hting! Yes; and oh! it is dreadful to have to lie here and not be
able to help."

"Yes, I should like to help our fellows," sighed Panton, "Drew is there,
I suppose?"

"Yes, of course. Hark! they've begun firing."

They lay listening for some minutes, and then Panton suddenly
exclaimed,--

"I'm weak and faint as can be, but I can't lie like this. Look here,
Lane, old chap; if those blacks get the best of it, they'll come down
here and murder us."

"Without mercy," said Oliver, with a groan.

"Well, wounded men have helped the fighting before now. Don't you think
you and I could do our little bit now?"

"I don't feel as if I could raise an arm," said Oliver, "but I'll have a
try."

"So will I. It's of no use to lie here fancying one has been wounded by
poisoned arrows. I shall think of nothing but paying those fellows out.
The guns are there on that locker."

"And the cartridge bags with them," said Oliver.

"Then here goes."

"Hist!"

"What is it?" whispered back Panton.

"Some one is trying that window."

There was no mistake about the matter, for the grating as of a great
piece of wood was heard, followed by a cracking sound like the point of
a spear being inserted in a crevice so as to wrench open the dead-light.

The young men looked at each other, and Panton reached out his sound
arm, setting his teeth hard as he tried to master the agony he felt in
his effort, and succeeded in grasping one gun.

The rest was easy: by its help he drew the other within reach--their own
guns which had been thrown down there when they were brought into the
cabin. In another minute he had the cartridge satchels as well, and
pushed one and his gun to Oliver. They both examined the breeches to
see that they were properly loaded, listening the while to the
crackling, wrenching noise.

Meanwhile the sounds from without increased. There was plenty of firing
going on from the deck, answered by savage yelling and the dull sounds
of blows, as arrow and spear kept on striking the woodwork and flying
over the protected bulwarks to the deck.

"Haven't got a foot on board yet," whispered Panton, faintly.

"No; it sounds as if they were climbing up, and our fellows kept
knocking them backward. Oh, if I were only strong enough to go up and
see."

"I'd give anything to be there," said Panton, with his eyes brightening.

"I say," said Oliver, hoarsely; "does it come natural to fellows to want
to kill as soon as t