Chester could not resist the temptation to answer this demand.
"Come and get us!" he called back defiantly.
Uncle John created a slight diversion at this moment. He had been stooping over the form of the unconscious German in the shack, and now straightened up with an exclamation of satisfaction.
"Well, I've got these, anyway," he said.
He displayed a brace of revolvers and a cartridge belt which he had taken from the fallen man.
"Good," said Colonel Anderson. "Now, Hal, you and I will guard the door, and Chester and Uncle John will take care of the window. The chances are they will attack from both directions at once. Stand as far back as possible and out of the line of fire."
At that moment there came a crash against the door, as if several men were pounding upon it with their rifle butts. And this, indeed, was the case.
"Quick!" commanded Colonel Anderson. "Shove this table and these chairs against the door. Brace it with anything you can find. We should have done it sooner."
Chester and Uncle John gave up their posts guarding the window for a minute and helped in the work of barricading the entrance. And all the time the pounding continued.
As Chester stepped back after putting the last chair into place, there came a report from behind him. There was a flash that lighted up the shack like day, and the lad felt a bullet whiz past his ear.