The women scuttled into a corner, all but the besom Isobel, who made clutches at my coat.
Crying "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon," Gib made a great lunge at me with his fist.

But the sword of Gideon missed its aim, and skinned its knuckles on the stone wall.

I saw now to my great comfort that the man was beside himself with fury, and was swinging his arms wildly like a flail.

Three or four times I avoided his rushes, noting with satisfaction that one of the countrymen had got hold of the shrieking Isobel.

Then my chance came, for as he lunged I struck from the side with all my force on his jaw.