on to the plate ships that
were their primary objective.

Such boats as would swim were quickly lowered and filled with armed men,
whose orders were to board the vessels, capture them out of hand, and
carry them out to sea under their own canvas; after which the English
vessels and their two prizes would make their way out of the roadstead
as well as might be in their shattered state.

Once out of the bay, the uninjured vessels of the plate fleet would be
able to tow their companions in misfortune.

At sight of the approaching boats, containing the victorious English,
the crews of the plate ships were seized with uncontrollable panic, and
many of them incontinently jumped overboard, whilst the remainder
hurriedly lowered their boats and pulled shoreward, anxious only to
escape by any means from so terrible a foe. And this they were allowed
to do without let or hindrance from the English, as the latter had
already quite as many prisoners as they could conveniently look after.

The vessels were boarded, and sail made; and presently the enraged
population of La Guayra had the bitter mortification of seeing the plate
ships sail out of the roadstead in the possession of the English.

They swore vengeance, deep and awful, should any of those "pirates"--as
they always termed the English adventurers--ever fall into their hands;
but the latter were equally ignorant of and indifferent to such threats.

The vessels, injured and uninjured, in due time gained the outside of
the roadstead, and there hove-to, in order to effect temporary repairs.

Meanwhile Cavendish had resolved to jury-rig his vessels, and sink the
two armadas in full view of the town, to make the defeat and capture
still more bitter to the Spaniards.

The Spaniards were transferred from the _Sotomayor_ and the _Mejico_ to
the English fleet, and at daylight the warships were sunk in full view
of the town. The English fleet then anchored, and proceeded with their
work of repair; whilst, for safety's sake, a prize crew was put on board
each of the plate ships, which were then sent away to the former
hiding-place at the little bay down the coast.

Whilst the repairs were going forward, Cavendish held another council,
at which it was resolved to send an expedition by night to attack La
Guayra itself. He argued that the Spaniards would deem them content
with the capture of the plate ships, and would never expect them to land
and attack the city. They would b