But already I had regained by balance.

I wrenched myself free from the arm, and was suddenly blinded by the glare of a small electric hand-light within a foot of my face.

I struck a sweeping blow at it with my stick, and from the soft impact it seemed to me that the blow must have descended upon the head of one of my assailants.

I heard a groan, and I saw the shadowy form of the second man spring at me.
What followed was not, I believe, cowardice on my part, for my blood was up and my sense of fear gone.

I dashed my stick straight at the approaching figure, and I leaped forward and ran.