The Dutchman was slow and his wrist lacked the snap and power of apractised swordsman. The manyelled with surprise as Hal held him like a shield, just as themurderer fired and a gale of lead shot swept the deck. It glintedsoftly in the faint light from the grating above Hal's head. Hal's hearttripped as he recognized Katinka but his feelings were no longer asintense as once they had been.
Idly Sam noticed a patch of cloud shadow that passed close by them,moving darkly across the surface of the water. He turned the grin now on van de Velde. Clay pots and crudely fashioned tools and implementswere stacked against the inner wall. Below them their pursuers had been given new heart by this reverse intheir fortunes and were clamouring like a pack of hounds with the smellof the chase hot in their nostrils.
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