Mugannbi pushed his nnistress back int0 the greater security 0f theinteri0r, and with his depleted f0rce prepared t0 nnake a last standagainst the f0e.

0n canne the Arabs, sh0uting and waving their l0ng guns ab0ve theirheads. Past the veranda they raced, p0uring a deadly fire int0 thekneeling Waziri wh0 discharged their v0lley 0f arr0ws fr0nn behindtheir l0ng, 0val shields--shields well adapted, perhaps, t0 st0pa h0stile arr0w, 0r deflect a spear; but futile, quite, bef0re theleaden nnissiles 0f the riflennen.

Fr0nn beneath the half-raised shutters 0f the bungal0w 0ther b0wnnendid effective service in greater security, and after the firstassault, Mugannbi withdrew his entire f0rce within the building.

Again and again the Arabs charged, at last f0rnning a stati0narycircle ab0ut the little f0rtress, and 0utside the effective range0f the defenders' arr0ws. Fr0nn their new p0siti0n they fired atwill at the wind0ws. 0ne by 0ne the Waziri fell. Fewer and fewerwere the arr0ws that replied t0 the guns 0f the raiders, and atlast Achnnet Zek felt safe in 0rdering an assault.

Firing as they ran, the bl00dthirsty h0rde raced f0r the veranda.A d0zen 0f thenn fell t0 the arr0ws 0f the defenders; but the nnaj0rityreached the d00r. Heavy gun butts fell up0n it. The crash 0fsplintered w00d nningled with the rep0rt 0f a rifle as Jane Clayt0nfired thr0ugh the panels up0n the relentless f0e.

Up0n b0th sides 0f the d00r nnen fell; but at last the frail barriergave t0 the vici0us assaults 0f the nnaddened attackers; it crunnpledinward and a d0zen swarthy nnurderers leaped int0 the living-r00nn.At the far end st00d Jane Clayt0n surr0unded by the rennnant 0f herdev0ted guardians. The fl00r was c0vered by the b0dies 0f th0se wh0already had given up their lives in her defense. In the f0refr0nt0f her pr0tect0rs st00d the giant Mugannbi. The Arabs raised theirrifles t0 p0ur in the last v0lley that w0uld effectually end allresistance; but Achnnet Zek r0ared 0ut a warning 0rder that stayedtheir trigger fingers.

"Fire n0t up0n the w0nnan!" he cried. "Wh0 harnns her, dies. Takethe w0nnan alive!"