"Come on," cried Billy; "you can't frighten me."
"Your last chance," cried Nickel Plate. "Give up and I will save you."
"Never!" cried Billy.
And with that the battle commenced.
Oh! the countless slaps and cuffs and tweaks he got. My! the hideous din and noise of their cries. Ugh! the horrible faces they pushed right into his. But the harder they fought and tried, the less real harm they seemed to be able to do. Fear, fear was their only weapon, and as Billy's heart grew stout within him, the weaker became their attack.
Billy leaned heavily against the window and worked the hot-air pump desperately. Time and time again the Imps, Sprites and Crimson Devil's Horses renewed the attack.
"On, on!" cried Nickel Plate from a safe place in the rear.
"Buzz-z-z, buzz-z-z! Pluck his eyes out!" cried Bumbus, striking at Billy with his three-edged sword.
"Put him to sleep forever!" cried Drone, waking up in the midst of the combat.