"Here they come!" Reader Rawson warned.
"How far can these rifles be depended on?" Birdy Edwards wanted to know.
Altamont straightened, saw the second band of savages approaching, about four hundred yards away.
"Start shooting now," he said. "Aim for the upper part of their bodies."
The two auto-loading rifles began to crack. After a few shots, the savages took cover. Evidently they understood the capabilities and limitations of the villagers' flintlocks; this was a terrifying surprise to them.
"Jim!" Altamont was almost praying into the radio. "Come in, Jim!"
"What is it, Monty? I was outside."
Altamont told him.
"Those fellows you had up with you yesterday; think they could be trusted to handle the guns? A couple of them are here with me," Loudons inquired.
"Take a chance on it; it won't cost you anything but my life, and that's not worth much at present."