As soon as I found what he was up to, I gave a sudden spring (my two day's rest had been of much service to me,) and by that means, no doubt, he was able to bring me to the floor so heavily.

He was defeated in his plan of tying me.

While down, he seemed to think he had me very securely in his power.

He little thought he was--as the rowdies say--"in" for a "rough and tumble" fight; but such was the fact.

Whence came the daring spirit necessary to grapple with a man who, eight-and-forty hours before, could, with his slightest word have made me tremble like a leaf in a storm, I do not know; at any rate, _I was resolved to fight_, and, what was better still, I was actually hard at it.