Despite all their pleas and warnings Hal started back to intervene. Five monks in grubby, ragged habitsknelt at prayer before the statue of a black-featured Virgin Mary witha little black Jesus in her arms. Almostimmediately the ship was besieged by a fleet of little boats, sellingevery conceivable commodity from fresh fruit and water to small boys. The dawn was coming on apace, and the night fled before it.
Alead ball thudded into the mast above Hal's head. Hal conceded. Forty-two hardened salt-water men, said Sam proudly, soundin wind and limb. Aboli had seized another grapnel and sent that up onto the galleon'sstern.
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