bones of another skeleton. She
straightened herself, came forward, and dropped another noble ruby
into Mr. Haydon's hand.

"Jack, Jack," cried the latter to his son, "don't you see what this
means, my boy? Here is proof positive of the truth of the legend."

"I see," said Jack, "these are the monks who were said to have fled
with the pick of the rubies."

"These are they without a doubt," said his father. "They disappeared,
and the conquerors believed that they had escaped, and so the story of
their flight was worked into the tradition. But they had hidden
themselves here, and here they died. The rubies were shared among
them, and concealed in their garments. The ants have made short work
of the robes long since, and the stones have fallen among the bones."

"Then among these skeletons lie the chief treasures of the ancient
city?" said Jack.

"The thing is beyond all question," replied his father. "These
glorious stones bear ample witness."

The intense interest of this marvellous find had almost driven the
thought of their enemies from their minds. But the recollection of
their deadly peril came back in full flood when a hoarse thunder broke
out beneath their feet in the lower vault.

"The tigress!" cried Jack. "Is it a fresh assault?"

Not another thought did they give to the gleaming treasures within
their grasp. Life was worth a mountain of rubies.

They rushed at once to see what U Saw and his retainers were doing.
Mr. Haydon did not even pocket the rubies, such was his haste. He
tossed them aside among the mouldering bones, where they had lain for
so many generations, and flew after his son, who was already climbing
the ladder.

They raced across the room, and now heard the savage roars of the
tigress pealing louder and louder up the narrow stairway. In the vault
below they heard shots and yells.

"They have attacked her in her lair, there is no doubt of it," said
Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep anxiety. "They have without doubt flung
torches in to light the place up, and shot her as she stood before her
cubs, checking her charge with fire, noise, and spears. I have known a
band of them take as desperate a risk for the sake of a mere skin to
sell, so they would certainly take it to seize us."

The growls of the tigress became more furious and deafening.

"They are running out!" cried Jack. "They are flying before her."

In the open space below, the Kachins were running swiftly from the
entrance to t