The surly mate was cut squarely in two by a round shot, men screaming in rage and pain went down and the captain staggered, but recovered himself.

Then he shouted to the steersman to put the schooner about and rushing among the sailors he ordered them to another task than that of boarding.
"It was a trick, and it trapped us most damnably!" he cried.

"A fool I was! Fools we must all have been to have been caught by it! They lured us on! But now, you rascals, to your work, and it's for your lives! We escape together or we hang together!" The night had darkened much, clouds trailing before the moon and stars, but Robert clearly saw the slaver's face.

It was transformed by chagrin and wrath, though it expressed fierce energy, too.

Blood was running from his shoulder down his left arm, but drawing his sword he fairly herded the men to the sails; that is, to those that were left.