ast a dozen shots were fired before they drew back.

Their tactics had been the same as of old, the blacks savagely rushing
up to the doors and making furious thrusts with their spears, which were
met now by large pieces of wood used as shutters and held across the
loopholes, and as soon as they could be drawn aside, by the delivery of
a charge or two of swan-shot.

This went on at intervals, hour after hour, till a feeling of despair
began to take possession of the defenders. Hot, weak, parched with
thirst, and worn by the terrible anxiety that came upon them like a
black cloud, their efforts were growing more feeble, when, in spite of a
stern prohibition on the part of the captain, the girls brought them
bread and water just as one of the most desperate attacks had lulled.
One minute there had been the sound of spears striking window and door,
while a breaking and rending went on as the blacks tried to tear away
the wooden sides of the house, and climbed upon the roof; the defenders
not daring to fire for fear of making holes through which spears might
be thrust, and the next all was silent, and the tears started to the
boys' eyes as the voice of mother or sister was heard pressing them to
eat or drink.

It was the same in every case: they could not eat, but drank with
avidity, the cool water seeming to act as a stimulant, and thrill them
with new life.

"Back, quick, girls!" said the captain, suddenly; "they're coming on
again;" and then he uttered a groan, for he had seen something which
destroyed his last hope, and filled him the next moment with a maddening
desire to destroy.

If he could only hurl one of the little powder kegs he had brought so
carefully right out into the wilderness--hurl it with a fuse amongst the
yelling savages who sought their lives; and then he uttered a low laugh.

"No need," he said to himself softly. "No need. We shall die avenged."

"What's that, father--lightning?" said Norman, sharply; but there was no
reply.

It was Rifle who spoke next, but only to utter the ejaculation: "Oh!"

But what a world of meaning there was in the word, as with a hiss of
rage the boy thrust his piece from the loophole and sent two heavy
charges of shot right into the midst of a crowd of blacks who were
coming up to the house carrying fire-sticks and brushwood, with which
they ran round and piled it up against the angle formed by the kitchen
where it projected at the back. There was a tremendous