Hadsta aw t' fiends i' hell at te back, ey shouldna fear thee." "Yield!" cried Demdike in a voice of thunder, and fixing a terrible glance upon him.
"Cum on, wizard," rejoined Ashbead undauntedly.

But, observing that his opponent was wholly unarmed, he gave the pike to Hal o' Nabs, who was close beside him, observing, "It shall never be said that Cuthbert Ashbead feawt t' dule himsel unfairly.

Nah, touch me if theaw dar'st." Demdike required no further provocation.

With almost supernatural force and quickness he sprung upon the forester, and seized him by the throat.
But the active young man freed himself from the gripe, and closed with his assailant.

But though of Herculean build, it soon became evident that Ashbead would have the worst of it; when Hal o' Nabs, who had watched the struggle with intense interest, could not help coming to his friend's assistance, and made a push at Demdike with the halbert.
Could it be that the wrestlers shifted their position, or that the wizard was indeed aided by the powers of darkness?
None could tell, but so it was that the pike pierced the side of Ashbead, who instantly fell to the ground, with his adversary upon him.