pear or _dah_.

"What is it?" cried Jack.

"A cunning trick, a cruelly cunning trick," replied his father. "They
are thrusting great burning bundles of dried reeds and grass before
them. The draught comes up the stairs and keeps the air cool and sweet
for them, while it drives suffocating smoke and heat upon us."

Jack ground his teeth as he saw how perfectly the plan was calculated
to drive them out of the staircase into the open room above, where the
numbers of the Kachins could be used to deadly purpose.

"The fire is flagging," gasped Jack.

"For the moment, yes," said his father.

The glowing mass of flames wavered and began to sink. Then they saw
how it was fed. A huge bundle of dried canes and reeds on the end of a
spear was thrust into the flickering glow, and at once took fire and
burned with the utmost fury. Fresh bundles were pushed forward beside
it, and these, too, flared up with a shrill crackle of snapping canes
and the roar of a fire fanned by a strong draught. Inch by inch the
flames moved forward, themselves a terrible enemy, and behind them
crept up and up a savage and merciless foe.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE SECRET PASSAGE.

Within that confined space, the heat became that of a fiery furnace,
the pungent smoke became overpowering.

"We must get back or we shall be overcome," gasped Mr. Haydon, and
they climbed the steep steps of stone.

"Who's here?" snapped Mr. Haydon, as they turned the last bend. Jack
looked under his father's arm.

"It's the woman," he gasped, for the pungent smoke had almost stopped
his breath. "She's come back. Where has she been?"

Now the woman's voice came to them calling earnestly, "Sahib, sahib,
sahib!" she cried.

Jack and his father leapt into the room, where the wider space, though
dim with smoke, made the air taste wonderfully fresh and sweet after
the choking passage.

The woman at once sprang at Mr. Haydon and seized his arm, talking
earnestly. As she spoke, the elder man's face lighted up with a great
hope.

"Jack! Jack!" he cried. "Come on! come on! Here's a wonderful chance
turned up."

Jack asked no questions. He only followed as the other two hurried for
the hole which led to the secret chamber. The woman went swiftly down
the teak ladder, and the other two followed. At the foot of the ladder
a torch, freshly lighted, was thrust into a wide crack between two
stones, and stood there burning steadily. The woman caught it up and
led the way