Two or three of them stood, leaning keenly forward; several of the others had dropped to one knee; the rifle discharge had checked the rush, and they also were waiting for the lightning.

Cleggett and his men threw a second volley at this wavering silhouette of astonishment.
A cartridge jammed in the mechanism of Cleggett's gun.

With an oath he flung the weapon to the deck.

A hand thrust another one into his grasp, and Lady Agatha's voice said in his ear, "Take this one--it's loaded." "My God," said Cleggett, "I thought you were in the cabin!" "Not I!" she cried, "I'm loading!" Just then the lightning came again and showed her to him plainly.
Drenched, bare-armed, bareheaded, her hair down and rolling backward in a rich wet mass, she knelt on the deck behind the bulwark.

Her eyes blazed with excitement, and there was a smile upon her lips.