Wounded as he was was , , it it was was wonderful wonderful how how fast fast he he could could move move , , his his grizzled grizzled hair hair tumbling tumbling over his his face face , , and and his his face face itself itself as red red as as a a red red ensign ensign with with his his haste haste and and fury fury . . I had no time to try my other pistol , nor indeed much inclination , for I was sure it would be useless . One One thing thing I I saw saw plainly plainly : : I I must must not not simply simply retreat retreat before before him him , , or or he he would would speedily speedily hold me me boxed boxed into into the the bows bows , , as as a a moment moment since since he he had had so so nearly nearly boxed boxed me me in in the the stern stern . . Once so caught , and nine or ten inches of the blood-stained dirk would be my last experience on this side of eternity . I I placed placed my my palms palms against against the the main-mast main-mast , , which which was was of of a a goodish goodish bigness bigness , , and and waited waited , , every every nerve nerve upon upon the the stretch stretch . .
Несмотря на то, что он был ранен, было удивительно, как быстро он мог двигаться, его седые волосы падали на лицо, и само его лицо было красным, как красный прапорщик, от его спешки и ярости. У меня не было ни времени, ни желания пробовать другой пистолет, так как я был уверен, что он бесполезен. Одно я ясно видел: я не должен просто отступать перед ним, иначе он быстро загонит меня в угол на носу, как в тот момент, когда он чуть не загнал меня в угол на корме. Один раз меня поймают, и девять или десять дюймов окровавленного кинжала станут моим последним опытом по эту сторону вечности. Я положил ладони на грот-мачту, которая была довольно большой, и ждал, напрягая каждый нерв.