four cannon," the Doctor said. "There they are, on that
slight rise to the left of the lines. I should fancy they are about
eight hundred yards away. Do you see, there is a crowd gathering behind
them? Our rifles will carry that distance easily enough, I think. You
might as well let us have three or four more up here.. The two lads are
both fair shots, and Hunter was considered a good shikari some years
ago. We can drive their cannon off that rise; the farther we make them
take up their post the better, but even at that distance their shooting
will be wild. The guns are no doubt old ones, and, as likely as not, the
shot won't fit. At any rate, though they may trouble us, they will do no
serious harm till they establish a battery at pretty close quarters."

The Major went down, and the two subalterns and Mr. Hunter joined the
Doctor on the roof.

Ten minutes later the boom of four guns in quick succession was heard,
and the party below stopped for a moment at their work as they heard the
sound of shot rushing through the air overhead; then came five shots in
answer from the parapet. Again and again the rifles spoke out, and then
the Doctor shouted down to those in the courtyard, "They have had enough
of it already, and are bringing up the elephants to move the cannon
back. Now, boys," he said to the subalterns, "an elephant is an easier
mark than a tiger; aim carefully, and blaze away as quickly as you
like."

For five minutes a rapid fire was kept up; then Wilson went below.

"The Doctor asked me to tell you, sir," he said to the Major, "that
the guns have been removed. There has been great confusion among the
natives, and we can see with our glasses eight or ten bodies left on the
ground. One of the elephants turned and went off at full speed among the
crowd, and we fancy some of the others were hit. There was great trouble
in getting them to come up to the guns. The Doctor says it is all over
for the present."

Two other large parties with elephants were seen to come up to the
native lines in the course of the afternoon. The defenders of the roof
had now turned their attention to their foes in the gardens around, and
the fire thence was gradually suppressed, until by evening everything
was quiet.

By this time the work of filling the sandbags was completed; the doors
and windows had been barricaded, and a large pile of bags lay in the
inclosure ready for erection at any threatened point.

CHAPTER XV.