might pay too dear a price for victory, even
should he gain at last. He was seen to haul his wind and to stand away
on a bow-line, though he continued firing at the English vessel as long
as he could bring his guns to bear. The shot, though they did no damage
on deck, cut up the rigging and prevented the frigate from following,
though Captain Benbow ordered his crew to knot and splice the ropes as
rapidly as possible, in the hopes that she might be able to do so. The
rover was soon out of range, and as she continued standing away the
British crew gave her a lusty cheer as a farewell. On and on she stood,
making all the sail she could carry. It was soon evident that the
_Benbow_ frigate had no chance of overtaking her, though the crew worked
away with right good-will at the rigging. Strange as it may appear, not
one of the British crew had been killed, although about a third of their
number had received wounds more or less severe.

"Now, lads, let us count the bodies of these villainous Moors their
friends have left behind," said the Captain. Thirteen were found
stretched on the deck, presenting a ghastly appearance, and the crew
were about to heave them overboard.

"No, no, lads," cried Captain Benbow; "we must carry some trophy on
shore to show our friends at Cadiz what we have done, or they may chance
not to believe our report. Bring up a cask of salt."

There were several on board that it was intended to fill with Spanish
pork. The Moors' heads, as they were chopped off, were put into the
cask with layers of salt between them, when, the whole being packed, and
more salt added at the top, the head of the cask was then fastened down.
The crew then set to work with buckets of water to wash down the
blood-stained deck. Roger and Stephen had in the meantime, with Jumbo,
been standing aft, waiting to make themselves known to the Captain, but
he had hitherto been too much engaged to notice them. They now, seeing
that he was for a moment disengaged while considering what was next to
be done, advanced to him.

"You probably do not recollect us, Captain Benbow, though we are old
acquaintances of yours," said Stephen.

"I am the lad you promised to take to sea when you visited Eversden
manor-house on the Dorsetshire coast," said Roger.

"Bless my heart alive, I remember the circumstance perfectly, though you
have grown out of my recollection, young gentlemen; but how in the name
of wonder did you happen to be a