The fight raged with the utmost fury all that sunny afternoon
and far into the warm dark night. Two Spaniards were sunk on the spot,
a third sank afterwards, and a fourth could only be saved by beaching.
But still the fight went on, the darkness reddened by the flaming guns.
Maddened to see one English ship keeping their whole fleet of
fifty-three at bay the Spaniards closed in till the _Revenge_ was
caught fast by two determined enemies. In came the Spanish grapplings,
hooking fast to the _Revenge_ on either side. "Boarders away!" yelled
the Spanish colonels. "Repel Boarders!" shouted Grenville in reply.
And the boarders were repelled, leaving a hundred killed behind them.
Only fifty English now remained. But they were as defiant as before,
giving the Spaniards deadly broadsides right along the water-line, till
two fresh enemies closed in and grappled fast. Again the boarders
swarmed in from both sides. Again the dauntless English drove them
back. Again the English swords and pikes dripped red with Spanish
blood.
But now only twenty fighting men were left, while Grenville himself had
been very badly wounded twice.
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