r
arms forthwith."

Basset handed over the glass and ran down the poop ladder, shouting as
he went for the soldiers to don their armour, take their weapons, and
proceed to their several fighting stations. Meanwhile George took the
glass and carefully inspected the galley. She was coming out under the
impulse of her oars alone, which looked very much as though she had been
dispatched to re-take the galleon, since the wind was fair for her out
of the Gulf, and she would at once set her sail if she were bound upon a
long voyage. He saw that her forecastle was crowded with soldiers, and
that on that same forecastle she carried a culverin round which were
grouped the gun's crew, while behind it stood the gunner with linstock
in hand. Then, looking beyond these, he descried upon the vessel's poop
other soldiers, in the midst of which stood a group of some ten or
twelve officers in complete armour, with their drawn swords in their
hands. The galley was steering as though to intercept the galleon,
which had by this time gathered way and was moving somewhat ponderously
through the water.

"She means to attack us," muttered George to himself as he lowered his
glass from his eye. Then he flung a quick glance round his own decks,
and saw that every eye was anxiously fixed upon him, awaiting his next
order. He turned to the helmsman.

"Keep her away a point and get good way upon her," he ordered. "I may
want to tack presently, and it will not do for us to miss stays, with
that galley watching for a chance to dash in upon us."

Then he faced about to his crew and shouted for the gunner. "Mr
Barker," he said, "I am of opinion that yonder galley intends to attack
us. But if she does not, we must attack and take her. I do not want
her sunk, if it can be helped, for some of those for whom we are seeking
may be aboard her; therefore our endeavour must be to sweep her decks
clear of soldiers; and in order to do that I will have every piece of
ordnance, both great and small, loaded with bullets, bags of nails, and
any langrage that you can most readily lay hands upon. See to it at
once, for in less than ten minutes she will be alongside. Sail-
trimmers, to your stations! And archers, be ready to pour in a flight
of arrows at short range."

The galley, with the flag of Spain fluttering at her ensign staff, and a
banner, bearing some emblazonment which George could not very well
distinguish, streaming from her masthead, su