When some degree of order had been restored , Dick , with a few chosen men , set forth in advance . The darkness on shore , by contrast with the flashing of the surf , appeared before him like a solid body ; and the howling and whistling of the gale drowned any lesser noise . He had scarce reached the end of the pier , however , when there fell a lull of the wind ; and in this he seemed to hear on shore the hollow footing of horses and the clash of arms . Checking his immediate followers , he passed forward a step or two alone , even setting foot upon the down ; and here he made sure he could detect the shape of men and horses moving . A strong discouragement assailed him . If their enemies were really on the watch , if they had beleaguered the shoreward end of the pier , he and Lord Foxham were taken in a posture of very poor defence , the sea behind , the men jostled in the dark upon a narrow causeway . He gave a cautious whistle , the signal previously agreed upon . It proved to be a signal far more than he desired . Instantly there fell , through the black night , a shower of arrows sent at a venture ; and so close were the men huddled on the pier that more than one was hit , and the arrows were answered with cries of both fear and pain . In this first discharge , Lord Foxham was struck down ; Hawksley had him carried on board again at once ; and his men , during the brief remainder of the skirmish , fought -LRB- when they fought at all -RRB- without guidance . That was perhaps the chief cause of the disaster which made haste to follow . At the shore end of the pier , for perhaps a minute , Dick held his own with a handful ; one or two were wounded upon either side ; steel crossed steel ; nor had there been the least signal of advantage , when in the twinkling of an eye the tide turned against the party from the ship . Someone cried out that all was lost ; the men were in the very humour to lend an ear to a discomfortable counsel ; the cry was taken up . `` On board , lads , for your lives ! '' cried another . A third , with the true instinct of the coward , raised that inevitable report on all retreats : `` We are betrayed ! '' And in a moment the whole mass of men went surging and jostling backward down the pier , turning their defenceless backs on their pursuers and piercing the night with craven outcry . One coward thrust off the ship 's stern , while another still held her by the bows . The fugitives leaped , screaming , and were hauled on board , or fell back and perished in the sea . Some were cut down upon the pier by the pursuers .
Many were injured on the ship 's deck in the blind haste and terror of the moment , one man leaping upon another , and a XXXXX on both .
Dick Foxham Hawksley causeway disaster drowned first minute night third