about two to one
One minute the enemy were dancing and singing , the next wildly engaged in the fight ; while hard above the din , in a mournful booming bleat , rang out the notes of a long wooden horn . The tumult increased , and was made more terrible by the screaming of the women and the crying of the children , which were increased as some unfortunate defender of the _ pah _ went down before the spear-thrusts of the enemy . The attack was as daring and brave as could be ; but the defence was no less gallant , and was supplemented by a desperate valour , which seemed to be roused to the pitch of madness as the women 's cries arose over some fallen warrior . A spear was thrust through at the defenders ; answering thrusts were given , but with the disadvantage that the enemy were about two to one . Tomati fought with the solid energy of his race , always on the look-out to lead half-a-dozen men to points which were most fiercely assailed ; and his efforts in this way were so successful that over and over again the enemy were driven back in spots where they had made the most energetic efforts to break through . As Don and Jem looked on they saw Tomati 's spear darted through the great fence at some savage who had climbed up , and was hacking the lashings ; and so sure as that thrust was made , the stone tomahawk ceased to hack , and its user fell back with a yell of pain or despair . Ngati , too , made no grotesque contortions of his face ; there was no lolling out of the tongue , or turning up of the eyes , for his countenance was set in one fixed stare , and his white teeth clenched as he fought with the valour of some knight of old .