the sound of voices and orders,
it was evident that the other houses were being searched. Voices were
also heard at the back of the house, and they guessed that the ground
was being closely examined, up to the foot of the rock walls which
enclosed the valley.

"Now, Surajah, you can take a shot from the window of that side. The
others will be here in a minute, and it is just as well to let them
know where we are, before they get close up to our door."

Surajah went to the window at the back. Four horsemen were making
their way, at a walk, along the level ground between the rocks and the
huts. The nearest was but some forty yards away. Surajah fired, and
the man at once fell from his horse. The others instantly galloped on
at full speed up the valley, and from the window at the end, Surajah
saw them gather on the road three or four hundred yards away; and
then, after a short consultation, cross to the other side of the
valley, with the intention, he had no doubt, of rejoining their
comrades.

The sound of the gun had been followed by shouts and exclamations from
the party in the village. Dick could hear a conference in low tones;
then all was silent. He went to the loophole at the corner, laid his
rifle in it, and waited, looking along the barrel. Two or three
minutes later the hole was darkened, and he fired at once. There was a
sound of a heavy fall, followed by cries of rage, and a moment later
there was a rush of men against the door.

Surajah ran across. Two spare guns were pushed through the loopholes,
one on each side of it. These had not been bored straight through the
wall, but at angles that would enable them to fire at anyone attacking
it. Looking along the barrels, each could see one of the group in
front, and fired at the same moment. With a yell of rage and surprise,
the assailants of the door sprang back and ran down the street.

"There are four less, anyhow," Dick said, as he and Surajah reloaded
the empty guns. "Those loopholes will puzzle them, and I don't think
they will care to come on again, for a bit."

There was a pause for some minutes, and then, from the huts opposite,
and from various points higher up the valley and behind, a dropping
fire was opened.

"Keep out of the line of the windows, whatever you do, Surajah; and it
will be just as well to lie down for a bit, until we see whether any
of their shots come through the wall. I think we are quite safe from
the distant fire, but from t