he added as the leader came towards the house, knocked at the door, and called in a loud voice for it to be opened.
No answer was given, of course, and after he had repeated his summons he called:
"If the door is not opened we shall break it in."
Getting no reply, he returned to his men, and sent four of them round to the back of the house. Then one of the men called his attention to something at the side of the yard, and eight of them went and picked up a heavy balk of timber lying there.
"They're going to use it as a battering-ram," said Zoiloff. "We must stop that."
"Wait," I said quickly. "When they are in position I'll warn them, and through the open windows we can then shoot the horses. Remember, men, level your guns first at the men, and when I tell you, aim at the horses, and shoot straight."
The timber was heavy, the afternoon hot, the men fatigued and with no great zest for the business, so that they took a long time before they had brought it round near the door.
Then I threw up the window sharply, and called, in a ringing voice:
"Stop! We sha'n't allow that."
Looking up, the troopers found themselves covered by the guns of our party, and, dropping the timber, they rushed like hares for cover—all save the leader, who flung curses at them for their cowardice.
"Now fire," I said; and, levelling my rifle, I picked out a horse, and we fired our first volley.
"Quick! again!" and a second volley rang out.
The effect was indescribable. Five horses fell at the first round, and the rest stampeded and plunged so
