Presently, he glanced carelessly round.

The men were some thirty or forty yards behind him; and coming up with them, at a rapid step, was Roger.

A minute later, he heard a voice raised in anger.
"Where are you going, fellow?
There is plenty of room to pass, without pushing between us.

You want teaching manners." Roger gave a loud laugh.
"Who is going to teach me ?" he said.
"I will!" one of the men said, angrily placing his hand upon his sword hilt.
As he did so, he was levelled to the ground by a tremendous blow from Roger's staff.

With a shout, the other soldier drew his sword; but, before he could guard himself, the staff again descended, and he fell senseless beside his comrade.
Roger at once knelt beside them, tore off strips of their garments and, rolling them up, pressed them into their mouths; and, with string which he had brought for the purpose, tied them in their place.