Waggaman was not in sight, though there could be no doubt that he was the inspiring spirit in the movement.  All the indications were that a rush had been agreed upon.  Should it be permitted to come off unopposed in its incipiency, it would be all up with the men who had defended themselves so bravely thus far.

“I will begin at the head of the row,” said the Professor, “and you at the foot; make every shot tell.”

“All right; begin!”

The fusillade was opened the same instant.  Both men fired rapidly, and, though they could not pause to make their aim as sure as they wished, and though it is not to be supposed that every shot was effective, yet the execution was dreadful.

Arms were seen flung spasmodically upwards, figures leaped clear off the ground and then fell back out of sight, shrieks and shouts filled the air, and still the crack of the Winchesters continued without intermission.

One gratifying feature of the fearful scene was that the warriors began flocking around to the front, though they kept well back, as if to avoid the murderous discharge.  These new arrivals not only afforded additional targets to the riflemen, despite their furious efforts to screen themselves, but proved that the scheme of the defenders was working as they desired:  the natives were swarming from the rear to the front.

“Off with you; don’t wait!” commanded the Professor.

“Good-bye!” was all that Jared Long said, as he darted from the side of his gallant friend and vanished.

Professor Grimcke took a few seconds to refill his magazine, when up went his Winchester again and the furious discharges seemed to be more rapid than before.

It would naturally be supposed that if the assailants saw that both of the white men had concentrated their fusillade at the front, they would make a dash to the rear.  That, it may be said, would be the second step in the programme.  It was calculated that the sudden volleys of the rifles would draw all the natives thither, and then, after learning what had taken place, a large part of them would rush back again.

The New Englander had been gone only a few minutes, when the Professor saw evidences that the second step was about to be taken.  The savages were beginning to move back to the rear, though at a greater distance then from the building than before.

All at once Grimcke ceased firing.  While looking sharply out of the door, he mechanically refilled the magazine of his rifle from his stock of cartridges which was running low.

“Now or never!” he said to himself, and then, turning, he ran swiftly through the two rooms to the rear door, through which he bounded without a moment’s hesitation.

He expected his flight would be announced by a series of shouts and a storm of poisoned javelins.  He held his breath, and, as the seconds passed, began wondering whether there was a possibility after all of successfully following the footsteps of his friend.