The rough, half-blinded and maddened by the blows which he had received, struck out with all his ungainly strength, just as his partner's head swung round in front of him.

There was a noise like that of a stone hitting a wall, a deep groan, her grasp relaxed, and she dropped a dead weight upon the pavement, while the Admiral sprang back and raised his stick once more, ready either for attack or defense.

Neither were needed, however, for at that moment there was a scattering of the crowd, and two police constables, burly and helmeted, pushed their way through the rabble.
At the sight of them the rough took to his heels, and was instantly screened from view by a veil of his friends and neighbors.
"I have been assaulted," panted the Admiral.

"This woman was attacked and I had to defend her." "This is Bermondsey Sal," said one police officer, bending over the bedraggled heap of tattered shawl and dirty skirt.

"She's got it hot this time." "He was a shortish man, thick, with a beard." "Ah, that's Black Davie.