At last the skipper accounted her near enough, and gave the word with an oath.

The Swallow fired her first and last shot in that encounter.

After the deafening thunder of it and through the cloud of suffocating smoke, Sir Oliver saw the high forecastle of the Spaniard rent open.
Master Leigh was cursing his gunner for having aimed too high.

Then he signalled to the mate to fire the culverin of which he had charge.
That second shot was to be the signal for the whole broadside from the main-deck below.

But the Spaniard anticipated them.