Hume fired both barrels, and then swung behind the projecting rock which formed the ear of the face.
“Oh, merciful Lady!” came in a gasp from behind.
“Take her to the cave, chief,” said Hume quickly, “and return with the other gun.”
Sirayo slipped away, and Hume, taking a heavy Colt’s revolver from his belt in his left hand, swung himself round and fired along the ledge on the further face of the mountain. The first shot was swiftly answered, and as quick as lightning, he emptied the remaining barrels, guided by the flashes.
Sirayo returned, and Hume explained to him that the enemy must be advancing along a ledge which sloped away to their right for about one hundred paces, to disappear around a projecting rock.
“We should hold this place against a hundred. The only danger is lest two or three should crawl up while their companions fire to attract our attention.”
“It is easy to shoot wide in the dark,” muttered Sirayo, “but when a man gets close enough to thrust an assegai it is different.” He felt about with his naked feet to find the nature of the foothold.
Hume fired again, drawing as before an instant reply, the bullets singing viciously overhead.
“They fire high,” said Hume.
“How wide is the ledge?”