d the rest of the squadron, and were
soon in the midst of it. Among the ships we perceived the _James_,
Vice-Admiral Penn, alongside the well-known _Brederode_, with Van
Tromp's flag flying aloft. The Dutch had endeavoured to board the
_James_, but were now being driven back, with fearful slaughter, and
already scores of British seamen, slashing and cutting with their
hangers, had gained her deck when a terrific explosion was heard. Up
rose the deck of the Dutch ship, sending into the air the mangled forms
of the boarders with the shivered fragments of planks.

The _James_ cast off from her foe, it being believed that Van Tromp with
his crew were about to founder, but the smoke clearing away, we saw them
rushing up from below, with the admiral at their head. Before he could
be captured, lowering a boat, he pulled away for a frigate which lay
near, and was seen sailing through his fleet, assuring his followers of
his wonderful escape.

But his efforts and those of his vice-admiral were in vain. Hard
pressed by our ships, they ere long took to flight, and steered for
Ostend, leaving eleven of their men-of-war in our hands, besides six
sunk, two blown up, and one burnt, and nearly fourteen hundred
prisoners, including a vice-admiral, two rear-admirals, and six
captains.

The battle was won, but so shattered were our ships that, unable to
pursue the enemy, we were compelled to put into harbour. Not until he
saw his fleet at anchor would Admiral Blake allow himself to be carried
on shore, when he invited me to accompany him to his country house of
Knoll, near Bridgwater.

Dick, I should have said, had been summoned home by his father, but I
bade farewell for a time to Lancelot, as also to old Martin, who, in
spite of his years, preferred remaining on board to taking his ease on
shore.

"Who knows but that the ship may be sent out to the Mediterranean, and
if so, that I may have the chance of hearing of Mistress Audrey and
Margaret, and Mr Kerridge and his daughter?" he said.

"For that reason I ought to remain," I answered; "but the admiral has
promised, should any ship sail for those parts, to let me go in her, and
as he knows everything that takes place, I am not afraid of missing the
chance.

"And very right, Master Ben, that you should take a holiday. You look
as thin as a line, and I have been afraid that you'd wear yourself out
before your time."

So I set off with my noble patron. Great was the cont