With his
left forearm he struck up the hand that wielded the menacing
blade, and then catching the fellow by the shoulder swung
him around, grasped him about the waist and lifting him
above his head hurled him full in the faces of the swordsmen
who were pressing through the narrow doorway.
Almost simultaneously a spear shot through a tiny opening
in the ranks before Billy Byrne, and with a little gasp of
dismay the huge fellow pitched forward upon his face. At the
same instant a shot rang out behind Barbara Harding, and
Theriere leaped past her to stand across the body of the fallen
mucker.
With the sound of the shot a samurai sank to the floor,
dead, and the others, unaccustomed to firearms, drew back in
dismay. Again Theriere fired point-blank into the crowded
room, and this time two men fell, struck by the same bullet.
Once more the warriors retreated, and with an exultant yell
Theriere followed up his advantage by charging menacingly
upon them. They stood for a moment, then wavered, turned
and fled from the hut.
When Theriere turned back toward Barbara Harding he
found her kneeling beside the mucker.
"Is he dead?" asked the Frenchman.
"No. Can we lift him together and get him through that
window?"
"It is the only way," replied Theriere, "and we must try it.
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