upper row of sandbags, the two men took a
steady aim. They fired almost together, and two bodies were seen to fall
from the tree.

"Well shot!" the Major exclaimed. "There are something like a dozen of
them up there; but they will soon clear out if you keep that up."

"They are not more than two hundred yards away," the Doctor said, "and
firing from a rest we certainly ought not to miss them at that distance.
Give me the glasses again."

A similar success attended the next two shots, and then a number of
figures were seen hastily climbing down.

"Give them a volley, gentlemen," the Major said.

A dozen guns were fired, and three more men dropped, and an angry yell
from the natives answered the shout of triumph from the garrison.

"Will you go down, Mr. Hunter, and tell the ladies that we have silenced
the guns for the present, and that no one has received a scratch? Now,
let us see what damage their balls have effected."

This was found to be trifling. The stonework of the house was strong,
and the guns were light. The stonework of one of the windows was broken,
and two or three stones in the wall cracked. One ball had entered a
window, torn its way through two inner walls, and lay against the back
wall.

"It is a four pound ball," the Major said, taking it up. "I fancy the
guns are seven pounders. They have evidently no balls to fit, which
accounts for the badness of their firing and the little damage they did;
with so much windage the balls can have had but small velocity. Well,
that is a satisfactory beginning, gentlemen; they will take a long time
to knock the place about our ears at this rate. Now we will see if we
cannot clear them out of the gardens. Captain Doolan, will you take the
glasses and watch the battery; if you see any movement about the guns,
the fire will be reopened at once; until then all will devote their
attention to those fellows among the bushes; it is important to teach
them that they are not safe there, for a chance ball might come in
between the sandbags. Each of you pick out a particular bush, and watch
it till you see the exact position in which anyone firing from it must
be in, and then try to silence him. Don't throw away a shot if you can
help it. We have a good stock of ammunition, but it is as well not to
waste it. I will leave you in command at present, Doolan."

Major Hannay then went down to the storeroom.

"I have come to relieve you from your confinement, ladies," he s