d low
several of their number, and then, making a stand, they lowered their
weapons. A loud word of command sounded, and as if from one weapon a
volley was fired full upon the victorious people. For a few moments its
deadly effect checked their progress, but an instant later they resumed
their onward rush, and ere a second volley could be fired they had flung
themselves upon their opponents, killing them with bayonet, sword and
pistol.

Their rush was in too great a force to be withstood. As in other parts of
the city, so here, they compelled the troops to fly before them, and shot
them down as they sped back up the hill towards the great stronghold.

In those few fateful minutes the tables had suddenly been turned. While
we, fighting hard in that hot corner, had imagined that we had lost, our
comrades in other parts of the city had won a magnificent victory, and
had come to our rescue at the eleventh hour.

Truly it was everywhere a fierce and bloody fight.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE FIGHT FOR THE EMERALD THRONE.

THROWN into utter confusion by the great press of people well armed and
determined, the soldiers, who had fought so desperately, and who intended
to blow up the house that Omar and his companions had made their
stronghold, fled precipitately up the hill, but so rapid and heavy was
the firing, that few, if any, got out of the street alive.

On seeing the chances thus suddenly turned in our favour we poured forth
into the street again, and joining our forces with those of our rescuers,
rushed with them into the main thoroughfare leading to the palace,
scrambling over the _debris_ of our barricade and the heaps of bodies
that blocked our passage. A hurried question, addressed to a man rushing
along at my side, elicited glad tidings. So fiercely had the people
fought that the troops sent out to quell the rising had been utterly
routed everywhere, while many of the regiments had turned in our favour
and had actually held several of the barricades, winning brilliant
victories.

"It is yonder, at the palace, where the resistance will be greatest," the
man cried excitedly, blood streaming from a ghastly wound on his brow.
"But our cause is good. The Naya shall die!"

"To the Palace!" screamed the infuriated mob. "To the Palace!"

And forward the frantic dash was made at redoubled pace until we came to
the pile of fallen masonry, which had, a few hours ago, been the great
impregnable gateway that closed