e baffled Kachin's
grasp. Then, with a growl of satisfaction that he could take a share
in the fray, he reversed the long weapon, and swung its keen point
forward.

The spear came to his hand at a most opportune moment. A third man was
creeping on hands and knees beside the wall, aiming to pass his
leader. He gripped a huge knife in his hand. In another instant he
would have seized Jack by the ankles and dragged him down, had not Mr.
Haydon driven the spear into him with such force that the head was
completely buried in his body. He dropped to the floor with a
frightful yell, and at that moment the leading Kachin gave way and
leapt back among his friends. Jack had half cut through the swordman's
right arm, and the latter could no longer wield the heavy _dah_.

"Come back a few steps, Jack!" cried his father. "They are meeting us
on the flat, and that is to their advantage."

Father and son darted up half a dozen steps from the landing, gained
the sharp turn above, then faced about again. But no Kachin was
following them. The little men chattered and yelled, argued and
disputed with each other, but did not advance. Finally, they retired
to the vault below, taking their fallen with them.

"First round to us," breathed Jack. "How strange they brought no
muskets with them! My dread from first to last was of a bullet being
loosed into us."

"I observed as they crossed towards the door that they carried only
spears and swords," said his father. "That is U Saw. He wishes to take
us alive, wounded, perhaps, but still alive. So he forbade shooting."

"What next?" murmured Jack.

"I wish we knew," replied his father, "then we might be prepared for
it." But no preparation within their power could have availed against
the cunning of the next assault. They had been watching and waiting
half an hour or more in the darkness, when again the red shine of fire
began to glow on the walls below them.

"What is this?" muttered Mr. Haydon. "This light is far too strong for
torches." And now with the gleam of fire came gusts of heat sweeping
up to them, and clouds of thick pungent smoke. Half choked, and with
smarting eyes, they watched for the fire to appear. Presently they saw
it below them, and saw that a furnace of leaping flame was advancing
towards them, flame which filled the whole of the space, licking
walls, roof, and floor. They watched it with horrified eyes. It was
impossible to meet this subtle and dreadful enemy with s