“'Bout face!” I shouted. “Load at will—fire!”

We poured one scattering volley into them. It halted their movement for a moment, and then the door opened a scant crack.

“Is this you, Caton?”

“Yes; for God's sake, open up!”

The heavy door swung slowly inward, and with a wild rush to be first, we surged headlong into the hall.


CHAPTER XXX. — A UNION OF YANK AND REB

As the heavy door clanged behind us some one upon the outside began pounding upon it, while with deadly chug a bullet crashed into the oaken panel.

“Donnerwetter!” shouted a deep voice, wildly. “Captain, I am yet out mit der bullets.”