geant O'Connor," Reuben said; "do you, with six of your men,
keep up a fire at the windows. Don't let a man show himself there.

"Let ten of the others look after the horses. We shall have the
blacks back, in no time."

So saying, he ran forward and joined those who were battering at
the doors. Several of them had brought stout axes with them, and
the doors speedily gave way. There was a rush forward.

Mr. Blount fell dead, and Dick Caister's shoulder was broken by a
bullet; but there was no check, as the colonists poured into the
huts. There was a short sharp fight, but in two minutes it was
over. Three of the gang had been shot, as they leapt from the
windows. Four more lay dead, or dying, in the huts.

One of them had thrown down his arms, and shouted for mercy. He had
been knocked down and stunned, by the butt end of a rifle; but was
otherwise unwounded.

Short as was the fight, it had given time to the blacks to rally.
Their shouts were ringing in the air, and the spears were flying
thickly as the party, having finished their work, rushed outside
again, to assist the constables who were guarding the horses.

"Pour a volley into the bushes," Reuben shouted; "then mount, and
charge them."

The order was executed and, in a minute, the horsemen were dashing
hither and thither among the bushes, shooting down with their
pistols the blacks who resisted, or dealing tremendous blows among
them with their hunting whips. The charge was irresistible, and in
five minutes the main body of the blacks were flying, at full
speed, up the steep hillsides.

The victors soon gathered round the huts. Several men and horses
had been wounded with spears, but none of the injuries were of a
serious character.

"Well, how about the prisoners?" Reuben asked the sergeant, who had
arrived before him.

"There's only one prisoner, sir. All the rest are accounted for."

"Is it their captain?"

"I don't know, sir. I have never set eyes on him; but if he's a
young chap, as they say, it ain't him."

"Jim," Reuben said, "just go round and examine the bodies, and see
which of them is the captain."

Jim returned in a couple of minutes.

"None of dem ain't him, sah. He not dere."

Reuben started.

"Are you quite sure, Jim?"

"Quite sure, sah."

"Are you sure none of them escaped, sergeant?"

"I am quite sure of that, sir. No one came out of either of the
doors, and there were only three who tried to bolt through the
windows,