Derry rushed in among them with his axe in his hand, and waving it around his head scattered them like leaves before the wind.

He stayed long enough to see that Blair had not dropped like a wounded bird among the rigging of the Molly.
Slowly, very slowly, the boy made his way to the deck, then sank down faint and bleeding.

A bullet had entered his side; yet he had been so ready for the stroke that it had not thrown him off his guard.

Although weak and giddy, he had made his way down his narrow pathway, and reported his duty done.

Even the hardy captain gave a pitying glance at the brave boy as he was borne below by the sailors.