Well, there is one comfort--it does not make much difference to us which side wins." The guards at the first alarm leaped to their feet, caught up their matchlocks, and ran to aid in the defense of the wall.

Two minutes later a man ran up to the cage.
"All lightee," he said; "just what me hopee." With his knife he cut the tough withes that held the bamboos in their places, and pulled out three of the bars.
"Come along," he said; "no time to lose." Jack scrambled out, but in trying to stand upright gave a sharp exclamation of pain.

Percy crawled out more slowly; he tried to stand up, but could not.

The Chinaman caught him up and threw him on his shoulder.
"Come along quickee," he said to Jack; "if takee village, kill evely one." He set off at a run.

Jack followed as fast as he could, groaning at every step from the pain the movement caused to his bruised body.
They went to the side of the village opposite to that at which the attack was going on.