powder and shot on deck, and see that the
captain of every gun has a plentiful supply of each. Also pass the word
for the yeoman of the signals to signal the _Elizabeth_ and the _Good
Adventure_ to prepare for action forthwith, and to range up one on each
side of me."

Having given these orders, and seen that the men hastened to carry them
out, Cavendish turned to Harry and Roger, who were standing together
anxiously looking ahead at the five ships, which were growing larger and
more distinctly visible to the eye every moment.

"Well, young gentlemen," said he, "I mean to engage those five ships
that you see yonder, and so will you get your first taste of the
adventure you have come to seek. See that you bear yourselves bravely;
remember you are fighting for your queen and the honour and glory of
your country. This coming engagement is going to be no child's play,
you may take my word for it. They are five vessels to our three, and
are more heavily armed and of bigger tonnage than are we, by the look of
them. But fear not, young men; faint heart never won fair enterprise;
and if we should beat them--as I am certainly determined that we shall--
doubtless you will have a handsome booty to handle after the battle.
Yet will it be hard fighting; and I trust that not only you two, but
every man on board these good ships of mine will do his very utmost."

With these words Cavendish turned away, and went aft to give further
orders. Meanwhile the other two ships of his squadron, in answer to his
signal, had crowded on more sail, and were fast closing up, one on
either side of the flag-ship.

The hulls of the five Spaniards were now quite plainly to be seen, and
it was observed that they were all prepared and waiting to give battle,
having slightly altered their formation since sighting the English, in
order to secure what they thought was the best position for fighting
their opponents.

They were by this time about two miles distant, and had formed
themselves into two divisions, in the order now known as "column of line
ahead", and were evidently expecting the English ships to run in between
the two squadrons thus formed, trusting thus to be obliged to use only
one broadside of each ship, while the English would be compelled to use
both; the idea of the Spaniards being that with this formation the
English would pass between them one at a time, and while each English
ship would use both broadsides upon entering the la