Here they come! Hurry now, be off with the
women! Volley-firing--ready--present!"
Pattering footsteps sounded on the causeway, and a little crowd of
nearly doubled figures came up it at a run.
"Fire!"
The volley took the rebels absolutely by surprise, and no man could
miss his mark at that short range. Five of the rebels fell back headlong,
and the rest, who followed up the causeway, turned on their heels
and ran.
"'Bout turn!" Brown shouted suddenly. "Use the steel, men! Use the
steel!"
His own sword was flashing, and lunging as he spoke, and he had already
checked a sudden rush by the prisoners.
They had thought the moment favorable for joining in the scrimmage
from the rear.
"All right! That'll do them! I'll attend to 'em now!"
A man came running up with the lantern Brown had asked for, and Brown
took it and began waving it above his head.
"They must have heard that volley!" he muttered to himself. "Ah!
There's the answer!"
A red light began to dance over in the British camp, moving up and
down and sidewise in sudden little jerks.
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