"
"Are you ready?" asked Wellmere, gnashing his teeth with rage.
"Stand forward, Tom, with the lights; fire!"
Wellmere fired, and the bullion flew from the epaulet of the trooper.
"Now the turn is mine," said Lawton, deliberately leveling his pistol.
"And mine!" shouted a voice, as the weapon was struck from his hand.
"By all the devils in hell, 'tis the mad Virginian!--fall on, my boys,
and take him; this is a prize not hoped for!"
Unarmed, and surprised as he was, Lawton's presence of mind did not
desert him; he felt that he was in the hands of those from whom he was
to expect no mercy; and, as four of the Skinners fell upon him at once,
he used his gigantic strength to the utmost. Three of the band grasped
him by the neck and arms, with an intent to clog his efforts, and pinion
him with ropes. The first of these he threw from him, with a violence
that sent him against the building, where he lay stunned with the blow.
But the fourth seized his legs; and, unable to contend with such odds,
the trooper came to the earth, bringing with him all of his assailants.
The struggle on the ground was short but terrific; curses and the most
dreadful imprecations were uttered by the Skinners, who in vain called
on more of their band, who were gazing on the combat in nerveless
horror, to assist.
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