New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-25
CHAPTER XVII.
(Continued)
The Spaniards on
the Sea
T1HE Basilisk had
indeed been
spied from the


Spanish Admiral's ship before the fog closed down
With so light a breeze and such fog, he could not
hope to find her under sail. But by an evil chance
not bow-shot from the great Spanish carrack was
a low galley thin and swift, with oars which could
speed her against wind tide She also had seen
the Basisk and it was to her that the Spanish
leader shouted his orders For few minutes she
hunted through the fog, and then sprang out OF 1t
like a lean and stealthy beast upon its prey 1t
was the sight of the long dark shadow gliding after
them which had brought that wild shout of alarm
from the lips of the English knight. In another
instant the starboard oars of the galley had been
shipped the sides of the two vessels grated together
and a stream of swarthy, red -capped Spaniards
were swarming up the sides of the Baslsk and
dropping with wells of triumph upon her deck.
For a moment it seemed if the vessel cap
tured without blow being struck for the men of
the English ship had wildly in all directions to
look for their arms. Scores of arChers might be
seen under the shadow of the fOrecaste 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 few to lend to his less for
tunate 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,
hurting them down the deck, and Snatchng
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 came in their way, they
We're pressing up to either end before they were
made to understand that it fat sheep but
most fierce old wolf which they had taken by the
ears.
If the lesson was late, it the more thorough.
Attacked on both sides and hopelessly outnumbered
the Spaniards, who had doubted that this
little craft was merchant ship, off to the
last man. 1t was no fight but butchery. In
vain the survivors ran, screaming prayers to the
saints and threw themselves down into the galley
alongside. 1t also had been ridded with arrows
from the poop of the Basilisk, and both the crew
on the deck and the galey-saves in the outriggers
at either side lay dead in rows under the over
whelming shower from above. From stem to rud-
der every foot of her furred with 1t
was but floating coffin piled with dead and dying
men which waloWed in the waves behind them
the Basisk lurched onward and left her in the fog.
In their first rush on the Basilisk, the Spaniards
had seized six OF the crew and four unarmcd
archers. Their throats had been and
their bodies tossed overheard. Now the Span
iards who Uttered the deck, wounded and lSf
dead, were thrust over the side in the same vs.
fashion. One ran down into the hold and "
had to be hunted and killed squealng under
the blows like a rat in the darkness Within
half an hour sign was left of this grim meet
ing in the fog for the crimson spashcS
upon bulwarks and deck. The archcrs, flushed
and merry, unstringng their bows once
more, for in spite of the ter-glue the damp
air took the strength from the cords. Some
were hunting about for which might
have stuck inboard, and some tying up small in
juries received in the scutfe.
But an anxious shadow still fingered upon the face
OF Sir Robert, and he peered hXedy about him
through the fog. go among the archers Haw-
InOrne," said he to his Squire. Charge them on
their lives to make no sound! You also, Loring Go