The Swan paid no attention to the command, but kept on her course.

In two minutes there was another flash and a puff of white smoke from the Spaniard, and a shot skipped across the water in front of the Swan.

A growl of anger broke from her crew.
"Put up the helm," Captain Reuben ordered; and the vessel, which was running before the wind, came up till her head pointed straight to sea.
Although the Spanish ships were still three-quarters of a mile away, a bustle was at once observable on their decks.

Men clustered at the bows, and could be seen at work there.
"They are getting up the anchors," Pengarvan said, as he watched them, shading his eyes with his hands.
Three or four minutes later the sails were sheeted home, and the Spaniard began to move through the water, having set sail as soon as the anchors were tripped.

No sooner were they under weigh, and the crews at their quarters, than they began to discharge their bow guns after the Swan.
"Shall we answer them, Captain ?" James Standing asked.