ng heroes that they were, and, truth to tell, doing
a considerable amount of execution.

They were pausing for a moment to take breath, when both happened to
glance forward, and at once saw that the two ships, the _Good Adventure_
and the _Sotomayor_ with her, were drifting right down upon the second
Spaniard and her antagonists. The Spaniards on the _Sotomayor_, finding
themselves almost overpowered, had cut their cable purposely, to drift
down with the tide on board their consort, in the hope of being able to
make a better stand together than separately. But they were mistaken in
their expectation. The other vessel, having had two to contend with,
was in no condition to render assistance of any kind; rather, indeed,
did she stand in need of help from the _Sotomayor_.

A brief minute later the flag-ship, still grappling with her quarry, was
aboard the other three craft, and the confusion became worse confounded.

The Spaniards, determined to make one last desperate effort to beat off
the English, rallied, and, combining their forces, forestalled their
antagonists by attempting to board.

The two Spanish ships acted in concert, and hurled their soldiers and
sailors aboard the three English craft; but it was a hopeless attempt
from the first. The English closed up, and, forming a solid phalanx,
cut them down right and left, driving them back, and quickly compelling
the shattered remnant of the boarders to seek the refuge of their own
decks. Nor did they stop at that, but followed them pell-mell and close
on their heels in their retreat to the decks of the Spanish ships. The
Spaniards fought with the courage of desperation, but their utmost
efforts were unavailing; the blood of the Englishmen was now thoroughly
up, and there was no stopping them. They rushed with irresistible
courage and determination among the shattered and now completely
disheartened remnants of the enemy, and cut them down wholesale. Mere
mortal flesh and blood could no longer withstand the impetuous onslaught
of the Englishmen, and presently a voice was heard from their diminished
ranks shouting: "We surrender! we surrender! Mercy, mercy!"

Cavendish raised his voice in command; the slaughter ceased, and the two
armadas were in the hands of the English. The Spaniards were ordered to
fling down their weapons, and they obeyed.

They were then at once sent below and secured under hatches, and the
victors were now free to turn their attenti