Instead of frightening, it enraged, driving them into savage fury as they stared at the stiffening body of their comrade.

Scarcely had the smoke of the discharge drifted upward when, all their former impressive silence broken, and yelling like fiends incarnate, they made an impetuous rush for the hill.
"_Francais_! _Francais_!" I was certain they used the word, fairly hissing it forth as if in bitter hatred, yet I had short enough time in which to listen as I hastily rammed home a second charge with which to greet them as they came.
"It will be best to draw, Messieurs," spoke De Noyan in a cool, drawling voice.

"Ah, that was better, Master Benteen!" as two of the advancing mob went stumbling to the bullet.

"It leaves but twenty-seven to the three of us; not such bad odds! Now, friends, yield no step backward, and strike as you never struck before." I enjoyed little space in which to glance behind where I knew Eloise crouched beneath the protecting shadow of the great stone, yet I am certain I felt the full magic of her eyes upon me.

As I wheeled, newly armed for strife, my hands clutched hard about the rifle-barrel, our fierce assailants came surging up against the stone wall.