He levelled a blow at the head of the ruffian, who still kept in his rear, and delivered it with all the power of his strong arm.
The assailant reeled, and released his hold, for his head must have whirled around like a top under the crashing blow it had sustained.
Christy turned so that he could see the ruffian.

He was a stalwart fellow, at least fifty pounds heavier than the young lieutenant.

His nose was terribly disfigured, not by the blow of the young officer, for, twisted as it was, there was no sign of a fresh wound upon it.

One glance was enough to satisfy Christy as to the identity of the ruffian.
It was Captain Flanger, whose steamer Christy had captured, with a boat expedition sent out from the Bronx, in St.Andrew's Bay.

He was a prisoner, but had escaped, and invaded the cabin of the Bronx, where he attempted to make Christy sign an order which would have resulted in delivering the steamer to the enemy.