 She was not to be seen, but creeping towards him in single file he saw some fishermen and stragglers, armed with sticks, oars and any handy weapon.The position looked ugly, and he reckoned he was in for a bad time, so rising to his feet, he gave a hail, intending 
to reassure the attackers that all was well.As soon as they caught sight of him and his accrutrements they dropped their weapons and incontinently fled.