h crew. They had eliminated the first ship from
the game. They had diminished their enemies by a third, and full of
confidence they swept down upon the other two.

CHAPTER VI

IN WHICH IS RELATED THE STRANGE EXPEDIENT OF THE CAPTAIN AND HOW THEY
TOOK THE GREAT GALLEON

Although they could not comprehend the reason for the vicious attack
upon their consort by a ship of a supposedly friendly power, it was
evident to the Spaniards in the two remaining ships that the English
frigate was approaching them with the most sinister and malevolent
purpose. One glance at the sinking remains of their ruined and battered
consort established that fact in the most obtuse mind. Consequently the
exultant men on the _Mary Rose_ could hear the shrill notes of the
trumpeters on the two other ships calling their men to arms.

[Illustration]

With a confidence born of success, however, Morgan resolutely bore down
upon the enemy. Even the dastards in his crew had been excited by the
ease and success of the first treacherous blow and plucked up courage,
believing that their captain's invincible skill, address, and seamanship
would carry them safely through the next encounter.

The Spanish had little warning after all, for the breeze was rapidly
freshening, and in what seemed an incredibly short time the English
frigate was close at hand. Though they worked with a desperate energy
they had not entirely completed those preparations required by the shock
of battle. As usual, Morgan was determined to lose no time. If he could
have thrown his vessel upon them out of the fire and smoke of the first
broadside he would have gained the victory with scarcely less difficulty
than he had seized the first advantage, but that was not to be, and it
was with considerable anxiety that he surveyed the crowded decks of the
two remaining ships.

He had no fear of the armament of either one, but if those Spanish
soldiers ever got a footing upon his own deck it was probable they could
not be dislodged without a tremendous sacrifice of life; and as he gazed
over his motley crew he even questioned their ability to contend
successfully with such a mass of veterans. He had hoped that the
remaining frigate would detach herself from the galleon, in which event
the superior handiness and mobility of his own ship, to say nothing of
his probable advantage in the way in which his batteries would be
fought, would enable him to dispose of her without too much di