The blow fell upon the side of his steel cap, and glanced thence to his left shoulder, but, being light, did him no harm.

Swiftly came the answer, which was not light, for it fell so heavily upon d'Aguilar's breastplate, that he staggered back.

After him sprang Peter, thinking that the game was his, but at that moment the ship, which had entered the breakers of the harbour bar, rolled terribly, and sent them both reeling to the bulwarks.

Nor did she cease her rolling, so that, smiting and thrusting wildly, they staggered backwards and forwards across the deck, gripping with their left hands at anything they could find to steady them, till at length, bruised and breathless, they fell apart unwounded, and rested awhile.
"An ill field this to fight on, Senor," gasped d'Aguilar.
"I think that it will serve our turn," said Peter grimly, and rushed at him like a bull.

It was just then that a great sea came aboard the ship, a mass of green water which struck them both and washed them like straws into the scuppers, where they rolled half drowned.