s knees, like a
stone from a catapult.

Down went the man, with his sword flying out of his hand, and Mark
nearly fell a couple of yards beyond him, but, active as a fallow deer,
he saved himself by a couple of leaps, as his feet touched the ground;
and he turned, to see Ralph's man down and motionless, as his companion
leaped to his side, and faced round to meet the next two, who, urged on
by the shouts from the hill, charged at them, carried on by their legs,
almost involuntarily, their spirit having little to do with it.

The next minute swords were clashing, there were a few quick parries and
thrusts, and one man dropped his weapon, as Ralph's sword passed through
his shoulder, almost simultaneously with a sharp clang, caused by the
shell of Mark's weapon striking against that of his adversary, whose
blade broke short off at the hilt. Then, without a moment's hesitation,
the lad struck sidewise at the fellow with his fist, catching him in the
ear, and he staggered sidewise, _hors de combat_.

"Now for the others," cried Ralph wildly, his blood up, and ready for
anything; and they were about to dash at them, when, to their utter
astonishment, the last two turned and ran up the slope toward their
captain and the rest of the party, who were coming to their aid.

"No, no, stop, stop!" yelled Mark, half choking the while with a hoarse
hysterical laugh. "Oh, what a game! Here, look; that fellow's getting
his sword."

Without another word, the pair dashed at the disarmed man, who had risen
and picked up his weapon, but he turned and fled.

"Who'd have thought of that?" cried Mark wildly. "Shall we turn and
attack the others as they come on?"

"No," said Ralph, recovering his coolness; "let's trot on now. It's
madness to try it again."

"Well, I suppose it would be pushing it too far. They can't say we're
cowards if we retreat now."

"No; but we can say they are," cried Ralph. "Why, what a set of curs,
to be beaten by us."

"Yes, and they can't fight a bit. I could parry their thrusts with a
stick. But here; I can't lose my pony. Where is he?"

"And I can't lose my rod and creel," cried Ralph. "There's your pony
yonder ahead."

"And your fish are right back there. I'll come with you to fetch them."

"No, no; let them have 'em. We must retreat now. Two, four, six,
eight-nine of them now; and I don't think those fellows who are down are
much hurt. Come along."

For Captain Purlrose was now des