All we have got to do is to beat them off.

Lay in all the oars, except the two bow oars, in each boat.

All the rest of the men stand to their arms, and let the boats follow each other in file, the bow of one close to the stern of that ahead." The check, which the volley had given to the canoes, gave time to the men in several of the boats, close to those of the scouts, to turn.
They were rowing past James's slowly-moving boats, when he shouted to them: "Steady, men, your only chance of escape is to show a front to them, as we are doing.

They can overtake you easily, and will row you down one after the other.

Fall in ahead of our line, and do as we are doing.