Two of the soldiers jumped upon their feet, and rushed upon Murray.

He had let the flag drop behind him; but still remaining by it, in case of an opportunity to escape, he received the strokes of their weapons upon his target, and returned them with equal rapidity.

One assailant lay gasping at his feet.

But the clashing of arms, and the cries of the survivor had already awakened the whole crew.

With horrid menaces, they threw themselves toward the young Scot, and would certainly have cut him to pieces, had he not snatched the only remaining torch out of the hand of the staggering soldier, and extinguished it under his foot.