In an instant my terror left me and I became a demon.  Grasping my oak cudgel in my hand, I ran at my father’s murderer and rained blow after blow upon his head and body.  It was but a forlorn attempt.  His headpiece and armour received the blows as lightly as if they were from a straw, and with an oath he smote me heavily on the chest with the butt of his pistol, so that I reeled, fell backward across the body of my murdered sire, and struck my head on the frosty road.  Multitudes of lights flashed before my eyes, followed by a red glare, and I lost all consciousness.