Page:Early English adventurers in the East (1917).djvu/107

Rh and his men. In the darkness of the night several boats full of armed men put off from the shore, marking out the Darling for their prey. Stealthily approaching the vessel the raiders were able to swarm on board, not only without opposition but without detection. The unfortunate look-out man, who was asleep in the rigging, paid with his life for his dereliction of duty. The ship was apparently won without a blow being struck in its defence. But the assailants had reckoned without the bravery of an English crew in a tight place. As soon as the Darling’s men realized the state of affairs they rallied to the ﬁght with a desperate determination which carried all before it. In a short space of time the deck was cleared of the intruders, who were either killed or forced back into their boats to make an ignominious flight to land. Twenty-seven Turks, including "the admiral of the town,” who was their leader, fell in the ﬁght. Of the Darling’s crew, only two were killed, though several others were severely wounded. It was a gallant defence, which served to instil the Turks with a wholesome respect for their visitors, and to ensure for the vessels an immunity from further attack.