Suddenly he raised his gun and fired.

Out dashed a black fellow from his hiding place, running across the open, and with his second barrel Dick rolled him over.

Then I saw half-a-dozen others rise, shaking their spears; but, seeing me riding up, and supposing I was armed, they made off.
"How did this come about, Dick, my lad ?" said I."This is a bad job." "Well," he said, "I just fired at a duck, and the moment my gun was gone off, up jumped half-a-dozen of them, and sent a shower of spears at me, and one has gone into my leg.

They must a' thought that I had a single-barrel gun and waited till I'd fired it; but they found their mistake, the devils; for I gave one of them a charge of shot in his stomach at twenty yards, and dropped him; they threw a couple more spears, but both missed, and I hobbled out as well as I could, loading as I went with a couple of tallow cartridges.

I saw this other beast skulking, and missed him first time, but he has got something to remember me by now." "Do you think you can ride to the station and get some help ?" said I.
"I wish the others were back." "Yes," he replied, "I will manage it, but I don't like to leave you alone." "One must stay," I said, "and better the sound man than the wounded one.