Those in front tried to stop as they saw the
trap into which they were entering, but pressed on by those behind
they were forced forward.
And now a crackling fire of musketry broke out from the rifles
projecting between the sandbags into the crowded mass. Every shot
told. Wild shrieks, yells, and curses rose from the assailants.
Some tried madly to climb up the sandbags, some to force their way
back through the crowd behind; some threw themselves down; others
discharged their muskets at their invisible foe. From the roof
the Doctor and his companion kept up a rapid fire upon the crowd
struggling to enter the breach. As fast as the defenders' muskets
were discharged they handed them down to the servants behind to
be reloaded, and when each had fired his spare muskets he betook
himself to his revolver.
Wilson, while discharging his rifle, kept his eyes upon Bathurst.
The latter had not fired a shot, but lay rigid and still, save
for a sort of convulsive shuddering. Presently there was a little
lull in the firing as the weapons were emptied, and the defenders
seizing the bricks hurled them down into the mass.
"Look out!" the Major shouted; "keep your heads low--I am going
to throw the canisters."
A number of these had been prepared, filled to the mouth with powder
and bullets, and with a short fuse attached, ropes being fastened
round them to enable them to be slung some distance. The Major half
rose to throw one of these missiles when his attention was called
by a shout from Wilson.
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