noon
Past Tarifa Point they went , having the coast of Africa on their right ; past the bay of Algegiras , where the _ San Antonio _ did not try to harbour ; past Gibraltar 's grey old rock , where the signal fires were burning , and so at nightfall , with not a mile between them , out into the Mediterranean Sea . Here the gale was furious , so that they could scarcely carry a rag of canvas , and before morning lost one of their topmasts . It was an anxious night , for they knew not if they would live through it ; moreover , the hearts of Castell and of Peter were torn with fear lest the Spaniard should founder and take Margaret with her to the bottom of the sea . When at length the wild , stormy dawn broke , however , they saw her , apparently in an evil case , labouring away upon their starboard bow , and by noon came to within a furlong of her , so that they could see the sailors crawling about on her high poop and stern . Yes , and they saw more than this , for presently two women ran from some cabin waving a white cloth to them ; then were hustled back , whereby they learned that Margaret and Betty still lived and knew that they followed , and thanked God . Presently , also , there was a flash , and , before ever they heard the report , a great iron bullet fell upon their decks and , rebounding , struck a sailor , who stood by Peter , on the breast , and dashed him away into the sea . The _ San Antonio _ had fired the bombard which she carried , but as no more shots came they judged that the cannon had broke its lashings or burst .