d right in the centre of our front line, so as to fire over the
heads of the rank kneeling.

"Now, men," shouted out Captain Hankey, who had dismounted from the
shoulders of the `jollies' who had been carrying him in the place of
Larrikins since the latter's tumble, and was now seated on the stump of
an old tree in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by us all and
commanding a view of every part of the square, "aim low, and don't waste
a shot; but, wait till I give the word!"

The Arabs, who had checked their advance on seeing us halt, hesitating
as if waiting to learn what we were up to, now began to press forward
again, their ugly bronze faces, of a Jewish cut, peering at us out of
the bush on either side; while a large number came out into the open
with a rush, making for the front of the square and firing their queer
long muskets, as well as hurling their jereeds, or short spears, right
into our faces as they charged.

Every one of us, I can tell you, gripped his Martini rifle as if he
would dig his nails into its steel barrel, sighting it for point-blank
range and aiming low, as the captain had told us, to catch the beggars
full in the bread-basket as they came up, yelling and waving their
weapons about, thinking, no doubt, to frighten us.

But, though we might have faltered after our third repulse at the
stockade, we were not frightened now; nor did a man of us wish to fall
back, even if he had the chance.

We were only waiting for `old Hankey Pankey' to give the word.

He did not delay this long.

"Steady, my lads!" he cried, in a warning voice, after a quick glance
round the square to see that we had made all proper preparations to give
our friends the Somalis a hospitable reception. "Are you ready, Mr
Shrapnell?"

"Aye, aye, sir," replied `Gunnery Jack' instanter, "all ready!"

"Then, we'll blaze away and let the beggars have it all together,"
yelled out `old Hankey Pankey,' raising himself up in some wonderful
sort of way on the top of the tree stump, for he could not stand on his
legs; and, taking off his cap and waving it round his head thrice, he
gave out the words, "One--two--three, Fire!"

Like a thunderclap, sharp, sudden, and rolling through the air with a
concussion that shook the very ground under our feet, a murderous volley
belched forth from our square, mowing down the Arabs as with the swath
of a mower's scythe, the mass of on-rushing, howling, swarthy Somalis
sinking down to the g