Robert Ervin Howard

“ Smoldering hate burst into sudden flame.
With a howl Harston heaved up his cutlass and cut at the Frenchman's head. Villiers caught the blow on his armored left arm and sparks flew as he staggered back, ripping out his own sword.
In an instant the captains were fighting like madmen, their blades flaming and flashing in the firelight. Their crews reacted instantly and blindly. A deep roar went up as Englishmen and Frenchmen drew their swords and fell upon one another. The pirates left on the walls abandoned their posts and leaped down into the stockade, blades in hand. ”

“ One man to a side is not enough. The black man could creep beneath the wall and shoot him with a poisoned dart before he could cry out. He is like a shadow, and hard to see by torchlight."
Francoise shuddered at the thought.
"I am afraid," murmured Tina. "I hope Villiers and Harston are killed."
"And not Vulmea?" asked Francoise curiously.
"Black Vulmea would not harm a woman," said the child confidently.
"You are wise beyond your years, Tina," murmured Francoise. ”

“ The painted men were pouring from behind the huts and their axes clashed against the cutlasses of the sailors.
Villiers was struggling to his feet when a painted savage rushed upon him from behind and brained him with a waraxe.
Vulmea led the Frenchmen against the Indians inside the stockade, and Harston, with most of his men, climbed on the firing-ledge, slashing at the dark figures already swarming up on the wall. The savages, who had crept up unobserved while the defenders of the fort were fighting among themselves, were attacking from all sides. ”

“ Men froze in their places, with lifted swords, and twisted their heads to stare. Vulmea was pointing at a soldier on the wall. The man was reeling, clawing the air, choking as he tried to shout. Suddenly he pitched to the ground and all saw the shaft standing up between his shoulders.
A yell of alarm rose from the compound. On the heels of the shout came a clamor of blood-freezing screams, the shattering impact of axes on the gate. Flaming arrows arched over the wall and stuck in logs, and thin wisps of blue smoke curled upward. ”

“ She shook her head helplessly. "I do not know. I have neither money nor friends. Perhaps it would have been better had one of those arrows struck my heart."
"Do not say that, my Lady!" begged Tina. "I will work for us both!" ”