At first they fancied they were not pursued.
After going a hundred yards, however, a wild yell and the patter of feet told them they would have to do their best.
Encumbered as they were, with both the lads partly disabled and the captain no speedy runner, the savages soon gained on them.
"We must give them another volley!" panted the captain.
Though the guns chosen were breech-loaders, it took some little time to reload them whilst at a run.
Suddenly Bob felt a shock, which nearly made him fall.
However, he recovered himself with a stagger.
"The sack saved you," gasped Captain Sumner. "But for that the spear would have pierced your back. Now wheel round and fire!"
As they fronted the natives they found that not thirty yards divided them.
At that short range every bullet told.