sitting up feeling his skull in

All this time the fight had gone on in the blackest darkness, but nowa light shone on the proceedings. Interested occupants of otherdormitories, roused from their slumbers, had come to observe thesport. They were crowding in the doorway with a candle. 　　By the light of this Mike got a swift view of the theatre of war. Theenemy appeared to number five. The warrior whose head Mike had bumpedon the floor was Robinson, who was sitting up feeling his skull in agingerly fashion. To Mike's right, almost touching him, was Stone. Inthe direction of the door, Psmith, wielding in his right hand the cordof a dressing-gown, was engaging the remaining three with a patientsmile. They were clad in pyjamas, and appeared to be feeling thedressing-gown cord acutely. 　　The sudden light dazed both sides momentarily. The defence was thefirst to recover, Mike, with a swing, upsetting Stone, and Psmith,having seized and emptied Jellicoe's jug over Spiller, getting to workagain with the cord in a manner that roused the utmost enthusiasm ofthe spectators. 　　[Illustration: PSMITH SEIZED AND EMPTIED JELLICOE'S JUG OVER SPILLER] 　　Agility seemed to be the leading feature of Psmith's tactics. He waseverywhere--on Mike's bed, on his own, on Jellicoe's (drawing apassionate complaint from that non-combatant, on whose face heinadvertently trod), on the floor--he ranged the room, sowingdestruction. 　　The enemy were disheartened; they had started with the idea that thiswas to be a surprise attack, and it was disconcerting to find thegarrison armed at all points. Gradually they edged to the door, and afinal rush sent them through. 　　"Hold the door for a second," cried Psmith, and vanished. Mike wasalone in the doorway. 　　It was a situation which exactly suited his frame of mind; he stoodalone in direct opposition to the community into which Fate hadpitchforked him so abruptly. He liked the feeling; for the first timesince his father had given him his views upon school reports thatmorning in the Easter holidays, he felt satisfied with life. He hoped,outnumbered as he was, that the enemy would come on again and not givethe thing up in disgust; he wanted more. 　　On an occasion like this there is rarely anything approachingconcerted action on the part of the aggressors. When the attack came,it was not a combined attack; Stone, who was nearest to the door, madea sudden dash forward, and Mike hit him under the chin. 　　Stone drew back, and there was another interval for rest andreflection.