a search of this
kind."

"Hallo, what's that?" said Jack in a low voice. They paused and
listened, then looked at each other. The chase was afoot. They could
hear afar off the voices of men shouting to each other as they hunted
through the deserted city.

"That sounds as if they were about the main street," said Mr. Haydon.

"Sure to be there first," replied Jack. "They're searching the place
where the Malay heard the youngster cry."

"Very true," said the father. "Let's strike towards the pagoda. It
lies away from the danger zone, and there may be a chance for us
there."

As they hurried towards the tall shaft which shot high above the maze
of ruined houses, Mr. Haydon chatted coolly about its possibilities.

"A pagoda, my boy, is often a solid piece of masonry, built above a
relic chamber. The latter is a large room of immense strength, and if
anything has stood in the place, that is the most likely. If it has
stood, and we can find the way in, we may be able to hide till
nightfall. In any case, we can make it an awkward job to attack us."

Both father and son had brought a _dah_ from the battle-ground, and at
close quarters no better lethal weapon can be found.

They arrived before the pagoda, and Mr. Haydon, leaping on the first
platform, ran swiftly to and fro in search of the entrance. His wide
knowledge of such buildings guided him to the spot where it would most
likely be found, but, as it happened, the entrance was not difficult
to find. They saw a low doorway half-blocked by a huge fallen stone,
but with ample room left for them to creep in.

"Here's the spot," said Mr. Haydon. "In we go. But," he hesitated for
a moment, "we don't know what may be inside. I'd give a trifle for a
torch."

"We'll make one," said Jack. "There are heaps of dried sticks and
grass about, and I've got some matches."

He put his hand into an inner pocket of his tunic, and pulled out a
waterproof metal box half full of vestas.

"Good! good!" ejaculated Mr. Haydon. "I haven't had a match for a long
time, and I'd forgotten you might have a few."

He caught up a bundle of dried grass, and Jack took up several sticks,
dry and tindery, ready to burst into flame as soon as a light was set
to them. All three now crawled through the low, half-blocked doorway.
As soon as they crept into the darkness, a strong, fetid, musty smell,
mingled with a horrible scent of decay, made the air pungent and
choking.

"Some beasts or other