““The boarders cheered and followed him. “Boarders away!” shouted the petty officers, and everywhere the Marguerite’s men grabbed up weapons and came pouring over into the Castilla, yelling like madmen in their excitement. Here and there resistance was offered to them. Somebody banged off a weapon apparently right at Hornblower, but the bullet missed him miraculously, although his left hand bore for the rest of his days the ingrained stain of the burning powder. Most of the Spaniards — raw recruits without a shred of discipline to hold them together — broke and ran before the attack, scuttling below to safety. Only on the high poop did the officers attempt a last””
