“We can’t fight very long with the small number of cartridges, so each one must bring down a man. If the fellows from the top join in, as I reckon they’re bound to do, keep far enough inside to prevent them from seeing the flash of the powder, an’ take to your hatchets when the last shot has been fired. It’s better to die here fightin’ than allow ourselves to be taken prisoners for their pleasure.”
“We’ll do our share,” Gil said, “and now I shan’t hesitate to try to kill a human being.”
“It’s your life or theirs, an’ you’d be foolish to have any scruples now. I’ve brought the iron box here in case there should be a chance of gettin’ out of this place; but I don’t s’pose we’ll have any call for it, because there are too many blacks for us to get the best of in a fair fight.”
Jenkins ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that moment a rustling of the leaves was heard from the top of the shaft, and all expected the onslaught would be made at once.
Even Andy understood it was a question of fighting, and that his charm would not avail him at such a time, therefore he joined the defenders, although he had no weapon.
One, two, three minutes passed, and to the boys it seemed as if every drop of blood in their bodies was literally boiling with excitement. Their mouths became parched, and each tried in vain to moisten his burning lips, as he mentally braced himself for the coming struggle.
The suspense was worse than reality, and only with the greatest difficulty could Gil prevent himself from shrieking to break the awful silence. Five minutes more passed, and it seemed as if fully half-an-hour must have elapsed when the little party were absolutely electrified by hearing a blood-curdling cry from the forest, which was echoed and re-echoed by the trees until one could have sworn a hundred men were in their last agonies.
Almost at the same instant the sound of footsteps came from the tunnel, and before the boys could draw their weapons, it was succeeded by a cry of distress from a dozen throats.
Then all was still once more.
Nelse turned toward Jenkins as if to ask whether this had simply been a trick of the imagination, and then came a cry of terror from the tunnel, repeated again and again until the air was filled with the hideous noise.