These, lying widely scattered, stiff with cold, and taken at unawares,

sprang stupidly to their feet, and stood undecided. Before they had time

to get their courage about them, or even to form an idea of the number

and mettle of their assailants, a similar shout of onslaught sounded in

their ears from the far side of the enclosure. Thereupon they gave

themselves up for lost and ran.

In this way the two small troops of the men of the Black Arrow closed

upon the sea front of the garden wall, and took a part of the strangers,

as it were, between two fires; while the whole of the remainder ran for

their lives in different directions, and were soon scattered in the

darkness.

For all that, the fight was but beginning. Dick's outlaws, although they

had the advantage of the surprise, were still considerably outnumbered by

the men they had surrounded. The tide had flowed, in the meanwhile; the

beach was narrowed to a strip; and on this wet field, between the surf

and the garden wall, there began, in the darkness, a doubtful, furious,

and deadly contest.

The strangers were well armed; they fell in silence upon their

assailants; and the affray became a series of single combats. Dick, who

had come first into the mellay, was engaged by three; the first he cut

down at the first blow, but the other two coming upon him, hotly, he was

fain to give ground before their onset. One of these two was a huge

fellow, almost a giant for stature, and armed with a two-handed sword,

The Black Arrow