oke. The fight
became a massacre. Down from the poop sprang the Prince's men. Up from
the waist rushed the new-corners. There were five dreadful minutes of
blows and screams and prayers with struggling figures clinging to the
bulwarks and sullen splashes into the water below. Then it was over, and
a crowd of weary, overstrained men leaned panting upon their weapons, or
lay breathless and exhausted upon the deck of the captured carack.

The Prince had pulled up his visor and lowered his beaver. He smiled
proudly as he gazed around him and wiped his streaming face. "Where is
the shipman?" he asked. "Let him lead us against another ship."

"Nay, sire, the shipman and all his men have sunk in the Lion," said
Thomas de Mohun, a young knight of the West Country, who carried the
standard. "We have lost our ship and the half of our following. I fear
that we can fight no more."

"It matters the less since the day is already ours," said the Prince,
looking over the sea. "My noble father's royal banner flies upon yonder
Spaniard. Mowbray, Audley, Suffolk, Beauchamp, Namur, Tracey, Stafford,
Arundel, each has his flag over a scarlet carack, even as mine floats
over this. See, yonder squadron is already far beyond our reach. But
surely we owe thanks to you who came at so perilous a moment to our aid.
Your face I have seen, and your coat-armor also, young sir, though I
cannot lay my tongue to your name. Let me know that I may thank you."

He had turned to Nigel, who stood flushed and joyous at the head of the
boarders from the Basilisk.

"I am but a Squire, sire, and can claim no thanks, for there is nothing
that I have done. Here is our leader."

The Prince's eyes fell upon the shield charged with the Black Raven and
the stern young face of him who bore it. "Sir Robert Knolles," said he,
"I had thought you were on your way to Brittany."

"I was so, sire, when I had the fortune to see this battle as I passed."

The Prince laughed. "It would indeed be to ask too much, Robert, that
you should keep on your course when much honor was to be gathered so
close to you. But now I pray you that you will come back with us to
Winchelsea, for well I know that my father would fain thank you for what
you have done this day."

But Robert Knolles shook his head. "I have your father's command,
sire, and without his order I may not go against it. Our people are
hard-pressed in Brittany, and it is not for me to linger on the way. I
pray you, s