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Of a sudden all voices were hushed as up the poop-ladder co long and steadily to ard, gives a sign with his gauntleted hand, whereon divers of the officers go off hot-foot, so files of arquebusiers, others to overlook the setting ofof whips followed by groans and cries and screa with a swifter beat From where I stood in my bonds I could look down upon the poor, naked wretches as they rose and fell, each and all at the same moment, in time to the stroke

For maybe half an hour the chase was kept up and then all at once the decks quivered 'neath the discharge of one of the forward culverins; and presently, as the great galleass altered her course, obedient to the ue to ard, the towering stern of the ship ere pursuing, whose length gradually grew upon me as we overhauled her until she was fairly in view She was a small ship, and by her build I did not doubt but that she was English; even as I watched, up to her reat yearning cah, weatherbeaten sides, her towering rew all blurred and indistinct

Thrice already our guns had roared, yet (though she was now so close that I n In a little our guns fell silent also, wherefore, looking about, I beheld Don Miguel standing beside the tiller yet with his iaze ever bent upon the foe; and, as I watched, I read his deadly purpose, and a great fear for the English ship ca beneath my breath, for we carried a weapon , sharp ralish ship was now so near that I could see the yawningsides seeazed, with my heart full of a pitiful fear for her, I saw a head appear above her quarter-railing, a very round head whereon was a mariner's red cap Came a puff of smoke, the sharp crack of a caliver, and one of the officers beside Don Miguel threw up his hands and, twisting on his heels, fell clashing in his arone But Don Miguel waited, silent and iestured with his hand, I saw the heave of the steers with shouts of co water, the larboard thrashed and churned ah in her own length) drove straight for the side of her foe