"He thinks, sir, that they are gathering for a rush beyond those bushes," pointing along the crest towards Bush Hill.
Cummins went across to the Log Redoubt, and found Williams scanning the bushes beyond him through his glasses.
"They are gathering pretty thickly behind there, sir, and I think I can make out a couple of Europeans."
Cummins could see them too, and he sent Glover to Mr. Pattison to tell him to bring his men out of the gun-pit. They swarmed over the parapet and came flying across the level ground, and lay down in the grass on the right of the Log Redoubt.
"They are using Mauser rifles, sir," said Williams.
"Yes, I know. How do you know?"
Williams held up his left arm, his handkerchief tied around the wrist and red with blood. "Two tiny holes slap bang through."
"Bones broken?" the Commander asked anxiously.
"I don't think so," Williams said, adding, as the most awful shrieks and yells came from the bushes—"they are trying to frighten us and getting up courage to rush across, but I think we can stop them in the open. Steady, men, don't waste a shot, and fire low. Loosen your belts, men, and see your ammunition clear."
Each of the ten Blue Marines loosened a couple of packets and laid them in little piles at his right-hand side.