"Report to Brennan," I whispered into Jed's ear, "and forget to mention
I am with you. I desire to investigate matters for myself a few
moments."

He nodded to intimate that he understood, and then we crept, one at a
time, into the front apartment, hugging the floor closely to keep
beneath the range of the bullets which swept every now and then through
the broken windows, and chugged into the wall behind us. I was the last
to wriggle in through the narrow opening, and rolling instantly out of
the tiny bar of light, I lay silent for a moment, endeavoring to get my
bearings. I was determined upon just one thing--to obtain speech with
the women, learn, if possible, their exact situation, and, if I found
it necessary, insist upon their better protection. An insane jealousy
of me should not continue to expose them to unnecessary peril.

Brennan was directly across the room from where I lay. I could hear his
voice issuing low, stern orders.

"If you'll only keep down you're safe enough," he said gruffly. "There
hasn't a shot come within a foot of the sill. The ground slopes out
yonder, and those fellows can't fire low. Put the new men at the
central window, and let them shoot at every flash they see. Bradley
will pass back their empty guns."

I wondered how long our supply of ammunition would hold out with such a
fusillade kept up, but ventured upon no protest, for I was already
groping my way through the darkness along the inner wall. Furniture lay
overturned in every direction, and I experienced considerable
difficulty in making progress through the debris without attracting
attention. A great square piano stood directly across the entrance to