The prospect of a sharp encounter and possible spoils restored them to good humour , and they joyfully prepared for battle . Their long tabards thrown aside , they appeared , some in plain green jerkins , and some in stout leathern jacks ; under their hoods many wore bonnets strengthened by iron plates ; and , for offensive armour , swords , daggers , a few stout boar-spears , and a dozen of bright bills , put them in a posture to engage even regular feudal troops . The bows , quivers , and tabards were concealed among the gorse , and the two bands set resolutely forward . Dick , when he had reached the other side of the house , posted his six men in a line , about twenty yards from the garden wall , and took position himself a few paces in front . Then they all shouted with one voice , and closed upon the enemy . 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 , which he brandished like a switch . Against this opponent , with his reach of arm and the length and weight of his weapon , Dick and his bill were quite defenceless ; and had the other continued to join vigorously in the attack , the lad must have indubitably fallen . This second man , however , less in stature and slower in his movements , paused for a moment to peer about him in the darkness , and to give ear to the sounds of the battle . The giant still pursued his advantage , and still Dick fled before him , spying for his chance . Then the huge blade flashed and descended , and the lad , leaping on one side and running in , slashed sideways and upwards with his bill . A roar of agony responded , and , before the wounded man could raise his formidable weapon , Dick , twice repeating his blow , had brought him to the ground .
The next moment he was XXXXX , upon more equal terms , with his second pursuer .
coming cut engaged flashed gave leaping narrowed scattered set taken