of his lighted cheroot against the touch
paper, there was a momentary pause, then a rushing sound, and the rocket
soared high in the air, and then burst, throwing out four or five white
fireballs, which lit up clearly the spot they were watching.

"There they are!" the Major exclaimed; "just to the right of the
bungalow; there are scores of them."

The rifles, both from the terrace and the platforms below, cracked out
in rapid succession, and another rocket flew up into the air and burst.
Before its light had faded out, each of the defenders had fired his four
shots. Shouts and cries from the direction in which they fired showed
that many of the bullets had told, whilst almost immediately a sharp
fire broke out from the bushes round them.

"Don't mind the fellows in the shrubs," the Major said, "but keep up
your fire on the battery. We know its exact position now, though we
cannot actually make them out."

"Let them wait while I go down and get a bit of phosphorus," the Doctor
said. "I have some in the surgery. They will only throw away their fire
in the dark without it."

He soon returned, and when all the fore and back sights had been rubbed
by the phosphorus the firing recommenced, and the Doctor sent Wilson
down with the phosphorus to the men on the platforms facing the
threatened point.

Bathurst was returning, after having given the message to Captain
Doolan, when Mrs. Hunter met him in the passage. She put her hand kindly
on his shoulder.

"Now, Mr. Bathurst, if you will take my advice you will remain quietly
here. The Doctor tells me they are going to open fire, and it is not the
least use your going there exposing yourself to be shot when you know
that you will be of no use. You showed us yesterday that you could be
of use in other ways, and I have no doubt you will have opportunities of
doing so again. I can assure you none of us will think any the worse
of you for not being able to struggle against a nervous affliction that
gives you infinite pain. If they were attacking it would be different; I
know you would be wanting to take your share then."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hunter," he said, "but I must go up. I grant that I
shall be of no use, but at least I will take any chance that the others
run of being shot. A man does not flinch from a painful operation, and,
whatever the pain, it has to be faced. I may get used to it in time; but
whether I do or not I must go through it, though I do not say it doesn't