needed overhauling
and repairing were the commander's own ship and the captured Spanish
vessel, _El Capitan_, which had been rechristened the _Tiger_. So it
was determined to careen the _Tiger_ and the _Stag Royal_ first of all,
leaving the other two vessels, the _Good Adventure_ and the _Elizabeth_,
afloat for purposes of defence, should an enemy appear in sight while
the operations were being carried on.

The _Tiger_ and the _Stag Royal_ were therefore swung broadside-on to
the beach. The anchors were then taken ashore in the boats and carried
up the beach to above high-water mark, where they were buried in deep
holes dug in the sand, with timbers laid lengthwise upon them to prevent
them from being dragged out again when the strain was put on the cables.

The holes were then filled up and the sand heaped high above them, to
get as much weight as possible upon the anchors, and to allow more
purchase.

Then from the cables attached to the anchors themselves, at a distance
of about twelve feet before they disappeared into the sand, a spring of
stout manila rope was led, and fastened securely to a palm-tree at the
edge of the brushwood in a direct line with the ship and the anchor,
thus affording a doubly secure purchase when the time came to heave on
the cable and haul the vessels up on the beach.

Roger and Harry had been sent ashore by Cavendish to take part in this
work, as he wished them to get an insight into every part of the duties
of a sailor, and thus make themselves two useful members of the crew,
for the captain could not afford to carry any man who was not thoroughly
proficient, the capacity of his ships being too small to afford
accommodation to mere idlers.

The lads were, however, very quick to learn, and very anxious to master
all the details of their profession, and therefore never complained,
whatever the duty that was assigned to them. They thus increased their
knowledge and efficiency very quickly, and Cavendish had no grounds for
regret that he had taken them on board his ship.

The anchor belonging to the flag-ship had been taken ashore and securely
buried, and the cable, with the rope attached, bent on to the anchor,
and the _Stag Royal_ was ready for careening. The seamen then tramped
off along the beach to where the anchor for the _Tiger_ had been brought
ashore and laid on the sand, and proceeded with their preparations for
careening that craft also.

They had begun to dig the hole