"Get to your bows, men." I saw half a dozen unslinging them, and I knew that without shield I was done, and in that moment a thought came to me.

I suppose that danger sharpens one's wits, for I saw that in the little boat was my last chance.

I had not time to draw her to the side, and so I cut her painter, which was fast to a cleat close to me, and as I did so the first arrow missed my head.
Then I shouted and leapt from the high stern straight among the crowd at Evan, felling one of his outlaw comrades as I lit on the deck.

But I could not reach him, and in a few seconds I should have been surrounded.

So I cleared a way to the seaward side and went overboard, amid a howl from my foes.