He darted headlong for the entrance.
[Illustration: IRIS BEGAN FIRING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ROCK AS FAST AS SHE COULD HANDLE LEVER AND TRIGGER.] Jenks, shooting blindly as he, too, ran for the ladder, emptied the revolver just as his left hand clutched a rung.

Three Dyaks were so close that it would be folly to attempt to climb.

He threw the weapon into the face of the foremost man, effectually stopping his onward progress, for the darkness made it impossible to dodge the missile.
The sailor turned to dive into the cave and secure the rifle from Mir Jan, when his shin caught the heavy crowbar resting against the rock.
The pain of the blow lent emphasis to the swing with which the implement descended upon some portion of a Dyak anatomy.

Jenks never knew where he hit the second assailant, but the place cracked like an eggshell.
He had not time to recover the bar for another blow, so he gave the point in the gullet of a gentleman who was about to make a vicious sweep at him with a parang.

The downfall of this worthy caused his immediate successor to stumble, and Jenks saw his opportunity.