The young nobles shouted in vain to the enemy to come alongside if they dare, and try conclusions.

The Englishman laughed back out of every port in his broadside, and bid them catch if they could.

Meanwhile, to pass the time, they slid round by our stern and new-blacked the gilding there, and even hovered a few minutes to leeward to pick off a score or so of the crew on the deck with their arrows, before running back to their quarters on the other port.
How long it went on I know not.

For a cry suddenly came of "Hands below!" and down we went to patch up with all our might the holes the English shot had made on the water line.

And here we worked all night, amongst a swearing, savage gang, who threatened aloud to blow up the ship rather than fight any more, and wished themselves safe back in the drinking-shops of Lisbon.
When, about midnight, half-stifled with the heat, we came on deck, the _Rata_ was running before the wind at the rear of the Armada, heading for the French coast; and the lanthorns of the English had dropped a league behind.
Never saw I a company so changed as were the gallants of Spain by that day's fight.