adding feet suddenly ceased just
outside the cavern entrance. I heard a few guttural words spoken that
sounded like muttered orders, and then came the light thud of a
ladder-like pole placed in position. I saw its upper extremity
distinctly in the light of the fire overhead, and sighted my rifle
directly upon it, ready to deflect the muzzle to right or left on the
instant, as might be necessary. As the pole dropped lightly into
position a shrill whistle sounded, and on the instant a perfect storm of
spears, darts, and stones came whirring into the cavern, some of them
splintering on the sides, but the major portion falling far in beyond
us, causing me to pray fervently that the women would have the sense to
keep well under cover. The next instant the hideously decorated head of
a savage rose into view as he ascended the ladder; but before he had
risen another foot my rifle cracked and he whirled backward into the
blackness without a cry.

I had but bare time to eject the spent shell and jerk another cartridge
into place when a second head appeared, only to be disposed of in the
same fashion, and this was followed by a third, which I neatly plugged
between the eyes. While this was happening, the shower of spears,
darts, and stones--the two latter in particular--continued unabated.

With the extinction of the third man there came a pause, of which I took
advantage to exchange my partially-emptied Remington for another, while
Julius attended to the reloading. But the pause was not a long one.
Presently I saw the top of the pole moving again, and in another moment
a fourth head appeared. This savage, however, was a clever one; he was
not going to be shot through the head if he could help it, for when his
cranium rose into view it was being rapidly jerked from side to side, so
I waited until his body appeared, and then plugged him through the
lungs. So the attack continued, the enemy displaying the most dogged
and indomitable determination, as well as the most extraordinary and
disconcerting cunning, and maintaining an incessant fire of darts and
stones--they seemed to be saving the remainder of their spears--while as
fast as the blazing faggots burned out they were replaced by others.
Evidently this attack had been carefully thought out and the most
elaborate preparations made for it.

Then, at the moment when I was beginning to ask myself seriously how
much longer this thing was going to last, and which party wou