There were now assembled some fifty men, closely packed together.
"That is ample," Francis said, "as they will be unarmed and unprepared.
We can issue out singly until the alarm is given, and then those that remain must rush out in a body.

Simply knock them down with the hilts of your swords.

There is no occasion to shed blood, unless in the case of armed resistance; but remember they will have their knives in their girdles, and do not let anyone take you by surprise." Opening the door, Francis walked along a passage, and then through an outer door into the waist of the ship.

The wind was blowing fiercely, but the gale was not so violent as it had appeared to them when confined below.

The night was dark, but after a week's confinement below, his eyes were able easily to make out almost every object on deck.