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relieve the monotony of her loneliness by a brief
hunting excursion。 On such occasions Mugambi； mounted
upon a wiry Arab； had ridden close at her horse's
heels。
The raiders were still a long way off when the
warrior's keen eyes discovered them。 For a time he
stood scrutinizing the advancing party in silence；
then he turned and ran rapidly in the direction of the
native huts which lay a few hundred yards below the bungalow。
Here he called out to the lolling warriors。 He issued
orders rapidly。 In compliance with them the men seized
upon their weapons and their shields。 Some ran to call
in the workers from the fields and to warn the tenders
of the flocks and herds。 The majority followed Mugambi
back toward the bungalow。
The dust of the raiders was still a long distance away。
Mugambi could not know positively that it hid an enemy；
but he had spent a lifetime of savage life in savage
Africa； and he had seen parties before come thus
unheralded。 Sometimes they had come in peace and
sometimes they had come in warone could never tell。
It was well to be prepared。 Mugambi did not like the
haste with which the strangers advanced。
The Greystoke bungalow was not well adapted for
defense。 No palisade surrounded it； for； situated as
it was； in the heart of loyal Waziri； its master had
anticipated no possibility of an attack in force by any
enemy。 Heavy； wooden shutters there were to close the
window apertures against hostile arrows； and these
Mugambi was engaged in lowering when Lady Greystoke
appeared upon the veranda。
〃Why； Mugambi！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What has happened？
Why are you lowering the shutters？〃
Mugambi pointed out across the plain to where a white…robed
force of mounted men was now distinctly visible。
〃Arabs；〃 he explained。 〃They come for no good purpose
in the absence of the Great Bwana。〃
Beyond the neat lawn and the flowering shrubs； Jane
Clayton saw the glistening bodies of her Waziri。
The sun glanced from the tips of their metal…shod spears；
picked out the gorgeous colors in the feathers of their
war bonnets； and reflected the high…lights from the
glossy skins of their broad shoulders and high cheek bones。
Jane Clayton surveyed them with unmixed feelings of
pride and affection。 What harm could befall her with
such as these to protect her？
The raiders had halted now； a hundred yards out upon
the plain。 Mugambi had hastened down to join his
warriors。 He advanced a few yards before them and
raising his voice hailed the strangers。 Achmet Zek sat
straight in his saddle before his henchmen。
〃Arab！〃 cried Mugambi。 〃What do you here？〃
〃We come in peace；〃 Achmet Zek called back。
〃Then turn and go in peace；〃 replied Mugambi。
〃We do not want you here。 There can be no peace between
Arab and Waziri。〃
Mugambi； although not born in Waziri； had been adopted
into the tribe； which now contained no member more
jealous of its traditions and its prowess than he。
Achmet Zek drew to one side of his horde； speaking to
his men in a low voice。 A moment later； without
warning； a ragged volley was poured into the ranks of
the Waziri。 A couple of warriors fell； the others were
for charging the attackers； but Mugambi was a cautious
as well as a brave leader。 He knew the futility of
charging mounted men armed with muskets。 He withdrew
his force behind the shrubbery of the garden。 Some he
dispatched to various other parts of the grounds
surrounding the bungalow。 Half a dozen he sent to the
bungalow itself with instructions to keep their
mistress within doors； and to protect her with their lives。
Adopting the tactics of the desert fighters from which
he had sprung； Achmet Zek led his followers at a gallop
in a long； thin line； describing a great circle which
drew closer and closer in toward the defenders。
At that part of the circle closest to the Waziri；
a constant fusillade of shots was poured into the bushes
behind which the black warriors had concealed
themselves。 The latter； on their part； loosed their
slim shafts at the nearest of the enemy。
The Waziri； justly famed for their archery； found no
cause to blush for their performance that day。
Time and again some swarthy horseman threw hands above
his head and toppled from his saddle； pierced by a
deadly arrow； but the contest was uneven。 The Arabs
outnumbered the Waziri； their bullets penetrated the
shrubbery and found marks that the Arab riflemen had
not even seen； and then Achmet Zek circled inward a
half mile above the bungalow； tore down a section of
the fence； and led his marauders within the grounds。
Across the fields they charged at a mad run。 Not again
did they pause to lower fences； instead； they drove
their wild mounts straight for them； clearing the
obstacles as lightly as winged gulls。
Mugambi saw them coming； and； calling those of his
warriors who remained； ran for the bungalow and the
last stand。 Upon the veranda Lady Greystoke stood；
rifle in hand。 More than a single raider had accounted
to her steady nerves and cool aim for his outlawry；
more than a single pony raced； riderless； in the wake
of the charging horde。
Mugambi pushed his mistress back into the greater
security of the interior； and with his depleted force
prepared to make a last stand against the foe。
On came the Arabs； shouting and waving their long guns
above their heads。 Past the veranda they raced；
pouring a deadly fire into the kneeling Waziri who
discharged their volley of arrows from behind their
long； oval shieldsshields well adapted； perhaps；
to stop a hostile arrow； or deflect a spear； but futile；
quite； before the leaden missiles of the riflemen。
From beneath the half…raised shutters of the bungalow
other bowmen did effective service in greater security；
and after the first assault； Mugambi withdrew his
entire force within the building。
Again and again the Arabs charged； at last forming a
stationary circle about the little fortress； and
outside the effective range of the defenders' arrows。
From their new position they fired at will at the
windows。 One by one the Waziri fell。 Fewer and fewer
were the arrows that replied to the guns of the
raiders； and at last Achmet Zek felt safe in ordering
an assault。
Firing as they ran； the bloodthirsty horde raced for
the veranda。 A dozen of them fell to the arrows of the
defenders； but the majority reached the door。
Heavy gun butts fell upon it。 The crash of splintered
wood mingled with the report of a rifle as Jane Clayton
fired through the panels upon the relentless foe。
Upon both sides of the door men fell； but at last the
frail barrier gave to the vicious assaults of the
maddened attackers； it crumpled inward and a dozen
swarthy murderers leaped into the living…room。
At the far end stood Jane Clayton surrounded by the remnant
of her devoted guardians。