rawford, and some of the men, have a few rounds; but I
have none, nor has Rupert."

"Then we must use the stones. Fortunately I thought of them," cried
Percy, undaunted. "I only hope that the Zulus won't suspect that our
ammunition is exhausted."

No sooner did the besiegers again venture under the walls, than the
showers of stones which clattered down on their heads made them once
more beat a rapid retreat; but those who threw them had to expose
themselves far more than before, and many were wounded by the assegais
of the savages, who kept hurling them from a distance which the stones
could not reach.

Captain Broderick had escaped unhurt. He was seen everywhere firing his
rifle as long as he had a round left, encouraging his men, and finally
taking to stone-throwing.

But the Zulus were not long in discovering the want of ammunition among
the garrison; and now, confident of success, the main body, which had
hitherto been kept in reserve, rushed up to the attack, carrying ladders
for crossing the ditch and mounting the walls. Still Captain Broderick
encouraged his men to hold out.

"We will drive them back, my boys, notwithstanding," he shouted. He
sent Lionel with Biddy and two men to bring up a further supply of the
stones. "And tell your mother and sisters, on no account to leave the
house," he added. "Let them keep up their courage; for depend on it we
shall succeed in driving back the savages."

Although he said this, he could not help feeling how desperate was their
situation. On every side the Zulus appeared, their numbers greatly
increased since the last attack. They had in all probability been
waiting for reinforcements. They now thickly thronged round the walls,
and his fear was that they might even find their way to the rear of the
fort. Already nearly half the garrison had been wounded, two of whom he
had seen fall to the ground, while others, weakened by loss of blood,
had scarcely strength to hurl the stones down on the heads of their
assailants. At length for the first time he began to despair of
successfully defending the fort. As a last resource he resolved to
summon the whole of the garrison, and to retire into the house, which he
hoped to be able to defend with fixed bayonets and the assegais thrown
into the fort. Still, as yet, not a Zulu had got inside, but at any
moment they might make their way over the stockade.

Just then loud shouts were heard on the left, followed by a r