The troopers, glad that the time for inaction had passed, returned the fire with vigour.

They had shifted the upper line of stones, so that there was room between each for a musket barrel and, lying in shelter, they were enabled to take deliberate aim at their assailants.

At every shot a man dropped, and the crowd opened speedily, and cleared away from the line of fire.
There was a pause of some minutes, and then a strong party of soldiers rushed forward, and began to try to pull down the barrier; a number of others opening fire over their heads, so as to prevent the defenders from standing up to fire down into them.

It was evident that, ere long, a slope would be formed outside by which an assault could be made.
That his men would for some time repel any attack, Harry thought certain; but sooner or later it would succeed, and there would then be no time to retire.

He therefore sent a man back, to see if the hole in the wall was large enough; and he returned directly, saying that the men there had just concluded their work, and that six of them were coming back.
Harry now gave orders, to the native officer who was standing beside him, to order these men to lead the horses through the opening.