"
"So I have been thinking, for some time."
"Don't stop suddenly. We will slacken our pace, and they will think
that our strength is failing, and will redouble their efforts. Then,
when they are close to us, we will turn suddenly."
They heard a yell of exultation, as their pursuers found that they were
gaining upon them.
"Choose a clear space, Roger, with room to swing our weapons."
The Welsh were running in a close body, but ten yards behind them, when
they arrived at a spot clear of trees.
"Now, Roger!"
As he spoke, Oswald drew his sword and swung round, facing his
pursuers, while Roger did the same. The Welsh, taken by surprise,
endeavoured to check themselves; but before they could do so, Roger's
staff fell upon the head of one of them, while Oswald cleft another to
the chin. With the quickness of an adroit player with the quarterstaff,
Roger followed up his blow by almost instantaneously driving the other
end of the staff, with all his force, against the chest of another, who
was at the point of leaping upon him; and the man fell, as if struck
with a thunderbolt. So swift had been the movements that the remaining
two men were paralysed, by the sudden fall of their companions; but
before they could turn to fly, the weapons descended again, with as
fatal result as before.
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