hrown out to the full extent of its
holder's arms, the bayonet darting through the narrow slit; there was a
savage yell, the dull thud of some one falling, and with a fierce shout
of rage two or three of the enemy flung themselves at the door,
repeating the act again and again, but without result.

"Can't some of us come and help, sir?" said a feeble voice.

"Yes; there's six of us, sir," said another; "and we've all got rifles."

"Back to your beds directly," cried the Doctor. "What's the use of me
trying to save your lives, and--Well, it's very good of you, my lads,"
he said, breaking off suddenly. "Fix bayonets, and stand outside the
ward ready to help if we, the first line, are driven in."

There was a sharp crackety-crack as the metal sockets of the bayonets
rattled on the muzzles of the rifles, and the six invalids took their
places on either side of the ward-door, where the rest of the sufferers
lay in silence listening to the yelling outside and the firing now going
vigorously on.

There was another crash against the outer door, but still it did not
yield, though it sounded as if it was being dashed from its fastenings,
and then a shuffling, scraping sound told that another attempt was being
made by one of the mad fanatics to get in by the slit of a window. But
again there was the peculiar rattling sound of a thrust being made with
a rifle thrown right forward and grazing the sides of the opening. A
wild shriek followed, and Gedge withdrew his piece, panting heavily and
trembling from weakness.

"Did you get home?" whispered the Doctor.

"Yes, sir, clean," whispered back Gedge; "and oh, if that only was the
chap as shot Mr Bracy that day!"

There was a crash at the door now, as if a mass of stone had been hurled
at it; a couple of boards were driven out, and a strange animal odour
floated in, with a yell of triumph, heard above the piteous bleating of
sheep and the sharp rattle of the rifles.

"Give me room, Doctor; I can do it. My man taught me," said the nurse,
standing with Gedge, friendly for the first time in their lives; and
they delivered rapidly thrust after thrust with their full strength, one
of the savage Ghazis going down at each.

It was too dark to do much, and Bracy felt his helplessness, after
trying to parry a cut or two delivered by one of the enemy; so, drawing
his revolver, he fired slowly shot after shot as the enemy reached in to
cut at the defenders, their blows mostly fall