nd sprang up by noon and the fight became general. All
afternoon it raged, and then, terribly battered, the Armada would fight
no more; but, "gathering into a roundel" set all sail for Calais, where
Medina hoped to find a force from the French to help him and then to
Dunkirk to join with Parma and the great flotilla of the Netherlands.

And so with a full southwest wind the Spanish fleet went on, the English
fleet following them. It was determined not to attack them until they
reached the straits of Calais, where Lord Seymour and William Winter
would join the navy.

Meantime Lord Howard conferred Knighthood upon John Hawkins, Martin
Frobisher, Thomas Howard, Lord Sheffield and Roger Townsend for valor and
fortitude. And now from every bay and harbor of England there put forth
numbers of small craft hired by the youth of England, who hastened to
join themselves to the fleet, for the Spanish fleet, though battered and
dispirited, was not yet broken, and should it be joined by the forces
which Medina expected all would indeed go ill with England.

The Armada anchored in Calais Roads and within cannon shot of it lay the
English fleet. The next day being the Sabbath both fleets observed the
day with appropriate services, the loud chants of the Spaniard mingling
strangely with the hymns of the English.

Francis Stafford, wearied and fatigued, retired to the cabin and, finding
it deserted, swung a hammock in one corner and clambering into it was
soon fast asleep.

"I tell thee, Drake," 'twas the voice of Lord Howard that awakened her,
"the queen must have been inspired to invent so ingenious a device. If it
succeeds----"

"It will succeed, my lord," interrupted Drake positively, "That is if
there can be found men who will adventure it. But it will take cool heads
and stout hearts and an absolute fearlessness of danger. I think I know
two men who will go but there must be others."

Instantly the girl sat upright in the hammock.

"My lord," she cried, "send me."

Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake started in astonishment.

"Boy, I thought thee asleep," cried the admiral. "How long hast thou been
awake?"

"But just to hear you say that you needed men for some service," answered
Francis, springing lightly out of the hammock.

"I said men, not boys," said Drake smiling.

"Speak not so, Sir Francis," reproved the admiral. "The lad hath borne
well his part though he is so slight and maiden-like."

"And there is this t