d be firm. Mind it is by steadily helping one another
in our trouble that we are strong."

I gave him a quick nod--it was no time for speaking--and crept softly to
my place, passing pretty close to where our friend lay wounded and
quietly asleep.

The next minute both Jack Penny and I were crouched behind what served
as a breastwork, with our pieces ready, the doctor being on our left,
and the blacks, including Jimmy, right in front, close to the mouth of
the cave.

"We must mind and not hit the blacks!" whispered Jack. "I mean our
chaps. Lie down, Gyp!"

The dog was walking about in an impatient angry manner, uttering a low
snarl now and then, and setting up the hair all about his neck till in
the dim light he looked like a hyena.

Gyp turned to his master almost a reproachful look, and then looked up
at me, as if saying, "Am I to be quiet at a time like this?"

Directly after, though, he crouched down with his paws straight out
before him and his muzzle directed towards the enemy, ready when the
struggle began to make his teeth meet in some one.

The savages were all the time coming steadily on lower and lower down
the bank, till suddenly one of them stopped short and uttered a low cry.

Several ran to his side at once, and we could see them stoop down and
examine something among the bushes, talking fiercely the while.

"They've found out where our friend was wounded, Jack Penny," I said.

"Think so?" he said slowly. "Well, I couldn't help it. I didn't mean
to do it, I declare."

"Hist!" I whispered; and now my heart began to beat furiously, for the
blacks, apparently satisfied, began to spread out again, descended to
the edge of the little stream, and then stopped short.

If I had not been so excited by the coming danger I should have enjoyed
the scene of this group of strongly-built naked savages, their jetty
black, shining skins bronzed by the reflections of orange and golden
green as the sun flooded the gorge with warm light, making every action
of our enemies plain to see, while by contrast it threw us more and more
into the shade.

They paused for a few moments at the edge of the stream, so close now
that they could touch each other by simply stretching out a hand; and it
was evident by the way all watched a tall black in the centre of the
line that they were waiting his orders to make a dash up into the cave.

Those were terrible minutes: we could see the opal of our enemies' eyes
and the