yelling as the
boy fired, and two men fell, while others ran about shrieking; but the
mischief was done, and in a few minutes there was a burst of flame, and
a peculiar pungent odour of burning wood began to find its way in and
threaten suffocation.

"What's to be done, father?" whispered Norman, as light began to show
through the thin cracks or chinks of the wooden wall.

"I'd say go out and die fighting like men, boys," said the captain, with
a groan; "but there are women. Come, we must not give up," he added,
and going to the loophole nearest to him he set the example of firing
with unerring aim, whenever he had the chance, at an enemy.

Uncle Jack followed suit, and in obedience to orders, the boys went on
steadily reloading.

But the side of the house was growing hot; the kitchen had caught, the
crackling of the dry wood began to increase to a roar, and that side of
the house was rapidly growing light as day, when Uncle Jack said in a
whisper, which the boys heard: "Ned, lad, it's very hard for us, but
we've had our day. Can nothing be done?"

A tremendous triumphant yelling drowned any attempt at speaking on the
captain's part, but as it lulled for a few moments, he said, "Nothing.
We have done all we could."

"Rifle, Tim," whispered Norman, in horror, "couldn't we get out by the
front and take them down to the scrub? The wretches are all on this
side."

"Impossible, boys," said the captain, sternly. "Can't you hear? they
are piling wood by the other door."

Rifle uttered a sobbing groan, and just then there was a flash of light
in the front, and a furious burst of shouts as a tongue of flame shot up
past the loophole, accompanied by a crackling roar.

"Your hands, boys," said a deep low voice, that was wonderfully soft and
musical just then; "destroy no more life. God bless you all, and
forgive me!"

At that moment there was a burst of sobs; then it seemed as if all
emotion was at end, and the little group gathered together, feeling that
all was over, for already the smoke was forcing its way in by crack and
chink, a feeling of difficulty of breathing was rapidly coming on, and
the yelling of the blacks was growing strange and unreal, when Rifle
sprang up from his knees.

"Yes, yes," he shouted; and again with all his might, "yes!"

For there was a wild shout close at hand.

"Marmi! Marmi!"

The yelling ceased, and all now started to their feet, for there was the
beating of hoofs, and in