Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/239

Rh the Wilderness, or some other place, at least till daylight. Keith, you … you look after her, old man. I'll stop here and make a big noise while you're making your get-away. And, I say … Keith … see that she has one cartridge in her gun … for the finish. Now, for God's sake, get out of here, quick!"

The pounding had now doubled in intensity. Evidently the blacks, finding they could work there without interruption, had secured another log with which to batter the wall.

"I shall not go, leaving you here to be killed, Chester," the girl said firmly.

"Go, Joan," her brother urged. "There isn't a moment to lose. There's one chance in twenty for you if you clear out now—"

"You go and remove the shutter in Chester's room," the girl said, touching Keith's arm. "I will stay here with him helping to shoot and draw the attention of the blacks to the front of the house until you are ready for us. Then we all three go together or else I shall stay behind."

There was a crashing noise where the enemy were loosening the planks. Seconds had become priceless.

With infinite caution, Keith removed the shutter. It was pitch dark outside. He could neither see nor hear anything near. From the living-room the other two were discharging a volley.