A fearful uproar of barking, howling, and snorting, followed.

Presently Guard got out from under, and ran yelping off, leaving his pursuer floundering about under the hide.

Kit rushed up, and thrust his bayonet into the creature's exposed side; when with a mighty squirm it turned itself, knocking down the boat, and sending our stone wall flying in all directions.

The battle was now fairly begun.

We all closed in round the animal, thrusting at it with our bayonets anywhere we could stab.