e _Rata's_ men on deck, some of whom doubted what to make of it all,
and others cursed the impudence of this English Drake and his low-born
salts.

But at daybreak, when we looked out, there hovered some threescore or
more English craft, drawn up in an irregular line from south to north,
looking at us. Foremost sailed their great flagship called the _Ark
Raleigh_, so near that I could plainly discern the royal cross of Saint
George at the poop. Compared with the mighty _Rata_ she was a small
craft, yet, beside the light, low ships that followed her, she towered
aloft like a castle, and looked the only ship of all that fleet could
stand a quarter of an hour of our ordnance.

While we looked, there came a dull boom from the Spaniard who lay
nearest her. We could see the shot, pitched high, plough up the water
some twenty yards short. And then--as I thought, rather foolishly--we
sat glaring across at one another in the still air, waiting for a
breeze.

It came at last, freshly from westward.

We could see the English catch it, and come along with it before ever it
filled out our great sails. Nay, when it did reach us, there was not
enough to give us way. I marvelled to see how like a log the _Rata_
lay, while the lively Englishmen slipped through the water.

Then followed the strangest beginning to this great sea-fight.

For the _Ark_ and one or two others, having run in towards the end of
our line (which lay as near as possible west and east, looking into
Plymouth), suddenly put into the wind and ran jauntily down our rear,
putting a broadside into each of the Dons as she went by, us included.
Nor was that all. When she reached the end of the line, and everyone
looked to see her sheer off out of reach, she gaily wore round and came
back the way she had gone, giving each Spaniard her other broadside on
the road, her consorts behind following suit.

I think I never saw any men so taken aback as were the Spaniards by this
performance. For the _Rata_ and the rest of them lay almost helpless in
the light wind, while these light-timbered Englishmen darted hither and
thither at pleasure, almost as fast in the eye of the wind as down it.

The surprise at first was so great that the _Ark_ was half-way down the
line before any attempt was made to close with her and stop her. But
she waited on no man, and even when one great galleon, with a mighty
effort, swung round to face her, she swerved not a fathom out of her