le to make out a large body of riflemen who, now
that the light was increasing, were preparing to take their part in the
attack. There was no doubt as to the identity of the attackers, for
Frobisher could now distinguish several flags similar to those flown on
the boats of the rebel squadron a few days previously, during the fight
on the river. That particular force had evidently been joined by
another contingent, and the two combined had decided to make another
attempt to recapture the all-important cargo which now reposed within
the walls of the fortress of Asan.

But suddenly, as the interested Englishman watched, he heard a loud,
shrieking, whirring sound, somewhat resembling the very rapid exhaust
from a locomotive, and a flash of flame leaped out close alongside one
of the guns, followed by a loud explosion and a great cloud of smoke and
dust. And when this cloud had cleared away, he saw that one of the
besiegers' guns had been temporarily put clean out of action, for the
right wheel was blown completely away, and the gun itself was lying on
its side, half-buried in the sand; while, as for the crew who had been
working it, so far as he could ascertain they had been blown completely
out of existence, for there was no visible sign of them.

That high explosive shell had obviously not come from the fort; where,
then, had it come from? And what new surprise had fate in store?

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SAVED BY A HAIRBREADTH.

The furious fusillade directed against the fort at once slackened, after
the explosion of that shell amongst the guns; while the fire from the
fort redoubled, the rounds of solid shot, grape, chain, and shrapnel,
with withering volleys of small-arm fire, sweeping through the rebel
ranks like hail, and playing awful havoc among the closely-packed masses
of men only partially concealed by the jungle. But the besiegers, as
Frobisher had already had an opportunity of observing, were not easily
to be discouraged, and after the first shock of surprise had subsided
they quickly pulled themselves together again.

Another gun's crew came leaping out from the cover of the jungle and
gathered round the wrecked field-piece; pieces of timber, empty
ammunition-boxes, and even small branches of trees were secured and
placed alongside the gun; and several more men seized the piece and
lifted it up until it was partly supported upon its remaining uninjured
wheel. The pile of material which had been collect