a bit of daintiness, here's Abner wi' all the wind
knocked out o' him and now here's you for thieving and robbing three
poor lorn sailor-men as never raised hand agin ye--shame, shipmate."

"Od rot your bones!" snarled the one-eyed man and spat towards me,
whereat I raised my staff and he, lifting an arm, took the blow on his
elbow-joint and writhed, cursing; but while I laughed at the fellow's
contortions, the plump man sprang (marvellous nimble) and dashed out
the light and, as I stepped from before the window, I heard the lattice
go with a crash of glass. Followed a long, tense moment wherein we all
(as I judge) held our breath, for though the storm yet roared beyond
the shattered casement, within was a comparative quiet. Thus, as I
stood in the dark listening for some rustle, some stealthy creeping
step to guide my next blow, I thrust away my pistol and changing my
staff to my right hand, drew forth the broad-bladed sailor's knife I
carried, and so waited mighty eager and alert, but heard only the
far-off booming of the wind. Then a floorboard creaked faintly to my
left, and turning short, I whirled my staff, felt it strike home and
heard a fierce cry and the uneven tread of staggering feet.

"Fight, rogues!" cried I. "Here's meat and drink to me--fight!" and
setting my back to the wall I waited for their rush. Instead I heard a
hoarse whispering, lost all at once in a woman's shrill scream out
beyond the casement, and thereafter a loud voice that hailed:

"House ho! House ahoy! Light ho! Show a glim, ye drunken dogs!" and
here followed a rush of roaring sea-oaths, drowned in a scream, louder,
wilder than before. Then, while this distressful cry yet thrilled upon
the air, pandemonium broke loose about me, shouts, cries and a rush and
trample of feet; the table went over with a crash and the darkness
about me rained blows. But as they struck random and fierce, so struck
I and (as I do think) made right goodly play with my hedge-stake until,
caught by a chance blow, I staggered, tripped and, falling headlong,
found myself rolling upon sodden grass outside the shattered window.
For a moment I lay half-dazed and found in the wind and rain vasty
comfort and refreshment.

Then in the pitchy gloom hard by I heard that which brought me to my
feet--an evil scuffling, a close and desperate struggling--a man's
hoarse laugh and a woman's pitiful pleading and sobbing. I had lost my
staff, but I yet grasped my knife