whole  was in arms, had calculated on this, and turning as
they came at him, sent a shovelful of fiery coals into that nearest
assailant's face, then stepped swiftly out of the way of the other,
who struck at him too immediately for him to parry; ere he could
recover the wasted blow, Little's hot shovel came down in his head
with tremendous force, and laid him senseless and bleeding on the
hearth, with blood running from his ears.

Little ladled the coals right and left on the other two assailants,
one of whom was already yelling with the  of the first
shovelful; then, vaulting suddenly over a pew, he ran for the door.

There he was encountered by Sam Cole, an accomplished cudgel-player,
who parried his blows coolly, and gave him a severe rap on the head
that dazzled him.  But he fought on, till he heard footsteps coming
behind him, and then wordnetanger and  seized him, he drew back,
shifted his hammer into his right hand and hurled it with all his
force at Cole's breast, for he feared to miss his head.  Had it
struck him on the breast, delivered as it was, it would probably
have smashed his breastbone, and killed him; but it struck him on
his throat