Brice was upon him.

Gavin smote once and once only with the willowy metal strip.

But he struck with all the dazzling speed of a trained saber fencer.
The iron strip caught Roke across the eyes, smartingly and with a force which blinded him for the moment and sent him staggering back in keen pain.

The iron strip doubled uselessly under the might of the blow, and Gavin dropped it and ran.
At top speed he set off toward the dock.

The conch and the negro were between him and the pier, and from various directions other men were running.