s.
It must take some time for an enemy to break into the place, and before
then the soldiers would have turned out.

In fact the bugle rang out as he hurried on through the darkness, being
compelled to turn back twice; for he heard the trampling of feet and
rustling of the leaves as people forced their way through, and he was
obliged to make somewhat of a detour.

Even then somebody struck at him, a blow which he returned with his
fist, sending his assailant staggering back amidst the bushes, while he
ran on, to hear a limbing whistle by his ear.

Shot after shot had meanwhile been fired, fully giving the alarm, and by
the time Gray reached the fort, after an extremely perilous run--for the
way seemed to swarm with enemies; and even now he did not know whether
he was wounded or no, for he had felt two heavy blows in the chest and
back--he found the men falling in, and catching his rifle and belts from
the stand he joined them.

Major Sandars was with them, in nothing but his shirt and trousers and
bare feet, but he had not forgotten his sword, and in a few short words
he made his arrangements for the defence of the fort, while, to Gray's
great delight, he detailed a party of a dozen men, under a lieutenant,
to go down to the residency.

"You must act according to circumstances, Mr Ellis," he said quietly.
"It is impossible to tell who or how many our assailants are; but the
darkness that favours them will also favour you. Your orders are to get
somehow to the residency, and hold it or bring its occupants away,
according to circumstances."

The lieutenant saluted, and the dozen men, among whom was Gray, were
marched to the gate.

There was not one among them who had done more than slip on his
trousers, so that they were in light fighting trim; and as soon as they
were outside the gate, the lieutenant gave the word, "Quick march--
double!" and away they went in single file along the narrow path.

Before they could reach the residency their pulses began to throb, for
there were the sharp, quick reports of a revolver, fired six times in
succession. Then a rifle spoke, and another followed by a desultory
firing as if in reply.

Then from behind came the loud, heavy report of a brass lelah, fired
evidently from some boat on the river; then another, and another, with
more desultory firing.

"Come along my lads; our fellows will talk to them directly." There was
a crashing volley just then.

"I told you so. T