So Reade, who had been doing some brisk thinking during the last few moments, gave a sudden heave---a trick that he retained from the old football days.
Much to Sambo's surprise he found himself going.

Yet the black man was as agile as he was big.

He leaped to his feet, bounding one step sideways, while Tom, who had been watching for this very chance, sprang to his own feet.
"Not so fas', massa!" mocked the big black, reaching out and taking a strong clutch on.

Tom's coat collar.
Reade would have squirmed out of his coat and placed more distance between them, but Mr.Ebony, with a stout twist, gathered the two ends of the coat collar, holding the young engineer as though in the noose of a halter.
Quick as a flash Reade struck out with his right fist for the black man's belt-line.

Had the blow landed even the huge Sambo would have gone down to earth.