foul of her as you value
your life!"

"Ay, ay, sir," answered that veteran, squinting forward along the
jib-boom with his one eye as if measuring the distance, "I'll bring her
close enough for you to leap aboard and yet never touch a rope yarn on
her."

He spoke with the consciousness and pride of his skill.

"Now, lads," cried Morgan, "have everything ready, and when I give the
word pour it in on yonder ship. I want to settle her with one broadside.
It'll be touch and go, for we've got to dispose of her in an instant.
Stand by for the word! Now, lie down, all, behind the bulwarks and
rails. Let us make no show of force as we come up. We must not arouse
suspicion."

The two ships, the _Mary Rose_ going free, the Spanish frigate close
hauled on the port tack, were now within hailing distance. As they
approached each other the buccaneer could see that the other ship was
crowded with men. Among her people the flash of sunlight upon iron helms
denoted that she carried a company of soldiers. The Spaniards were
entirely unsuspecting. The men had not gone to their quarters, the guns
were still secured; in short, save for the military trappings of the
soldiers on board and the tompioned muzzles of her cannon, she was in
appearance as peaceful a vessel as sailed the seas.

The two ships were near enough now to make conversation possible, and
the _Mary Rose_ was hailed by a tall, richly dressed officer in
glistening breastplate and polished steel cap, standing on the
forecastle of the other ship.

"What ship is that?" he cried in broken English.

"This is the frigate _Mary Rose_." The usual answer to such a hail would
have been: "This is His Britannic Majesty's frigate _Mary Rose_," but
the Spaniards suspected nothing as Morgan continued, "carrying Sir Henry
Morgan, sometime Vice-Governor of the Island of Jamaica."

"I have the honor to wish the Vice-Governor a very good morning,"
answered the Spaniard, courteously waving his hand in salutation.

"Now, Hornigold, now!" said Morgan in a fierce whisper.

The old boatswain sprang himself to the wheel. With his powerful hands
he revolved it quickly until it was hard up. The frigate answered it
instantly. She swung away toward the Spaniard to leeward of her with a
suddenness that surprised even her s