by it, in case of an opportunity to escape, he
received the strokes of their weapons upon his target, and returned
them with equal rapidity.  One assailant lay gasping at his feet.  But
the clashing of arms, and the cries of the survivor had already
awakened the whole crew.  With horrid menaces, they threw themselves
toward the young Scot, and would certainly have cut him to pieces, had
he not snatched the only remaining torch out of the hand of the
staggering soldier, and extinguished it under his foot.  Bewildered
where to find their prey, with threats and imprecations, they groped in
darkness, slashing the air with their swords, and not unfrequently
wounding each other in the vain search.

Murray was now far from their pursuit.  He had no sooner put out the
light, than he pulled up the flag, and leaping down, drew it after him,
and found himself in safety.  Desperate as was the contest, it had been
short; for he yet heard the footsteps of the wordnetfear-struck Helen, flying
along the passage.  The Englishman and Halbert, on the first falling of
the flag, not knowing its spring, had unsuccessfully tried to re-raise
it, that they might assist Murray in the  above.  On his
appearing again so unexpectedly, they declared their