ttle-axe, then dashed the butt of the gun into the face of the man
behind him, felling him, and, seizing Marie by the hand, dragged her
back into the northernmost room--that in which I was accustomed to
sleep--and shut and barred the door.

"Allan," she gasped, "Allan dear, it is finished. I cannot fall into the
hands of those men. Kill me, Allan."

"All right," I answered, "I will. I have my pistol. One barrel for you
and one for me."

"No, no! Perhaps you might escape after all; but, you see, I am a woman,
and dare not risk it. Come now, I am ready," and she knelt down, opening
her arms to receive the embrace of death, and looked up at me with her
lovely, pitiful eyes.

"It doesn't do to kill one's love and live on oneself," I answered
hoarsely. "We have got to go together," and I cocked both barrels of the
pistol.

The Hottentot, Hans, who was in the place with us, saw and understood.

"It is right, it is best!" he said; and turning, he hid his eyes with
his hand.

"Wait a little, Allan," she exclaimed; "it will be time when the door is
down, and perhaps God may still help us."

"He may," I answered doubtfully; "but I would not count on it. Nothing
can save us now unless the others come to rescue us, and that's too much
to hope for."

Then a thought struck me, and I added with a dreadful laugh: "I wonder
where we shall be in five minutes."

"Oh! together, dear; together for always in some new and beautiful
world, for you do love me, don't you, as I love you? Maybe that's better
than living on here where we should be sure to have troubles and perhaps
be separated at last."

I nodded my head, for though I loved life, I loved Marie more, and
I felt that we were making a good end after a brave fight. They were
battering at the door now, but, thank Heaven, Marais had made strong
doors, and it held a while.

The wood began to give at last, an assegai appeared through a shattered
plank, but Hans stabbed along the line of it with the spear he held,
that which I had snatched from the flank of the horse, and it was
dropped with a scream. Black hands were thrust through the hole, and the
Hottentot hacked and cut at them with the spear. But others came, more
than he could pierce, and the whole door-frame began to be dragged
outwards.

"Now, Marie, be ready," I gasped, lifting the pistol.

"Oh, Christ receive me!" she answered faintly. "It won't hurt much, will
it, Allan?"

"You will never feel anything," I w