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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。　　The　floor　was　covered　by　the

bodies　of　those　who　already　had　given　up　their　lives　in

her　defense。　　In　the　forefront　of　her　protectors　stood

the　giant　Mugambi。　　The　Arabs　raised　their　rifles　to

pour　in　the　last　volley　that　would　effectually　end　all

resistance；　but　Achmet　Zek　roared　out　a　warning　order

that　stayed　their　trigger　fingers。



〃Fire　not　upon　the　woman！〃　he　cried。　　〃Who　harms　her；

dies。　　Take　the　woman　alive！〃



The　Arabs　rushed　across　the　room；　the　Waziri　met　them

with　their　heavy　spears。　　Swords　flashed；　long…barreled

pistols　roared　out　their　sullen　death　dooms。　　Mugambi

launched　his　spear　at　the　nearest　of　the　enemy　with　a

force　that　drove　the　heavy　shaft　completely　through　the

Arab's　body；　then　he　seized　a　pistol　from　another；　and

grasping　it　by　the　barrel　brained　all　who　forced　their

way　too　near　his　mistress。



Emulating　his　example　the　few　warriors　who　remained　to

him　fought　like　demons；　but　one　by　one　they　fell；　until

only　Mugambi　remained　to　defend　the　life　and　honor　of

the　ape…man's　mate。



From　across　the　room　Achmet　Zek　watched　the　unequal

struggle　and　urged　on　his　minions。　　In　his　hands　was　a

jeweled　musket。　　Slowly　he　raised　it　to　his　shoulder；

waiting　until　another　move　should　place　Mugambi　at　his

mercy　without　endangering　the　lives　of　the　woman　or　any

of　his　own　followers。



At　last　the　moment　came；　and　Achmet　Zek　pulled　the

trigger。　　Without　a　sound　the　brave　Mugambi　sank　to　the

floor　at　the　feet　of　Jane　Clayton。



An　instant　later　she　was　surrounded　and　disarmed。

Without　a　word　they　dragged　her　from　the　bungalow。

A　giant　Negro　lifted　her　to　the　pommel　of　his　saddle；

and　while　the　raiders　searched　the　bungalow　and　outhouses

for　plunder　he　rode　with　her　beyond　the　gates　and

waited　the　coming　of　his　master。



Jane　Clayton　saw　the　raiders　lead　the　horses　from　the

corral；　and　drive　the　herds　in　from　the　fields。

She　saw　her　home　plundered　of　all　that　represen