It missed Reuben by an inch or two only; but, as his rifle flashed out, the black threw up his hands and fell back in the bush.
"Here, sah, dis make good shelter;" and Jim propped up his saddle, almost in front of him.
"That's a good idea, Jim; help the others in the same way." [Illustration: A Fight with the Black Fellows.] The five men were all engaged now.

The spears whizzed fast over and among them, but most of them were thrown almost at random; for the blacks soon learned that to raise themselves above the bushes, to take aim, was to court sudden death.

Jim, after distributing the saddles to their owners, had lain down by the side of his master; and loaded his rifle as fast as he discharged it, Reuben using his pistols as effectually as the rifle, in the intervals.
Fortunately all the party were provided with these weapons.

Had it not been so, each man would have been liable to be rushed by the blacks every time he discharged his rifle.

As far as possible they fired by turns; so that each man, while loading, was covered by the fire of those on his right and left.
For half an hour the fight continued.