Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/233

 MOMENT later he had burst into his sister's room. The girl had already sprung out of bed, awakened by the cries of the blacks.

"What is it?" she cried anxiously.

"Get your gun, sis. There's trouble coming. They've surrounded the house, and, by the sound of them they're out for blood. On with a dressing gown. That's right."

"You there, Trent?"

It was Keith's voice. He was in the living-room.

"Don't strike a light! Stick plenty of cartridges in your pockets, and give 'em lead."

"Best shove the shutters up at the back of the house," said Chester. "That may help—for a time, at least. Come on."

Hurriedly the two men swung across the bedroom windows the heavy boards which had always been ready in case of such necessity. These were fastened with solid bars, rendering the windows nearly as impervious to attack as the walls. At the front of the house there was one large window, 221