certainty came the knowledge that we were sinking and, moreover
(judging by the angle of the deck) sinking by the stern.

Hereupon, impelled by that lust of life the which is implanted in
each one of us, I fell to a wild struggling against my bonds,
until, seeing in a little the hopelessness of this, I grew
resigned to despair, and, ceasing my passionate efforts, looked
about me, for the smoke was thinned away. And truly an evil
sight was this great galleass, with its shot-torn decks and
huddled heaps of dead, its litter of broken spars and dismantled
guns, and with everywhere great gouts and pools of blood, while
below and beyond were the shattered rowing-benches cumbered now
with awful red heaps, silent for the most part, yet some there
were who screamed high and shrill.

Save for myself and divers of the dead the poop lay deserted, but
forward such of the soldiers and mariners who yet lived were
fighting for the boats, and all was riot and confusion.

As I stared about me thus I espied Don Miguel lying among the
wreckage of a dismantled gun; his face was towards me and looked
as I had seen it an hundred times, save for a smear of blood upon
his cheek. Even as I gazed his eyes met mine full and square.
For a moment he lay without motion, then (his face a-twitch with
the effort) he came slowly to his elbow, gazed about him and so
back to me again. Then I saw his hand creep down to the dagger
at his hip, to fumble weakly there--howbeit, at the third essay
he drew the blade and began to creep towards me. Very slowly and
painfully he dragged himself along, and once I heard him groan,
but he stayed not till he was come within striking distance, yet