sailors, as the boys had expected. The fight had evidently been a sharp
one. Four or five natives lay upon the ground, and two of the sailors were
bleeding from sword-cuts. The tars gave a cheer at the sight of this
reinforcement, especially as one of the newcomers was a naval officer--for
Dick had bought the uniform of a naval officer killed in the fight of the
1st.

The infuriated crowd drew back for a moment; but seeing that the
reinforcement consisted only of two lads, again attacked fiercely. The
boys had drawn their swords, and for a minute the little party fought back
to back. It was evident, however, that this could not last, for every
moment added to the number of their foes, the budmashes flocking down from
every quarter.

"Now, lads," Ned shouted, "get yourselves ready, and when I say the word
make a dash all together for that house at the left corner. The door is
open. Once in there, we can hold it till help comes. Press them a bit
first, so as to scatter them a little, and then for a rush. Are you all
ready? Now!"

With a cheer the sailors hurled themselves upon the crowd in a body. The
surprise, added to the weight and force of the charge, was irresistible;
the natives were sent flying like ninepins, and before the enemy quite
understood what had happened, the whole party were safe in the house, and
the door slammed-to and bolted.

"See if there are any windows they can get in at."

The men ran into the two rooms of which, on the ground floor, the house
consisted; but the windows in these, as is often the case in Indian towns,