A cheer rose from the lips of the men; a spirit of excitement stirred every heart. Nay; not every breast, for Sir Francis Drake, the vice admiral, said coolly to his chief as he hurled the bowl along the smooth, worn planks: "There will be time enough to finish the game, and then we'll go out and give the Dons a thrashing." And now the beacon lights flashed the news from hilltop to hilltop, and on to London, and thence northward to the Scottish borders, and westward throughout Wales until every village and town of every shire in England thrilled with the tidings. Forgetful of religious dissensions, of feud, and of private wrong, all Englishmen arose as one man to repel the invading foe. Amidst all the confusion incident to the announcement of the old seaman, Devereaux drew Francis aside and whispered entreatingly: "Francis, I implore thee to remain here. 'Tis not seemly that thou shouldst board ship. There will be fighting, and----" "And thou wouldst have all the glory, Edward Devereaux," cried the girl unjust as she often was when indignant. "Dost thou think that I fear? What hath life to yield that would equal the sweetness of striking one blow for England? Think you an English girl cannot fight as well as an English lad?" "Nay, nay, Francis; but for my sake----" "For thy sake?" echoed the girl in surprise. "Why should I stay for thy sake? Come! we lose time." CHAPTER XXIX A BRITOMARTE OF THE ARMADA The call was sounded. It rang through every ship like a trumpet note and every man sprang to his duty. "On to the Dons! No Spanish Inquisition!" was the watch-cry of the English navy, and with great difficulty, for the wind was against them, they steered for the open sea. It was not until the next day that they came within sight of the Armada. The most powerful fleet that had ever been known since the beginning of time. Blest by the pope, sent forth amid the prayers and the fastings of the people, the fleet had been cleared of every unclean thing, for haughty England who styled herself the mistress of the seas was to be humbled upon her own element and made to yield her lands to the foreigners. The great Spanish ships, built high like castles and towers, stretched in the form of a crescent measuring at least seven miles from horn to horn. They came slowly on, and, although under full sail, yet as though the winds labored and the ocean sighed under the burden of it, says Camden. When they reached the open channel Lord Howard discovered his policy to his men. They were not to come to close quarters with the towering, unwieldy galleons, but to pour broadside after broadside into them at a distance and to bide their opportunity to fall upon them. Nearer and nearer drew the two fleets, the Spanish preparing to begin the action at daybreak. But at two o'clock the gibbous moon arose in a clear sky and showed to the astonished Spanish the English fleet lying in their rear just out of cannon shot.