[Child of the 7th Age]

Bingo watched in horror as the ruffian snatched up Sassy and stuffed her inside the bag, heaving it over his shoulder. All Bingo could see in his mind's eye was the sad picture of his parents brought low by the nasties who had attacked them on the road. Whatever happened, he wasn't going to let them do that to Sassy. A tiny seed of rage was planted and suddenly exploded inside the usually quiet hobbit.

He lunged down and picked up a pointed branch that was as heavy as a cudgel, brandishing it menacingly in front of him and running pell-mell towards the ruffian who was trying to kidnap Sassy. At the same time he let out a stupendous roar, "Reggie, anybody, come quick. The rascal's got Sassy. We need to get her back."

Bingo came crashing into the ruffian and whacked both his legs with the stick. The rascal had not been expecting any serious resistence and stumbled, sending the bag flying to the other end of the grove where it landed on top of a treestump with a thump. Bingo could see that Sassy was still squirming and sqawling inside. Bingo turned around and lunged for the sack intending to untie it and let Sassy out.

Suddenly from behind, another of the no-goods came sprinting forward and collided with him, propelling him to his knees. The fellow raised up his knife above Bingo's head and, with a wide sweep of his arm, began to bring the blade down with great force. Unable to break free, Bingo closed his eyes and, in sheer terror, waited for the blow to fall.