A volley of great quartz pebbles whistled round their heads.
"Come on, Frank! for life's sake! Men, to the rescue! Ah! what was that ?" The dull crash of a pebble against Frank's fair head! Drooping like Hyacinthus beneath the blow of the quoit, he sank on Amyas's arm.

The giant threw him over his shoulder, and plunged blindly on,--himself struck again and again.
"Fire, men! Give it the black villains!" The arquebuses crackled from the boat in front.

What were those dull thuds which answered from behind?
Echoes?
No.

Over his head the caliver-balls went screeching.

The governors' guard have turned out, followed them to the beach, fixed their calivers, and are firing over the negroes' heads, as the savages rush down upon the hapless brothers.
If, as all say, there are moments which are hours, how many hours was Amyas Leigh in reaching that boat's bow?
Alas! the negroes are there as soon as he, and the guard, having left their calivers, are close behind them, sword in hand.