About midday a man whom they had posted in a tree that grew inside the
camp announced that he saw the enemy, and next moment a company of them
rushed towards them across the open and were greeted by a volley which
killed and wounded several men. At this exhibition of miraculous power,
for none of these soldiers had ever heard the report of firearms or
seen their effect, they retreated rapidly, uttering shouts of dismay and
carrying their dead and wounded with them.

"Do you suppose they have gone, Jeekie?" asked Alan anxiously.

He shook his head.

"Think not, Major, think they frightened, by big bullet magic, and go
consult priest. Also only a few of them here, rest of army come later
and try rush us to-morrow morning before dawn. That Asiki custom."

"Then what shall we do, Jeekie? Run for it or stop here?"

"Think must stop here, Major. If we bolt, carrying Miss Barbara, who
can't walk much, they follow on spoor and catch us. Best stick inside
this fence and see what happen. Also once outside p'raps porters desert
and leave us."

So as there was nothing else to do they stayed, labouring all day at the
strengthening of their fortifications till at length the boma or fence
of boughs, supported by earth, was so high and thick that while any were
left to fire through the loopholes, it would be very difficult to storm
by men armed with spears.