The savages drew still nearer, and then Joseph, and Tom, and Sarah, and
her daughter, all shouted out, and shrieked at the top of their voices,
and the two men at the same moment fired their rifles. The savages,
hearing the whistling of the bullets just above their heads, looked
about astonished, and then ran off as fast as they could run. They did
not go far, however, but, stopping, began to talk to each other, and
seeing no one following, took courage.

"I am afraid that that trick won't answer again," observed Tom; "the
next time we must rush out upon them, and take one or two of them
prisoners."

"We might as well try to catch eels with our fingers," answered Joseph.
"If they come on again we must, I fear, fight it out. We ought not to
leave the shelter of our hut as long as it will hold us."

"Oh, no, no; let us stay where we are," said Sarah.

The blacks, however, did not seem inclined to let them do that. Once
more they plucked up courage and came on, whirling their spears.

The rifles were again loaded; still Joseph did not wish to fire at the
savages. The blacks got quite close, and then sent a shower of spears,
which came quivering against the posts which were round the hut, several
piercing its thin walls. Fortunately none came through the openings.

"We must give it them in earnest next time," said Tom.

"Wait a bit, mate; as long as they don't do more than that, they will do
us no harm."

As soon as the natives had thrown their darts, they ran off again,
expecting a volley from the rifles; then back they came and threw more
of their spears. As before, a few came partly through the wall, but did
no harm, as Sarah and Sally kept on the other side, and the men stood
behind the stout posts which supported the roof. The blacks came nearer
and nearer, sending their spears still farther through the walls.

"I would do anything rather than kill those poor savages," said Rudge.

"But if we don't, they'll kill us, mate, and it won't do to fire over
their heads again," observed Tom, raising his rifle, and covering one of
the black leaders. "I could pick that fellow off if I fired."

"Let's try what another shout will do, and if that does not put them to
flight, we must fire at last," said Rudge.

Again they all shouted together, Troloo joining in the cry. The blacks,
as before, looked about them, and some, who were about to throw their
spears, stopped with them poised in their hands. Others, how