him
spring to his feet. "She's in the Potomac river long before this!
Rouse up, my bullies, an' let's have a look at these beach-combers."

During this brief conversation we had been advancing swiftly in the
direction from which the sailor's voice could be heard, and when his
comrades were ready to receive us, we could not have been a dozen
paces distant from the three.

I felt, rather than saw, that Darius sprang forward; there was a dull
thud, a groan, and a cry from one of the other Britishers which told
that the battle was on, but the number of active enemies had been
reduced by one, for there could be no question but that Darius had put
his man out of the fight for some time to come.

I ran forward with my companions; but it was impossible to use the
musket, even had I been eager to shoot, because of the darkness, and
as I swung the weapon from side to side, striving to feel my way, some
one clutched me by the throat.

"Here's one of 'em!" I managed to scream before the fellow's fingers
shut off my wind, and then I had my hands full trying to save my own
life.

I managed to hit my adversary two or three solid blows which weakened
his hold somewhat, otherwise I would have been strangled in short
order, and then I fought as I never did before, but sadly at a
disadvantage, as can be imagined.

How long we swayed to and fro, I striving to reach the enemy's face
with my fists, and he trying to strengthen his hold on my throat, I
know not; but certain it is that I held him in fairly good play five
minutes or more before the report of Jim Freeman's musket told that
the Britishers were about to receive reinforcements.

Even as I fought with my adversary I understood that the English
officer, and, probably, the miller, aroused by the noise of the
scrimmage, were coming to the rescue, and the thought flashed through
my mind that in a few moments more the battle would be decided in
favor of his majesty's forces.

Just at that moment a heavy body pushed past me; I heard that
sickening sound which tells that a living object has been struck a
powerful blow, and instantly the hands relaxed their grasp on my
throat.

"That makes the third one; we've got the upper hands of all up here,
an' you lads are to make the Britishers fast the best you can in the
darkness, while I 'tend to the visitors."

It was Darius who spoke, and when this had been said I understood that
he was running toward the stairway.

Now it was pos