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with yells of triumph upon her deck。
For a moment it seemed as if the vessel was captured without a
blow being struck； for the men of the English ship had run wildly
in all directions to look for their arms。 Scores of archers might
be seen under the shadow of the forecastle and the poop bending
their bowstaves to string them with the cords from their
waterproof cases。 Others were scrambling over saddles； barrels
and cases in wild search of their quivers。 Each as he came upon
his arrows pulled out a few to lend to his less fortunate
comrades。 In mad haste the men…at…arms also were feeling and
grasping in the dark corners； picking up steel caps which would
not fit them； hurling them down on the deck； and snatching eagerly
at any swords or spears that came their way。
The center of the ship was held by the Spaniards； and having slain
all who stood before them； they were pressing up to either end
before they were made to understand that it was no fat sheep but a
most fierce old wolf which they had taken by the ears。
If the lesson was late； it was the more thorough。 Attacked on
both sides and hopelessly outnumbered； the Spaniards； who had
never doubted that this little craft was a merchant…ship； were cut
off to the last man。 It was no fight； but a butchery。 In vain
the survivors ran screaming prayers to the saints and threw
themselves down into the galley alongside。 It also had been
riddled with arrows from the poop of the Basilisk； and both the
crew on the deck and the galley…slaves in the outriggers at either
side lay dead in rows under the overwhelming shower from above。
》From stem to rudder every foot of her was furred with arrows。 It
was but a floating coffin piled with dead and dying men； which
wallowed in the waves behind them as the Basilisk lurched onward
and left her in the fog。
In their first rush on to the Basilisk； the Spaniards had seized
six of the crew and four unarmed archers。 Their throats had been
cut and their bodies tossed overboard。 Now the Spaniards who
littered the deck； wounded and dead； were thrust over the side in
the same fashion。 One ran down into the hold and had to be hunted
and killed squealing under the blows like a rat in the darkness。
Within half an hour no sign was left of this grim meeting in the
fog save for the crimson splashes upon bulwarks and deck。 The
archers； flushed and merry； were unstringing their bows once more；
for in spite of the water glue the damp air took the strength from
the cords。 Some were hunting about for arrows which might have
stuck inboard； and some tying up small injuries received in the
scuffle。 But an anxious shadow still lingered upon the face of
Sir Robert； and he peered fixedly about him through the fog。
〃Go among the archers； Hawthorne；〃 said he to his Squire。 〃Charge
them on their lives to make no sound！ You also； Loring。 Go to
the afterguard and say the same to them。 We are lost if one of
these great ships should spy us。〃
For an hour with bated breath they stole through the fleet； still
hearing the cymbals clashing all round them； for in this way the
Spaniards held themselves together。 Once the wild music came from
above their very prow； and so warned them to change their course。
Once also a huge vessel loomed for an instant upon their quarter；
but they turned two points away from her； and she blurred and
vanished。 Soon the cymbals were but a distant tinkling； and at
last they died gradually away。
〃It is none too soon；〃 said the old shipman； pointing to a
yellowish tint in the haze above them。 〃See yonder！ It is the
sun which wins through。 It will be here anon。 Ah！ said I not
so？〃
A sickly sun； no larger and far dimmer than the moon； had indeed
shown its face； with cloud…wreaths smoking across it。 As they
looked up it waxed larger and brighter before their eyes … a
yellow halo spread round it； one ray broke through； and then a
funnel of golden light poured down upon them； widening swiftly at
the base。 A minute later they were sailing on a clear blue sea
with an azure cloud…flecked sky above their heads； and such a
scene beneath it as each of them would carry in his memory while
memory remained。
They were in mid…channel。 The white and green coasts of Picardy
and of Kent lay clear upon either side of them。 The wide channel
stretched in front； deepening from the light blue beneath their
prow to purple on the far sky…line。 Behind them was that thick
bank of cloud from which they had just burst。 It lay like a gray
wall from east to west； and through it were breaking the high
shadowy forms of the ships of Spain。 Four of them had already
emerged； their red bodies； gilded sides and painted sails shining
gloriously in the evening sun。 Every instant a fresh golden spot
grew out of the fog； which blazed like a star for an instant； and
then surged forward to show itself as the brazen beak of the great
red vessel which bore it。 Looking back； the whole bank of cloud
was broken by the widespread line of noble ships which were
bursting through it。 The Basilisk lay a mile or more in front of
them and two miles clear of their wing。 Five miles farther off；
in the direction of the French coast； two other small ships were
running down Channel。 A cry of joy from Robert Knolles and a
hearty prayer of gratitude to the saints from the old shipman
hailed them as their missing comrades； the cog Thomas and the
Grace Dieu。
But fair as was the view of their lost friends； and wondrous the
appearance of the Spanish ships； it was not on those that the eyes
of the men of the Basilisk were chiefly bent。 A greater sight lay
before them…a sight which brought them clustering to the
forecastle with eager eyes and pointing fingers。 The English
fleet was coming forth from the Winchelsea Coast。 Already before
the fog lifted a fast galleass had brought the news down Channel
that the Spanish were on the sea； and the King's fleet was under
way。 Now their long array of sails； gay with the coats and colors
of the towns which had furnished them； lay bright against the
Kentish coast from Dungeness Point to Rye。 Nine and twenty ships
were there from Southampton； Shoreham； Winchelsea； Hastings； Rye；
Hythe； Romney； Folkestone； Deal； Dover and Sandwich。 With their
great sails slued round to catch the wind they ran out； whilst the
Spanish； like the gallant foes that they have ever been； turned
their heads landward to meet them。 With flaunting banners and
painted sails； blaring trumpets and clashing cymbals； the two
glittering fleets； dipping and rising on the long Channel swell；
drew slowly together。
King Edward had been lying all day in his great ship the Philippa；
a mile out from the Camber Sands； waiting for the coming of the
Spaniards。 Above the huge sail which bore the royal arms flew the
red cross of England。 Along the bulwarks were shown the shields
of forty knights； the flower of English chivalry； and as many
pennons floated from the deck。 The high ends of the ship
glittered with the weapons of the men…at…arms； and the waist was
crammed with the archers。 From time to time a crash of nakers and
blare of trumpets burst from the ro