for the volley of rocks," commanded De Noyan, hastily, "then
stand up to it with all the strength you have."

Halfway up the little hill they let fly a vicious volley, the hard
missiles crashing against the face of the rock, and showering down on
backs and heads, some of them with painful force. As we sprang to our
posts of defence once more, the savages were already nearly within
spear-length of us, and, to our disastrous surprise, delivered a second
volley of stones directly into our faces. One jagged rock glanced from
off my rifle-barrel, striking me on the side of the head with
sufficient force to send me staggering back against the stone slab.
Before I could regain place the Indians swarmed over the low wall, two
of them, in spite of fierce struggles, bearing me backward to the
ground. Through a half-blinding mist of blood I beheld a carven
war-club uplifted in the air, noted the face, distorted by passion, of
the naked giant wielding it; yet, before I could close my eyes to the
swift blow, there came a sudden flash of fire mingled with a sharp
report. As if stricken by a lightning-bolt the huge fellow plunged
forward, his body across my feet. Involuntarily I gave vent to a groan
of despair, realizing that Madame, in an effort to preserve my life,
had thrown away her sole chance to escape torture, or an existence
worse than death.

The knowledge nerved me to renewed struggle, but ere I could rid myself
of that body pinning me fast, others hurled themselves upon us,
striking and snarling like a pack of hounds who had overtaken their
quarry. It would have been over in another minute; I already felt the
grind of a stone knife-point at my throat, able to gain only a poor
grip on the fellow's wrist, when suddenly, sounding clear as a bell
above that hellish uproar, a single voice uttered an imperative command.

Instantly each Indian's face was upturned toward where such unexpected
summons came, and, lying as I did flat upon my back, my eyes gazed
across the narrow valley, to the summit of the cliff on the farther
side. There, solitary, a carven statue full in the glow of the
westering sun, turning her garments golden, and lightening her rich
profusion of hair into radiant beauty, stood a young woman of white
face and slender, stately figure. It was no time to note dress, yet I
could not fail to observe the flowing white robe, draped from shoulders
to feet, gracefully falling away from an extended arm, as she s