Fear and embarrassment washed over him, but he recovered quickly.

"One gun holds, at most, nine bullets," he said at once. "Look at our numbers! He'll run out of ammo fast! And ask yourselves—how many days of food do you have left at home? If we don't fight now, we're going to starve or die of thirst!"

That speech rekindled some courage in those who had been wavering. No one backed off anymore—but no one dared step forward either. Everyone was afraid of becoming the first bird to stick its hea