ds, when Pomp, who was
first, suddenly stopped short, caught me by the wrist, and said softly--

"You listum. Injum dah."

I placed my ear close to the paling, and stood for a few moments unable
to make sure that the dull heavy rustling I heard meant anything; but at
last I felt at one with my companion, for I felt convinced that a strong
party was once more creeping up to the attack, and just to a spot where
the sentries had not been placed.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

Certainly there was a body of our defenders five-and-twenty yards away
in one direction, and sixty in another; but while the alarm was
spreading a dozen active Indians would be able to scale the fence.

At least so it seemed to me, as without hesitation I uttered a wild cry
for help, Pomp raising his voice to supplement mine.

"Here! This way! Here! Indians!" I shouted; and I heard the sound of
hurrying feet, and a sharp decisive order or two being given; but at the
same moment there was a peculiar scraping sound on the rough fence which
told me that the Indians were climbing over, and I stood hesitating,
puzzled as to whether it was my duty to run or stop where I was, so as
to keep up the alarm and guide our people through the darkness to the
exact spot.

All this was a matter of moments, and I hesitated too long. I was
conscious of our people being close at hand; then of feeling Pomp
dragging at me, and saying something excitedly. Then it was as if a big
mass had fallen from above, and I lay crushed down and senseless in a
darkness far greater than that of the night.

When I came to my senses again, I found that I was lying on my face with
something heavy across me, from beneath which I managed to creep at
last, shuddering the while, as I felt that it was the body of a dead or
wounded man. Everything about me was still, but I could hear voices at
a distance, and I wondered what had taken place, and why I was left
there like that.

It was very puzzling, for my head was so confused that I could not
recollect what had taken place before, so as to understand why it was
that I was lying out there in the darkness, close to this wounded man.

At last I concluded to shout for help, and my lips parted, but no sound
came. This startled me, and I began to tremble, for it was all so new
and strange.

But by degrees my brain grew clearer, and I began to have faint rays of
understanding penetrate my darkened mind. These grew brighter and
bright