The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-22
CHAPTER xvI--Continucd

T am Don de Espinosa," he ans wered. Admiral of the navies of the Catholic King"
 "Will you tell me, then, why you be- have like a damned pirate" Lord Ju- lian asked. Tt will cost you dear y
 "All things are possible. Meantime it is your own lives that will cost you dear. Colonel Bishop is rich man, and you, milord, are no doubt also rich. I will consider and fix your ransom. v
 "And you have the impudence to call yourself the admiral of the navies of the Catholic King!' stormed his lord ship.
 "It is that treat you English heretic dogs just as you English heretic dogs have treated Spaniards upon the seas, you robbers and thieves out of hell {! I have the honesty to do it in my own name, but you, you perfidious beasts, you send your Captain Bloods, your Hagthorpes and your Morgans against us and disclaim responsibility for what they do."
 Captain Blood and the rest are not admirals of England!" cried Lord Ju- Han.
 AIC they uul 10OW uU 4 huOW ' How does Spain know? Are you not liars all, you English heretics?"
 'sSir!" Lord Julian's voice was harsh as rasp, his eyes flashed. Instinc- lively he swung a hand to the place where his sword habitually hung. Then he shrugged and sneered: "Of course, said he, ''it sorts with all have heard of Spanish honor and all that I have seen of yours that you should insult man who is unarmed and your pris. oner."
 The admiral's face famed scarlet. He half raised his hand to strike. And then, restrained, perhaps, by the very words that had cloaked the retorting insult, he turned on his heel abruptly, and went out without answering.
 The Milagrosa, with her consort, the Hildalga, rolling after her, steered a south by westerly course. then veered to the southeast, round Cape Tiburon, and thereafter, standing well out to sea, with the land no more than cloudy outline to larboard, she headed directly east, and so ran straight into the arms of Captain Blood, who was making for the Windward Passage. That-happened early on the following morning. After having systematically hunted his enemy in vain for a year, Don Miguel chanced upon him in this unexpected and en. tirely fortutious fashion. It was also the way of fortune that Don Miguel should thus come upon the Arabella al time when, separated from the rest of the fleet, she was. alone and at a disadvantage. It looked to Don Miguel as if the duck which so long had been on Blood's side had at last veered in his own favor.
 Miss Bishop, newly risen, had come out to take the air on the quarterdeck with his lordship in attendance, when she beheld the big red ship that had once been the Cinco Llagas out of ly; it awoke in her an uplifting sense to herself in the encounter that must now be inevitable.
 Beside her on the poop stood Lord Julian. But he shared none of her exultation. He had been in his first sea fight yesterday, and he felt that the experience would suffice him for very considerable time
 Look" said Miss Bishop, pointing. Did she realize, he wondered what was afoot. Her next sentence resolved his doubt. ''She is English, and she comes resolutely on. She means to fight"
 God help her, then," said his lord ship gloomily. "Her captain must be mad. If they could so easily blow the Royal Mary out of the water, what will they do with this vessel? Look at that devil Don Miguel. He's utterly disgusting in his glee."
 Of necessity now, under diminished sail, the advance of the Arabella was slower; but it was none the lesa steady. She was already within shaker shot, and they could make out the fig. ures stirring on her forecastle and the brass guns gleaming on her brow. The gunners of the Milagrosa raised their linstocks and blew upon their smolder. ing matches, looking up impatiently al the admiral. But the admiral solemnly shook his head.
 "Stab mel" said his lordship. "This Englishman may be gallant enough to accept battle against such odds. But there are times when discretion is a better quality than gallantry in a com. mander. Presently you will suffer me to place you under cover.'
 T can see best from here," she ans. wered him. And added quietly: q am praying for this Englishman. He must be very brave"
 The Arabella was advancing. now, along n course which if continued vrust