Let us try one of these sweeps." He lifted one of the heavy oars, and holding it upright he and Gervaise together tried to drive the handle through the bottom.

Again and again they raised it and drove it down; but the plank was too strong, and too securely fastened to the timbers.
"We must give it up," the knight said, with a sigh.

"Fortune has befriended us so far, Tresham, but she has deserted us at last.

Another three minutes, and we shall have thirty or forty of them upon us." At this moment the lad's eye fell upon the fire.
"We shall manage yet," he exclaimed, and, seizing a blazing brand, he jumped below and set fire to the sails stowed there; they were as dry as tinder, and the flame shot up at once.
"That is good, Tresham," the knight said; "but they will put it out before it has caught the boat." "Not before it has burnt the sails," Gervaise replied.

"Now for this one," and he applied the brand to the lower edge of the great sail.
Without a word Sir John seized another brand, and fired the sail on the other side of the deck.