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With this
design he raised up his cudgel for the defence of his head, and,
betaking himself to his heels, began to roar for help with the lungs
of a Stentor. Tunley, throwing away the flail, which he durst no
longer trust with the execution of his revenge, pursued the fugitive
with all the speed he could exert; and the other, either unnerved
by fear or stumbling over a stone, was overtaken before he had run
a hundred paces. He no sooner felt the wind of the publican's fist
that whistled round his ears, than he fell flat upon the earth at
full length, and the cudgel flew from his unclasping hand; when
Tunley, springing like a tiger on his back, rained such a shower
of blows upon his carcase, that he imagined himself under the
discipline of ten pairs of fists at least; yet the imaginary cuckold,
not satisfied with annoying the priest in this manner, laid hold
of one of his ears with his teeth, and bit so unmercifully, that
the curate was found almost entranced with pain by two labourers,
at whose approach the assailant retreated unperceived.


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