cursed English: and,
unable to hold the other, our brave countrymen fired her magazine. I
expect this young heretic was on board the ship that blew up, for just
before the explosion came I thought I saw two figures on her poop, one
of whom was standing up, while the other was lying on the deck at his
feet. I think the one who was lying down must have been our friend,
here. What became of the other I know not; but he was doubtless either
drowned or swallowed by one of those same sharks from which we only just
rescued this lad in the nick of time. He will live, I fear, to wish
that we had left him to them. As for our other three ships, they were
engaging right valiantly those of the enemy, and beating them down too;
but these cursed islanders seem to know not when they are beaten, and I
doubt me that our victory will be at all an easy one. As for them,
although the ship of Cavendish has lost all her masts, her hull is
almost intact, thanks to our wretched gunnery; and there she now lies on
the water, unable to move, it is true, but, like a wounded lion, all the
more dangerous for being wounded. But the _Gloria del Mundo_ is giving
her all attention, and she will be compelled to strike to our heavier
broadsides ere long. Our other two vessels, _El Capitan_ and
_Salvador_, are engaging the remaining ships of the English squadron,
and the moment cannot be far distant when they will all surrender to the
flag of his most sacred majesty, Philip of Spain, the invincible flag,
the flag of the empire of the Old World and the New," concluded de Soto.
"So," thought Roger to himself, "it would appear that I am on board the
_Gloria del Mundo_, and that the action is as yet undecided. But Senor
de Soto is, I imagine, somewhat mistaken if he seriously believes that
Cavendish will surrender his ships; rather will he let them sink with
colours flying. I will not believe that the flag of England, the
mistress of the seas, is this day destined to dip to the blood and gold
flag of Spain. And the end of the fight, I will wager, is not only
farther off than this good de Soto suspects, but it will also have a
different ending from what he looks forward to, or my name is not Roger
Trevose!"

"I believe the lad is awake," said Alvarez; "I could almost swear he
moved just now."

Both men bent over Roger, who had involuntarily stirred upon hearing
that these two anticipated the surrender of the English.

"No," dissented de Soto, "I t