The American did as he was advised, but before any of them below had an opportunity to take effective aim, his rifle spoke again and the captain called: “How now?”
“I saw a copper-colored rascal whirl ‘round and ‘round and then drop.”
“Bravo! That makes thirty-six!”
A minute later the Peruvian’s weapon sounded, and without waiting to notice the result, he darted back and commenced to reload, saying:—
“Now blaze away, my lad!” and Harvey rushed to the opening. Hope-Jones in the meantime had discharged one barrel, then another, of his shot-gun and had thrown back the breech to press in fresh shells, while the sharp report of Ferguson’s rifle came from above, once, twice, thrice, and the American was heard to call above the din:—
“They’re getting it! You struck one, Cisneros, and I have fetched two more.”
“Thirty-three,” said the Peruvian, and he crowded Harvey one side as the boy was loading his double-barrelled gun, and taking aim once more, he sent another bullet into the dark throng that was rapidly approaching, for the Indians were running.
After that there was no opportunity to keep count. Ferguson came sliding down from his altitudinous perch, having exhausted all the cartridges in his rifle; and ejecting the worthless shells, he loaded again, then stood behind Hope-Jones, to alternate with him at the peep-hole, and after the Englishman had fired both barrels point-blank, the American jumped to the opening and pumped eight shots in the direction of the enemy, as fast as the mechanism of the modern arm would work.
Harvey, the while, had been loading with feverish haste, running toward his peep-hole the moment it was left by the Peruvian and discharging his weapon. He took aim, and after the third discharge, he saw an Indian fall, evidently from shot he had sent speeding, for the man was somewhat detached from the others and the boy had tried to bring him down. The little enclosure became filled with smoke, and their faces and arms were streaked with dirt. All were more or less powder-burned, but of this they did not know till afterwards.
“What now?” suddenly said the captain, for the Majeronas had halted. “They are bending their bows! Watch out, all! Down on your faces!”