I can't think how you came to think of it." "Why, I have read in books, captain, of defenders of walls hanging over trusses of straw, to break the blows of battering rams and machines of the besiegers.

Directly you said they were going to ram us it struck me we might do the same, and then I thought that bales of cloth, similar to those you got up on deck to trade with the islanders would be just the thing." "It was a close shave," the captain said.

"I was leaning over, and saw the whole side of the ship bend beneath the blow, and expected to hear the ribs crack beneath me.

Fortunately the Bonito was stronger built than her assailants, and their bows crumpled in before her side gave; but my heart was in my mouth for a time, I can tell you." "So was mine, captain.

I hardly felt these two arrows strike me.