u? The blacks came one day when father
was away, and mother had gone to see after the cow, and after taking all
the meal and bacon they went off, one of them tucking me under his arm,
and I never made a sound, I was so frightened, for I was sure they were
going to eat me. I feel something like I did then; but I say, Joe
Carstairs, you're sure I don't show it?"

"Sure! Yes," I said quickly. "If we have to shoot at these savages
shall you take aim at them?"

"All depends," said Jack coolly. "First of all, I shall fire in front
of their bows like the man-o'-war's men do. If that don't stop 'em I
shall fire at their legs, and if that don't do any good then I shall let
'em have it right full, for it'll be their own fault. That's my
principle, Joe Carstairs; if a fellow lets me alone I never interfere
with him, but if he begins at me I'm nasty. Here, you leave those
arrows alone, and--well, what's the matter with you?"

This was to Gyp, who was whining uneasily as if he scented danger, and
wanted to run out.

"Down, Gyp, down!" said his master; and the dog crouched lower,
growling, though, now as a fresh arrow flashed in from another part.

The doctor started and raised his gun to take aim at the spot from
whence this shot had come, for one of the savages had climbed up and
reached a ledge above where we were. In fact this man's attack made our
position ten times more perilous than it was before.

But the doctor did not fire, for Ti-hi, without waiting for orders, drew
an arrow to its head, the bow-string gave a loud twang, and the next
instant we saw a savage bound from the ledge where he had hidden and run
across the intervening space, club in one hand, bow in the other,
yelling furiously the while.

The doctor was about to fire, and in the excitement of the moment I had
my piece to my shoulder, but before he had come half-way the savage
turned and staggered back, Ti-hi pointing triumphantly to an arrow
sticking deep in the muscles of the man's shoulder.

There was a loud yelling as the wounded savage rejoined his companions,
and our own men set up a triumphant shout.

"That's one to us," said Jack Penny drily. "I think I shall keep the
score."

The doctor looked at me just at this time and I looked back at him; and
somehow I seemed to read in his eyes that he thought it would be the
best plan to let the blacks fight out the battle with their bows and
arrows, and I felt quite happy in my mind for the m