He glanced around the room quickly.
"Back in the corners," he instructed. "They'll probably try to rush us this time."
He had predicted correctly.
For a moment there was silence without; but suddenly there came a wild yell and a score of Austrians dashed forward to force an entrance to the shack.
"Make every shot count!" cried Hal.
The occupants of the cabin waited until the foe was in plain sight and then four revolvers spoke once. As many men dropped in their tracks—for at that distance a miss was practically impossible; but the other Austrians came on.
Again four revolvers spoke; and this time only three men dropped. A third volley from the occupants of the cabin accounted for two. The Austrians hesitated.
"We're wasting bullets," declared Hal. "One is enough for each man. Uncle
John, you take the man on the far left, Chester, you the one next to him,
Colonel Anderson, the third is for you. I'll take the man on this side."
"A good idea," replied the colonel. "One bullet for one Austrian. That's all each is worth."
As the Austrians, after a moment of hesitation, pressed forward once more, the weapons of the four friends spoke twice in rapid succession with greater effect.