I saw the glint of a musket barrel in the sun.
"Lie down, dearest," I said sharply.
But she had seen it too, and understood.
"I will not," she said.

"The wind is with us, and I help." But in her mind she believed they would not shoot her, and she sat between me and them.
It was no time for argument.

Safety for both of us lay in my arms and legs, and their power to gain a landing and get up the slope before the others could damage them.

I accepted her sacrifice, and set my teeth, and strove to pull harder still.
Young Torode himself was distinguishable in the boat behind, and I knew his passion for her and did not believe he would deliberately attempt her life.
Nor do I now.

Possibly his intent was only to frighten us, but when bullets fly, lives are cheap.
Torode himself stood up in the stern of his boat, and levelled at us, and fired.