f Ali Baba, and have only
to use the cabalistic words to walk in and out, wherever you want
to go."

"I don't feel, by any means, so certain of my own powers as you
seem to be, Harry; and I can assure you I was very doubtful whether
that shot would succeed. I hoped, at any rate, that it would blow a
good bit of the stone out and, in that case, we could have got the
chisels to work again. It was the slanting position of the block
that beat us. However, thank goodness, the work is done now; and
you have only to get a bit stronger, and we will be off."

"I am quite ready to start now, Stanley. I think it is absurd
waiting any longer, for there is never any saying what might take
place. That Burmese general, who seems to be an obstinate beggar,
might take it into his head to place a guard on the top of the
hill; and then all your labour will have been thrown away."

"That is true enough, Harry; and as I really don't think that
travelling now would be likely to do you any serious harm, I will
decide on tomorrow. At any rate, I will take some men up, at once,
and get that stone out."

The task was a difficult one. The block of stone was so nearly the
size of the passage that they could not get a rope round behind it
and, after trying for two hours, in vain, they determined that the
only course was to push it before them. They soon found, however,
that this was impossible; and that a part, at least, of the stone
was remaining in its place. Finally, they succeeded in pushing a
loop in the rope over the top of the block; and then, by main
force, eight of them pulled it out of the hole, and lowered it on
to the top step.

By the time that they had done this, dawn was approaching; and they
therefore returned, at once, to the chambers below.

The men were all much pleased, when Stanley told them that they
would leave that night. Confident as they felt that the Burmese
could not force their way in, a new feeling of nervousness seized
them, now that the way was open, lest some unforeseen circumstances
might occur to prevent their going. The rice that remained was made
up into three or four packages. The meat had long before been
finished.

Stanley had a discussion, with Meinik, as to how Harry had best be
taken through the passage. He could, they agreed, walk along the
ledge, with one before and one behind to steady him; and could then
be carried up the steps, in a blanket, by four men. He must, of
course, be lifted into t