's grave, mild countenance grew heavy, and as for the sailors
forward, where we were, our friend of the whip had a busy time with them
to keep them from breaking into open mutiny.

So there was much comfort all round when, on the Thursday, the wind got
up and gave us a chance at last of serious business. For, when we
looked out at daybreak, there, scarce two gun-shots off, cruised a
handful of English craft, gaily hauling after them two great Spaniards,
which (so I heard), were full of stores for the fleet, and which the
_Rata_ had kept an eye on for many a day. How, in the night, they had
got separate from the main line and so fallen into the hands of the
sleepless Englishmen, I know not; but this I know, that when daylight
discovered them being towed at the tail of their captors towards an
English port, a cry of rage and fury went up from the _Rata_. All hands
were called, guns were manned, arms were served out, and although by so
doing he left the Armada without its rear-guard, the Don luffed out into
the wind and gave chase.

Then followed merry sport. For no sooner were our backs turned than the
main body of the English (who wished nothing better), slipped into our
place, and blazed away at the Spanish line right and left, till the
whole sea was white with smoke, and you might fancy the thunder of the
guns would be heard in Fleet Street itself.

As for us, we had better have stayed where we were. For, while the
fight went merrily on ahead, a pretty wild goose chase were we led. For
we never got near enough for so much as a broadside. The store ships
lay between us and the English, who cunningly used them as a shield, so
that from whichever quarter we approached, there were the Dons' own
vessels betwixt us and them. Besides that, we could see boats busily
taking over the chief of the treasure under our very eyes; while every
hour we stayed we dropped further and further astern of the main Armada,
so that, had it pleased the Englishmen to spare a ship or two to look
after us, I verily believe we might have been cut off for good, and
towed into an English port, like these same ill-starred store ships we
professed to be rescuing.

Two galliasses, that joined us in our errand, made a gallant attempt, by
parting company and coming suddenly upon the enemy, one from either
quarter, to compel an action. But the Englishman was ready for this.
Keeping the store ships as a shield on the one side, he had a royal
sa