He sprang forward, and before the man could drop the pistol and change his sword from the left hand to the right, Desmond's weapon pierced his throat.

At the same moment, Mike cut down one of his assailants with his sabre, receiving, however, a severe cut on the left shoulder from the other.
Paralysed at the loss of three of their number, the remaining two of the assailants paused, for a moment.

It was fatal to one of them, for Mike snatched his pistol from his pocket, and shot the man who had wounded him, dead.

The other threw down his sword, and fell upon his knees, crying for mercy.
"Shall I kill him, your honour ?" "No.

Fasten his hands behind him, with his own belt; and bind his ankles tightly together, with that of one of his comrades." He paused, while Mike adroitly carried out his instructions.
"Now we will see what this is all about," Desmond said.