"It was all very well," they said; "but as they could only advance in single file, exposing their legs before they could use their arms, the Englishman from behind his barricade could shoot them down like sheep." M.de la Pailletine stamped and swore, upbraiding them for their cowardice.

He was about to order them down again when a diversion occurred.
A door slammed below, a wheezing cough was heard, and Captain Barker's head appeared at the top of the ladder.
"Which of you is the French captain ?" M.de la Pailletine lifted his hat.
"H'mph!" He stepped up on deck and the French officers drew back in sheer amazement.

They looked at this man who had defied them for pretty near an hour.

They had expected to see a giant.

Instead they saw a tiny man, hump-backed, wry-necked, pale of face, with a twisted smile, and glaring green eyes, that surveyed them with a malicious twinkle.