ewith the waits, five in number, stationed on the main deck, between
the poop and the mainmast, struck up that favourite and inspiring air
with such good effect that before two minutes had passed every man and
boy in the ship was singing the song at the top of his voice, and
feeling quite ready to fight all the Spaniards who might care to come
against them.

A quarter of an hour later the two ships had closed to within musket
shot of each other, the _Adventure_ having the weather gage, when crash
came the whole of the Spaniard's broadside, great guns and small; but so
bad was the aim that every shot flew high overhead, and not so much as a
rope was touched.

"Good!" ejaculated Marshall. "Now, steersman, up with your helm, and
shave past as close under his stern as you can without touching.
Starboard gunners, be ready to pour your shot into his stern as we pass!
Musketrymen and archers, pick off as many men as you can see, and
especially the helmsman! Sail trimmers, to your stations, and be ready
to go about!"

Two minutes later the _Adventure_ slid square athwart the towering,
gilt-bedizened stern of the Spaniard, and one after another, as they
were brought to bear, her ordnance belched forth their charges of round
and canister, smashing the Spanish gingerbread work to splinters,
shivering every pane of glass in the stern windows, and sweeping the
decks of the stranger from end to end, the deadly nature of the
discharge being evidenced by the outburst of shrieks which instantly
followed aboard the stranger.

"Well done, gallants!" cried Marshall, waving his sword. "Now, ready
about, and larboard gunners stand by to repeat the dose. Down helm,
steersman, and let her come round! Raise fore tack and sheet! Ha! she
is falling off, and means to give us her larboard broadside while we are
in stays--if she can. Topmen, do your best, now, and pick me off her
helmsman before it is too late. Well done!"--as the Spaniard began to
come ponderously to the wind again, showing that her helmsman was
down--"Let the man who did that come to me by and by, and he shall have
a noble for that good shot. Swing the mainyard! Musketrymen, clear the
enemy's tops of archers, and shoot down any that may attempt to take
their places! Trim aft the head sheets! Swing the foreyard! Starboard
gunners, reload your ordnance! We will try that trick again if they
will but give us the chance. Now, larboard gunners, be ready, and let
her