Three of the traitors threw themselves on Ludar; the poet reeled in the grip of another; two others made for me.
"Back, back!" shouted Ludar, in a voice of thunder, as he began his struggle.
'Twas well I obeyed him; for the two who had made an end of the captain were already rushing in the direction of the women, and had I reached the ladder a moment later, all might have been lost.
The men, I think, in laying their wicked plan, had scarcely taken me (who late was so weak), into account as a fighting man.

They had reckoned to carry the poop, where lay the supposed treasure and the arms, without a blow; and once there, the ship would be theirs.

It staggered them, therefore, to find me standing in the way and laying about me.

The two women, as I said, were on the upper deck which formed the roof of the poop house.

To that there was no access save by the small ladder, which I accordingly wrenched from its place and swung round with all my might at my assailants.