Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/287

 pearing over the teak-trees, and told him to cheer up as we should have plenty of light.

"As he said it a dozen forms huddled together, dashed around the house from the rear, hugging the walls of the building, and before we knew were gone in the gloom again. But each in passing had deposited a bunch of fagots against the base of the bungalow.

"‘So that's their game, eh?' mused Tib. 'I thought they'd come the Seneca Indian trick with a flaming arrow into our roof-tree.'

"‘Stand by!' shouted Danby, and we sprang to the rear and sides of the house, for from three directions a man with a flaming torch was running towards us, intent on starting the blaze.

"Danby saw them first, and dropped his man before he had advanced ten feet. Tib nailed number two as he got dangerously close to the tinder by a plunging shot. And even then the kicking rascal tried to hurl his torch upon us. But, although I fired twice, my messenger delivered the goods and scuttled to safety before the others could pick him off.

"Well, sir, the crackle of that little sheet of flame froze me. But Tib, before we knew what he was at, threw open the side door, and, running nimbly around the corner, kicked the bonfire to the four winds and was back again with three pups hanging at his heels.