Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/238

226 a pale glow through a break in the clouds down to the turbulent scene on Tao Tao. The glow took unawares a black who had stealthily climbed the steps and was crouching with a heavy club ready to hurl it through the window.

There came the crack of two revolvers almost simultaneously, and the black leaped into the air, spun round, and fell backward.

"What worries me," Chester went on between his teeth, "is Joan's fate. Once they break the side of the place down they'll be able to swarm in, and that's going to happen mighty soon now."

"I shall shoot myself when the time comes," Joan declared simply. "After all, one can only die once."

"Don't be in too much of a hurry to do that," Keith jerked out. "I've got an idea. Listen. As it is, we're trapped, and if we stay here the game will be up in a few minutes now. It's as dark as the grave outside. The niggers may have started by surrounding the bungalow, but if I'm not mistaken they're now all at the front and round at the west side where you can hear them yelling and thumping. The narrowest part of the compound is opposite Chester's bedroom. It's only about eight yards there from the wall of the house to the edge of the trees."

"That's right," agreed Chester. "If we could get her across there, there's a chance of making for