torch whirled
flaming through the air, and fell at the mouth of the tunnel, within a
yard of Jack's foot. He stamped it out. A second torch followed,
almost in the same place. He stamped this out too. He looked eagerly
to see where the next would fall.

It seemed extraordinary fortune that not one of them should fall in
the midst of the waiting heap. Then he heard a low, evil, chuckling
laugh from someone beside the rift, and he understood. Saya Chone was
there, playing with him, as a cat plays with a mouse. The half-caste
was tossing torches within Jack's reach, simply to torture him with
the idea of what would happen when one of the flaming splinters of
pine fell into the heap of tinder awaiting it.

Five minutes of perfect silence passed, and not another torch fell. To
Jack the time seemed like five years rather. He cast swift alternate
glances at the rift above and through the tunnel, where he felt that
enemies waited and watched for the opportunity the fire might give
them.

And now a great flare appeared in the rift. A huge bundle of reeds,
blazing fiercely, was thrust in, and dropped. His enemies meant now to
fire the pile and bring the play to an end. The flaming mass rolled
slowly down the steep face of the cliff within, and Jack was torn in a
fierce dilemma as to what was the best course for him to follow.
Should he leave the mouth of the tunnel and try to beat out the flames
with the broad blade of his _dah_, or should he not?

But if he left the tunnel, then he would give up the key of the
situation, and be swiftly surrounded. If he did not, the roasting
flame and the masses of billowing smoke would render the inner cave
untenable. Yet, before the bundle of reeds had rolled down to the mass
below, the question had been settled for him.

A second and a third faggot, each blazing fiercely, and each directed
towards a fresh part of the heap, were flung through the rift.

"I can't stop all three," thought Jack. "The pile must burn."

Within a few seconds it was burning in very truth; the fire ran
through the heap of light combustibles with magical power and
swiftness. Scarce had the first bunch of burning reeds fallen, than a
vast scorching flame was leaping up and roaring towards the rift,
while a powerful current of air was drawn through the tunnel and
fanned Jack's face.

"What's this?" thought Jack; "they reckoned without the draught, I
fancy. It looks as if I shall be no worse off than before. It'