"Back!" he panted as he forced himself through, and shut to the door, which resounded with the impact of spears as the bars were thrust into their places. Then a tall black with wide eyes and gleaming teeth moved up to thrust his spear through the loophole, but a flash came from the narrow opening, and he dropped, rose, turned to flee, and dropped again.

Another ran up, and the captain's second barrel flashed out its contents, with the result that the black turned, ran back a dozen yards or so, and fell upon his face.

"Load that," said the captain hoa.r.s.ely, pa.s.sing back his gun, and seizing that nearest to him--the one Sam German held. For he kept to his place at the loophole in the thick door, and thrusting out the barrel, drew trigger twice at a party of six who dashed now to the door.

_Click_.

A pause.

_Click_.

In each case a tiny shower of sparks followed the fall of the hammer, and the captain uttered an angry roar like that of some stricken beast.

"Back!" he cried; and all fell away from the door, to right and left.

It was time, for three spears were thrust through the narrow slit as the gun was withdrawn, and kept on darting about as far in every direction as their holders could reach.

"German!" cried the captain, tossing the gun to the man, "and after all I have said!"

Norman stepped forward to fire, but his father checked him.

"Give me your piece," he said; and taking it and c.o.c.king both locks, he dropped a bullet in each of the barrels, felt with the ramrod that they were well home, and then going down on one knee, took careful aim through the darkened loophole and fired.

There was a roar and a crash; the spears were withdrawn, and the captain rose and stepped forward, firing the second barrel from the loophole itself.

"Another," he said quietly; and taking Tim's gun as the sound of loading went on, he suddenly cried, "Who's at the back?"

For there was a curious noise in the direction of the kitchen, followed by a shot, a yell, the sound of some one struggling, and they dashed into the place to see, as well as the darkness and smoke would allow, the embers from the hearth scattered and burning all about the kitchen, and a black figure writhing on the floor.

As he entered, Uncle Jack was in the act of pa.s.sing his gun up the wide chimney--once more temporarily opened; there was a report, a yell, and another figure fell right on the burning fragments left on the hearth, rolled over, and lay motionless.

"Nearly surprised me," said Uncle Jack, coolly loading just as Rifle fired twice from the loophole of the back door, when there was a rush overhead and then silence.

"They've drawn back about thirty yards," said Rifle, loading as his father trampled out the burning embers, which were filling the place with a stifling smoke.

"Better pour water on the fire and put it quite out," said the captain to his brother.

"No: water may be scarce soon," was the reply. "We'll tread it out."

"Coming on again!" shouted Rifle; and as there was the customary sound of spears sticking into the woodwork, the boy fired twice, his charges of big shot scattering and wounding far more than he ever knew.

Just then four shots were fired quickly from the front, there was a savage yelling, and as the captain ran forward, Sam German could be dimly-seen beginning to recharge his piece.

"She were loaded this time, master," he said fiercely, "and some on 'em knowed it.--How many did you bring down, Master 'Temus?"

"Don't know," said the boy huskily, as he hurriedly reloaded.

"Yer needn't be ashamed to say, my lad," cried the old gardener. "We're fighting for ladies, and agen savage wretches as won't let honest folk alone. There, I'm ready for another now."

"Don't fire till they attack," said the captain. "Do you hear, Norman: no waste."

"I hear, father," said the boy quietly, as he stood with his piece resting in the opening, and his bronzed face on the watch.

"Hurray!" came from the back, and at the same moment Norman shouted: "They're retiring, father;" and then a low sobbing came from the inner room.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS' PEACE.

Victory was won for the time being; and as the two groups drew back toward the shelter of the scrub, they could be seen carrying the wounded and those who had fallen. Ten minutes later they were close up to the trees, when a thought struck the captain.

"Quick, Norman, unbar that door. Marian, every one there, keep close.

No one is to come out." He then called to German, who followed him into the kitchen, and together they bore out the bodies of the two blacks who had obtained an entrance, one of them still showing signs of life.

They carried one at a time some distance out into the open, having the satisfaction of seeing that the enemy had halted and were watching them, while by the time the second body was lowered on to the gra.s.s, the blacks were returning at a swift run.

But long before they were near the besieged were back in shelter, and the enemy, as they came up, contented themselves by yelling and making threatening gestures with their spears before retiring, once more bearing off their two companions.

"And now for preparations for the night attack," said the captain, quietly. "Why, boys, it was like regular warfare. Your advance compelled the enemy to develop his strength and forced on a general engagement.--Come girls, all of you, and have a little fresh air before dark."

And as the door was opened and the fresh evening breeze floated in to waft away the horrible dank odour of burnt gunpowder, it seemed hardly possible to believe that so deadly an encounter could have occurred lately, and no one on their side been even scratched.

"But I should have liked to save some of that mutton," said Rifle, thoughtfully. "It is quite time we had a change."

The hour came for barricading the door only too soon, and once more the watch commenced, half of the tiny garrison lying down, while Aunt Georgie and one of the girls pressed for leave to share the watch, urging that they were not weary, and would perhaps be able to detect by eye or ear the approach of danger.

The captain, who was nearly exhausted by his efforts, reluctantly consented, and lay down for a few minutes, giving orders that he should be called at the slightest alarm, and a few minutes after--as he believed--he sprang up looking puzzled and confused.

For the door was wide open, the morning sun shining in, and there was the sharp crackling of a fire, and the smell of baking bread.

"What is the meaning of this?" he said.

"Only that you've slept all night, father, and never moved," cried Rifle, merrily.

"But I gave orders to be called at the slightest alarm."

"And there never was the slightest alarm," cried the boy, joyfully.--"Hi! Man--Tim--father's awake."

Norman and his cousin came to the door gun in hand.

"See anything?" cried Rifle.

"No.--Morning, father.--I believe they've gone."

"Impossible! But you have not heard them all night?"