When Stanley and Meinik had again examined the obstacle, the latter retired; and the Burmans, one by one, came up and looked at it.
"What do you think of it ?" Stanley asked them.
"It would be dangerous to touch it, my lord," one of them said.

"If only one stone moved out from its place, it would be death to us all.

They are firm now, quite firm; but if two or three were disturbed, the whole might come down at once." "I quite see that," Stanley said.

"Can any of you suggest a plan by which we could get out, without much risk of setting them in motion ?" The Burmese were silent, "I will tell you my scheme then.

I propose to cut the bamboos into lengths that will just reach across the passage.