it. Even should it be exhausted, we may still
hold out; and, from the rate at which they are firing, they are quite as
likely to use up all they possess."

We were at this time standing ready to discharge our two guns, should
the door give way--and there seemed little hope that it could resist the
tremendous battering it was receiving. As soon as one of the men
working the battering-ram was killed or wounded, another took his place.
Presently there came a loud crash, and the shattered door flew in
splinters about our ears, while through the aperture we saw hundreds of
savage countenances, with the points of pikes and swords and the muzzles
of pistols directed at us. It was but for an instant, for directly we
could run out our guns we fired them point-blank into the living mass.
As soon as the smoke cleared away the ground was seen strewed with dead
and wounded men; while the greater number, panic-stricken by the
unexpected reception we had given them, instead of dashing forward to
make their way through the opening, were rapidly retreating, in spite of
the efforts of their leader and his officers to stop them.

"Now, my lads!" cried my father, "let's take advantage of their fright,
and put them to the rout." Saying this he dashed through the doorway,
while I followed with about fifteen more. We drove the enemy before us
across the courtyard, and should have followed them farther, had we not
heard my uncle's voice shouting to us to return, in tones which showed
that he considered we were in the greatest danger. Happily, we effected
our purpose before Aqualonga perceived what we were about; and as my
father and I--being the last to re-enter the house--sprang through the
doorway, we saw the enemy again advancing.

My uncles had, during our sortie, brought fresh beams, with which, as
soon as we were inside, they again barricaded the door. It was not a
moment too soon, for another band of Aqualonga's followers had been
perceived approaching the house on the southern side. Disappointed in
not immediately effecting his object, Aqualonga now called off his men;
it was, however, to reform them, and make preparations for a fresh
attack.

Matters with us were now growing more serious: we had only powder to
hold out an hour or two longer at the rate at which we had hitherto been
using it; while the enemy, from behind every spot where they could find
shelter, continued firing at the loopholes. A party of them, having
go