Then it came into my mind that if there was any place where I could hide myself on deck I would try to creep to it while none had their eyes on the ship.  Then Evan, as he went to the cabin to seek me, would have to deal with me from the rear.  But that I soon saw was hopeless.  The deck was clear of lumber big enough to shelter me, and the moonlight was almost as bright as day on everything, and all the clearer for the snow that covered all the land.  So I began to turn over many other plans in my mind, and at last it seemed that the only thing was to wait in the cabin for the best chance that offered.  Most likely Evan would do even as he had said, and try and get away at once, with all he could lay hands on.  If so, I thought it would be certain that in his hurry he would bring all these men on board in order to get his goods, and maybe those belonging to Thorgils also, out and away with all haste, and so I could cut through them with a rush that must take them unawares, and so win to the camp with none to hinder me.  There might be sentries who would stay me, but I should be within calling distance of my friend.  Moreover, a sentry would see that I was some sort of a leader of men, and might help me.  So I began to wish for Evan to act, for my fingers itched to get one downward blow at him.

I had not long to wait.  He finished his talk with the men, and they all came to the ship, even as I had hoped.  But only half of them came on board, leaving the rest alongside on the rock so that they might help the goods over the side.  That was not all that I could have wished, but I thought that I might get through them in the surprise that was waiting for them.  So I drew my sword, and for want of shield wrapped the blanket from the floor round my left arm, and stood by for the rush.

Evan walked in a leisurely way toward the door, talking to one of the newcomers as he came.  The rest straggled behind him.

“I wonder how my sick man fares now,” he said, and set his hand to the latch.

Then he opened the door and I shouted and sprung forth, aiming a blow at him as I came.  But I was not clear of the low deck, and my sword smote the beam overhead so that I missed him, and he threw himself on the deck out of reach of a second blow, howling.  I was sorry, but I could not stop, for I had to win to the shore and to the road yet.

The other men shrank from me, and I went through them easily, and so reached the shoreward gunwale.  There I was stayed, for Evan had never ceased to cry to his fellows to stop me, and there was a row of ready swords waiting for me.  And there were more men coming down the path, Welshmen as I could see by their arms, and by their white tunics which glimmered in the moonlight.  So that was closed to me, and it seemed that here I must fight my last fight.