THE MEETING ON THE SEA For another minute or more the _San Antonio_ held on until she divined the desperate purpose of her foe.

Then, seeing that soon the carack's prow must crash into her frail side, she shifted her helm and came round several points, so that in the end the _Margaret_ ran, not into her, but alongside of her, grinding against her planking, and shearing away a great length of her bulwark.

For a few seconds they hung together thus, and, before the seas bore them apart, grapnels were thrown from the _Margaret_ whereof one forward got hold and brought them bow to bow.
Thus the end of the bowsprit of the _Margaret_ projected over the high deck of the _San Antonio_.
"Now for it," said Peter.

"Follow me, all." And springing up, he ran to the bowsprit and began to swarm along it.
It was a fearful task.

One moment the great seas lifted him high into the air, and the next down he came again till the massive spar crashed on to the deck of the _San Antonio_ with such a shock that he nearly flew from it like a stone from a sling.