carried two
tiers. But whether it was that the Spaniards designed to shoot away the
English ship's masts, and so leave her helpless and unmanageable, or
whether it was that the pieces were badly aimed, every one of the shot
went humming high overhead, leaving the intruder to pass on unscathed
and in grim silence; for not one of her guns replied. But Bascomb
stepped forward to the front of the poop and issued an order.

"Let every man of you," he said, "take bow or musket, and prepare to
discharge a volley upon the deck of yonder galleon when I give the word.
Then, that done, return to your ordnance and prepare to fire, for the
time will be at hand. Sail trimmers, stand by to let fly all sheets and
halliards at the word of command; then be ready to heave the grapnels as
we range up alongside."

The English ship, still conned by Dick Chichester, was now steering a
course which if persevered in would carry her across the stern of the
galleon, at a distance of about twice her own length from that vessel;
and it seemed evident, from the uncertain movements of those on board
the Spaniard, that they were considerably puzzled as to the intentions
of the English. For, having discharged the whole of her starboard
broadside at the approaching _Adventure_, the crew of the galleon first
began with feverish haste to reload all the guns on that side of their
ship; then, seeming suddenly to suspect that their antagonist intended
to lay them aboard on their inshore side, they left their starboard
broadside only half-loaded and precipitately dashed across the deck to
their larboard broadside of ordnance, which they began to clear away
hurriedly with the intention of loading. The _Adventure_ was at this
moment less than twice her own length from the galleon, and Bascomb,
standing on the poop, was able to look down from there into the crowded
waist of the other ship and clearly see the Spaniards crowding together
about the larboard ordnance. The opportunity seemed much too good to be
let slip, so calling his bowmen and musketeers up on to the poop, he
directed them to discharge a volley into the surging mass of men, which
they did instantly, with terribly destructive effect.

"Good!" he exclaimed, as he saw some twenty or thirty Spaniards fall
writhing to the deck; "now back to your ordnance, men, and be ready to
fire when I give the word. Sail trimmers, let fly all sheets and
halliards, and stand by with your grapnels!"

As the