Thus, for the first time since ever war's hot flame had breathed over Lanka, met face to face all the captains. In triumphant conclave they gathered, all those who actively led fighting forces. Vibhishana and Tauthus of Cush, Ramey and Red Barrett, Syd O'Brien. Yet was their joy not complete. For there was one of their number fallen--Thalakka. And yet another whose part in the battle was ended. "It's all right, Syd," repeated Lake O'Brien. "It's all right, I tell you. I--I don't feel any pain. It's just that I can't see." Syd O'Brien's face was a thunder-cloud of rage. "We will find him, Lake," he promised. "And when we do--" His strong, freckled hands whitened on the butt of his revolver. Here was one from whom the Lord Ravana could expect no grain of mercy should their paths ever cross. Vibhishana said, "Lord Lakshmana must return to the mainland shore. If anyone can repair his vision, that one is the Lord Sugriva. And it were best the girl return, too." "Me?" cried Sheila indignantly. "I will not! I--" "Listen, Miss Sheilacita--" Barrett stopped, grinned embarrassedly. "Golly, listen to that! These guys got _me_ talking thataway now, too! I mean, Miss _Sheila_--I wish you would go on back and tell Toots I'm okay. She'll kind of be worrying about me, I reckon. Tell her we'll all be coming home as soon as we clean up the rest of this mess." Ramey said, "Yes, Sheila--please go. Because from now on, I'm afraid this fight isn't going to be very pleasant. Especially--" His eyes were cold--"for His Nibs!" So Sheila and Lake returned to the mainland. Kohrisan, having completed the rally of his scattered forces, now came to join the conclave. And they took stock of their situation. * * * * * "We hold now, my Lords," reported Captain Kohrisan, "all the northern half of Lanka's isle and citadel down to the Sounding Tower which is in the exact middle of the fortress. The wharves which feed to the Chitrakuta mainland are in our hands, too. Ravana still holds the upper levels of the fort, and all the southern sector, as well as the docks which feed to the opposite shore. But these are valueless to him, since the major portion of his fleet was captured by our men." "Then there's no escape for him," grunted Syd. "We have him bottled up here, eh? Good!" "But," interposed Vibhishana, "though we continue as the aggressors, he has _us_ as effectively bottled as we him. We dare not leave the island nor relax our vigilance in any of the sectors we hold. He still numbers amongst his followers thousands. "From now on, it appears to me that the battle must settle into a state of siege. From chamber to chamber, from corridor to corridor, through every room and avenue of Lanka must our forces battle for every new inch of ground." "And that--" mused Ramey thoughtfully--"is tough going. Suicidal business, as a punk named Adolph in our age is finding out! A deadly stalemate, eh, Lord Vibhishana?" "I am afraid so, Ramaíya."