At so short a distance every shot told; and the assailants recoiled, leaving more than a dozen dead behind them, while several of the others were wounded.
They now took up their places in the ditch, and fired through the hedge.

Lisle at once signed to the chief to order his men to cease firing, and to withdraw from the loopholes.
"It is no good to fire now," he said.

"Let them waste their ammunition." The chief at once shouted orders to his men to cease firing, and to take their place on the lower story; the walls of which, being strongly built of stone, were impenetrable by bullets; while these passed freely through the lightly-built story above.

The enemy continued to fire rapidly for some time; and then, finding that no reply was made, gradually stopped.

There was a long pause.
"I think they are waiting till it is dark," Lisle said.