s they stood fully armed on
the decks and gangways, laughed at the sight, and all eyes turned to the
Duke-Admiral's vessel ahead, to see if he would sail straight in on the
unprotected Sound, and so take possession of the coveted land before
supper that night. It looked at first as if this were his purpose, when
suddenly there was a stir among the onlookers, and Ludar, taking my arm,
pointed down the coast to our rear, where, from behind a high headland,
peeped out a small cluster of sails.

"There are your ships," said he, "lying in wait, and with the wind of
the Don, too."

My heart leapt up at the words. For till now I had supposed our poor
fellows cooped up by the wind in Plymouth Water, unable to get out and
waiting like sheep for the slaughter. I was tempted to cheer in the
Spaniard's face, when I saw them thus clear, on the right side of the
wind, and ready to show fight for their Queen and country.

The sails were seen by other eyes than ours; and presently up flung a
light from the Duke's ship; and with that we hove to, and dropped anchor
where we lay for the night.

Great was the discontent of the grandees on the _Rata_ to be thus put
about by the sight of a parcel of herring-boats--as they chose to call
them. But it came as a little comfort to them when a message went round
for the men to be under arms and ready for battle at daybreak. And with
a proud laugh they went off to their quarters for the night. As for
Ludar and me, we sat on the forecastle with our eyes straining westward,
and full of a strange excitement.

"Humphrey," said Ludar, "if it be any comfort to you, I like not these
Dons."

"I thank God to hear that," said I.

"And if it come to a fight," said he, "I had as soon see your pirates
yonder sweep the sea as these milords. They did little enough for my
Queen while she lived, and they cannot bring her back now she is dead."

"Think you we shall come to blows in the morning?" asked I, anxious to
hurry off the sore subject.

"'Tis said so," replied he. "It would not surprise me if yonder sea-
dogs did not wait till then."

After that we sat and watched the beacon-fires ashore blaze up one after
another and spread the news of our coming far and wide. Presently, too,
the moon came up, and by its light looking westward we could discern
sails to windward, which fluttered nearer and nearer, till it seemed a
shot from one of our pieces could reach them. The news brought many of
th