At first the Spaniard had conceived that she was meeting the
victorious fleet of Don Miguel, returning from the destruction of
the pirates. When at comparatively close quarters the pennon of St.
George soared to the Arabella's masthead to disillusion her, the
Santo Nino chose the better part of valour, and struck her flag.
Captain Blood ordered her crew to take to the boats, and land
themselves at Oruba or wherever else they pleased. So considerate
was he that to assist them he presented them with several of the
piraguas which he still had in tow.
"You will find," said he to her captain, "that Don Miguel is in an
extremely bad temper. Commend me to him, and say that I venture to
remind him that he must blame himself for all the ills that have
befallen him. The evil has recoiled upon him which he loosed when
he sent his brother unofficially to make a raid upon the island of
Barbados. Bid him think twice before he lets his devils loose upon
an English settlement again."
With that he dismissed the Captain, who went over the side of the
Santo Nino, and Captain Blood proceeded to investigate the value of
this further prize.
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