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have run away like water； and thirdly； that over and above all； he cannot come； so 〃strangely provided of great ordnance and musketeers are those five…and…thirty Dutch ships； in which round…sterned and stubborn…hearted heretics watch； like terriers at a rat's hole； the entrance of Nieuwport and Dunkirk。 Having ensured the private patronage of St。 Mary of Halle； he will return to…morrow to make experience of its effects： but only hear across the flats of Dixmude the thunder of the fleets； and at Dunkirk the open curses of his officers。 For while he has been praying and nothing more； the English have been praying； and something more； and all that is left for the Prince of Parma is； to hang a few purveyors； as peace offerings to his sulking army； and then 〃chafe；〃 as Drake says of him； 〃like a bear robbed of her whelps。〃
For Lord Henry Seymour has brought Lord Howard a letter of command from Elizabeth's self； and Drake has been carrying it out so busily all that Sunday long； that by two o'clock on the Monday morning； eight fire…ships 〃besmeared with wild…fire； brimstone； pitch； and resin； and all their ordnance charged with bullets and with stones；〃 are stealing down the wind straight for the Spanish fleet； guided by two valiant men of Devon； Young and Prowse。 （Let their names live long in the land！） The ships are fired； the men of Devon steal back； and in a moment more； the heaven is red with glare from Dover Cliffs to Gravelines Tower； and weary…hearted Belgian boors far away inland； plundered and dragooned for many a hideous year； leap from their beds； and fancy （and not so far wrongly either） that the day of judgment is come at last； to end their woes； and hurl down vengeance on their tyrants。
And then breaks forth one of those disgraceful panics； which so often follow overweening presumption； and shrieks； oaths； prayers； and reproaches； make night hideous。 There are those too on board who recollect well enough Jenebelli's fire…ships at Antwerp three years before； and the wreck which they made of Parma's bridge across the Scheldt。 If these should be like them！ And cutting all cables； hoisting any sails； the Invincible Armada goes lumbering wildly out to sea； every ship foul of her neighbor。
The largest of the four galliasses loses her rudder； and drifts helpless to and fro； hindering and confusing。 The duke； having （so the Spaniards say） weighed his anchor deliberately instead of leaving it behind him； runs in again after awhile； and fires a signal for return： but his truant sheep are deaf to the shepherd's pipe； and swearing and praying by turns； he runs up Channel towards Gravelines picking up stragglers on his way； who are struggling as they best can among the flats and shallows： but Drake and Fenner have arrived as soon as he。 When Monday's sun rises on the quaint old castle and muddy dykes of Gravelines town； the thunder of the cannon recommences； and is not hushed till night。 Drake can hang coolly enough in the rear to plunder when he thinks fit； but when the battle needs it； none can fight more fiercely； among the foremost； and there is need now； if ever。 That Armada must never be allowed to re…form。 If it does； its left wing may yet keep the English at bay； while its right drives off the blockading Hollanders from Dunkirk port； and sets Parma and his flotilla free to join them； and to sail in doubled strength across to the mouth of Thames。
So Drake has weighed anchor； and away up Channel with all his squadron； the moment that he saw the Spanish fleet come up； and with him Fenner burning to redeem the honor which； indeed； he had never lost； and ere Fenton； Beeston； Crosse； Ryman； and Lord Southwell can join them； the Devon ships have been worrying the Spaniards for two full hours into confusion worse confounded。
But what is that heavy firing behind them？ Alas for the great galliasse！ She lies； like a huge stranded whale； upon the sands where now stands Calais pier； and Amyas Preston； the future hero of La Guayra； is pounding her into submission； while a fleet of hoys and drumblers look on and help； as jackals might the lion。
Soon； on the south…west horizon； loom up larger and larger two mighty ships； and behind them sail on sail。 As they near a shout greets the Triumph and the Bear； and on and in the lord high admiral glides stately into the thickest of the fight。
True； we have still but some three…and…twenty ships which can cope at all with some ninety of the Spaniards： but we have dash； and daring； and the inspiration of utter need。 Now； or never； must the mighty struggle be ended。 We worried them off Portland； we must rend them in pieces now； and in rushes ship after ship； to smash her broadsides through and through the wooden castles； 〃sometimes not a pike's length asunder；〃 and then out again to re…load； and give place meanwhile to another。 The smaller are fighting with all sails set； the few larger； who； once in； are careless about coming out again； fight with top…sails loose； and their main and foreyards close down on deck； to prevent being boarded。 The duke； Oquenda； and Recalde； having with much ado got clear of the shallows； bear the brunt of the fight to seaward； but in vain。 The day goes against them more and more； as it runs on。 Seymour and Winter have battered the great San Philip into a wreck； her masts are gone by the board； Pimentelli in the San Matthew comes up to take the mastiffs off the fainting bull； and finds them fasten on him instead； but the Evangelist； though smaller； is stouter than the Deacon； and of all the shot poured into him； not twenty 〃lackt him thorough。〃 His masts are tottering； but sink or strike he will not。
〃Go ahead； and pound his tough hide； Leigh；〃 roars Drake off the poop of his ship； while he hammers away at one of the great galliasses。 〃What right has he to keep us all waiting？〃
Amyas slips in as best he can between Drake and Winter； as he passes he shouts to his ancient enemy；
〃We are with you； sir； all friends to…day！〃 and slipping round Winter's bows； he pours his broadside into those of the San Matthew； and then glides on to re…load； but not to return。 For not a pistol shot to leeward； worried by three or four small craft； lies an immense galleon； and on her poopcan he believe his eyes for joy？the maiden and the wheel which he has sought so long！
〃There he is！〃 shouts Amyas； springing to the starboard side of the ship。 The men； too； have already caught sight of that hated sign； a cheer of fury bursts from every throat。
〃Steady； men！〃 says Amyas； in a suppressed voice。 〃Not a shot！ Re…load； and be ready； I must speak with him first；〃 and silent as the grave； amid the infernal din； the Vengeance glides up to the Spaniard's quarter。
〃Don Guzman Maria Magdalena Sotomayor de Soto！〃 shouts Amyas from the mizzen rigging； loud and clear amid the roar。
He has not called in vain。 Fearless and graceful as ever； the tall； mail…clad figure of his foe leaps up upon the poop…railing； twenty feet above Amyas's head； and shouts through his vizor；
〃At your service； sir whosoever you may be。〃
A dozen muskets and arrows are levelled at him； but Amyas frowns them down。 〃No man strikes him but I。 Spare him； if you kill