He braced himself up to meet the onslaught of the ruffian.
Flanger charged upon him, and attempted to plant a blow with his fist in the face of his intended victim; but the young officer parried it, and was about to follow up the movement with a blow, when Monsieur Rubempre rushed in between them, struck the assailant such a blow that he went over backwards.

In fact, the man was too much intoxicated to stand without considerable difficulty.
At this moment a couple of colored policemen rushed in between the combatants.

The tipplers in the saloon picked up their comrade, and stood him on his feet.

The Nassau officers doubtless had a great deal of this sort of quarrelling, for drinking strong liquors was the principal occupation of the officers and crews of the blockade-runners while in port and on shore.
"What is all this about?
Who began this quarrel ?" demanded one of them, as he looked from one party to the other in the battle.
"I was passing the door of this saloon, and did not even look into it, when that man rushed upon me, and seized me by the collar," replied Christy.

"I tried to shake him off, but I could not, and then I struck him in the side of the head." "Look here, you nigger!" shouted Captain Flanger.