That was not all that I could have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in the surprise that was waiting for them.

So I drew my sword, and for want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left arm, and stood by for the rush.
Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one of the newcomers as he came.

The rest straggled behind him.
"I wonder how my sick man fares now," he said, and set his hand to the latch.
Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a blow at him as I came.

But I was not clear of the low deck, and my sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling.

I was sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to the road yet.
The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, and so reached the shoreward gunwale.