diz to intercept Cavendish and prevent him from reaching the
Indies, and, being a war fleet, had no treasure on board. The gain to
the English consisted, therefore, solely in the acquisition of two more
ships for their little fleet; but this was not altogether an unmixed
blessing, because, with the obligation to man their extra two vessels,
the whole five were now short-handed.

Cavendish gave his orders to his captains, which were that the five
vessels should make for the eastern end of Cuba, and, if separated, meet
at a spot the bearings of which he gave them, about a day's sail from
the island, whence they would proceed in company, so as to arrive at
their agreed destination all together.

It now remained to appoint two captains to the prizes and put prize
crews on board them, and this was soon done. Cavendish appointed the
first and second officers of his flag-ship as captains of the two
captured Spanish ships, replacing his first officer by the third, a man
named Leigh, and appointing Roger to the vacant post of second officer.

It had been his intention to promote Harry to a position as officer on
one of the captured ships, but the lad begged so hard to be allowed to
remain in the same vessel as Roger that Cavendish at last consented,
adding that he thought Harry was throwing away an opportunity which
might not again occur. So long as he might remain by Roger's side,
however, Harry did not very much care. "Besides," thought he, "we made
a compact to remain always by one another, and I am sure Roger would
have stayed with me had I been appointed instead of him."

The signal was now made for all sail possible to be carried, so that
they might the sooner reach their rendezvous and begin the work of
overhauling and repairs of which they stood in such urgent need. If
separated by storm or any other mischance they were to meet at the place
agreed upon during the conclave in the cabin of the flag-ship.

Sail was made accordingly, and the little squadron, now increased by two
ships, but with sadly diminished crews, resumed its voyage.

For the first three days all went smoothly, the speed of the whole being
regulated by the pace of the slowest vessel in the squadron. On the
evening of the third day, however, the weather showed signs of changing.
They had been sailing along with a good following breeze, the sky
overhead a deep, cloudless, sapphire blue, and the sea smooth enough to
relieve them from all uneasine