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.