urs, the
race-ship fired an unshotted gun by way of calling attention to the
invitation implied in the display of her own colours and when this hint
also was ignored signs of intense activity began to immediately manifest
themselves aboard the ship and at the settlement, the boats alongside
the Spaniard hurriedly casting off and pulling for the wharf, while the
race-ship's rigging and yards suddenly grew thick and dark with men
hastening aloft to loose her canvas.

"The Don's goin' to get under way, Cap'n, I du believe," hailed Dyer
from the foretop where he was still perched. "Do 'e see his men
swarmin' aloft?"

"Ay, ay; I see them," answered George. "Well, let him come, if so be he
will. I would rather fight him here than where he is now, where he
could receive the support of his friends. Do you see any sign of
galleys anywhere about, Mr Dyer?" Dyer took a long, searching look
through his glass, and at length reported that nothing of the kind was
to be seen.

"Good!" returned George. "Then our first fight promises to be one of
fair play and no favour--that is to say, if the fellow means to fight
and not to attempt to slip away, which we must take care that he does
not do. Mr Dyer, you may come down as soon as the Spaniard is fairly
under way, for I shall want you to help me fight the ship. Now, men of
Devon," he continued, turning to the crew, who had of their own accord
and without waiting for orders gone to their stations, "we shall soon be
fighting our first fight. Show these haughty Spaniards what you can do,
in such fashion that the _Nonsuch_ shall soon become a name of fear
throughout the length and breadth of the Spanish Main. Stand to your
ordnance, lads; keep cool; and take good aim."

The _Nonsuch_ had tacked twice, working to windward up the narrow
channel, when Dyer shouted the news that the Spanish ship had apparently
slipped her cable, and was under way, running down toward them; and he
followed up the news by descending the fore-rigging and making his way
aft, where he stationed himself on the poop beside George, in readiness
to supervise the working of the ship while the latter fought her.

The two men had only time to exchange a few hurried words together when
the Spanish ship was seen to windward, coming down toward them under
full sail. And a gallant sight she looked, with her brightly-painted
hull, her big gilded figure-head and head rails flashing in the sun, her
mastheads and yar