h
gun spoke out from our little line, and at every flash there was a white
puff of smoke, which slowly rose, and we saw beneath the vapour, how at
each discharge of grape an open lane was torn through the savage crowd.

But these closed up, and they still came on, those behind forcing those
in front, till they were within twenty yards.

Never had those guns been served with such rapidity before, nor with
such regular motion. The men worked like machines, and as calmly, but
our case was becoming desperate. Round after round tore through them,
but with fanatical rage the survivors came on, and in another few
moments we knew that they would be among us with their keen tulwars and
sheltering shield.

But not a man shrank. I knew it was hopeless to think of limbering up,
and carrying off the guns; we should have been cut down at once; and
rendered desperate by our position, every man at liberty pressed forward
to try and defend the gunners, who still toiled on.

"Why don't the lancers charge again?" I thought, as I thrust savagely
at a man who was making a cut at a gunner, and a cold feeling of despair
began to attack me, as I thought of mother and sister behind the
barricade over our heads, and that Brace's gallant troop would be
utterly cut to pieces, and the guns turned against my father when he
advanced.

"Ny Deen will get his wish," I thought, as I thrust again with all my
force and saved the life of the man who was ramming the gun beside me.

"The lancers--where are the lancers?" I thought again; and at that
moment a line of men came in among us, and formed a slight hedge of
lance-points which darted rapidly out between the gunners whenever one
was threatened. Half the men had been dismounted, and while they helped
to keep the enemy at bay, a ragged volley suddenly roared above our
heads where the brave defenders of the place had collected to give us
their little aid.

That volley was so fresh and unexpected that, blazing out as it did,
close to the enemy, they fell back for a few moments. Only a few, but
long enough to enable the men of one of the most crowded-up guns to send
its charge tearing through the foe. Then another spoke, and, with yells
of despair, the wave swung back a little. Another volley from the
barricade staggered them more, and the fire of the guns increased in
regularity, while all at once I found that we had more room; the lancers
had been withdrawn. A few more shots into the mass