They may have made some ladders by this time, and may intend to try a shot." "Perhaps they are gone ?" Surajah suggested.
"It is quite possible.

They must know that our troop comes up here early, and as they have four miles to walk back to the fort, and several wounded to carry with them, they certainly won't stay much longer--if, as you say, they have not gone already." It was indeed well that Surajah had not attempted to look out at one of the loopholes; for, at the time he asked the question, a dark figure was standing at each, looking along the barrel of his gun, in readiness to fire the moment the light was obscured.
A few minutes later Dick exclaimed: "How stupid! We can easily test whether there is any one there, Surajah;" and, taking up a piece of thatch he pushed it suddenly across one of the loopholes.
No shot followed the action, and he went round the hut, and repeated the experiment at each of them.
"They have all gone," he said confidently.

"Had they been outside, they would certainly have fired directly the light was obscured." Standing a short distance back from the end window, he looked out between the crossbeams.
"Hurrah!" he shouted.

"There they go up the road.

They are a quarter of a mile away.