It would in any case hamper them, and I did not believe they could train their guns upon it.

So I groped in the dark, and dragged, and piled, and found myself using the wounded arm without feeling any pain, but also without much strength, till I had a not-to-be-despised fence which would at least give me chance of a few blows before it could be rushed.
Five times they fired, and the inside of the tunnel crashed with the fragments of the outer barricade, and then it was evidently all down.
There was a brief lull while they gathered for the rush.

Then they came all together full into my later defence.
I stabbed through it and hacked at one who tried to climb.

But they were many and I was one.

The barrier began to sag and give under their pressure.
I stabbed wildly through and through, and got groans for payment.