s the round-shot came flying through the bulwarks,
and spars and splinters came tumbling and flying all around them. From
behind them there came a shriek, as some poor wretch met his
death-wound, and from across the water more shrieks were heard,
announcing that theirs was not the only ship that was struck.

"First blood to the enemy," shouted Harry to Roger through the turmoil
of crashing wood and the shrieks of wounded men.

"Yes," replied Roger; "but I wish they would give us orders to fire.
This plan of sailing along without making any reply to the enemy's guns
is unnerving me, and it seems to me that if we are fired upon much
longer without replying we shall have no men left in condition to fight
when we get alongside the enemy."

"Never fear, Roger," replied Harry. "Cavendish knows what he is about;
and I think I see, even now, what manoeuvre he means to execute."

The three English ships were now heading as though they indeed intended
passing between the two lines of the enemy's squadron, and had so far
fired not a single shot. Suddenly, however, when only separated by a
few hundred yards, the English changed their course two or three points
to port, and headed for the starboard side of the two ships which
constituted the right-hand line of the Spanish fleet.

Thus the three English vessels were for a few minutes opposed to only
two Spanish ships, the three others being unable to fire except through
their consorts.

This manoeuvre compelled the other three ships to leave their present
berths and run before the wind, afterwards tacking before they could
range up on the opposite side of the English fleet and so bring their
guns to bear.

But during the time occupied by this movement, the English ships were by
no means idle.

Upon ranging up alongside the two Spanish vessels, the sails of the
English ships collapsed as if by magic, the halliards being let go and
the clewlines manned; and, as the craft lost way, grapnels were thrown,
and the ships were secured alongside two of the Spaniards.

At that period the Spanish war-vessels were built with "flush" decks,
that is, their decks were level fore and aft, and without bulwarks, and
were of much greater length than the English vessels, which were short,
and therefore more easy to manoeuvre than the Spaniards. Likewise there
were raised constructions at bow and stern, something like small forts,
called forecastles and aftercastles; the former word still r