o sign of them at all."

Jim and Buck joined him at once.

"There's the bunch of trees they were at work among," said Dent. "They
must have drawn the _jingal_ farther back into the jungle."

"Yes, but if they can shoot at us we ought to be able to see them,"
said Jack.

"Sure thing," murmured Buck. "Where's the little old cannon gone to?"

In another moment all three gave a cry of surprise. The mystery was
made clear before their eyes. A sudden puff of smoke burst from a
tangle of vines and creepers twenty yards to the left of the _jingals_
former position, and a second ball crashed into the door, shook every
plank in it, and ripped a great piece out where it struck. The dacoits
had swiftly cut down and lashed a number of saplings across a couple
of trees to form a cover for their gun. Over the slight barricade they
had thrown a great tangle of creeping plants, and the whole concealed
and protected them in a wonderful fashion.

"They know how to play their own game," said Jack, as he searched the
spot with a few bullets. "They're hidden all right."

"Sure thing," said Buck. "They're up to all the tricks of the jungle.
I don't see how we're going to stop 'em gettin' the door down now.
It's pure luck firin' into that tangle."

Within the next half hour Buck's fears were verified. Shot after shot
was launched from the heavy _jingal_, and at the short range the
gunners found the door an easy mark, and pounded it again and again
until it was utterly shattered, and the opening into their stronghold
was left defenceless. Nor could the besieged make the gap good with
any other barrier. Between the firing of the heavy balls a steady
fusillade of musketry was poured into the doorway, and no one dared to
show himself there.

The three comrades stood each at a narrow window, each with his
weapons charged, and his mind sternly resolved to make the banditti
pay a heavy price for his life.

"They'll come again soon," muttered Jim Dent. "We must pump lead into
'em like mad as they cross the open, then hold the doorway as long as
we can."

"Yes," agreed Jack. "We must not let them get in if there's any way of
keeping them out. Once they surround us, their _dahs_ will finish the
struggle in a few strokes."

"Say, I fancy I see a bunch of 'em just beyond the _jingal_," said
Buck. He fired, but there was no sign that his bullet had taken
effect. "They're gone again," he continued in a tone of
disappointment.

There was no