of the boarding
party swept all our foes before us, and in a short space the remnant of
them, now far below our numbers, collected by the stern of the ship in a
thick mass. It was no light matter to dislodge them, thrice we essayed
it, and thrice from their sharp blades we recoiled. And, indeed, I could
not but honour these men now engaged so hopelessly in their last
conflict, and never crying out for quarter--nay, even stricken down on
the deck still crawling with bent and broken sword, to slash once more
at us, if it were but at our hose of mail.

In the hot fray we recked not of our moorings, and we saw already we had
lost hold of _Le Saint Michel_ and drifted some yards astern, and a
great shock of the ship showed us we were broadside on with another of
their ships, _L'Aiglon_. Now we were soon involved in sore danger, for
the pirates on board this latter, lost no time in coming up to their
friends' assistance, and like a crew of black kites they swept over the
side, with curved cutlasses brandished in their hands. I know not how it
would have chanced had not _La Blanche Nef_ boarded their ship, and
attacking them in the rear, swept through them to our relief. So they
were between two attacks, and enough of us were left to engage in our
last deadly hand-to-hand struggle with the pirates in the stern. I
followed a great Norman soldier that led this last attack, and closing
with a sinewy Moor that strove cunningly to slap my sword from my grasp
with an upsweep, we were ere long rolling on the deck amid the dead and
the slippery streams of blood, each guarding the other's sword-hand from
his breast; and since the Moor was a strong villain of full man's
strength, I was in evil case. For with me, thus striving on the deck,
the swing and rush of my youthful strength availed me naught against his
tempered muscles, that seemed pressing my arms back with a grasp of
iron. Yea, I was as near cold steel in my heart as ever in my life,
when suddenly I felt his grasp tighten and then grow loose, and a sharp
blade that had already been run through his back, came out below the
breast-bone, and gave my arm a graze that drew blood.

"God, save you, good lad!" rang out Samson's voice, and I knew that he
had found time in his control of the whole battle to think of me--and in
good season, for I have small doubt that, though the point of his sword
grazed my arm, yet it saved my life.

When I arose up, the ships that were named _L'Aigl