ood before
Tony could get up to where Angel and the Igorots waited.

He and Scotty unslung their rifles. Chahda joined them, bolo in hand.
Dog Meat would help Tony up. The boys spread out, working by hand
signals. They were a short distance back from the terrace edge, but
close enough to swing at any heads that appeared.

The first Ifugao pursuer came up the wall near Chahda. The Hindu boy
swung with the flat of his bolo and there was a _thunk_ as he connected.
Then Rick saw a face appear and poked at it with the muzzle of his
rifle. The face vanished and there was a scream as the Ifugao fell.

Rick winced. It was a long fall, but at least there was soft ground of
the rice paddy at the bottom.

Another face appeared and Rick swung his rifle barrel, felt it connect,
then answered Angel's yell. "Come on!"

Scotty triggered off half a dozen shots, then the three boys ran for the
wall and started up. From above, Angel and Tony yelled encouragement.
Angel's rifle blazed away. Pilipil, Tony, and Balaban threw rocks.

A spear, badly thrown, came sideways through the air and caught Rick
across the legs. He almost lost his footing, but recovered and went up
another step. He didn't dare look down. He knew the Ifugaos were on the
terrace below, but to look down was to lose time. He went up another few
feet, then got stuck unable to find a handhold.

A hand grabbed him by the ankle! He yelled and kicked. Angel appeared
right over his head and dropped a rock. The rock brushed Rick and found
its target. There was a wild cry and the grip on his ankle was gone. He
moved laterally along the wall until he could move upward again. Angel
and Pilipil caught his arms and pulled him to the top. Chahda arrived at
almost the same moment, then Scotty appeared.

Rick unslung his rifle. "Let's go! Make a run for it."

Scotty called, "Angel! Chahda! Go get the jeeps started."

They had Chahda's jeep as well as their own. Rick caught Tony's arm.
"Are you all right?"

"Yes. Fine. Where do we go?"

"Follow Chahda. Scotty and I will bring up the rear."

Ifugaos poured over the terrace edge and were met by Pilipil and
Balaban. Scotty and Rick joined in, rifles flailing, and in a moment the
terrace was clear again. The temporary victors took to their heels
before the next wave of Ifugaos could arrive.

Ahead, they heard the jeeps' motors. They would make it all right.

A spear arched overhead and stuck quivering in the road. Rick snatche