Th' ice is as soft as loppered milk, and i' ten minutes, I'll fill yon bit they're so chuff of skating on, as thick wi' stones as a quarry." ("Now!" I said.) Our foes considerably outnumbered us, but I think they were at a disadvantage.

They had worked off a good deal of their steam, and ours was at explosion point.

We took them by surprise and in the rear.

They had had some hard exercise, and we were panting to begin.

As a matter of fact those who could get away ran away.