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

peless.Theyweresterndays,andifthehonestsoldier,toopoorforaransom,hadnoprospectofmercyuponthebattle-field,whatruthwasthereforsearobbers,theenemiesofhumankind,takenintheverydeed,withproofsoftheircrimesstillswingingupontheiryard-arm. Butthefighthadtakenanewandastrangeturnupontheotherside.Spade-beardandhismenhadgivenslowlyback,hardpressedbySirNigel,Aylward,BlackSimon,andthepoop-guard.FootbyfoottheItalianhadretreated,hisarmorrunningbloodateveryjoint,hisshieldsplit,hiscrestshorn,hisvoicefallenawaytoameregaspingandcroaking.Yethefacedhisfoemenwithdauntlesscourage,dashingin,springingback,sure-footed,steady-handed,withapointwhichseemedtomenacethreeatonce.Beatenbackontothedeckofhisownvessel,andcloselyfollowedbyadozenEnglishmen,hedisengagedhimselffromthem,ranswiftlydownthedeck,sprangbackintothecogoncemore,cuttheropewhichheldtheanchor,andwasbackinaninstantamonghiscrossbow-men.AtthesametimetheGenoesesailorsthrustwiththeiroarsagainstthesideofthecog,andarapidlywideningriftappearedbetweenthetwovessels. “BySt.George!”criedFord,“wearecutofffromSirNigel.” “Heislost,”gaspedTerlake.“Come,letusspringforit.”Thetwoyouthsjumpedwithalltheirstrengthtoreachthedepartinggalley.Ford'sfeetreachedtheedgeofthebulwarks,andhishandclutchingaropeheswunghimselfonboard.Terlakefellshort,crashedinamongtheoars,andboundedoffintothesea.Alleyne,staggeringtotheside,wasabouttohurlhimselfafterhim,butHordleJohndraggedhimbackbythegirdle. “Youcanscarcestand,lad,farlessjump,”saidhe.“Seehowthebloodripsfromyourbassinet.” “Myplaceisbytheflag,”criedAlleyne,vainlystrugglingtobreakfromtheother'shold. “Bidehere,man.YouwouldneedwingsereyoucouldreachSirNigel'sside.” ThevesselswereindeedsofarapartnowthattheGenoesecouldusethefullsweepoftheiroars,anddrawawayrapidlyfromthecog. “MyGod,butitisanoblefight!”shoutedbigJohn,clappinghishands.“Theyhaveclearedthepoop,andtheyspringintothewaist.Wellstruck,mylord!Wellstruck,Aylward!SeetoBlackSimon,howhestormsamongtheshipmen!ButthisSpade-beardisagallantwarrior.Herallieshismenupontheforecastle.Hehathslainanarcher.Ha!mylordisuponhim.Looktoit,Alleyne!Seetothewhirlandglitterofit!” “Byheaven,SirNigelisdown!”criedthesquire. “Up!”roaredJohn.“Itwasbutafeint.Hebearshimback.Hedriveshimtotheside.Ah,byOurLady,hisswordisthroughhim!Theycryformercy.Downgoestheredcross,andupspringsSimonwiththescarletroses!” ThedeathoftheGenoeseleaderdidindeedbringtheresistancetoanend.Amidathunderofcheeringfromcogandfromgalleystheforkedpennonflutteredupontheforecastle,andthegalley,sweepinground,cameslowlyback,astheslaveswhoroweditlearnedthewishesoftheirnewmasters. Thetwoknightshadcomeaboardthecog,andthegrapplingshavingbeenthrownoff,thethreevesselsnowmovedabreast.ThroughallthestormandrushofthefightAlle