The last of his bluejackets rushed back through the gate, the other half
were swung across, and we were in darkness again, except for the glare
over the top of the wall. Bullets were now spattering against the front
of the house, and bits of plaster were trickling down, and we knew that
the Chinamen from inside must have joined the mob. Mr. Ching rushed off
to place his men round the wall, and I went back to Mr. Hoffman. He was
trying to pull himself up against the side of the house, and I gave him
my right shoulder to lean upon, and we got round to the back like that
and to the door; but he couldn’t drag himself over the boxes and piles
of things heaped there, and lay down with his head on the stone slab,
half in and half out of the door.
"Get me some water and bring Sally," he whispered. "I’m finished. God
have mercy on me!"