While eating there was suddenly a rapid succession of rifle-shots heard outside.

We both rushed to the door and saw a man riding for life straight to the house, with half a dozen others shooting at him from horseback.

He was not touched, only his horse being killed at the door.

The new-comer and my strange guest at once showed that they were very intimate indeed, so that I quickly and easily put two and two together.

The following party in the meantime had stopped and spread out, taking positions behind the low hills and completely commanding the house.