k, back!" shouted Ludar, in a voice of thunder, as he began his
struggle.

'Twas well I obeyed him; for the two who had made an end of the captain
were already rushing in the direction of the women, and had I reached
the ladder a moment later, all might have been lost.

The men, I think, in laying their wicked plan, had scarcely taken me
(who late was so weak), into account as a fighting man. They had
reckoned to carry the poop, where lay the supposed treasure and the
arms, without a blow; and once there, the ship would be theirs. It
staggered them, therefore, to find me standing in the way and laying
about me. The two women, as I said, were on the upper deck which formed
the roof of the poop house. To that there was no access save by the
small ladder, which I accordingly wrenched from its place and swung
round with all my might at my assailants. The blow knocked over two of
them; and before they could regain their feet, I had struck another a
blow with my fist, which needed no second. The fourth varlet did not
wait for me, but closed on me with his knife. Luckily the blade missed
its mark, grazing only my ribs, and before he could strike again I had
him by the wrist, and the blow he meant for me went home in his own
neck. After that, 'twas easy work to hold off the other two, one of
whom was the drunken fool who had blabbed his secret days ago, had I
only heeded it, in my sick cabin. Finding me stubborn, and further
passage barred, they sheered off with a curse and hastened forward. I
durst not follow them; for it might be a feint to decoy me from my post.
So, with all the haste I could, I threw up an out-work of lumber,
sails, spars, and boxes across the deck some distance in front of the
poop, and, relieving my two fallen assailants of their knives, I stood
ready for whatever next might betide.

"Humphrey," called the maiden from above, "put up the ladder quickly and
let me down."

"Nay," said I, "'tis no place for you, maiden. You are safe there.
Stay."

"Obey me, Humphrey," said she in so commanding a voice that I fetched
the ladder at once.

She looked pale and stern; but otherwise was cool and collected as she
descended.

"Now," said she, as she stood beside me, "go and bring down my nurse.
Give me that knife; I will mount guard here till you are done."

I durst not waste time by arguing; she took the knife from me and
motioned me to my task. The poor old lady, more dead than alive, was
har