I durst not follow them; for it might be a feint to decoy me from my post.
So, with all the haste I could, I threw up an out-work of lumber, sails, spars, and boxes across the deck some distance in front of the poop, and, relieving my two fallen assailants of their knives, I stood ready for whatever next might betide.
"Humphrey," called the maiden from above, "put up the ladder quickly and let me down." "Nay," said I, "'tis no place for you, maiden.

You are safe there.
Stay." "Obey me, Humphrey," said she in so commanding a voice that I fetched the ladder at once.
She looked pale and stern; but otherwise was cool and collected as she descended.
"Now," said she, as she stood beside me, "go and bring down my nurse.
Give me that knife; I will mount guard here till you are done." I durst not waste time by arguing; she took the knife from me and motioned me to my task.

The poor old lady, more dead than alive, was hard to move; nor was it till I wickedly threatened to cast her overboard, that she consented to come at all.

As I was catching her in my arms, the man at the helm, whom I had all this time clean forgotten, sprang suddenly on me from behind with a pole which, had it been better aimed, would have ended my troubles then and there.

As it was, the timber fell on my shoulder, almost cracking the blade.