A minute more and the spot was reached in safety.
“Now!” exclaimed Leo, “give it to them! Everybody fire as fast as he can.”
The next instant five rifles began sending a veritable hailstorm of bullets.
Down went seven or eight of the savage barbarians, as the professor chose to term them, and several more began hopping about like mad from the wounds they had received.
Leo expected to see them turn and flee now, since he and his companions had reached a place where they could most likely hold their own.
But no! They kept on shooting their arrows, which, by the way, did our friends not the least bit of harm, as they had crouched behind a huge bowlder.
But in spite of the determined stand our friends made, they were doomed to defeat.
Suddenly they heard a pattering of feet behind them, and, on turning, beheld a crowd of the savages coming through the passage.
They were between two fires!