Never was confidence so quickly changed into despair, never was hunter more swiftly converted into helpless prey.

For helpless the Spaniards were.

The swiftly executed boarding manoeuvre had caught them almost unawares in the moment of confusion following the punishing broadside they had sustained at such short range.

For a moment there was a valiant effort by some of Don Miguel's officers to rally the men for a stand against these invaders.

But the Spaniards, never at their best in close-quarter fighting, were here demoralized by knowledge of the enemies with whom they had to deal.