There were two men to gag them while the others were to tie their limbs.

Mesty and Easy were to kneel by them with the candle, with raised knives to awe them into silence, or to strike home, if their own safety required it.
The gregos were removed off the first man, who opened his eyes at the sight of the candle, but the coxswain's hand was on his mouth--he was secured in silence.

The other two men were awaked, and threw off their coverings, but they were also secured without there being occasion to resort to bloodshed.
"What shall we do now, Mesty ?" "Now, sar," said Mesty, "open the after-hatch and watch--suppose more men come up, we make them fast; suppose no more come up, we wait till daylight--and see what take place." Mesty then went forward to see if the men were watchful on the forecastle; and having again gone round the whole of the deck to see if there were any more men on it, he blew out the candle, and took his station with the others at the after-hatchway.
It was just at break of day that the Spaniards who had to keep the morning watch having woke up, as people generally do at that hour at which they expect to be called, dressed themselves and came on deck, imagining, and very truly, that those of the middle watch had fallen asleep, but little imagining that the deck was in possession of Englishmen.

Mesty and the others retreated, to allow them all to come up before they could perceive them, and fortunately this was accomplished.

Four men came on the deck, looked round them, and tried to make out in the dark where their shipmates might be.