until a thick
line of dark figures was gathered at the edge of the cleared space.

Inside the defence, all was quiet. Not a man showed himself.
Doubtful whether the town had not been entirely evacuated, the
Malays paused for some little time, while some of the chiefs
gathered together in consultation. Then a few of the men advanced,
with the evident intention of examining the defences.

They were allowed to approach within ten yards of the ditch, when a
shower of arrows flew from the openings in the palisade; and two,
only, of the Malays fled back to their companions. The fall of the
others provoked wild yells of anger. A horn sounded, and the
assailants rushed upon them from all sides. When within a few yards
of the ditch they hurled their spears, and shot a cloud of arrows.
A large proportion were stopped by the bamboos, but such as passed
through flew harmlessly over the heads of the defenders; who
replied with a far more deadly shower of arrows.

Leaping over those who had fallen, the enemy dashed forward. Those
in front endeavoured to check their course, on arriving at the edge
of the ditch; but they were forced in by the pressure of those
behind, and the long spears of the defenders gleamed out through
the openings of the bamboos, inflicting terrible damage.

In vain the assailants endeavoured to climb out of the ditch. The
bayonet-like line of bamboos checked them; and the arrows of the
concealed defenders told, with terrible effect, on the struggling
mass. At last, at many points, the ditch was literally filled with
dead; and the assailants were enabled to leap upon the line of
bamboos which had so long checked their passage.

The advantage was but slight. The slippery poles were some six
inches apart and, slanting as they did, afforded so poor a foothold
that the Malays were forced to stand between them, on the narrow
ledge between the palisading and the ditch. Here they thrust their
spears between the palisade; but these were wrenched from their
hands, and scores fell from the blows of kris, spear, and arrow;
until at last their leaders and chiefs, seeing how terrible was the
slaughter, and how impossible it was to climb the bamboo fence,
called their men off; and they fell back, pursued by exulting cries
from the women, who were standing on the platform behind the wall
of the palace, watching the conflict, and by the yells of the
defenders of the stockade.

Of these but few had fallen, while some five