There was not a second's time, however, to take in what had
happened. In a flash the whole horde was upon them, and Billy and
Lathrop began firing desperately into the mass of foemen who
appeared to spring from every side of the clearing at once.

Even in this extremity a strange thought flashed across Billy's,
mind:

"Where was Professor Wiseman?"




CHAPTER XII

IN THE HANDS OF SLAVE-TRADERS


The ebon form of the Krooman giant seemed everywhere at once.

In the moonlight his terrible axe flashed incessantly and every time
it fell a shriek or a muffled groan showed that it had found its
fatal mark. The huge form of the warrior black seemed, however, to
bear a charmed life. Again and again one of the attacking force
would fire at him, but the bullets seemed to be warded off by some
supernatural force. He was immune alike to bullets and arrows--with
which latter the natives attached to Muley-Hassan's force battled.

Billy and Lathrop fought with unflinching courage, pouring out a
leaden hail into the onslaught that again and again seemed as if it