They had the gun , by this time , slewed round upon the swivel , and Hands , who was at the muzzle with the rammer , was in consequence the most exposed . However , we had no luck , for just as Trelawney fired , down he stooped , the ball whistled over him , and it was one of the other four who fell . The cry he gave was echoed not only by his companions on board but by a great number of voices from the shore , and looking in that direction I saw the other pirates trooping out from among the trees and tumbling into their places in the boats . `` Here come the gigs , sir , '' said I. `` Give way , then , '' cried the captain . `` We must n't mind if we swamp her now . If we ca n't get ashore , all 's up . '' `` Only one of the gigs is being manned , sir , '' I added ; `` the crew of the other most likely going round by shore to cut us off . '' `` They 'll have a hot run , sir , '' returned the captain . `` Jack ashore , you know . It 's not them I mind ; it 's the round-shot . Carpet bowls ! My lady 's maid could n't miss . Tell us , squire , when you see the match , and we 'll hold water . '' In the meanwhile we had been making headway at a good pace for a boat so overloaded , and we had shipped but little water in the process . We were now close in ; thirty or forty strokes and we should beach her , for the ebb had already disclosed a narrow belt of sand below the clustering trees . The gig was no longer to be feared ; the little point had already concealed it from our eyes . The ebb-tide , which had so cruelly delayed us , was now making reparation and delaying our assailants . The one source of danger was the gun . `` If I durst , '' said the captain , `` I 'd stop and pick off another man . '' But it was plain that they meant nothing should delay their shot .
They had never so much as looked at their fallen comrade , though he was not dead , and I could XXXXX him trying to crawl away .
durst exposed gave hold know mind returned see slewed tumbling