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se that poor young gentleman's fancy about a wench； but you must call coward an honest man that have saved your life this night； and not a one of us but has his wound to show？〃
Amyas was silent； the rebuke was just。
〃I tell you； sir； if we've hove a stone out of this boat since we got off； we've hove two hundredweight； and； if the Lord had not fought for us； she'd have been beat to noggin…staves there on the beach。〃
〃How did I come here； then？〃
〃Tom Hart dragged you in out of five feet water； and then thrust the boat off； and had his brains beat out for reward。 All were knocked down but us two。 So help me God； we thought that you had hove Mr。 Frank on board just as you were knocked down； and saw William Frost drag him in。〃
But William Frost was lying senseless in the bottom of the boat。 There was no explanation。 After all； none was needed。
〃And I have three wounds from stones； and this man behind me as many more； beside a shot through his shoulder。 Now； sir； be we cowards？〃
〃You have done your duty；〃 said Amyas； and sank down in the boat； and cried as if his heart would break； and then sprang up； and； wounded as he was； took the oar from Evans's hands。 With weary work they made the ship； but so exhausted that another boat had to be lowered to get them alongside。
The alarm being now given； it was hardly safe to remain where they were； and after a stormy and sad argument； it was agreed to weigh anchor and stand off and on till morning； for Amyas refused to leave the spot till he was compelled； though he had no hope （how could he have？） that Frank might still be alive。 And perhaps it was well for them； as will appear in the next chapter； that morning did not find them at anchor close to the town。
However that may be； so ended that fatal venture of mistaken chivalry。
CHAPTER XX
SPANISH BLOODHOUNDS AND ENGLISH MASTIFFS
〃Full seven long hours in all men's sight This fight endured sore； Until our men so feeble grew； That they could fight no more。 And then upon dead horses Full savorly they fed； And drank the puddle water； They could no better get。
〃When they had fed so freely They kneeled on the ground； And gave God thanks devoutly for The favor they had found； Then beating up their colors； The fight they did renew； And turning to the Spaniards； A thousand more they slew。〃
The Brave Lord Willoughby。 1586。
When the sun leaped up the next morning； and the tropic light flashed suddenly into the tropic day； Amyas was pacing the deck； with dishevelled hair and torn clothes； his eyes red with rage and weeping； his heart fullhow can I describe it？ Picture it to yourselves； picture it to yourselves； you who have ever lost a brother； and you who have not； thank God that you know nothing of his agony。 Full of impossible projects； he strode and staggered up and down； as the ship thrashed close…hauled through the rolling seas。 He would go back and burn the villa。 He would take Guayra； and have the life of every man in it in return for his brother's。 〃We can do it； lads！〃 he shouted。 〃If Drake took Nombre de Dios； we can take La Guayra。〃 And every voice shouted； 〃Yes。〃
〃We will have it； Amyas； and have Frank too； yet；〃 cried Cary； but Amyas shook his head。 He knew； and knew not why he knew； that all the ports in New Spain would never restore to him that one beloved face。
〃Yes； he shall be well avenged。 And look there！ There is the first crop of our vengeance。 And he pointed toward the shore； where between them and the now distant peaks of the Silla； three sails appeared； not five miles to windward。
〃There are the Spanish bloodhounds on our heels； the same ships which we saw yesterday off Guayra。 Back； lads； and welcome them； if they were a dozen。〃
There was a murmur of applause from all around； and if any young heart sank for a moment at the prospect of fighting three ships at once； it was awed into silence by the cheer which rose from all the older men； and by Salvation Yeo's stentorian voice。
〃If there were a dozen； the Lord is with us； who has said； 'One of you shall chase a thousand。' Clear away； lads； and see the glory of the Lord this day。〃
〃Amen！〃 cried Cary； and the ship was kept still closer to the wind。
Amyas had revived at the sight of battle。 He no longer felt his wounds； or his great sorrow； even Frank's last angel's look grew dimmer every moment as he bustled about the deck； and ere a quarter of an hour had passed； his voice cried firmly and cheerfully as of old
〃Now； my masters； let us serve God； and then to breakfast； and after that clear for action。〃
Jack Brimblecombe read the daily prayers； and the prayers before a fight at sea； and his honest voice trembled； as； in the Prayer for all Conditions of Men （in spite of Amyas's despair）； he added； 〃and especially for our dear brother Mr。 Francis Leigh； perhaps captive among the idolaters；〃 and so they rose。
〃Now； then；〃 said Amyas； 〃to breakfast。 A Frenchman fights best fasting； a Dutchman drunk； an Englishman full； and a Spaniard when the devil is in him； and that's always。〃
〃And good beef and the good cause are a match for the devil；〃 said Cary。 〃Come down； captain； you must eat too。〃
Amyas shook his head； took the tiller from the steersman； and bade him go below and fill himself。 Will Cary went down； and returned in five minutes； with a plate of bread and beef； and a great jack of ale； coaxed them down Amyas's throat； as a nurse does with a child； and then scuttled below again with tears hopping down his face。
Amyas stood still steering。 His face was grown seven years older in the last night。 A terrible set calm was on him。 Woe to the man who came across him that day！
〃There are three of them； you see； my masters；〃 said he； as the crew came on deck again。 〃A big ship forward； and two galleys astern of her。 The big ship may keep； she is a race ship； and if we can but recover the wind of her； we will see whether our height is not a match for her length。 We must give her the slip； and take the galleys first。〃
〃I thank the Lord；〃 said Yeo； 〃who has given so wise a heart to so young a general； a very David and Daniel； saving his presence； lads； and if any dare not follow him； let him be as the men of Meroz and of Succoth。 Amen！ Silas Staveley； smite me that boy over the head； the young monkey； why is he not down at the powder… room door？〃
And Yeo went about his gunnery； as one who knew how to do it； and had the most terrible mind to do it thoroughly； and the most terrible faith that it was God's work。
So all fell to； and though there was comparatively little to be done； the ship having been kept as far as could be in fighting order all night； yet there was 〃clearing of decks； lacing of nettings； making of bulwarks； fitting of waist…cloths； arming of tops； tallowing of pikes； slinging of yards； doubling of sheets and tacks；〃 enough to satisfy even the pedantical soul of Richard Hawkins himself。 Amyas took charge of the poop； Cary of the forecastle； and Yeo； as gunner； of the main…deck； while Drew； as master； settled himself in the waist； and all was ready； and more than ready； before the great ship was within two miles of them。
And now