"Do you take the rogue
with the red coif. You two bring down the man with the head-piece,
and I will hold myself ready if you miss. Ma foi! they are about
to loose her. Shoot, mes garcons, or you will be too late."
The throng of pirates had cleared away from the great wooden
catapult, leaving two of their number to discharge it. One in a
scarlet cap bent over it, steadying the jagged rock which was
balanced on the spoon-shaped end of the long wooden lever. The
other held the loop of the rope which would release the catch and
send the unwieldy missile hurtling through the air. So for an
instant they stood, showing hard and clear against the white sail
behind them. The next, redcap had fallen across the stone with
an arrow between his ribs; and the other, struck in the leg and
in the throat, was writhing and spluttering upon the ground. As
he toppled backwards he had loosed the spring, and the huge beam
of wood, swinging round with tremendous force, cast the corpse of
his comrade so close to the English ship that its mangled and
distorted limbs grazed their very stern.
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