squadron, headed by the ship of Cavendish himself, the _Stag Royal_,
was well on its way to the Indies across the Atlantic, having taken in
wood, water, and stores at the Western Islands. Roger and Harry, by
this time quite recovered from their first sea-sickness, were fast
asleep in their bunks, it being their watch below, when they were
aroused by a cry on deck of "Sail-ho!" followed by the question in
another voice: "Where away?"

"Right ahead, sir," came the reply. "She seems to be a large ship, and
Spanish by her rig."

This was quite enough for the two lads, who, springing out of their
berths, dressed with all possible speed and ran up on deck.

When they arrived there, however, there was nothing to be seen from that
level; but twenty pairs of eager eyes were looking out from the
forecastle-head, anxious for the first glimpse of the stranger, who was
nearly certain to prove an enemy, and therefore a prospective prize.

Presently a voice exclaimed: "I see her, I see her; there she is right
ahead of us!" and at the same moment another hail floated down from the
masthead: "Sail-ho, again, and several of them!"

By this time both Roger and Harry could see the topsails of the ship
first sighted, and their hearts beat fast at the prospect of a coming
engagement.

"How many sail can you make out?" shouted the officer on deck.

"I can see four more, besides the one we sighted first, sir," came the
reply; "and the ships look to me like a Spanish fleet sent out to
intercept us, for they seem to be hove-to and waiting for something."

"That is well," replied the officer, smiling at Roger; "let them only
lie-to until we reach them, and there is not much doubt that they will
get something in the nature of an extremely disagreeable surprise."

Now the fleet of Cavendish consisted of three ships only--the _Stag
Royal_, on board which were Roger and Harry, with Cavendish himself, she
being the flag-ship of the little squadron. Behind, at a distance of
about half a mile, came the _Elizabeth_ and the _Good Adventure_, close
together.

Cavendish, having come on deck shortly after the first hail, looked at
the fleet of the enemy, and then cast his eyes over his own small
squadron, as if comparing in his mind the comparative strengths of the
two fleets.

Then he gave the order: "Prepare the ship for action, men; clear the
decks; get the hammocks rolled up and triced along the bulwarks; open
the powder-magazine and get