The door was already
shaking beneath the blows from without. They could feel the heated
breath making its way in through the cracks in the bark.

Godfrey and Carefinotu attempted to prop back the door with the stakes
which kept up the beds, but these proved quite useless.

It was obvious that in a little while it would be driven in, for the
beasts were mad with rage--particularly as no shots could reach them.

Godfrey was powerless. If he and his companions were inside Will Tree
when the assailants broke in, their weapons would be useless to protect
them.

Godfrey had crossed his arms. He saw the boards of the door open little
by little. He could do nothing. In a moment of hesitation, he passed his
hand across his forehead, as if in despair. But soon recovering his
self-possession, he shouted,--

"Up we go! Up! All of us!"

And he pointed to the narrow passage which led up to the fork inside
Will Tree.

Carefinotu and he, taking their muskets and revolvers, supplied
themselves with cartridges.

And now he turned to make Tartlet follow them into these heights where
he had never ventured before.

Tartlet was no longer there. He had started up while his companions were
firing.

"Up!" repeated Godfrey.

It was a last retreat, where they would assuredly be sheltered from the
wild beasts. If any tiger or panther attempted to come up into the
branches of the sequoia, it would be easy to defend the hole through
which he would have to pass.

Godfrey and Carefinotu had scarcely ascended thirty feet, when the
roaring was heard in the interior of Will Tree. A few moments more and
they would have been surprised. The door had just fallen in. They both
hurried along, and at last reached the upper end of the hole.

A scream of terror welcomed them. It was Tartlet, who imagined he saw a
panther or tiger! The unfortunate professor was clasping a branch,
frightened almost out of his life lest he should fall.

Carefinotu went to him, and compelled him to lean against an upright
bough, to which he firmly secured him with his belt.

Then, while Godfrey selected a place whence he could command the
opening, Carefinotu went to another spot whence he could deliver a cross
fire.

And they waited.

Under these circumstances it certainly looked as though the besieged
were safe from attack.

Godfrey endeavoured to discover what was passing beneath them; but the
night was still too dark. Then he tried to hear; and the growli