agers and guards inside the temple threw themselves
down on the ground, and roared with laughter. Stanley at once made
his way into the upper room.

"Splendidly done, Meinik! It was like the note of an organ.
Although I knew what you were going to do, I felt almost startled,
myself, when that deep note rose. No wonder they were frightened."

"Well, at any rate, master, we are safe for the present."

"For the present, no doubt, Meinik; but I question if we sha'n't
hear of them, again. That officer was a determined-looking fellow
and, though he was scared, too, he stuck to it like a man."

"That is the governor of the town, master. I saw him carried
through the streets in his chair. Everyone was bending to the
ground, as he passed. He was a famous general, at one time; and
they say that he is likely to command a part of the army, again,
when fighting begins."

"Well, I think that we shall hear of them again, Meinik. I don't
suppose that he really thought that we were here for, certainly, no
Burman would take up his abode in this place, even to save his
life. They will push on the chase through the woods all day and, by
that time, they will feel sure that they would have overtaken us,
had we gone straight on. Then I should not be at all surprised if
he tries here, again."

"Perhaps he will, master. Like enough, he will chop off the heads
of some of the men that ran away, and pick out some of his best
troops for the search. Still, I hope he won't think of it."

Stanley shook his head.

"I hope so, too, Meinik. There is one thing about which I feel
certain--if he does find us here, he will stay here or, at any
rate, leave some troops here, until he gets us. He would know that
he would get into trouble, at Ava, for letting the prisoners
escape; and it would be all important for him to recapture them.

"Now we are up here, Meinik, we will go and have a look at that
upper staircase, again. If we are besieged, that is our only hope
of safety."

They again went along the ledge, and up the staircase. Stanley
examined the stones that blocked the passage, for some time, and at
last exclaimed:

"There, Meinik, look along by the side of this stone. I can see a
ray of light. Yes, and some leaves. I don't think they are more
than thirty feet above us!"

Meinik applied his eye to the crevice.

"I see them, master. Yes, I don't think those leaves are more than
that distance away."

"That is what I came to look for," St