to encounter such odds, and even in the minds
of the craven part of the crew one English ship was thought to be good
for any three Spaniards that ever floated.

The interest of the crew had been excited by the approaching strangers,
which were rapidly drawing nearer. They ceased their arguments and
strife, therefore, and crowded forward, looking alternately from the
foreign ships to their own leader, lightly poised on the sheer-poles
scanning the enemy. There were plenty of men of sufficient experience
among them to pronounce them Spanish ships immediately, and they
therefore anticipated that work lay before them that morning. Presently
Morgan sprang down upon the forecastle and faced his men.

"Lads," he said, "those are Spanish ships."

"Ay, ay, sir," came from one another as he paused a moment to let the
significance of his announcement sink in.

"And," he continued, raising his voice so that it was audible throughout
the ship, "the great one will be one of the plate ships homeward
bound--but she'll never get there--from Porto Bello!"

A perfect yell of delight drowned his further remarks. The men shrieked
and shouted and hurrahed at the joyous announcement, as if all they had
to do was to go aboard and take the ships. When the hullabaloo had
subsided, Morgan continued:

"I'm glad to see you take it so bravely, for while there is treasure
enough under her hatches to make us all rich, yet we'll not get it
without a fight, for yonder are two heavily armed frigates. We'll have
to dispose of them before we get at the galleon. But, hearts of oak, I
never saw the buccaneer who wasn't worth three or a dozen of the Dons,
and with a stout ship like this one under my feet and a band of brave
hearts like you I wouldn't hesitate to tackle the whole Spanish navy. It
means a little fighting, but think of the prize!" he cried, playing
skilfully upon the cupidity of his men. "Some of us will lose the number
of our messes, perhaps, before nightfall; but," he continued, making a
most singular and effective appeal, "there will be more to divide for
each man that is left alive. Are you with me?"

"To the death!" cried young Teach, who had come forward and mingled with
the crowd, lifting a naked cutlass as he spoke. His cry was taken up and
repeated, first by one and then another until the whole body was
yelling frantically to be given a chance to fight the Spanish ships.

"That's well," said Morgan grimly. "Master Teach, here, w