"If we drive them this time, they will hardly seek more at our hands." "It will be even according to the will of the Lord of Hosts," he returned piously.

"Yet I greatly fear lest my sword-blade be not sound within its hilt." "Stoop low for the volley of rocks," commanded De Noyan, hastily, "then stand up to it with all the strength you have." Halfway up the little hill they let fly a vicious volley, the hard missiles crashing against the face of the rock, and showering down on backs and heads, some of them with painful force.

As we sprang to our posts of defence once more, the savages were already nearly within spear-length of us, and, to our disastrous surprise, delivered a second volley of stones directly into our faces.

One jagged rock glanced from off my rifle-barrel, striking me on the side of the head with sufficient force to send me staggering back against the stone slab.
Before I could regain place the Indians swarmed over the low wall, two of them, in spite of fierce struggles, bearing me backward to the ground.

Through a half-blinding mist of blood I beheld a carven war-club uplifted in the air, noted the face, distorted by passion, of the naked giant wielding it; yet, before I could close my eyes to the swift blow, there came a sudden flash of fire mingled with a sharp report.