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Had this been done, the handful of Englishmen must inevitably have been cut to pieces. But the Spaniards did not condescend to consume time in concerting a plan of co-operation. They pulled on in a body, to devour, as they said, the devoted Englishmen. The Englishmen, however, were prepared for them. As the flect of boats ⟨approached⟩, they coolly took their aim with every gun on board. The boats advanced in a dense ⟨extended⟩ line, each gun was brought to bear upon ⟨particular⟩ parts of them, so that there should be ⟨no⟩ useless expenditure of powder and shot. The Minerva being a deep-waisted vessel, with a top-⟨gallant⟩ forecastle and poop, the boat’s crew did ⟨not⟩ discover the preparations that had been made ⟨for⟩ their reception—so they continued pulling on ⟨until⟩ they were within pistol shot of the ship’s ⟨side⟩. At that moment Mackay, to whom all ⟨eyes⟩ on board the Mincrva were now directed, ⟨every⟩ thing having been in perfect readiness, gave ⟨the⟩ signal to “fire.” A shower of millstones ⟨could⟩ not have been productive of more frightful ⟨effects⟩. The moment before, the boats were in ⟨gallant⟩ array, burthened with some hundreds of ⟨bold⟩ hearts, inflamed with rage and revenge—⟨the⟩ next, it was as if the besom of destruction had (illegible text)one over them. To use a homely simile, the ⟨broadside⟩ of heavy grape made a commotion ⟨among⟩ the boats similar to that which is produced ⟨by⟩ an unexpected shot from a well-loaded fowling ⟨piece⟩ among a flock of ducks on the bosom of (illegible text) pond. Instead of one such shot, however, five-⟨and⟩-twenty double shots of grape and canister ⟨were⟩ sent by deliberate aim among the boats of
