Beaten back on to the deck of his own vessel, and closely followed by a dozen Englishmen, he disengaged himself from them, ran swiftly down the deck, sprang back into the cog once more, cut the rope which held the anchor, and was back in an instant among his crossbow-men.

At the same time the Genoese sailors thrust with their oars against the side of the cog, and a rapidly widening rift appeared between the two vessels.
"By St.George!" cried Ford, "we are cut off from Sir Nigel." "He is lost," gasped Terlake.

"Come, let us spring for it." The two youths jumped with all their strength to reach the departing galley.
Ford's feet reached the edge of the bulwarks, and his hand clutching a rope he swung himself on board.

Terlake fell short, crashed in among the oars, and bounded off into the sea.

Alleyne, staggering to the side, was about to hurl himself after him, but Hordle John dragged him back by the girdle.
"You can scarce stand, lad, far less jump," said he.