The intention of his captors--of all save one--was mere rowdy mischief.

To duck the offender and his immaculate white flannels in Neptune, and then scatter to their beds before any one could recognise or report them, was all they meant to do.
But when they reached the fountain, Radowitz, whose passion gave him considerable physical strength, disengaged himself, by a sudden effort, from his two keepers, and leaping into the basin of the fountain, he wrenched a rickety leaden shell from the hand of one of Neptune's attendant nymphs and began to fling the water in the faces of his tormentors.

Falloden was quickly drenched, and Meyrick and others momentarily blinded by the sudden deluge in their eyes.

Robertson, the Winchester Blue, was heavily struck.

In a wild rage he jumped into the fountain and closed with Radowitz.