CHAPTER XVI. HOW THE YELLOW COG FOUGHT THE TWO ROVER GALLEYS.

weringabovehisfellowsandcladfromheadtofootinplateofproof,ledonhisboarders,wavingahugemaceintheair,withwhichhestrucktothedeckeverymanwhoapproachedhim.Ontheotherside,Spade-beard,adwarfinheight,butofgreatbreadthofshoulderandlengthofarm,hadcutaroadalmosttothemast,withthree-scoreGenoesemen-at-armscloseathisheels.Betweenthesetwoformidableassailantstheseamenwerebeingslowlywedgedmorecloselytogether,untiltheystoodbacktobackunderthemastwiththeroversraginguponeverysideofthem. Buthelpwascloseathand.SirOliverButtesthornwithhismen-at-armshadswarmeddownfromtheforecastle,whileSirNigel,withhisthreesquires,BlackSimon,Aylward,HordleJohn,andascoremore,threwthemselvesfromthepoopandhurledthemselvesintothethickestofthefight.Alleyne,asindutybound,kepthiseyesfixedeveronhislordandpressedforwardcloseathisheels.OftenhadheheardofSirNigel'sprowessandskillwithallknightlyweapons,butallthetalesthathadreachedhisearsfellfarshortoftherealquicknessandcoolnessoftheman.Itwasasifthedevilwasinhim,forhespranghereandsprangthere,nowthrustingandnowcutting,catchingblowsonhisshield,turningthemwithhisblade,stoopingundertheswingofanaxe,springingoverthesweepofasword,soswiftandsoerraticthatthemanwhobracedhimselfforablowathimmightfindhimsixpacesofferehecouldbringitdown.Threepirateshadfallenbeforehim,andhehadwoundedSpade-beardintheneck,whentheNormangiantsprangathimfromthesidewithaslashingblowfromhisdeadlymace.SirNigelstoopedtoavoidit,andatthesameinstantturnedathrustfromtheGenoeseswordsman,but,hisfootslippinginapoolofblood,hefellheavilytotheground.AlleynespranginfrontoftheNorman,buthisswordwasshatteredandhehimselfbeatentothegroundbyasecondblowfromtheponderousweapon.Erethepiratechiefcouldrepeatit,however,John'sirongripfelluponhiswrist,andhefoundthatforoncehewasinthehandsofastrongermanthanhimself. Fiercelyhestrovetodisengagehisweapon,butHordleJohnbenthisarmslowlybackuntil,withasharpcrack,likeabreakingstave,itturnedlimpinhisgrasp,andthemacedroppedfromthenervelessfingers.Invainhetriedtopluckitupwiththeotherhand.Backandbackstillhisfoemanbenthim,until,witharoarofpainandoffury,thegiantclangedhisfulllengthupontheboards,whiletheglimmerofaknifebeforethebarsofhishelmetwarnedhimthatshortwouldbehisshriftifhemoved. Cowedanddisheartenedbythelossoftheirleader,theNormanshadgivenbackandwerenowstreamingoverthebulwarksontotheirowngalley,droppingadozenatatimeontoherdeck.Buttheanchorstillheldtheminitscrookedclaw,andSirOliverwithfiftymenwashardupontheirheels.Now,too,thearchershadroomtodrawtheirbowsoncemore,andgreatstonesfromtheyardofthecogcamethunderingandcrashingamongtheflyingrovers.Hereandtheretheyrushedwithwildscreamsandcurses,divingunderthesail,crouchingbehindbooms,huddlingintocornerslikerabbitswhentheferretsareuponthem,ashelplessandasho