ut. One of the men carrying
the beam fell, as did an officer who was leading them; but instantly
another caught up the end of the timber, and in a moment a crowd were
clustered round the door. Several caught hold of the beam, and swung
it as though they meant to use it as a battering ram.

Two more puffs of smoke spurted out from the loopholes, and again two
of the men fell. The others, however, swung it forward with a crash
against the door. The end of the beam went right through the rotten
woodwork. Dick and Surajah fired their last musket shots with as
deadly effect as before. The next blow dashed the door from its
hinges, and, split and shattered by the former shocks, it fell forward
into the road, while a yell of triumph broke from the Mysoreans.

This died away, however, when they saw the three crossbars blocking
their entrance. Again two pistol shots carried death among them.

"Load your guns, Surajah."

But before Surajah had time to do so, the Mysoreans made a rush at the
door. The defenders stepped forward and fired between the crossbars,
and then, drawing their tulwars, ran the two men in front through the
body. As they dropped, those behind them drew back.

"The last pistols!" Dick shouted, and they fired two shots into the
crowd.

This completed the consternation of the enemy. It seemed to them that
the defenders possessed an unlimited supply of firearms. Already
twelve shots had been fired, and not one had failed to take effect.
With a cry of consternation they fled down the street, leaving the
ground in front of the fatal door strewn with bodies.

The defenders instantly set about the work of recharging their
firearms. They were not interrupted, but presently an irregular fire
opened upon them, from the jungle that had taken the place of the
garden between the opposite houses.

"We may as well lie down at full length," Dick said, setting the
example. "There is no use in running risks. You keep that side, and
listen attentively. It is likely enough that they will work round
behind, next time, and try the windows. By the way they are firing, I
fancy there are not more than five or six of them opposite."

Another half hour passed. Then Surajah exclaimed, "I can hear them on
this side."

Dick got up, and crossed at once.

"I will take the loophole under this window. You go to the one at the
end. I expect they will try both windows at once."

Dick placed the muzzle of his gun in the loophole, an