was discussed as briefly as
possible, for there was no time to lose, and it was presently decided
that, instead of the remainder of the fleet following the flag-ship's
lead, as originally agreed, the officer of each ship who had been with
the boat expedition should do his best to pilot the vessel under his
care to the berth occupied by the warships. Arrived there, should the
Spanish ships be present, as all on board fervently hoped would prove to
be the case, they were to attack at once. Whichever of the two
Spaniards might happen to be first attacked, the other would almost
certainly come to the help of her consort, and the flash of the guns and
noise of the tumult would serve to guide the remainder of the English
squadron to the scene of the conflict.

If, on the other hand, it should be found that the warships and plate
ships had made their escape, each vessel was to return to the entrance
of the roadstead and await the arrival of her consorts as they too
retreated from the bay, when, all having rejoined, they were to return
to their former hiding-place, where fresh plans would be discussed and
made.

This matter being arranged, the captains returned each to his own ship,
and very shortly afterward the fleet were again under weigh and standing
inshore in the same order as at first.

Slowly and noiselessly as ghosts they glided on, each heading for the
place where the pilots thought, and all hoped against hope, to find the
warships lying, with behind them the plate fleet, which was the actual
objective of the expedition.

The English ships had separated, and on board the flag-ship nothing
could now be seen or heard of the remainder of the squadron, each pilot
having taken the direction in which he personally considered the enemy
to be lying. Nothing could be made out, either ashore or afloat, to
guide them in the slightest degree in their search. They were, indeed,
groping blindly forward in the hope of accidentally coming upon their
quarry. The few lights of the town that were visible were away at the
other side of it, at a long distance from them, and were so far from
being of any service that they were positively misleading, to such an
extent that at any moment it might happen that they would find their
ship ashore.

Roger and Harry were standing in their usual position on the fore-deck,
gazing eagerly ahead, each anxious to be the first to sight the enemy,
when Harry caught his friend's sleeve, and, po