He felt various whistlings near his ears, and received a blow on the shoulder,--a sensation like that from a hot stone.
They were going to kill him.

His enemies were too many for him.

And, without knowing exactly what he was doing, yielding to instinct, he threw himself on the ground like a dying person.
Some few shots were still sounding.

Then all was silent.

Only on the nearby ship the dog was continuing its howling.
He saw a shadow advancing slowly toward him.