Movie Action Magazine (Nov 1935-Jun 1936)

24 MOVIE ACTION MAGAZINE 'Why? Do we engage them to-night then?" "What is your plan?" inquired a second man. '•I shall send a squadron of eight lighted ships to maneuver between the Armada and the land," said Drake. "The Spanish will set all their strength in that direction, thinking it is our whole fleet. We will lay our best ships quietly out to sea upon their flank." GREAT seas smashed over the Spanish Armada. It was clearly impossible for ships to emerge in the teeth of such a gale. But a lookout hailed. "Warn the Admiral! Eight ships are coming out from shore!" "They surely are in league with Satan!" shouted Don Pedro. "How else could they have got out in such a wind?" He barked an order to a messenger who sped off. "They're running back and forth like ants," observed one of his men. "And like ants, they cannot hurt us." A messenger stood beside the Admiral. "Your order has been obeyed, sir," he reported. "All cannon are set to withstand a frontal attack, My Lord." The wide arc of the Armada was converged upon the eight lighted ships. All guns were trained upon those apparently puny craft. Smashing rollers broke against the anchored fleet of Spain. Aboard the darkened Revenge, Drake stood in the storm. His best ships were tearing sails to shreds, battling into the drive of the wind. But now the Spaniards lay between these ships and the shore. "The whole Spanish flank lies open to our guns," reported a sailor. "Then let them have it!" thundered Drake. Tom Moon" had the honor of applying the Lighted [use to the first cannon. A solid shot shrieked with the wind. The long line of broadside guns belched flame. Aboard the Armada, Spanish soldiers and sailors huddled in sudden alarm. The huge ships were suddenly being riven by the solid shot of the English Dragon! And there were no cannon in position to return the fire! Iron hurled through the close-hauled rigging. One Spanish galleon reeled, her side smashed by the first broadside. Spanish soldiers scuttled helplessly about. "Get about! Get about!" shouted de Valdez. "Get some pieces into action." But the Spanish fire came too late. By the time they were ready to fight back, all of Drake's fleet was swiftly withdrawing, and the Spanish Armada was crippled, putting about, heading for the nearest refuge, Calais! THE Invincible Armada lay in the neutral harbor of Calais. "Here's to the good people of Calais," said de Valdez. "By being around us, they protect us from the enemy behind." But in the night, outside the harbor, men with torches were aboard two ships of Sir Francis Drake. A light flickered far at sea. "There's the signal," exclaimed a sailor "The tide is setting in. Spread the sails and set them alight." Rapidly, the men hoisted the canvas and drenched it with oil. Their torches were applied in a dozen places. Soon the rigging of both ships was a mass of flames ! Waiting only long enough to be sure that their ships were headed directly for the channel into the harbor, the men dropped over the sides into their waiting boats. Straight for the harbor mouth, headed the floating infernos! Aboard the Spanish flagship, a lookout suddenly shouted, "Senor! Seiior! El Draque is coming with ships of fire!" De Valdez was quick to act. "Cut the cables and put out to sea!" he commanded. "We must escape this trap ! " With all sails set, two fiery ships entered the mouth of the harbor. They