d to move; nor was it till I wickedly threatened to cast her
overboard, that she consented to come at all. As I was catching her in
my arms, the man at the helm, whom I had all this time clean forgotten,
sprang suddenly on me from behind with a pole which, had it been better
aimed, would have ended my troubles then and there. As it was, the
timber fell on my shoulder, almost cracking the blade. But I was in
with him in a twinkling, and had him by the throat before he could
strike again. Next moment, the wretch (woe to us that he was an
Englishman!) was over the board, and the Lord have mercy on his soul!

The delay was pitiable for the old woman, whom, when I came to her
again, I found to have swooned away. It was all I could do with my
bruised arm to lift her and bring her to the ladder. How I got her down
and into her cabin I know not; but when I came out again to my lady's
side, the ship seemed to swim before my eyes. I remember a vision of
Ludar, bloody and gasping, reeling across the deck towards us, fighting
his way, foot by foot, with four or five savage devils who followed
yelling at his back.

Then for a time all seemed dim and horrible. I knew that we were
fighting desperately for our lives; that men fell heavily and with a
groan on to the deck; that the maiden stood by us, undaunted; that
presently there was a report of a pistol, followed by a hideous shouting
and shrieking. After that, all seemed to grow still of a sudden, and
Ludar shouted, "Look to Humphrey."

When I came to, we were still on the deck. The maiden was bathing my
brow with water. Ludar, pale and blood-stained, stood gloomily by. Of
the enemy not a man stirred. My swoon could not have lasted long, for
the hues of the sunset lingered yet in the sky. I tried to gather
myself together, but the maiden gently restrained me. "No, Humphrey,"
said she, "lie still. There is no more work to be done. Thank God you
are safe, as we are."

'Twas sorely tempting to lie thus, so sweetly tended; but the sight of
Ludar shamed me into energy. I struggled to my feet. My arm hung limp
at my side and my head throbbed; but for that, I was sound and able to
stand upright.

Ludar, when I came to look at him, was in a worse plight than I. He was
bleeding from a gash on his face, and another on his leg; while the
jacket he wore was torn in shreds on his back. He came and took my arm,
and then motioned with his head to the ghastly heap of dead