about
three to one
But the body of his horse , interposed between him and the rioters , protected him for an instant , and in that instant my father and Nat Fiennes dragged him up and thrust him to the rear while we faced the assault . For now , and without a word said , the Methodists were forgotten , and we of the Rose were standing for law and order against this other company of the Rose , of whose quarrel we knew nothing at all . Our attitude indeed , and the sight of drawn swords -LRB- to oppose which they had no weapons but short cudgels -RRB- , appeared to take them aback for the moment . The press , however , closing on us , as we backed to cover the Mayor 's retreat , offered less and less occasion for sword play ; and , the seamen still advancing and outnumbering us by about three to one , the whole affair began to wear an ugly look . At this juncture relief came to us in the strangest fashion . I had clean forgotten the little Methodist man in black ; whom , to be sure , I had no occasion to remember but for the quiet resolution of his carriage as he had stood with the burst egg trickling over his face . But now , to the surprise of us all , he sprang forward upon the second mace-bearer , snatched the mace from his hand and laid about him in a sudden frenzy ; at the first blow , delivered at unawares , catching the ringleader on the crown and felling him like an ox .