It will only be in our way." The tent was speedily lowered.

The Fans grasped their spears and lay down behind the circle of boxes and bales, and the six Houssas, the two white men and Ostik, to whom a trade musket had been entrusted, took their places at regular intervals round the circle, which was some eight yards in diameter.

Presently the beat of the drums again broke the silence, and a shower of arrows, coming apparently from all points of the compass, fell in and around the circle.
"Open fire steadily and quietly," Mr.Goodenough said, "among the bushes, but don't fire fast.

We must tempt them to show themselves." A dropping fire commenced against the invisible foe, the fire being no more frequent than it would have been had they been armed with muzzle loading weapons.

Presently musketry was heard on the enemy's side, the king's bodyguard having opened fire.