with the ropes over his shoulder, and Wriggs now
bore the ladder, coming last.

For some minutes they had been walking in utter silence, their footsteps
deadened by the soft sand, and a terribly drowsy feeling was coming over
Lane, making him long to lie down and sleep, but he fought it back and
strained his eyes to gaze forward in search of obstacles, knowing as he
did that the others were trusting him to pick out the best road and keep
them out of difficulties.

But it was very dark in spite of the stars, and hard to make anything
out till, all at once, he saw a misty and strange-looking form run by,
about twenty yards ahead.

"What's that?" he said to himself, and then he started, for Smith caught
his arm, and whispered,--

"Mr Lane, sir? See that?"

"Yes, what was it? Was it a deer?" and he involuntarily lowered his
piece.

"Two legged 'un, sir, if it was," said the man, softly. "Will you call
a halt? I think it was a hinjun."

"Nonsense. One of our men, perhaps," said Oliver, testily. "Don't say
that and scare them. We're close up to the ship now."

_Bang_.

The sharp report of a piece came from about a couple of hundred yards
farther on.

"There; I knew we were close up to the brig. Mr Rimmer fired that as a
signal to let us know the way in the darkness. I'll fire him one back."

The lock clicked and Oliver raised the muzzle to fire, when a ragged
volley came from ahead, followed by a savage yelling, and as the sounds
struck a chill to every heart there was utter silence. Then came a
flash and a bright gleam, which grew brighter and brighter, developing
into the sickly glare of a blue light, while as they stood there,
fearing to advance, all grasped the meaning of the light.

The brig had been attacked by the Indians. A gallant defence was being
made, and the blue light had been thrown out to show where the enemy
lay.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

AN AWKWARD SCRAPE.

The first impulse of Oliver Lane was to drop down flat upon the
sun-baked sand and earth, so as to protect himself from being seen in
the glare of the blue light. His example was followed by the others,
whose thoughts reverted also to the possibility of a bullet intended for
the enemy, hitting a friend.

And there they lay listening after the dying out of the yells, and
watching the glare from the blue light as it lit up the surroundings of
the brig, and then sank lower and lower till all was darkness as well as
silen