the _Adventure_,
and carrying four more pieces of great ordnance than the latter. But
this fact by no means dismayed the English; for the stranger was what
was called a race ship, and was nearly twice as long as the _Adventure_;
Marshall therefore confidently reckoned that, should the two vessels
come to blows, the superior nimbleness of his own ship would more than
counterbalance the advantage conferred upon the other by her greater
weight of metal. The stranger, when she cleared the land, was
close-hauled on the larboard tack, heading about south-south-east, and
it was judged, from her position relative to the land, that she had not
actually touched at the island, but had simply availed herself of its
presence to gain a few miles by turning to windward in the smooth water
under its lee. The discovery of the presence of the English ship did
not appear to have caused any uneasiness to her commander, for he did
not deviate a hairbreadth from his course, but stood on, maintaining his
luff, the only indication that he had observed the _Adventure_ at all
being the display of the yellow flag of Spain, which he had hoisted to
the head of his ensign staff within five minutes of the time when he
cleared the island. Probably he imagined that the _Adventure_ was also
Spanish.

The English, on their part, took no notice of the stranger, except by
gradually edging down toward her, until their preparations for battle
were complete; then indeed they hoisted the white flag bearing the
crimson cross of Saint George, and hauled their wind sufficiently to
enable them to intercept the Spaniard. At this invitation to battle
symptoms of alarm and indecision began to manifest themselves on board
the latter, for she first put up her helm and kept away, as though about
to turn tail and run, but presently came to the wind again and tacked,
heading now to the northward.

"Over with the helm, and steer for the northern end of the island,"
cried Marshall to Dick; "that ought to enable us to intercept him.
Thank God, he means to fight instead of running, and the matter will the
sooner be settled. Look to that, now; he is stripping for battle, for
in comes all his light canvas, and up goes his mainsail. The man who
commands that ship is a right valiant cavalier, and will put up a good
fight; therefore, let no man put match to culverin or finger to trigger
until I give the word. Now, let the waits play up `The brave men of
Devon!'"

Ther