possible.

With this unfortunate impression, the ruffians replied to the
inspector's words with a shout which sounded like the roar of a wounded
tiger; and then commenced one of the most shocking scenes that I ever
witnessed (with one exception) in my life.

The robbers rushed upon the line of policemen with brandished knives,
and as they advanced they discharged the few pistols which they carried
on their persons, and they made every shot tell, for I saw three or four
of the government force give sudden springs, and full headlong to the
floor; and then came the rattling, deadly discharge of the policemen,
and I could hear the heavy balls strike on the partition behind me, and
send huge splinters from the woodwork, and scatter them upon our heads.
Seven or eight of the robbers fell, mortally wounded, and others, with
the blood streaming from their hurts, which only appeared to inflame
their courage, once more rushed towards the blue coats in hope of
cutting their way through the line, and gaining the secret passage.

But what madness it was to expect to cope with men who carried long
sabres, and knew how to use them! The knives of the robbers were
powerless against them, and once more the latter were driven back,
overpowered, and with half their number disabled.

"Do you surrender?" demanded the inspector.

There was a sullen response in the affirmative, and knives were thrown
down, but there was no cringing or supplication for mercy; and the
desperadoes only needed a lion-hearted leader to have placed _hors du
combat_ one half of their enemies present. They were about as full of
pluck as English bull-dogs, and about as resolute.

The police, without moving from their positions, re-loaded their
pistols, and then two or three of them advanced and collected the
discarded knives without resistance. Handcuffs were then placed upon the
robbers' wrists, and they were secured in such a manner that escape was
impossible.

The victory was won at the expense of three mortally wounded policemen,
and four who were only slightly injured, while on the part of our
opponents six were dead, eight badly wounded, and four slightly.

During the battle both Fred and myself had abstained from firing a
single shot, for we looked upon the affair in the light of a massacre,
yet we could not condemn Mr. Brown or his men, for they had acted
according to the best of their judgment, and under the sincere
impression that our lives were in d