ain it seemed but a light thing.

As they left the admiral's cabin, Ned invited his three friends to
dine on board his ship, the Sovereign; and a right merry gathering
it was, as they talked over their past adventures, and marveled to
find themselves each commanding a ship, about to attack the fleet
of Spain in its own harbor.

Upon the following day the fleet sailed boldly towards the port of
Cadiz, where the people could scarce believe that the British
intended to force the entrance to the fort. When they saw that such
was indeed their purpose, they opened fire with all their
batteries, great and small. The English ships sailed on, unheeding
their reception, and delivering their broadsides as they neared the
port.

Although they had been in many fights, this was the first great
battle at which the friends had been present; and the roar and din
of the combat, the sound of their own guns and of those of the
enemy, the crash and rending of wood, and the cheers of the sailors
in no little surprised them. The Spanish gunners in their haste
shot but badly, and with Sir Francis Drake's ship leading the way,
the fleet forced the entrance into the port. As they entered they
were saluted by the cannon of the Spanish vessels within, but
without more ado they lay these aboard.

So mightily were the Spaniards amazed by the valor, and boldness of
the English that they fought but feebly, jumping over for the most
part, or making their way in their boats to shore. Then Sir Francis
caused fire to be applied to the Spanish ships, and thirty great
war vessels were destroyed before the eyes of the townspeople,
while the English fleet sailed triumphantly away.

Then, following the line of coast as far as Saint Vincent, the
admiral captured and burned a hundred other ships, and destroyed
four great land forts.

Looking into the Tagus, the King of Portugal having been forced by
Spain to aid her, Captain Drake captured the Saint Philip, the
largest ship of their navy; which was, to the gratification of the
sailors, laden with a precious cargo.

After these exploits the fleet returned to England in triumph,
having for the time crippled the forces of Spain. Philip, however,
redoubled his preparations. The fleets of Naples and Sicily, of
Venice and Genoa, were added to those of Spain. The dockyards
worked night and day, and by the end of the year all was in
readiness.

In England men had not been idle. A great army was raised of peo