s Jem had rammed home his charge, and
examined the priming in the pistol pan.

"That's just what we will do," said Jem; "only I should like to keep at
it while my blood's warm. If I cool down I can't fight. Say, Mas' Don,
I hope we didn't kill those two chaps."

"I hope they're wounded, Jem, so that they can't fight," replied Don, as
he finished his priming. "Quick! They're getting up yonder."

They ran across to the other side of the _pah_, and repeated their
previous act of defence with equally good result; while the defenders,
who had seemed to be flagging, yelled with delight at the two young
Englishmen, and began fighting with renewed vigour.

"Load away, Mas' Don!" cried Jem; "make your ramrod hop. Never mind the
pistol kicking; it kicks much harder with the other end. Four men down.
What would my Sally say?"

"Hi! Quick, my lads!" shouted Tomati; and as Don looked up he saw the
tattooed Englishman, who looked a very savage now, pointing with his
spear at one corner of the place.

Don nodded, and ran with Jem in the required direction, finishing the
loading as they went.

It was none too soon, for three of the enemy were on the top of the
fence, and, spear in hand, were about to drop down among the defenders.

_Bang_! Went Jem's pistol, and one of the savages fell back.

_Bang_! Don's shot followed, and the man at whom he aimed fell too, but
right among the spears of the defenders; while the third leaped into the
_pah_, and the next moment lay transfixed by half-a-dozen weapons.

"I don't like this, Jem," muttered Don, as he loaded again.

"More don't I, my lad; but it's shoot them or spear us; so load away."

Jem words were so much to the point, that they swept away Don's
compunction, and they hastily reloaded.

All around were the yelling and clashing of spears; and how many of the
attacking party fell could not be seen, but there was constantly the
depressing sight of some brave defender of the women and children
staggering away from the fence, to fall dead, or to creep away out of
the struggle to where the weeping women eagerly sought to staunch his
wounds and give him water.

"That's splendid, my lads! That's splendid! Ten times better than
using a spear," cried Tomati, coming up to them again. "Plenty of
powder and ball?"

"Not a very great deal," said Don.

"Be careful, then, and don't waste a shot. They can't stand that."

"Shall we beat them off?" said Don, after seeing th