is apartment was so shrouded in
gloom that the sharpest-eyed warrior could not locate him from the
outside.

The New Englander stepped to the door communicating with the front
apartment and, barely showing himself, spoke:

"I can attend to the window on the right, Professor; leave that to me,
while you watch the door and the other one."

"Thanks," returned his friend; "I think there is a little too much
light in this part of the house."

Moving quickly to the hearth he heaped the ashes with his foot upon the
blazing embers, until they were so smothered that only a few tiny
twists of flame struggled through the covering. This left the place in
such darkness that a sense of security instantly came to him.

"Good!" called the New Englander, who could no longer be discerned;
"that makes matters more nearly equal!"

Although, as we have said, the moonlight was substantially shut off
from the front of the heavy structure, yet the moon itself, being full,
so illumined the surroundings that it was quite easy to distinguish the
head and figure of any one of their enemies the instant he presented
himself at one of the openings.

What both the defenders feared was, that the savages would make a
sudden rush and force themselves within the cabin in spite of the
disastrous reception they were sure to be given. Such an essay was
certain to result in the overthrow of the whites, but the Murhapas must
have realized the cost it would be to them. Brave as they were, they
hesitated to incur the consequences until other means had failed.

Professor Ernest Grimcke now did a most daring thing. The fierce
welcome he had given the attacking Murhapas resulted in their temporary
demoralization. Knowing they would speedily recover, he decided to
take advantage of the panic by an attempt to intensify it.

Striding to the door he paused on the very threshold and peered out
upon the large space in his field of vision.

Fully a hundred savages were in sight. Apparently they had been
crowding around the entrance when the shots from within caused a hasty
scattering. They had halted a dozen yards or so away, where they were
talking excitedly, still frightened and enraged, and with no thought of
relinquishing the fight.

They had withdrawn so far from the front of the building that they were
in the strong moonlight, and consequently in full view of the white
man, who saw others of the natives hurrying from the right and left.
Among th