ace for the
next attack. It was a life and death struggle now, and it was his duty
to guard the gap. Mr. Haydon caught up the _dah_ which had flown from
the hand of the Kachin, and swung it with a deep guttural sound of
satisfaction. Me Dain had his great knife in his hand.

For some time there was complete silence among their enemies. The
terrible fall of the man who had been chosen by lot to lead the way,
seemed to teach them a little caution. But it had not the smallest
effect in the direction of quelling their desire to come to close
quarters with the fugitives. The Kachin is utterly too careless of
human life, whether his own or another's, for that.

Half an hour passed before a fresh assault was made. The minutes
dragged by with horrible slowness to those who awaited their fate on
the isolated patch of ledge.

Then, with no more warning of their approach than the patter of naked
feet on the earthen path, a second assault was made in the same
fashion. Again a Kachin leapt into sight, but farther out, and so more
out of reach of the bar. His hands were empty, too, and as Jack
stepped forward and thrust at him, he clutched the end of the bar.
This he did just as he alighted, and, dropping on his feet as nimbly
as a cat, he strove to turn the bar aside. Swift upon his heels three
more Kachins came, clearing the gulf and landing in safety, while
their comrade and Jack struggled for mastery of the bar.

Upon the instant the tiny ledge was filled with the fury of a
desperate combat. Mr. Haydon sprang out and cut down the second
Kachin, as he ran forward to strike at Jack with his heavy weapon. The
third attacked the Burman, and the fourth closed with Mr. Haydon,
their heavy swords clashing together as they slashed fiercely at each
other.

Jack had no eyes for any but his own enemy. The Kachin, perched as he
was on the very brink of a horrible abyss, fought as coolly as
possible to master the bar and avoid the swift thrusts by which at
every second Jack threatened to drive him over the edge.

Suddenly the Kachin gave way and dropped flat. Jack thought his enemy
was disposed of, but the shifty mountaineer had only fallen along the
lip of the gulf to dodge the powerful strokes delivered by the English
lad. With a swift movement the Kachin rolled under the bar, and then
was up like lightning and rushing on Jack, a long dagger, plucked from
his girdle, in his hand.

Jack had no weapon but his fists, but with these he