"It is too dark, Sahib," said the man softly; "they could not see me."
"Nonsense! I can see you from up here—your hands and face: the fire shines upon them."
"Yes, Sahib; it is beginning now."
At that moment Lahn laid his hand upon Harry's breast, while he pointed away to the left with the other, and uttered a low, snake-like hiss.
"Men coming?" asked Sree. "Well, I must get the fire to burn now."
"Can you see them?" whispered Harry, as he strained his eyesight in the pointed-out direction without result, and then looked down at a little writhing tongue of flame beginning to run up inside the sloping pile of bamboo.
"Yes, many men," whispered Lahn, and he hissed sharply twice.
"Look out up there," said Harry loudly. "The enemy. Now, Sree, up at once."
But at that moment the rough ladder held by Lahn was snatched away, and seemed to fall over against the bamboo pile from the noise that was made, while at the same moment there was a faint, rustling sound, sharp clicks against the side of the palace, and the rattling down of at least a dozen spears, which had been hurled up at the speaker, and passed over the wall.
"Down with you from off there," shouted Mr. Kenyon at the window. "We can't fire with you there."