The arrows were coming thickly by that time, and I was glad to get to the far side of the boat and rest my hand on the gunwale, while I managed to sheathe my sword.

The men could not see plainly where I was, and the arrows pattered on the planks of the boat and hissed into the water still, on the chance of hitting me.

So I thought it well to get out of range before I tried to get on board, and so held the gunwale with one hand and paddled on with the other, until the arrows began to fall short, and at last ceased.

A Welshman's bow has no long range, so that I had not far to go thus.

But all the while I feared most of all to hear the plash of oars that would tell me that they had put off another boat in chase of me.
A little later and I should have been helpless, as I found when I tried to get into the boat.