John drew away and half turned. "Good—"
She hit him in the left temple with the table leg. He went down like a poleaxed steer.
She laughed happily.
VIII
When the bell sounded for the people to separate, preparatory to the hunt proper, the captain got up and buckled on his huge infantry sword. He had spent most of the night sharpening it.
He had after long hours of considering, decided that there was only one honorable course left to him. He would defend himself.
For if he were the Sole Survivor of the hunt, he would be Cast Off properly by the first mate. Otherwise....
The possibility that it might be done by a crewman was staggeringly humiliating. He would salvage his honor from that final indignity at all costs.
Of course, if he were captured by an officer, it would be a different matter entirely; he would surrender and submit like the gentleman he was. But a crewman....