"Hit by a bullet.

Not very bad; but I'm half stunned and confused.

The men and boats, Herrick; save them." "If I can," I thought, as I hurried forward again, and gave orders to the men to pass the silk bales that were nearest to the bows.
"Ay, ay, sir," they shouted, as readily as if I had been the captain.
From here I went back to the stern, where I found that Mr Reardon was seated now in the bottom of the boat, supported by Ching, while the men were keeping up a steady fire at every spot from which a shot or yell came.
"We're hard at it, sir," said Tom Jecks, who was handling his rifle as coolly as if it had been a capstan bar; "but I don't think we're hitting any of 'em.

How's the first luff seem ?" "I don't know," I said excitedly.
"Well, sir, we're all right," said the man, "and are doing our best.
You needn't stop if you can hurry the boys on forward." It was a fact; I could do no good at all, so I hurried forward again.
But even here I could do nothing; the men had their task to do of lightening the first boat, and they were working as hard as if they had been lying down in the shade all day, and just as coolly, though every now and then the rough slugs the pirates fired from their clumsy matchlocks went spattering through the trees overhead and sent down fresh showers of leaves and twigs.
But I was obliged to say something, and I shouted first one order and then another.
"That's your sort, lads," cried a cheery voice.

"Down with 'em, and I'll stow.