"Help!" The bearers paused abruptly, and the curtain of the palanquin was swept back.

The dark sinister visage of Umballa was revealed.
Umballa left the palanquin, opened the door of the house, espied the rubbish in the hall; was in the act of mounting the first steps when one of the lions roared again.

Drunk as he was, filled with a drunkard's courage, Umballa started back.

The lions! Out into the street he went.

He turned to the bearers and ordered them to fire the inflammables in the hall.