But the man was quick, and his own strength impaired by the injury he had received.

The lance-like point of the weapon inflicted a deep gash upon the face of one of his adversaries, causing him to yell with rage and pain, but no vital injury had been inflicted upon either; whilst a savage blow from the other upon the youth's left arm had broken the bone, and he felt as if his last moment had surely come.
But it did not occur to him even then to save himself by flight, as he could well have done, seeing that he was mounted and that the robbers were on foot.

Disabled as he was, he wheeled about once more, and half maddened by pain and the desperation of his case, rode furiously upon the only man who had not yet received some injury.

The robber awaited his charge with a smile of triumph upon his face; but he triumphed a little too soon.
Sultan was a horse of remarkable intelligence and fidelity.

He had known fighting before now--had carried his rider through many a skirmish before this; and his fidelity and affection equalled his intelligence.