don't stand let them have it. They won't spare you. Ready,
there; we'll go on to the next post, and come back directly."

"Stop!" said the sentry huskily; "I thought I heard a stone roll down
from up yonder a few minutes ago."

"They are there, then," cried the sergeant, "safe enough. Now, then,"
he shouted; "the game's up, my lads. Give in. No stones, or I'll give
orders to fire. Ready, there; present!"

There was a dead silence.

"Nobody could get over the cliff here," growled one of the men.
"Monkeys might, perhaps."

"Silence!" cried the sergeant. "They must be there. Now, then, will
you come down, or are we to pick you off?"

"Hush! What's that?"

The unmistakable rattling of stones and a scrambling sound as if someone
had slipped.

"Hah! that's good enough. Now, then, is it surrender?"

Silence again, and the darkness in front blacker than ever.

"You will have it, then," cried the sergeant. "One and four, a dozen
paces right and left."

The evolution was performed, and then with a man on each side of him the
sergeant once more shouted to the convicts to give in.

"Hi, look out!" roared one of the warders.

"In the queen's name, surrend--"

A dull, heavy blow, and a groan were heard almost together, cutting
short the sergeant's challenge, for a heavy piece of rock struck him
full in the face, while a couple more blocks whizzed by the others, to
fall heavily far below where they stood. Simultaneously three dark
figures bounded on to the edge and made at the little group.

The attack was so sudden and direful in its results that the warders
gave way right and left, while the convicts stooped, literally glided
over the edge of the path, and began to descend the horribly steep
cliff.

"Don't keep together," cried a hoarse voice from below. "Every man for
himself now."

"Fire!" shouted one of the warders; and almost together three rifles
flashed out their contents, followed by a derisive laugh.

Then the warder who had been ordered off to the right fired, and as the
shot echoed along the cliff there was a terrible cry, followed by a rush
as of something falling.

"Now, then, surrender!" cried one of the warders, who was reloading
rapidly, just as rapid steps were heard coming along the path.

"Where are they?" shouted an authoritative voice as ten or a dozen more
men were now halted on the shelf-like path.

"Right below here, sir. One of 'em down."

"Halt, there! Do you hear