he house opposite it is possible they may
penetrate it. Anyhow, don't stand in the line of a loophole. A stray
ball might find its way in."

For a few minutes, the enemy fired away unanswered, and then Dick, who
had been seated on the ground with his back against the end wall, got
up and went along that facing the street, carefully examining it.

"I don't think any of their balls have come through, Surajah. I should
be able to see out into the moonlight, if they had done so. Now it is
time for us to be doing something. I expect they are getting a little
bolder, and will perhaps give us a chance.

"You take this loophole. It is exactly in a line with the opposite
hut, and the fellows in there must come to their door to fire. I will
take this slanting hole by the doorpost. I can see one of the windows
of the next hut to that we were in. I have no doubt that they are
firing from there also. Don't wait for them to shoot, but fire
directly a figure shows itself."

In a very short time Surajah fired. Dick heard the clatter of a gun,
as it fell to the ground.

"You have hit him, Surajah."

"Yes, but only wounded him. I think I hit him on the shoulder. He let
his gun drop, and ran into the house."

"Take a spare gun at once. If there are others there, they will think
that you are loading, and may show themselves again."

A moment later, Dick saw a gun thrust out through the window he was
watching. Then the head and shoulders of a man appeared behind it. He
fired, and the figure disappeared. Almost at the same instant, Surajah
fired again.

"I had one that time, Sahib!"

It was now quiet for some little time. Then a horseman dashed suddenly
past, and galloped up the valley at full speed.

"The end window, Surajah! Bring him down, if you can."

Surajah ran there and fired.

"I have missed him!" he said, in a tone of deep disappointment.

"It does not make much difference. If you had hit him, they could have
sent another off close to the opposite side of the valley. There is no
doubt as to what he has gone for. You see, they have lost six killed
and one wounded, and they must know that they have not the slightest
chance of taking this hut. I have no doubt that he has ridden back to
bring down the infantry from the fort. From the number of huts round
the gate, and the sound of talking, I should think there were fifty or
sixty at least--perhaps a hundred.

"If they send down fifty, we shall have sharp work. Our di