Then the torches were dashed into the sand, and the warrior groups became shadowy forms, moving against the deeper shadow of the towers. Overhead the moon was cold and bright. Its radiance showed the dark figures of Chinese on the wall, and glittered on their guns. At the gate in the wall in front of them was a group of priests. Wu Fang Chien was not to be seen. Between the _tumani_ and the wall was a level stretch of sand perhaps two hundred yards in length. "See!" chattered the old Timur, "the message of Bassalor Danek has been sent. They are waiting." "It would not be well to rush the wall," cautioned Gray quickly, sizing up the situation. "They have guns----" "If I had a bow!" Timur's reluctance had vanished under the growing excitement. "Ho! The hunters will hunt new prey." One of the priests cried out something that Gray did not understand. Gela answered defiantly, and the _tumani_ rushed forward, carrying Gray and Mary with them. A shot sounded from the wall, greeted by a defiant shout from the Wusun. A scattering volley followed. The guards--Chinese irregulars, Dungans, bandits, followers of the priests, what-not--were poor marksmen. But the range was close. And the Wusun, ignorant of tactics against gunfire, were bunched close. Gray saw several stumble and fall in the sand. More shots. The torches wavered. Timur stooped and picked up a bow and arrow from one of the fallen. The priests had vanished from the gate. This had been closed. But not before Gray sighted groups of the lepers running about in confusion. Some seemed to be armed. The Wusun wavered under the fire, as undisciplined men are bound to do. Gray forced the girl to crouch in the sand with Timur while he ran forward to Gela. The Kha Khan was shouting angrily at his followers. "The passages!" Gray seized Gela's arm. "Here, you will be killed. Go down to the passages." Gela, the hot light of battle in his scarred face, stared at him unheedingly. But Timur, who was not to be left behind, limped forward and echoed Gray's words. Comprehension dawned on the Kha Khan, and his eyes narrowed shrewdly. He shouted to his men. The _tumani_ began to run back, leaving dark bodies prone in the sand. Gray made his way to the temple with Mary. A shout of triumph sounded from the wall. The firing did not cease. The blood-lust had been aroused in the men on the wall, who had found the killing of the poorly armed Wusun an easy matter. But Gray, seeing the set faces around him, realized that the _tumani_ were not going to give up the struggle. It was an age-old feud--the struggle of the oppressed Central Asians against their Mongol captors. He and the girl were swept along at Gela's side like leaves in a swift current. Down into the temple the Wusun pressed, silent this time. They streamed into the underground corridors, led by men with torches. The shouting over-ground grew fainter.