"So-ho, fool!" cried she, brandishing her weapon. "You have a sword, I
mind--go fetch it and I will teach ye punto riverso, the stoccato, the
imbrocato, and let you some o' your sluggish, English blood. Go fetch the
sword, I bid ye."

But I nothing heeding, she forthwith pricked me into the arm, whereon I
caught up a sizable timber to my defence but found it avail me no whit
against her skill and nimbleness, for thrice her blade leapt and thrice I
flinched to the sharp bite of her steel, until, goaded thus and what with
her devilish mockery and my own helplessness, I fell to raging anger and
hauled my timber full at her, the which, chancing to catch her upon an
elbow, she let fall her sword and, clasping her hurt, fell suddenly
a-weeping. Yet, even so, betwixt her sobs and moans she cursed and reviled
me shamefully and so at last took herself off, sobbing wofully.

This put me to no little perturbation and distress lest I had harmed her
more than I had meant, insomuch that I was greatly minded to follow her
and see if this were so indeed. But in the end I went back to my boat and
laboured amain, for it seemed to me the sooner I was quit of her fellowship
the better, lest she goad me into maiming or slaying her outright.

Thus worked I (and despite the noon's heat) until the sun began to decline
and I was parched with thirst. But now, as I fitted the last of my timbers
into place, the board slipped my nerveless grasp and, despite the heat, a
sudden chill swept over me as borne upon the stilly air came a voice, soft
and rich and sweet, uplifted in song and the words these:

"There be two at the fore
At the main hang three more
Dead men that swing all in a row