o
escape, directing him to return to the first Flemish port he could
reach.

"There may be some who will dispute that matter with him," whispered
Captain Radford to me. "Does the Don fancy we should submit to be
carried off prisoners when we more than equal in number our captors?"

"Certainly," I said; "but I trust, whatever is done, the young Spanish
officer may not be injured. Pray let us do our best to save his life."

We now once more stood out from among the Spanish squadron. The
_Falcon_ being a fast vessel, and having all the sail she could set now
put on her, gradually distanced them. In the meantime, however, the
Beggars of the Sea came up at a rapid rate, and soon got the Spaniards
within reach of their guns. We watched them with great interest. Our
fate might possibly depend upon the result of the action. The Beggars
far outnumbered the Spaniards both in ships and men, although the latter
had larger vessels and carried more guns. As the Gueux came up, they
opened their fire hotly on the Spaniards, who, to do them justice,
showed every inclination to defend their ships. Three of the largest of
the Beggars' ships attacked the Admiral, the others tackled his
consorts, the two squadrons running on together. The Admiral's was the
leading ship. One of the Gueux was stationed on her broadside, another
rather more on her bows, and a third hung on her quarter. The breeze
blew away the smoke every now and then, so as to allow us a clear view
of the fight. Never had I seen shots exchanged with so much rapidity.
Both our crew and our captors were looking on with intense anxiety at
what was going forward. At length our men uttered a loud shout as the
foremast of the Spanish Admiral went by the board. Still the other
masts stood, but the Gueux seemed to be redoubling their efforts, and
kept pouring broadside upon broadside into the ship. Hearing what was
going forward, all our passengers assembled on deck, the Spaniards in no
way attempting to prevent them. We had by this time got out of the line
of shot, keeping somewhat ahead of the combatants. At length another
shout burst from the throats of our men as the mainmast of the Spanish
Admiral was seen to sway first on one side and then on the other, and at
length, with its streamers and flags flying, to fall forward over the
wreck of the other mast. The other ships seemed to be suffering in the
same way; first one mast and then another went. And now th