Three spears had pierced him.
"Stand to your arms.

Steady, for your lives," Reuben shouted.
"Jim, throw the horses at once, and fasten their legs.
"We must defend ourselves here," he continued, turning to the others, "until help comes." Not a moment was lost.

The little party threw themselves down in a circle, each taking shelter behind a bush; and Jim speedily got the eight horses down in the centre, for each party had with it three of the spare animals.

The whole time, from the first alarm until all was ready to receive the natives, did not occupy two minutes.
The horses of the sentries had galloped wildly on, both having been struck by spears; and Jim had no difficulty with the remainder, which were all standing in a group when the alarm was given, the owners not yet having removed their saddles.
All was done without flurry or excitement, although the yells of the natives rose from the bush all round them.

The bush was fortunately not very thick at the point where they had halted, Reuben having selected it for that very reason; but the bushes were sufficiently near to each other to enable an enemy to creep up, within thirty yards or so, without being seen.
"Don't throw away a shot," Reuben called out; "but pick off the blacks, as they stand up to throw their spears.
"Ah!" The exclamation was accompanied by a shot from his rifle, as a native rose suddenly from the bush and hurled his spear.