have it as we pass!"

A minute later, and the _Adventure's_ broadside again crashed into the
Spaniard's stern; and again uprose the hideous answering outburst of
shrieks and yells on board the latter as the English ship, with her
sails clean full, slid square across her antagonist's stern, the only
reply to her broadside being four shot discharged from the enemy's stern
ports, not one of which did a groat's worth of damage.

A tall figure completely encased in armour sprang up on the Spanish
ship's poop rail and, shaking his naked sword at Marshall, shouted in
Spanish:

"You are a coward, senor Englishman! Why do you not fight fair,
broadside to broadside, instead of sheltering yourself under my stern,
where my shot cannot reach you?"

"Because, senor, I do not happen to be a fool," retorted Marshall in the
same language. "But neither am I a coward," he continued, "as I will
prove to you within the next five minutes, if you will do me the honour
to meet me on your own deck, whither I intend to come without further
ado."

"I shall be most happy, senor," was the reply; and down jumped the
Spaniard in a hurry, to issue certain orders apparently, for his voice,
hollow in his helmet, was heard pealing out in a tone of command as the
two ships drew apart.

"Larboard gunners, load your pieces again," commanded Marshall, "and
level them so as to take her on the main deck while we are in stays.
Luff, helmsman, all you can; I want to get far enough to windward to be
able to run down and lay her aboard on the next tack. Boarders, see to
the priming of your pistols, and be ready to follow me presently. Now,
ready about again, men! Down helm!"

As the _Adventure_ hove in stays both ships fired their broadsides
simultaneously, one of the English shot entering a port and dismounting
a gun, while the rest struck fair in the wake of the deck and went clean
through the Spaniard's side, as could clearly be seen; while the
Spaniard's shot, as usual, flew overhead, again by great good luck
missing everything.

"Now, up helm, steersman, and lay us aboard!" commanded Marshall. "Be
ready, men, to throw your grapnels the moment that we touch; and
boarders, stand by to follow me into the enemy's main chains!"

As the two ships closed in toward each other for the final grip which
was to decide the matter, the Spaniard holding her luff while the
English ship bore up and ran down with the wind free, the archers and
musketeers on b