ces of his musketeers, and then gave, in a loud, deep,
sonorous tone, the word--"Hip! hip! hip!"

The compound cheer and yell that instantly followed the last hip was so
tremendous, coming, as it did, from all sides except the rear, that the
enemy were absolutely paralysed. They stood rooted to the earth, as
motionless as if they had been transformed into stone.

Jack raised his hand, in which he held a bunch of white grass that could
be distinctly seen in the dark.

Every muzzle was pointed on the instant, but not a sound was heard save
the click of a hundred locks.

The sound was familiar to the enemy, although never before heard at one
moment in such numbers. They started; but before a step could be taken,
the word "Fire" was given.

Instantly a sheet of flame swept across the entire dell, and the united
crash of a hundred guns seemed to rend the very earth. The surrounding
cliffs reverberated and multiplied the horrid din, while, led by Jack,
cheer followed cheer, or rather howls and yells filled the air, and kept
awake the echoes of the place.

The enemy turned and fled, and the shrieks to which they gave utterance
as they ran betokened the extremity of their terror. It wanted but one
touch to complete their consternation, and that touch was given when
Peterkin, lighting his powder-cones, showed himself on the mound,
dancing in a blaze of fire, and shrieking furiously as the horrified
tide of men swept by.

In the midst of his wild orgies, Peterkin acted an impromptu and
unintentional part by tripping over the brow of the hill, and rolling
down the steep declivity like a fire-wheel into the very midst of the
flying crew. Jumping hastily up, he charged through the ranks of the
foe, flung the two hissing cones high into the air, and darting into the
jungle, hid himself effectually from view.

Meanwhile Jack still held the bunch of white straw aloft. Every eye was
fixed on it, but not a man moved, because it remained stationary. This
absence of pursuit in the midst of such appalling sights and sounds
must, undoubtedly, have added to the mystery and therefore to the
terrors of the scene.

Suddenly the white bunch was seen to dart forward. Jack, who now
considered the enemy almost beyond the chance of being overtaken, gave
the word, "Forward!" in the voice of a Stentor, following it up with
"Hip, hip, hurrah!" and the whole host, musketeers and spearmen in a
mingled mass, rushed yelling out upon the p