their admiral and steered down
upon us, when we should have fared ill from odds so overwhelming, had
not Admiral Penn, followed by two other vessels, come to the rescue and
drawn off the attention of the enemy to themselves.

As we got out from the circle of fire we could better see what was going
on, though all the time we were hotly engaged with one or more of the
enemy.

Dick and I immediately reported every circumstance to the admiral. Now
the _Assistance_ was boarded by the Dutch. Now two ships ran alongside
the _Prosperous_, and in spite of the valour of her crew, she was
captured by the enemy. The _Oak_ shared the same fate, though her
people fought long and bravely.

On my reporting what I had seen to the admiral, "We must go to their
help," he exclaimed, and ordering the master to steer for them, we
furiously attacked the ships to which they had struck.

We had, however, to contend with the rest of the Dutch fleet, and it
appeared to be going hard with us. In spite, however, of almost
overwhelming odds against us, we and the other ships of the vanguard
fought on. Often I turned my eyes to the eastward, but could discover
no signs of the advance of the fleet, the thick wreaths of smoke often
preventing me from seeing to any distance. At length, however. I saw
the rays of the sun falling on their white canvas, and ship after ship
appeared. It was the white division, led by General Monk; as they
arrived they gallantly opened their broadsides on the Dutchmen,
increasing the fearful uproar. On every side the sea appeared covered
with shattered spars and planks. Now a noble ship was wrapt in flames,
now I caught sight of the tall masts of another sinking beneath the
surface as she and her crew went down to the depths below.

The ship we had rescued was the _Prosperous_, of forty guns, commanded
by Captain Baker; but he and many of his crew lay dead on the deck.
Admiral De Ruiter, who had attacked her, was himself almost surrounded,
and would have been captured had not several of the enemy under Admiral
Evertz come to his rescue. The _Speaker_, not far off, was meantime
fiercely assaulted, and reduced almost to a wreck. First her foremast
fell, then her mizen-mast was shot away, and she would have been
captured had not several ships been sent to her assistance.

A Dutch ship within sight, the _Ostrich_, commanded by Captain Krink,
with her rigging cut to pieces and her sails in tatters, fought on unt