o feel
the cold, forked tongue playing upon the warm flesh above the beating
heart, that heart which would be silenced for ever were but the keen
fangs advanced an inch or so farther.

The natural repugnance of the flesh to so horrible a situation was too
strong for the spirit, and Jack could not restrain a convulsive
shudder, which shook him from head to foot. His father groaned in rage
and agony.

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY.

The sullen face of the Ruby King was lighted up with a smile of deep
relish. His savage nature was pleased to its depths to see the effect
this simple but exquisite torture had upon the Englishman within his
grasp. Again he drew back a pace, and waited a moment for Jack to
recover himself. Next he waved to the men who were holding Thomas
Haydon to bring their prisoner closer to the bound captive. They did
so, and now the position of those gathered in the ruined courtyard was
as follows. Jack faced the doorway, and the Ruby King and the
half-caste, with their followers clustered behind them, were on his
left. His father, under charge of the guards, was on his right, and
the fire, which was now at its highest, lighted the whole scene in
most brilliant fashion.

Now U Saw raised his arm and stepped forward. His evil grin shone out
once more. He was enjoying himself to the full. Jack braced his back
against the post and clenched his fists as tightly as the ropes around
his wrists would allow, and set his teeth to endure without flinching.
His eyes were staring straight before him, into the blackness of the
ruined doorway.

Suddenly into that patch of darkness there flashed a face, peeping in
on the scene, and as suddenly vanishing. Jack gave a great start and a
gasp. Was the torture turning his brain? He had known that face, but
it was not the face of any living man. It was the face of Me Dain,
their brave guide, who had fallen headlong into the raging torrent,
close-grappled with his foe. Jack's movement was hailed by a grim
chuckle from the ring of hostile faces. They misjudged it altogether.

U Saw once more held the cobra forward, and glanced with savage
meaning at both father and son. Thomas Haydon watched the evil
creature with fascinated eyes, and saw that the Ruby King was
loosening ever so slightly, and little by little, his grasp of the
head, so that the venomous reptile was working forward through the
leathern grip towards Jack's breast.

By tiny degrees th