d, glancing
along, saw that something dark barred his view. He fired at once.
There was a loud cry and a fall, then a rush to the window, and a
moment later a hole appeared in the thatch. Dick discharged two
pistols through it, and as he did so Surajah fired.

The thatch was speedily pulled down, as the enemy had learned to avoid
the loopholes. A yell of rage rose, as the fallen thatch showed them
that the window was defended with crossbars, in the same way as the
door. Immediately afterwards, Dick had a narrow escape from a shot
fired through a loophole close to him.

"Stoop down," he cried, and, crouching below the level of the
loopholes, made his way to the end of the hut. "Recharge the guns
first, Surajah. They may fire away through the loopholes as long as
they like. It is lucky we made them so high, except the three under
the windows. We must be careful in keeping out of the line of those.

"You sit down where you can command the end window, and the one
behind--I will watch the front window and door. A bold fellow might
put his musket through, and pick one of us off, and that is what we
have to prevent. So keep your gun in readiness, and if you see a head
appear, don't miss it."

The enemy now kept up a constant fire through the loopholes at the end
and back of the house; but as these were shoulder high, and there was
no altering the elevation of the guns, the shots flew harmlessly over
the heads of the defenders. Several times, Dick went to one or other
of the loopholes, pistol in hand, and, standing close beside it,
waited until a shot was fired; and then, thrusting the barrel into the
loophole, fired before another gun could be inserted, the discharge
being generally followed by a sharp cry of pain.

After this had gone on for nearly an hour, the assailants evidently
became discouraged. The shots came from the loopholes less frequently,
and presently ceased altogether.

"I would give a good deal to know what they are up to," Dick said,
after a long pause.

"Shall I look through the loophole?" Surajah asked.

"Certainly not. There will be a man standing at each of them, waiting
in expectation of our taking a look out."

"But there are none in front," Surajah said.

"That is more than we can say. They have not been firing on that side,
but they may have men there now. No, we will leave well alone,
Surajah. The longer they delay, the better for us.

"Keep your eye on the top of the wall, as well as o