Part 32 (1/2)

The others had been awakened by the noise and were quickly at his side.

”Chris, give me a hand to lay him on my bed; Captain, replace the post in the doorway,” Walter commanded with heartsore calmness.

The wounded man opened his eyes as they laid him gently on the couch.

”It's no use bothering with me, old chap,” he said, quietly. ”I'm hit in a dozen places and I'm doctor enough to know that I'm going fast.”

Walter buried his head by the dying man's side and sobbed dryly.

”There, there,” the other said, soothingly, ”don't feel bad about it.

It's just what I wished for. I'm going to die like a gentleman.”

Walter hushed his sobs with an effort to catch the feebly spoken words.

The wounded man's eyes closed, and Walter held his breath for a second thinking him dead, but in a moment he opened them again and smiled faintly, ”There's nothing to a race but the finish,” he whispered.

A little longer he lay still breathing heavily. Suddenly by a mighty effort he raised himself on his elbow, his eyes s.h.i.+ning with a strange light. ”Not guilty, your honor,” he said in a firm voice, then sank back still and white.

”He's dead,” said Walter, brokenly. ”He had his wish; he died like a hero.”

They covered the still form reverently with a blanket, and the silence of bitter grief settled on the little party. The others had not become so intimate with the dead man as Walter, but they had grown to admire him greatly, and the thought that he had given up his life in their service added to their grief.

Walter's suffering was intense and it was well that his mind was of necessity soon forced into other channels.

The convicts, exasperated at the way they had been outwitted, opened a heavy continuous fire upon the hut, under cover of which several attempts were made to carry the hut by a.s.sault. But the a.s.saulting parties were easily discouraged by the steady fire that met them at each attempt.

”It looks as if they were getting desperate,” said the captain. ”I reckon they know now that we can hold out for a long time yet, and they are gettin' discouraged,” and his companions agreed with him.

Towards morning the convicts' fire slackened and gradually ceased.

Just as day was breaking, the distant report of a rifle was borne to the ears of the besieged.

Charley, who was now able to leave his bed, listened eagerly. ”It's Indian Charley's rifle. I know the sound,” he declared, ”ten shots; I wonder what it means.”

From the fort, came an answering volley of ten rifle shots.

”It's a signal,” cried Walter. ”I wonder what it's for.”

”Hallo there in the but, we want a parley,” hailed a rough voice from the fort.

”All right,” answered Charley, ”send forward one man, unarmed.”

A convict emerged from the fort and advanced towards the hut with fearful, hesitating footsteps.

”Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you,” Walter called to him encouragingly.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.