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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/19877-8.txt b/19877-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cf7c761 --- /dev/null +++ b/19877-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10617 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack Haydon's Quest + +Author: John Finnemore + +Illustrator: J. Jellicoe + +Release Date: November 20, 2006 [EBook #19877] +Last updated: January 3, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + + + + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: IN RANGOON.] + + + JACK HAYDON'S + QUEST + + + BY + + JOHN FINNEMORE + + + _CONTAINING EIGHT FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS_ + _IN COLOUR FROM DRAWINGS BY J. JELLICOE_ + + + + PHILADELPHIA + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + LONDON: ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK + + 1907 + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + +I. THE ATTACK ON THE HEATH, + +II. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, + +III. THE BIG RUBY, + +IV. BUCK SEES LIGHT, + +V. THE SPY, + +VI. IN RANGOON, + +VII. UP THE RIVER, + +VIII. THE ATTACK ON THE SAMPAN, + +IX. A CLOSE CALL, + +X. THE DACOITS, + +XI. BELEAGUERED, + +XII. A FIGHT FOR LIFE, + +XIII. A CUNNING TRICK, + +XIV. JACK'S PLAN, + +XV. IN THE JUNGLE, + +XVI. THE BRIDGE AND THE FORD, + +XVII. A FRIGHTFUL PERIL, + +XVIII. THE COMBAT IN THE RIVER, + +XIX. THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL, + +XX. THE DANCING GIRL, + +XXI. JACK FINDS HIMSELF IN BAD HANDS, + +XXII. THE TWO ELEPHANTS, + +XXIII. THE PANTHAY WOOD-CUTTERS, + +XXIV. AN UNWELCOME MEETING, + +XXV. THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE, + +XXVI. THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM, + +XXVII. THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNEL, + +XXVIII. THE RUSE OF SAYA CHONE, + +XXIX. THE TORTURE BY FIRE, + +XXX. THE STRONGHOLD OF THE RUBY KING, + +XXXI. FATHER AND SON, + +XXXII. THE HORROR IN THE SWAMP, + +XXXIII. THE POTHOODAW, + +XXXIV. THE HIDING-PLACE AND THE THIEF, + +XXXV. THE FLIGHT FROM THE VALLEY, + +XXXVI. PENNED IN THE PASS, + +XXXVII. HOW THEY MADE A ROPE, + +XXXVIII. IN THE DESERTED CITY, + +XXXIX. THE SECRET CHAMBER, + +XL. THE BATTLE ON THE STAIRS, + +XLI. THE SECRET PASSAGE, + +XLII. IN THE COURTYARD, + +XLIII. THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY, + +XLIV. HOW THINGS ENDED, + + * * * * * + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +IN RANGOON, _Frontispiece_ + +THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY, + +THE DANGER AT THE FORD, + +THE DANCING GIRL, + +A SUDDEN ALARM, + +THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD, + +THE MIDNIGHT THIEF, + +THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT, + + * * * * * + + + + +JACK HAYDON'S QUEST. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ATTACK ON THE HEATH. + + +Jack Haydon, prefect of Rushmere School and captain of the first +fifteen, walked swiftly out of the school gates and turned along the +high road. He had leave to go to the little town of Longhampton, three +miles away, to visit a day-scholar, a great friend of his, now on the +sick list. + +He was alone, and he swung along at a cracking pace, for he could walk +as well as he could run, and a finer three-quarter had never been +known at Rushmere. He was a tall, powerful lad, nearly nineteen years +of age, five foot ten and a half inches in his stockings, and turning +the scale at twelve stone five. At the present moment he carried not +an ounce of spare flesh, for he was in training for the great match, +Rushmere _v._ Repton, and his weight was compact of solid bone, +muscle, and sinew. As he stepped along the highway, moving with the +easy grace of a well-built athlete, he looked the very picture of a +handsome English lad, at one of the finest moments of his life, the +point where youth and manhood meet. + +The road he followed was called a high road, but the name clung to it +from old use rather than because of present service. Eighty years +before it had been a famous coaching road, along which the galloping +teams had whirled the mails, but now it had fallen into decay, and was +little used except by people passing from Rushmere to Longhampton. A +mile from the school it ran across a lonely, unenclosed piece of +heath, the side of the way being bordered by clumps of holly, thorn, +and furze. + +Halfway across this desolate stretch of country, Jack was surprised by +seeing a man step from behind a thick holly bush and place himself +directly in the lad's way. As Jack approached, the man held up his +hand. + +"Stop," he said, "I want to speak to you." + +Jack stopped in sheer surprise, and looked at the speaker in wonder. +What could the man want with him? At a glance he saw the man was not +English, though upon closer examination he could not place the type. +The stranger's skin was darker than an Englishman's, but not darker +than many a Spaniard's. His eyes were large and black and liquid; +their look was now crafty and a trifle menacing; his hair was lank and +intensely black. In build he was very slight, with thin arms and legs. +Jack's idea was that if he had been a little darker he might very well +have been a Hindoo. + +"And what, my friend, may you want with me?" said Jack genially. + +"This morning you received a letter from your father," said the dusky +stranger. + +"How under the sun do you know that?" asked Jack; "and what if I did? +I don't see where your interest comes in." + +"I wish to see that letter. You had better hand it over at once." + +"Don't you ever apply for a further stock of cheek, my little man," +said Jack, "for you've got all you need, and a little bit over." + +"The letter is almost certainly in your pocket," said the stranger in +perfect English, yet pronounced with a curiously odd lisp and click, +"and I must see it." + +"It's in my pocket all right, confound your cheek," replied Jack, "and +there it will stay. Come, get a move on you, and clear out of my way." + +"I shall not get out of your way," said the other. "I shall stop you +until I have read the letter." + +"I don't know what lunatic asylum is short of your cheerful presence +to-day," remarked Jack, "and if you don't clear out quick I shall +certainly rush you. In which case, I beg you to observe that I am, +even if I say it myself, a pretty stiff tackler, and about three stone +heavier than you." + +The man laughed mockingly and waved his hand, as if making very light +of Jack's purpose. + +"I assure you," he said in a soft voice, and giving once more his +laugh of light mockery, "that it would be much better for you to hand +over the letter at once. I do not wish to hurt you, but I have not the +least objection to do so if it becomes necessary." + +Jack's warm blood was fired at once, and he pulled himself together +for a swift charge which would fill this stranger with surprised +regret for what he had brought upon himself. But, for a second, +something checked him; a strange, mysterious feeling came over him as +he wondered what lay behind all this. He stood, though he knew it not, +at a great parting of the ways. Behind him lay his happy days of +triumph on the football meadow and the cricket field. How was he to +know that this dark, slight figure before him meant that a strange, +new life was opening out to him, a life of wild adventures in far-off +lands, in lands where the memory of English meadows would seem like +thoughts and dreams of another life. Jack Haydon knew nothing of this; +yet he paused for a moment as some strange prevision seized upon him +and held him in its grip. Then he brushed away this odd influence, and +was back at once in the present. + +"For the last time, clear out," said Jack. The man laughed, and Jack +made a swift leap at him. They were not three yards apart, but Jack +never reached his man. Without a sign, without a sound, someone sprang +upon him from behind, flung a cord over his head, and seized him in a +strangling grip. Jack was as strong as a young bull, but in this +awful, noiseless clutch he was helpless. He fought madly to throw off +his unseen assailant, but he fought in vain. He felt a noose close +upon his throat, and his eyeballs began to start out and his head to +swim. In front of him stood the mysterious stranger, who had moved +neither hand nor foot, and Jack's last conscious recollection was of +the quiet, smiling face, and the mocking laugh once more rang in his +ears. Suddenly the frightful, strangling clutch seemed to tighten, the +blood drummed madly in his ears as if every vein was bursting; then he +knew no more. + +When Jack Haydon came to himself, he found that he was in the same +spot, and that someone was chafing his hands and pouring water on his +face. He gave a deep sigh, and a well-known voice said: "Thank God, +Haydon's coming round. Whatever could have been the matter with the +poor lad? What does this mark round his throat mean?" + +Jack opened his eyes and saw Dr. Lawrence, the headmaster of Rushmere +School, bending over him. Near at hand stood Colonel Keppel, a +gentleman residing in the neighbourhood. The Colonel had been driving +Dr. Lawrence back from Longhampton, and his trap stood close by. At +the present moment the Colonel held a hat from which water was +dripping. He had fetched it from a pool near at hand. + +Jack gulped once or twice, then began to speak. The two gentlemen +heard his story with the utmost surprise. + +"Garrotters!" cried Dr. Lawrence, "I never heard of such an outrage in +this neighbourhood before. What a frightful thing! Yes, yes, that +explains the mark on your throat. Their object must have been robbery. +What have they stolen from you, Haydon?" But the mystery now deepened. +Jack's watch and chain, his purse, everything he had worth stealing, +were perfectly safe and untouched. Suddenly Jack started up and thrust +his hand into his pocket. "The letter! the letter!" he cried. He drew +out several letters and looked over them. "My father's letter has +gone!" he said. + +"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel, pointing to a sheet of paper +fluttering over the heath about thirty yards away. He ran and fetched +it. "This is the letter," said Jack, "the letter I received from my +father this morning." + +"But what an extraordinary thing that you should be attacked in this +manner, Haydon, in order that this man may read a private letter. Is +there anything in it, may I ask, to explain such a strange +proceeding?" + +"Nothing, sir, that I know of; nothing in the least. My father says +nothing there but what anyone may see. I beg that you and Colonel +Keppel will glance over it; you will then see how ordinary it is." + +The two gentlemen demurred, but Jack insisted, and they ran their eyes +over what Mr. Haydon had written. "Purely and simply an ordinary +letter from a father abroad to his son," said the Doctor; "it seems +madness to go to such lengths to gain a glimpse of such a letter." + +"All the same, young Haydon was quite right in not giving up his +father's note to such rogues to read, whatever their purpose may have +been," remarked the Colonel. + +"Oh, quite so, quite so," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "They had no right +whatever to see his private correspondence. By the way, Haydon, I see +your father is on his way home. This is posted at Cairo. In what part +of the East has he been staying lately?" + +"He has been in Burmah for some time, sir," replied Jack, "but I do +not know exactly what he has been doing. I rather fancy he went out to +survey some ruby-mines for a big London firm." + +"Quite so," said the Doctor, "I have seen him referred to many times +as a famous ruby expert." + +At this moment Colonel Keppel came towards them with something in his +hand. He had started away after concluding his last speech, and had +gone in the direction where he had seen the letter fluttering. Now he +was returning. + +"Here is something they dropped, something which throws a flood of +light on the affair in one way, and makes it much stranger in +another," he remarked in a grave voice, holding up his find. It was a +curiously-plaited thong of raw hide, with faded strips of silk worked +into the plaits. + +"The cord with which Haydon was garrotted!" cried Dr. Lawrence. "They +dropped it." + +"Yes," said the Colonel slowly, "but this does not mean common +garrotters. The fact that they stole nothing really disposes of that. +This means a much darker and more terrible business." + +"And what is that?" cried the headmaster. + +"Thuggee," said Colonel Keppel very gravely. + +"Thugs, Colonel!" said Dr. Lawrence in a tone of stupefaction. "Are +you serious? Thugs on the heath here, in our quiet, familiar country?" + +"This is a Thug noose, at any rate," said Colonel Keppel. "I know it +very well. I served twenty-seven years among the hill-tribes of +northern India in one capacity and another, and once I served in a +Thug country, and I shall never forget it. The way young Haydon was +handled suggests Thuggee. No common garrotter could have overcome such +a fine, powerful young fellow in that fashion. But the skill of these +Thugs is a thing truly diabolical. I remember one instance well. One +night, just upon dusk, two men of my regiment were entering the gate +of the cantonments. The guard saw them pass, and one was relating a +story to the other. The man telling the story expected his comrade to +laugh at the conclusion of the anecdote. Hearing nothing, he turned +and found that he was walking alone and talking to the empty air. +Thinking his comrade had slipped aside and played a trick upon him by +leaving him to himself, he went on to the barrack-room. Later the +second man was missing, and inquiries were made. A search followed, +and the dead body of the unfortunate man was found under the wall of +the cantonments. He had been seized and strangled by Thugs when +actually walking beside a comrade, and the latter had known nothing of +it. + +"That shows frightful skill and cunning, Colonel," said Dr. Lawrence. + +"It does indeed," said the other, "and I could relate a dozen such +stories. But why Thugs should be here and attack Haydon seems a most +extraordinary mystery. How do you feel now, Haydon?" + +"Much better, sir," replied Jack. "My throat's a bit stiff, but for +the rest I am none the worse." + +"You've had a wonderful escape, my boy," said Colonel Keppel; "there +are not many who have felt a Thug noose and lived to say what it was +like. But now, Doctor, what are we to do? There must be some inquiry +made into this." + +"Of course, of course," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "You are a magistrate, +Colonel; what do you recommend?" + +"We must put it into the hands of the police at once," said Colonel +Keppel. "The fellows cannot have got far. We saw no sign of them on +the road, so they must have slipped away over the heath, very probably +as soon as they heard the sound of wheels in the distance. Now, +Haydon, jump up at the back of the trap. The cob will soon run us up +to the constable's cottage in Rushmere." + +All three climbed into the Colonel's dog-cart, and away went the brown +cob at a slashing pace for Rushmere. Tom Buck, the Rushmere constable, +was just returning from a round, and he touched his hat respectfully +to the gentlemen. Colonel Keppel told the story, and Buck slapped the +gate-post with his open hand. + +"Well, gentlemen," he said in surprise, "then they are the very men +I've just been hearing about." + +"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel. "Where have you heard of them?" + +"From Parsons, the postman, he drives the mail-cart, you know, sir, +from Longhampton. This morning, just after six, he was coming through +the Chase, the wood beyond the heath, when two men slipped out o' the +trees before him and made a dash at the horse's head. There was hardly +light enough to see 'em, an' they'd ha' stopped him as easy as could +be if he hadn't been drivin' a young, fresh, chestnut mare. She's that +wild he daren't use a whip to her, but seein' these suspicious +characters, he snatches the whip out and gives her a cut as hard as he +could lay it on. Off she went like a shot, took the bit between her +teeth and bolted. As for the men jumpin' at her head, it was all they +could do to save themselves from being run down and trodden underfoot. +Parsons luckily managed to keep her on the road, and after she'd +galloped a couple o' miles or so, he managed to pull her in all of a +lather." + +"Then those rascals meant to raid the mail-bags to find your letter, +Haydon," said Colonel Keppel. "They seem to have been thoroughly +posted as to its time of arrival. Missing the postman, they hung +about, and a strange chance delivered you into their hands." + +"It's certainly a most mysterious business, sir," replied Jack. "But +why they should want to see so simple and ordinary a letter, who they +are, and what they're after, are altogether beyond me." + +"We must try to get hold of them," said Colonel Keppel, "then we shall +perhaps be able to fathom the mystery." He gave orders to Buck, who +went off at once to follow, if possible, the track of the strangers +across the heath, to inquire at cottages, and do his utmost to trace +them. + +"For my part," said Colonel Keppel, "I shall drive back at once to +Longhampton, and see the superintendent. The railway must be watched, +and every constable for miles round be warned by telegraph to keep a +look out for the rascals." + +"You are very kind to take so much trouble, Colonel," said Dr. +Lawrence. + +"I'm working for myself as much as anyone," laughed the other. "My +wife and daughters use that road continually, and very often they are +driving alone in a pony-carriage. It is imperative that the +neighbourhood be cleared of such desperate characters." + +He drove away at once, and Dr. Lawrence and Jack walked up the hill to +the school. Jack had given up the idea of his visit to Longhampton. + +"If I were you, Haydon," said the Head, "I should go and rest a +little. Sit down quietly in your study for an hour or two; you must +feel badly shaken by your awful experience." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Jack, "I will do as you say, though as a +matter of fact I am practically recovered now. Luckily, I'm in +first-rate condition, I'm not bothered with nerves." + +"No," smiled Dr. Lawrence, "I suppose not. Still, I should be careful +for a time if I were you." + +At the Doctor's gate they parted, and Jack went to his own study and +sat down. He could not keep his mind from his extraordinary adventure. +Why had those fellows seized him, and what did they want? Would they +be caught, and then would their secret be discovered? His mind worked +over these points again and again, like a squirrel working the wheel +in his cage. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. + + +Four days later Jack Haydon was in his study, his heels on the +mantelpiece, his eyes fastened on the pages of a novel, when there was +a tap at his door and a telegram was brought in. He broke open the +envelope and read the contents in growing surprise and wonder. Then a +look of uneasiness came into his eyes. It was a cablegram from +Brindisi, and ran, "Come at once. Most urgent," and was signed +"Risley." Jack went across to the Doctor's house, sent up his name, +and was bidden to go up to the study. Here he laid the cablegram +before the Head. + +"Who is Risley, Haydon?" asked Dr. Lawrence. + +"My father's man, sir," replied Jack. "It seems to me that they must +have got as far as Brindisi on their way home. I feel wretchedly +uneasy. Something tells me that things have gone wrong with my +father." + +"Oh, I hope not," said Dr. Lawrence. "There is no word of ill-news +here. The urgency may be quite on another score." + +"I should like to start at once, sir," said Jack. "I know my way about +the Continent very well. I have spent two or three vacations in +Italy." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Dr. Lawrence. "Have you plenty of money for +the journey, Haydon?" + +"I don't need more than sufficient to carry me to London, sir," +replied Jack. "I shall go there to Mr. Buxton, my father's friend, who +manages all his business affairs, and he will supply me with funds." + +Jack was on fire to be off to Brindisi and see what was wrong. He made +short work of his packing, and within an hour he was driving to +Longhampton to catch the London express. He caught it with scarcely +two minutes to spare, and was soon whirling towards the great city. A +short distance from Longhampton, he caught a glimpse of Rushmere +School in the distance on its hill, and the strip of heath country +running up to the foot of the slope. This brought to mind his +adventure, which remained as mysterious an affair as ever. The police +had been most active, stations had been watched, inquiries had been +made in every direction, but all to no result. The Thugs had vanished +and left no trace behind. But the thought of his encounter on the +heath soon faded from Jack's mind. It was crushed out by the pressing +question of the moment. What was the matter at Brindisi? Why had +Risley cabled and not his father? Had something happened to his +father? Jack felt wretchedly uneasy, for he and his father were bound +together by no ordinary ties of affection. + +In the first place, he had, as far as he knew, no other living +relation. His mother had been dead for many years, and his father was +the only close friend that Jack knew. Then the elder Haydon had always +been a great hero in his son's eyes. His profession of mining engineer +had carried him into many wild corners of the world, and the store of +marvellous tales which he would pour forth for the boy's delight had +made Jack's holidays a time of intense pleasure. Mr. Haydon had always +made a point, if it was possible, of keeping himself free for such +times, and he and Jack had spent the weeks joyously, until the day for +return to school had become a Black Monday indeed in the boy's eyes. + +As Jack mused over memories of other days, his anxiety to know what +was wrong at Brindisi grew moment by moment, and the flying express +seemed to crawl, so great was his impatience to be in London, where he +expected to get further news from Mr. Buxton. But he was destined to +learn something long before he saw Mr. Buxton. The express screamed +into an important junction and pulled up for five minutes. Three +fellow-passengers got out, and left Jack to himself. A boy came along +the platform shouting, "London Pay-pers," and Jack bought a _Daily +Telegraph_. + +He turned to the football news, and was reading it, when the train +pulled out and shot forward once more towards London. But the accounts +of his beloved sport failed to interest him, and he turned the paper +over listlessly, idly scanning one big sheet after another. Suddenly +the word imprinted on his brain caught his eye. "Brindisi"--here was +some scrap of news from Brindisi. + +What was it? Jack folded the paper, and then a second name seemed to +leap at him from the sheet. His own name! Haydon, Brindisi. What now? +His eyes darted over the paragraph, and he drew a long, gasping +breath. This, then, was the explanation of the cablegram. Over and +over again Jack read the paragraph, striving to grasp what it all +meant, striving to seize the inner meaning. The paragraph was short +and to the point. It ran:-- + + "STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE. + + "FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. + + "BRINDISI, _Tuesday_. + + "There is much stir here over the mysterious disappearance of + Mr. Thomas Haydon, the famous mining expert and engineer. He + arrived here on Sunday, and it was believed that he intended + to travel to England by the mail-train. He went for a walk on + Sunday evening, but did not return to his hotel, where his + man and his baggage were awaiting him. Since he left his + hotel there has been no sign of him, and the authorities are + making a diligent search." + +His father had disappeared? How? Why? Jack could make nothing of it, +and he stared at the paper with pale face and perplexed eyes. It was +so contrary to his every idea of his father, this extraordinary +disappearance. Thomas Haydon was the last man in the world to set +tongues wagging and to give anxiety to friends by such a trick. There +was something very strange at the back of this, and Jack struck the +paper with his open hand. "Foul Play!" he murmured to himself, and +then, for he was alone in the carriage, he said it aloud, "Foul Play!" + +Jack glanced at his watch. The train was due at St. Pancras in an +hour. How slowly that hour dragged! Now that he knew this momentous +piece of news, Jack burned more fiercely than ever to be in the midst +of affairs and doing something to clear up this strange mystery which +had gathered about his father's name. At last, with a thrill of joy, +he heard the engine give its warning shriek as it ran into the big +station. He had brought nothing but a Gladstone bag with him, and he +had it in his hand, and the door of the carriage open, before the +train drew up. He made a leap at the first hansom, and shouted, +"Lincoln's Inn. Drive fast," and away he rattled into London streets. + +There was a good cob in the shafts, and little time was lost on the +way. Jack paid the man double fare for the excellent speed he had +made, then bounded upstairs to the landing upon which Mr. Buxton's +chambers opened. In answer to his knock, a tall, thin man with a long +beard came to the door, and Jack gave a cry of joy. "You are at home, +then, Mr. Buxton. How glad I am! It has been my one terror that you +might be away in the country." + +"No, Jack, I'm here," said Mr. Buxton, shaking hands. "I've been +expecting you every knock I've heard. I suppose you've seen the +papers." + +"Yes," cried Jack, "I saw the _Daily Telegraph._ Are there any further +particulars in the others?" + +"No," replied Mr. Buxton, leading the way into his sitting-room. "The +_Telegraph_ has as much as anyone." + +"Have you heard anything? Do you know anything?" cried Jack eagerly. + +"Nothing but what I've seen in the papers," replied the other. "I'm +altogether at sea. I can't fathom in the least what it all means. What +have you had?" + +"Nothing but this cablegram," said the lad, and handed it over. Mr. +Buxton read it aloud slowly, and nodded. "From Risley," he said. "Of +course he wants to get you on the spot at once." + +"I shall start without any delay," said Jack. "Isn't there a +boat-train to-night?" + +"Yes," said Mr. Buxton, glancing at a clock on the mantelpiece, "but +there's plenty of time for that. Sit down and talk it over, and +besides, you must have something to eat." + +He rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to set out a +meal in the adjoining apartment: he gave Jack a chair beside the fire, +and took one opposite to him and began to fill a pipe. + +"Mr. Buxton," said Jack earnestly, "there's something out of the +common in this. My father has met with foul play. Before I know +anything else I feel sure of that." + +Mr. Buxton struck a match and puffed out several clouds of smoke. Then +he tossed the match into the fire, and nodded through the tobacco +clouds. "I agree with you, Jack," he said. "This is the queerest thing +I ever came across in my life. I've known Tom Haydon, boy and man, +this forty-five years, and he's as straight as a gun-barrel. If they +expected him back at that hotel, if Risley expected him back, then he +meant to come back. And if he didn't get back, it was because he was +interfered with. I'd stake a hand on that." + +Jack nodded with glistening eyes. "And I'm going to see why he didn't +come back," said the lad. + +"I'd come with you if I could," said Mr. Buxton, "but at present I can +no more leave London than the Monument can. I'm as fast by the leg, +held by press of work, as a bear tethered to a stump. How do you +stand for funds?" + +"I've only got a sovereign or two in my pocket," said Jack. "I was +depending on you." + +"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "of course you were. I made time an hour +or so ago to run over your father's accounts. There's plenty to draw +on." He went over to his desk and ran his fingers through a bundle of +papers. "Here it is," he remarked. "At the present moment your father +is worth the respectable sum of forty-seven thousand two hundred and +nineteen pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence; so he certainly +hasn't run away from his creditors." + +Jack nodded. "I'll start straight for Brindisi to-night, Mr. Buxton. I +can't lose a minute till I get on to the spot and talk with Buck +Risley." + +Mr. Buxton nodded. "I quite understand your feelings, Jack," he +replied. "I've wondered whether the matter might not have a very +simple explanation after all. One thing struck me. Has your father +ever said anything about his health to you? You know he's been a great +deal in India and Burmah. It's a very easy thing to get a touch of the +sun, and that will often cause a man to lose the sense of his identity +and get lost for a time." + +Jack shook his head. "I've never heard him mention such a thing," he +said. "He's always been perfectly fit whenever I've seen him." + +"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "and whenever I've seen him, too. He has +a wonderful constitution. But, you know, the possibility crossed my +mind, and I mentioned it." + +At this moment the servant announced that the meal was ready, and +Jack did his best to eat something. It was a very poor best, however, +for he was too anxious to be on his way to be able to eat, and he was +relieved when Mr. Buxton said it was time to start and sent the +servant for a cab. + +On their way to Charing Cross they did not talk much: conjecture was a +pretty useless thing, and, in their present state of utter lack of +information, conjecture was the only thing possible. + +The bustle of getting a ticket and finding a seat occupied most of the +ten minutes they had to spare before the train started, and, as the +swift express glided out, Mr. Buxton waved his hat to Jack leaning +through the window, and cried, "Good luck!" + +Of Jack's swift scurry across the Channel and over the Continent it is +not necessary to enter into details. He made the journey with the +utmost speed, and chafed at every delay. At last the train ran into +the station of Brindisi, and Jack hung half out of the window, his +eyes searching the crowd for Risley, to whom he had telegraphed his +time of arrival. + +"Hullo, Buck," sang out Jack, as a middle-sized, stiff-built man of +five and thirty ran up to his carriage door. + +"Glad to see you, Jack," said Buck Risley, as they shook hands. "Very +glad to see you." + +"Any news?" snapped Jack. + +"Not a word," replied Buck gravely, "not a word. Is this your bag?" + +"Yes," said Jack sombrely, for he was very disappointed. He had been +hoping to hear that something had been found out, or that his father +had returned. + +Buck took Jack's gladstone, called a carriage, and gave the name of +the hotel. He did not speak till they were rattling along the streets +of Brindisi. + +"Say, Jack, this beats the band," he said. "I can't make a guess +what's happened to the Professor." + +Mr. Haydon and Buck Risley had first met in a "wild-cat" mining camp +in Dakota. _The Lone Wolf Clarion_ had introduced the English engineer +to the local community as Professor Haydon, and Mr. Haydon had been +the Professor ever since to his part-comrade, part-servant. + +"Tell me all about it," said Jack, and Buck began his story. It was +soon finished, for there was very little to tell. They had been four +months in Burmah, and Mr. Haydon and Buck had gone up to Mandalay, and +then on to the Mogok country. At Mogok Buck had been seized with a +sharp touch of fever, and had been compelled to remain in that famous +mining town while Mr. Haydon went up country, accompanied only by a +few natives who had been with him in other journeys. He came back +after an absence of five weeks to Mogok, found Buck better, and +announced that they would return to England at once. They had packed +and started forthwith, and returned by the usual route. + +"Did my father seem quite himself, just as usual in every way, Buck?" +asked Jack. + +"No," said Buck thoughtfully. "He didn't quite. There was somethin' on +the Professor's mind, I'm sure o' that." + +Jack put forward Mr. Buxton's suggestion, but Buck waved it aside. + +"Touch o' the sun," said he. "Oh, no, nothin' like that. The +Professor was as fit as he always was, right as a bull-frog in a +swamp. No, it was a sort of anxiousness there was about him. He was +that careful that you might almost call him fidgetty." + +"Fidgetty!" said Jack in surprise, as he remembered the perfectly +equable manner of his widely-travelled father. + +"Yes, that's as good a word as any I can jump on at short notice," +replied Buck. "He seemed as keen on getting back to London as some o' +these globetrotters who have got sick o' foreign parts." + +"That was rather strange," commented Jack. "You've been with my father +twelve years now, Buck. Did you ever see him like it before?" + +"Never in my knowledge of him," said Buck, shaking his head. "As a +general rule the Professor was as calm an' easy campin' in a jungle as +another man in a front seat at a circus. It was all one to the +Professor, let things come how they might. But this time he seemed as +if his only idea was to get back. Not that he said much about it. The +most I ever heard him say was, 'Well, Buck, I don't care how soon I +get into Lane & Baumann's office,' an' he only said that once when he +was fretted at losing a day by missing a boat at Rangoon." + +At this moment the carriage drew up at the door of the hotel. They had +scarcely entered the door when the hotel clerk came forward with a +cablegram. It was from Messrs Lane & Baumann, asking if anything was +yet known of Mr. Haydon. + +"If he was anxious to see them, they are just as anxious to see him," +said Buck, handing the form to Jack. "Every day they wire, an' +sometimes twice a day, to know if I've got hold of any news." + +"I wish I'd been to see them before I left London," said Jack. "I +might have got some useful information from them. What do you believe +has happened to my father?" + +"I dunno what to think," said Risley, "except that some o' these +Dagoes got him in a corner and went for his pocket-book. He'd got +plenty of money with him." + +"But if he'd been attacked by thieves," argued Jack, "the police would +have found something out before this. He could not have been hidden +away from them." + +Buck shook his head. "Some o' these Dagoes are very sly and deep," he +replied. "I've heard queer stories about 'em at times. They say there +are brigands around." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack, "in Sicily and in some of the wilder parts of +Calabria, but not in Brindisi, Buck, not in this big port." + +"Well, I give it up," said Buck, "but there's a queer twist at the +bottom of it somewhere. The Professor ain't the sort o' man to worry +us by goin' into hiding somewhere, and lyin' low." + +"Of course he isn't," said Jack. "My father was prevented from +returning to the hotel, that's clear enough; and we've got to find +how." + +"Say, I'm your man, Jack," returned Buck. "I shan't feel easy till +I've had a glimpse o' the Professor with his old, quiet smile on him. +We'll hunt every hole there is." + +For two days Jack and Buck hunted every hole about Brindisi, and, +stimulated by the promise of handsome rewards, the police, too, did +their utmost, but all was in vain; the missing man had disappeared as +though the earth had opened and swallowed him. Absolutely the only +thing out of the ordinary that the police could discover was that a +fisherman's skiff was missing one night, and was found the next +morning a couple of miles down the coast, floating idly about. But the +painter was drifting astern, and it might easily have happened that it +had been carelessly fastened, and the rope had slipped from the +mooring ring and allowed the skiff to drift away. + +On the afternoon of the second day Jack announced his decision. +"Buck," said he, "I'm going back to London. I want to see Lane & +Baumann. It's quite possible that some information may be gleaned from +them which would give us a basis to go to work upon." + +"It's no good stopping here," said Risley. "When shall we start?" + +"To-night," said Jack, and, being near the station, they turned in to +look up the time of the fast express. Jack glanced along the platform, +and soon found what he sought, one of Cook's interpreters. "I want to +ask some questions of the booking-clerk," he said to the man, slipping +several _lire_ into his hand, "you might come and interpret for me." + +"Yes, sir," said the man at once, and followed the tall young +Englishman to the office. In three minutes Jack had learned what he +wished as to the shortest route and fastest trains; then he and Risley +set out to return to the hotel. Suddenly Jack remembered another +point, and crying, "Half-a-minute, Buck," he rushed back to the +office. He thrust open a swing door and saw that the interpreter was +still there, and was now in conversation with a smaller man. Jack +stepped forward, and the smaller man looked up and gave a short, quick +cry of alarm. For a second Jack stood with widely-opened eyes and +parted lips, an image of wild surprise. Then darting forward at full +speed, he seized the second man by the throat, and clutched him as a +lion clutches his prey. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BIG RUBY. + + +Jack had known the fellow at once, had recognised him instantly as the +small, dark man who had stood in front of him upon Rushmere Heath and +demanded that he should produce his father's letter. An instant +conviction had darted into Jack's mind that these things were +connected, and that this man knew something of his father's +disappearance. + +"I've got you this time," cried Jack, and was upon him in a second. +But a most astonishing thing happened. The small, slight man offered +no resistance to Jack's fierce rush, instead, he seemed to give way +before it as a reed gives way before the wind. Then he bent slightly +and laid one small, sinewy hand on Jack's knee, and, in some +mysterious fashion or another, the lad felt that his hold was torn +away, and that he was flying through the air over the little man's +head. All in a heap Jack landed on the dusty floor. As he fell, he +caught a glimpse of Buck's head thrust through the swinging door as he +followed his young leader, and saw the look of surprise on Buck's +face. + +"Seize him!" roared Jack, and Buck darted forward as the dark stranger +shot through another door and vanished into a crowd which swarmed on +to the platform from a train which had just drawn up. Jack gathered +himself together, and sprang to his feet, and rushed after his +companion. He soon found Buck, who was hurrying through the groups, +looking about on every hand, and they searched together, but searched +in vain; the mysterious stranger had gone to earth safely amid the +ample cover provided by the mass of bustling passengers. At last they +pulled up and looked at each other. + +"No go," said Jack, "he's lost in the crowd. He may be far enough away +by now." + +Buck's look of wonder and surprise was striking to behold. + +"See here, Jack," he said, laying his hand on his companion's arm. +"How in thunder do you come to know Saya Chone, and jump on him at +sight like a hawk droppin' on a chicken?" + +"You know him, Buck?" cried Jack. "You know his name?" + +"Know him all right," replied Buck. "But what under the sun is he +doing this distance from home? What brings Saya Chone in Brindisi? The +last time I set eyes on him he was coming into Mogok with a little bag +of rubies to sell to U Saw, the chap they call the Ruby King." + +"He comes from Burmah, where you have been?" + +"Sure thing," said Buck, nodding his head. "He's a half-caste. Says +his father was a British officer, and prides himself on talking Number +One English." + +"He talked English as easily as we do," said Jack, "but with an odd +click of the tongue." + +"That's the native strain in him," returned Buck. "But where did you +run up against him and hear his English?" + +Jack told his story quickly, and Risley listened with a knitted brow +of attention. + +"Say, there's business at the back o' this," murmured Buck, "but where +it fits in beats me at the moment. We don't know enough, Jack, to be +sure which way we're moving." + +"We do not, Buck, you are quite right," replied the lad, "and we'll +make a bee-line for London and see the firm for whom father was +working." + +"Let's go and see what tar-brush was talking to the interpreter +about," suggested Buck, and they went at once and found the man, who +had returned to his post on the platform. The interpreter readily told +them that the half-caste had offered him a liberal sum in order to +learn what Jack was doing, and what route he intended to follow on +leaving Brindisi, but the man declared that he had made no answer, +had, indeed, been unable to reply to the questions before Jack was on +the scene and making his rush. + +"Is it worth while to stop here and put the police on the search for +this fellow, I wonder?" said Jack, as he and his companion returned to +the hotel. + +"I doubt it," returned Buck. "There are such numbers of foreigners of +all kinds passing through the port that the police can't keep track of +them all. Besides, it would take time, and if there's some queer game +in the wind, we've lost a good deal now. If you could learn, Jack, how +matters stand between the Professor and the firm that sent him out to +Burmah, it might give you a line to go on. At present we're snuffin' +the wind and pickin' up no scent." + +"You're right, Buck, we'll get the baggage together at once." + +Again Jack rushed across Italy, France, and the Channel, never pausing +for one instant on the way. It was a little before noon on a Thursday +morning when he saw London again, and, at the terminus, he parted with +Buck. + +The latter went with the baggage to Lincoln's Inn to report to Mr. +Buxton, while Jack, too anxious to lose another moment, jumped into a +cab and drove straight to the offices of Messrs Lane & Baumann in Old +Broad Street. He sent his name in, and was shown at once into a large +room where Mr. Lane, the senior partner, sat at his desk. + +"Ah, Mr. Haydon," said he, "you have, I hope, come to give us some +news about your father." + +"Unfortunately I have not," replied Jack. "I have been in Brindisi +making every inquiry possible, but I have been able to gather no +information whatever as to his whereabouts. I have come here in hopes +that you may give me some idea of what his arrangements were with you, +and from that I might plan a course of action." + +"I think my partner had better join us," said Mr. Lane, taking up a +speaking-tube. For a few moments nothing was said. The business man +went on with the letter he was writing, and Jack looked about him. The +office was large and splendidly fitted up. Jack knew nothing of Lane & +Baumann, but it was plain on every hand that it was a large and +wealthy firm. Mr. Lane himself was an elderly gentleman, +irreproachably dressed, and the picture of an important man in the +City. + +The door opened and the other partner came in. Jack saw that Mr. +Baumann was much younger, a fat, heavy German with clean-shaven face +and big, round spectacles, through which little, thick-lidded eyes +peered. + +"Has he brought some news?" asked Baumann quickly. "What does he say?" +His accent at once betrayed him, though his English was excellent. + +"No," said Mr. Lane quietly, "he has brought no news. He comes to +learn of us." + +"To learn of us," said Baumann slowly; "and what is it you wish to +learn?" he demanded of Jack. + +The latter eyed the German keenly. At the first word he detected an +enemy. Mr. Lane had been gravely polite and non-committal in his +manner. This man showed hostility at once. + +"I wish to learn anything that will aid me in discovering the reason +for the mysterious disappearance of my father," replied Jack, firmly. + +"Mysterious disappearance," repeated the German, with a sneering +stress upon the words. "_Ach Gott!_ it is no mystery to me when a man +with such a gombanion as that disappears." He was becoming excited, +and his German accent began to thicken. + +"Companion," repeated Jack, "I do not understand you. My father had no +companion except Buck Risley, his man, who has now returned to London +with me." + +"Had he not, indeed?" said Baumann. "But he had a very close +gombanion, one who might easily lead him astray. _Himmel_, what was it +not worth? I think about it night and day." + +"Gently, Baumann, gently," said Mr. Lane. "You are mystifying Mr. +Haydon, and I shall explain to him what you mean. He clearly does not +understand you, and I do not think it is right to keep him in the +dark. Mr. Haydon, do you know why your father went to Burmah for us?" + +"I understood that he was going to survey some concession you had +gained," replied Jack. + +"My goncession," cried Baumann. "I went over there and saw the place, +and I said to myself, _Himmel_, here is the for rubies, yes, fine +rubies, and I got all rights to dig there." + +Mr. Lane quieted his excited partner and turned once more to Jack. + +"Exactly," he said; "your father went to survey a concession for us. +My partner had been over the ground, and had returned convinced that +there was a fine field for ruby-mining. We sent your father out to +look carefully over the ground on our behalf, and a short time ago we +received some very startling news from him. He cabled to us that in a +fissure of the rock, where, as everyone knows, the finest rubies are +found, he had made a most marvellous find. He had come across a ruby +of priceless quality, and, as his work was done, he intended to return +at once, bringing the ruby with him in order to place it himself in +our hands." + +"And now he has mysteriously disappeared," sneered Baumann. His +meaning was very plain, and Jack leapt to his feet with pale face and +shining eyes. + +"Sir!" he cried. "Do you dare to hint that the ruby is the cause of my +father's disappearance?" + +The German smiled, and Jack's anger grew. + +"It is impossible!" he cried. "My father is the soul of uprightness +and honour. And do you think he would be tempted by a mere stone, +whatever its value? He has handled rubies a hundred and a hundred +times." + +"Ay," snarled the German, "but not such a ruby as this. What did he +say himself? What was in his cablegram? 'The finest ruby by far that I +have ever seen or handled!' He says that. He, Haydon, the first living +expert on rubies, the man who knows everything of every big specimen +in existence. _Himmel, Himmel_, what a stone was that! And what time +are we losing! I would set every police of the world on his track. And +we do no nothing, nothing!" + +"Gently, Baumann, gently, you know very well that I do not agree with +you," said Mr. Lane. + +Jack turned eagerly to the senior partner. He felt that the whining +German was below both his anger and contempt. + +"Sir," said Jack earnestly, "if my father had in his charge a stone so +immensely precious, I fear he has met with foul play." + +"Who knew of it?" said Mr. Lane. "Had he mentioned anything about it +to his man?" + +"No, he had not," said Jack, and narrated at once what he had heard +from Buck Risley. + +"Yes," said Mr. Lane, nodding, "it was the possession of the great +jewel which made him uneasy." + +"Who can say what it was worth?" broke in Baumann fiercely. "A big +ruby of perfect colour and without flaw, remember, he said its like +did not exist, is of all stones the most precious. Diamonds, poof! +This ruby was worth a score of great diamonds." + +"And if my father had with him so wonderful a stone," urged Jack on +Mr. Lane, "is it not almost certain that someone has learned of its +existence? and again I say that he has met with foul play." + +"But who should know of it?" said Mr. Lane. "It is most unlikely that +he should mention it to anyone; and you say, moreover, that his own +companion knew nothing of it." + +"But," cried Jack, and thought this point was a clincher, "he cabled +home to you about it, and word of it got abroad, perhaps, from the +telegraph office." + +Mr. Lane shook his head. "He cabled to us in cipher," he said; "a +cipher which he had composed himself and wrote down for us before he +started. The paper has been safely locked up in our strong-room, and +it was the only copy in the world, for he told us that, for himself, +he should carry the cipher in his memory." + +This was puzzling and baffling, and Jack was silent. In a moment he +put forward another point. + +"But we are not sure the ruby has disappeared with my father," he +said; "it may be packed away in his baggage." + +Mr. Lane shook his head once more. "No," he said, "that is very +unlikely. Your father would be certain to carry a thing so small and +so valuable on his person. He would never part with it night or day." + +Again there was a short interval in which nothing was said. Into this +silence suddenly broke the grumbling roar of Baumann's great voice. +The German had been brooding over the disappearance of the great stone +until he was beside himself. + +"_Ach Gott_," he cried furiously to Mr. Lane. "You are foolish. You +still believe in the man and trust him. Me, I do not, I tell you +plainly he is a thief. He is to-day perhaps in Amsterdam, cutting that +noble and splendid stone into many smaller ones, and each of them +still a fortune. Yes, he is a thief!" + +"You liar!" roared Jack. "My father is not a thief. How dare you take +such words on your dirty lips in respect of such a man!" + +He had bounded to his feet and clenched his fists. Mr. Lane sprang +between them. + +"Now, Mr. Haydon," said the elder man, "you must keep the peace. +Baumann is speaking very wildly. I do not agree with him. I know your +father too well." + +Respect for Mr. Lane held Jack back, and nothing else. He would dearly +have liked to plant his fist on the German's foaming mouth, but he +commanded himself with an immense effort, and tried to speak calmly. + +"The man is mad to say such things," said Jack with trembling lips. +"Why, the whole facts of the case are against any such monstrous idea. +If my father had wished to steal the stone, would he have cabled to +you full particulars and started home? What would have been easier +than to pocket it at once, and say nothing?" + +"He was not a thief at first," vociferated the German. "He was honest +when he cabled. But the jewel, the great, big, beautiful jewel itself +corrupted him. He looked at it, and looked at it, till the love of it +filled his heart and he could not part with it. _Himmel_, I have felt +it all. I know what happened as well as if I had been at his side all +the voyage." + +"Look here, you foul slanderer," cried Jack. "I'll prove you a liar +out and out. Listen to me. I'll find my father if he still remains in +existence, and I'll prove that you wrong him by your unjust +suspicions." The lad turned to Mr. Lane with flushed face and shining +eyes. "I thank you, sir," he said, "for the trust you still retain in +my father. I will do my very utmost to prove to you that it was well +placed. I cannot promise you anything save that I will do all that +lies in my power to trace your great ruby and discover my father's +fate at the same time." + +Jack could say no more. He held out his hand and Mr. Lane shook it, +and the tall English lad strode from the office. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BUCK SEES LIGHT. + + +Jack walked rapidly through the city, and, free from the presence of +Baumann and his vile insinuations, began to cool rapidly and survey +the situation with a steadier eye. + +"This needs talking over," he said to himself. "Here's a big new +development." He hailed a cab and was driven to Lincoln's Inn. He +found Mr. Buxton's sitting-room littered with the baggage they had +brought home, and Mr. Buxton himself in close confab with Buck Risley. + +"Hullo, Jack," said the elder man, rising to shake hands with him; +"how have you been getting on with Lane and Baumann? You look +excited." + +"Rather, Mr. Buxton," said Jack. "I have been learning a great deal." +He struck into his story at once, and the two men listened with great +interest. + +"He had an immense ruby of incalculable value in his possession," said +Mr. Buxton slowly, when Jack had finished. "I say, this changes the +whole situation. I'm afraid, Jack, something very serious has happened +to your father." + +"Then that's what was on the Professor's mind," cried Buck. "I knew +very well there was something. It was big enough to make even him +feel uneasy." + +"It's an odd thing he didn't mention it to you, Risley," said Mr. +Buxton. "I've always understood that you were privy to all his +business movements." + +"That's all right, Mr. Buxton," said Risley cheerfully. "You've got +that quite straight. In a general way the Professor hid nothing from +me. But this time he did hide it about the big stone, and I'm goin' to +show you how right, just as usual, the Professor was. You must +remember," went on Buck, "that when he picked me up at Mogok on the +way home, he found only a dim and distant shadder o' the party now +talkin' to you. I'd been on my back for weeks with fever, and was as +weak and nervous as a kitten. I've picked up wonderful on the voyage +home. Well, if he'd told me o' such a thing as he'd certainly got at +that moment in his belt, it would ha' rattled me to pieces. I should +have been certain to give the show away in my anxiety for fear anybody +should get to know about it, and do him a mischief. So he said nothing +at all. But it puts everything in a new light, everything." + +"Buck!" cried Jack. "What about that fellow who stopped me on Rushmere +Heath and then turned up in Brindisi? Can he have something to do with +it?" + +"Now you're talking, Jack," said Risley, nodding at the young man. +"'Twas all runnin' through my mind. It all hangs together, as straight +as a gun." + +Buck knitted his brows in deep thought, and stared into the fire. Mr. +Buxton was about to speak, but Buck held up his hand for silence, and +the quiet remained unbroken till the American slapped his knee with a +crack like a pistol-shot, looked round on them, and nodded briskly. + +"I've worked it out," said Buck. "The Professor's been kidnapped, and +I'll lay all I'm worth I can spot the parties who have boned him." + +"Kidnapped!" The cry burst in irrepressible surprise and excitement +from the other two. + +"Sure thing," said Risley. "Just listen to me. That half-caste Saya +Chone comes from up-country somewhere in the direction the Professor +headed for after leaving Mogok. That's the starting-point for the +whole business. He's mixed up in it from first to last, that's plain +enough, by his showing up at Rushmere and then followin' Jack to +Brindisi as he must have done. What brought him trackin' us all this +way if he didn't know about the big ruby and was in with the gang +that's carried off the Professor?" + +"But why are you so sure that they have carried Tom Haydon off, +Risley?" asked Mr. Buxton. "Perhaps they--" Mr. Buxton paused, unable +to put into words the terrible thought which filled his mind. + +"Say it right out, sir," said Buck encouragingly. "You can say it out, +for I don't believe it's the least bit true. You meant, suppose +they've murdered the Professor for the ruby?" + +Mr. Buxton nodded, and Jack went white about the lips. + +"Well, that's all right," said Buck cheerfully, "they ain't done that, +anyway. First thing, if so we'd ha' found the Professor, for all they +wanted was the stone; they'd no use in the world for his body. But +there's a lot more in it than that. They want the Professor himself. +It's a dead sure thing that where that big stone came from there's a +lot more, and they intend to make him show them the place." + +"Ah," said Mr. Buxton, "there's a good deal in that, Risley. I hadn't +thought of that." + +"Then, Buck," cried Jack, "you think that my father has been seized +and is being carried back to Burmah?" + +"I'm as sure of it as I am that we are in this room," said Buck +solemnly. + +Jack drew a long breath of immense relief. To feel that his father +might be alive, and possibly could be rescued, was to bring a bright +gleam of hope into the darkness of this strange affair. + +"How have they carried him away?" cried Jack. + +"By sea," replied Buck. "Couldn't be done by land, nohow. But you can +get a quiet road by sea easy enough. I wonder how much that boat that +disappeared from the harbour had to do with it. They might have nailed +him, pulled him out in it to a vessel waiting off the harbour, and +then sent it adrift when they'd done with it." + +Mr. Buxton had filled his pipe and was smoking thoughtfully. Now he +took the pipe out of his mouth, and spoke. + +"I can see another thing which, in the light now thrown upon the +affair, seems very possible," said he. "How many letters did you +receive from your father, Jack, when he was on his way home?" + +"Only one, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "The one he sent me from Cairo +was the first I had had from him for a long time." + +"Isn't it possible," went on Mr. Buxton, "that those who were +following him up knew of that letter being sent, and were anxious to +read it, hoping that he would describe where he had been and what he +had been doing? Then, even if they failed to secure him and the big +stone, they would know the spot where he had discovered the +ruby-mine." + +"Say, Mr. Buxton, you've hit the bull's eye," remarked Buck. "That's +about the square-toed truth." + +"And that's why they threw the letter away when they had read it," +cried Jack. "There was no hint of any such thing in it." + +There was silence for a few moments, while all three pondered over the +strange events which had taken place. It was broken by Jack. + +"Oh, Buck," he said, "I suppose there is no chance of such a precious +thing being in the baggage after all." + +"Not it," replied Risley. "I packed every consarned thing with my own +hands. I had just enough strength for a job like that." + +"And you feel convinced, Risley, that Tom Haydon has been spirited off +back to Burmah by a gang who have learned of his wonderful find, and +mean to seize it for themselves?" said Mr. Buxton. + +"Dead sure of it, sir," replied Buck. + +Jack sprang to his feet and paced the room excitedly. + +"Then we'll go ourselves, Buck," he cried, "and run them to earth." + +"Sure thing," said Buck calmly. "I'm on at once for a look into what's +happened to the Professor." + +"It will be a dangerous quest," said Mr. Buxton slowly; "a very +dangerous quest, among wild lands and savage peoples. I know that +much. Do you think the Government authority extends over the district +where the discovery was made, Risley?" + +"No, it don't," replied Buck. "They're all savage Kachins and Shans up +there, as ready for a scrap as any you ever met. It's all the +authorities can do to hold 'em off the settlements." + +"A dangerous quest indeed!" repeated Mr. Buxton. + +"But one that must be undertaken," cried Jack earnestly. "Would you +have me leave my father's fate a matter of uncertainty, Mr. Buxton? I +know very well it's a long journey on the chance of Buck being right +in his suspicions. But so many things point that way, and if Buck is +willing to guide me to the country where the search ought to be made, +I will gladly go." + +"Oh, I'm with you, of course, Jack," sang out Buck Risley. "We'll have +a look into things, anyhow, an' I know more than a bit of that +country. I've been three times up the river, an' made all sorts o' +little side-trips." + +"Thank you, Buck," cried the lad. "I knew you'd be willing to help me. +We'll start as soon as possible. You'll find us plenty of funds, won't +you, Mr. Buxton?" + +"Oh, yes, Jack," said Mr. Buxton, "I'll find you all the money you +want for such a purpose." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SPY. + + +Three days later, about four o'clock in the afternoon, Jack and Buck +walked into Lincoln's Inn, and knocked at Mr. Buxton's door. They had +been staying at a hotel near at hand, and nothing was said until Jack +had carefully closed the door of the inner sitting-room, where Mr. +Buxton was at work among his papers. + +"So you're off to-morrow?" said Mr. Buxton, laying down his pen. + +"No, to-night," said Jack. + +"What?" returned Mr. Buxton in surprise. "Have you got all your +luggage ready?" + +"Yes, sir," said Buck. "We've got it with us." + +"Oh, your cab is outside?" he said. + +"No, sir," replied Buck, with a twinkle in his eye. "You see it all on +view." + +Mr. Buxton scratched his head. "Do you mean to say that you're going +to start for Burmah with an umbrella apiece?" + +"We do, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "We're going to slip off quietly. +Buck thinks we're being watched." + +"Watched!" cried Mr. Buxton. "By whom?" + +"Can't say that," said Buck. "But there's someone takin' a deep +interest in us I feel certain. I should venture to spec'late as the +ruby gang want to know what we're up to." + +"And you mean to start off for the other side of the world equipped +merely for a stroll through the Park?" cried Mr. Buxton. + +"Why not, sir?" asked Buck. "You've found us plenty of money, and we +can rig ourselves out whereever there are shops. Best for us, too, to +pull out on this business with as little show as we can make. If we +don't, we may find ourselves pulled up mighty soon and mighty sharp. I +tell you this is a deep an' cunning gang we've got to fight. An' +they've got a big pull of us. They know us and we know very little of +them. I can tell you there are wily birds east of Suez. They are up to +all the tricks, both of East and West." + +The two visitors did not stay five minutes with Mr. Buxton. They +wished their visit to have the air of a mere passing call, and when he +had shaken hands with them and wished them good luck, they left his +rooms, strolled into Chancery Lane, and went gently up towards Holborn +as if they had nothing to do but stare at the sights of the town like +country cousins. + +"Jack," said Buck softly, "let's pull up and look at this shop window, +the panes have just got the bulge I want." + +Jack, wondering a little what his companion meant, stopped, and they +stared into a print shop where photographs of eminent judges and +K.C.'s were set out in rows. + +"Say, this is bully," murmured Buck. "Move a bit on one side, Jack, so +that I can see the street behind us reflected in the glass. Now, come +on, I've seen all I want. Don't turn your own head or you'll spoil the +show." + +They walked on together, and Buck muttered in deep satisfaction: "I've +spotted the man following us; a stout chap with a double chin and a +look like a fat policeman out o' work. I reckon I've tumbled to this +game. I've seen him outside our hotel." + +"Is it one of the gang?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, no," replied his companion. "More likely to be one o' these +private detectives hired to watch us. Now we've got to throw pepper +into his eyes, an' then make a break for the station." + +Buck raised his hand and hailed a growler. They got in, Buck said +"Marble Arch," and away trotted the horse. Buck now set himself to +keep a watch out of the little window at the back of the cab, and soon +gave a chuckle of satisfaction. + +"He's coming," he said, "he's in a hansom about fifty yards behind. +This makes it a dead cert that he's our man. It would be a bit too +much of a coincidence for him to be outside our hotel last night, +following us up Chancery Lane to-day, and now tracking us along Oxford +Street." + +"How will you drop him?" asked Jack. + +"As easy as tumbling off a log," replied Buck. "We'll use Connaught +Mansions. Do you remember its two entrances? We'll pop in at one and +out at the other." + +Jack laughed, and understood at once. His father had a flat at +Connaught Mansions, a huge block of flats near Lancaster Gate, which +served as Mr. Haydon's London home between his journeys. They had +made no use of it during the few days they had been in town, +preferring a hotel near Mr. Buxton's rooms, but now it would be of +service to their plans. + +As they neared the Marble Arch, Buck gave the address to the driver. +He handed up a couple of half-crowns at the same time. + +"We may be detained at the place you're driving to," he remarked. +"Wait a quarter of an hour at the door, and then if we don't send any +message to you, you can go." + +"Very good, sir," said the cabby, and on rolled the growler, and soon +turned into the courtyard of Connaught Mansions, and pulled up at the +main entrance. Jack and his companion left the cab at once and went +into the lobby, where the porter came out of his office. + +"Hullo, Mr. Risley, you are back again," said the porter. Then he +caught sight of Jack, whose face was very well known from frequent +visits to his father. The question which had plainly been on the +porter's lips was at once checked. He had been eager to talk to Buck +about the disappearance of Mr. Haydon, but Jack's presence put a +barrier upon that. + +The cloppety-clop of the feet of a passing cab horse now came in +through the open door of the vestibule. Jack glanced out and saw the +stout man passing in his cab. The spy seemed to be very busy reading a +paper, and the whole thing looked as innocent as could be. + +"Well, I'll nip upstairs an' get what I want," said Buck to the +porter, and he and Jack rang for the lift, and were shot up to the +fifth floor. Upon this landing there was one projecting window, which +commanded the front of the great building, and the two comrades went +cautiously to it and peeped out. + +"There he is, there he is," whispered Jack. + +"Sure thing," chuckled Buck. + +Far below them they saw their cabman sitting idly on his perch and +waiting for his quarter of an hour to pass. The Mansions looked on to +a square, a long narrow strip of gardens, filled with lofty bushes +rather than trees. The spy's cab had taken a sweep round these gardens +and was now drawing up on the other side, exactly opposite their cab. +As they looked they saw the stout man leave his cab and move to and +fro till he found a space through which he could look across the +gardens and watch the entrance to the great building. From their lofty +standpoint Jack and his companion had a splendid bird's-eye view of +everything. + +"Off we go now," said Jack. "For if our cabman makes a move he'll +become suspicious." + +"We've got ten minutes yet," murmured Buck; "but as you say, Jack, off +we go." + +They turned and crossed the landing swiftly, and ran down the stairs, +flight after flight. They did not wish to call attention to their +movements by ringing for the lift; besides, they were making for the +back of the place, where a smaller entrance opened on a quiet side +street. They gained this and were once more free to strike where they +wished, leaving the baffled spy to watch the main entrance in vain. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN RANGOON. + + +"Now for a start in earnest," said Buck, as the two comrades hurried +swiftly through the quiet streets, moving westwards in order to put as +much ground as possible between themselves and the baffled spy. "I +propose, Jack, that we make for Harwich and cross over to the +Continent, avoiding the usual English routes and English steamers. We +want to get there as quietly as we can. It wouldn't be healthy to +arrive in Upper Burmah thumping a drum to let 'em know we were on +their track. They've got ways of their own of gettin' rid o' people +they want to see the last of." + +Jack nodded. "Then we must head for Liverpool Street," he remarked. + +"Yes," said Buck. "We're not far from Queen's Road Station. We'll hit +the Twopenny Tube and dodge back east, now." + +They went into the station and were just in time to jump into an +east-bound train, as the conductor was about to shut the gates of the +carriage. + +"Nobody followed us there anyway," remarked Buck. "We were the last to +board the train." + +They went right away to the Bank, plunged into the City, and threaded +the narrow streets and busy crowds in every direction, gradually +working their way towards Liverpool Street. They timed their arrival +there five minutes before a fast express pulled out, and were soon on +their way. As they rushed through the Essex flats Buck detailed his +plans, and Jack listened and agreed. + +"From Harwich we'll make for Hamburg," said Risley. "There we can buy +an outfit and take passage for Rangoon in a German boat which does not +call in England." + + * * * * * + +Our story now moves on to a point nearly five weeks later, when, as +evening fell, a big German steamer slowly moved up to a wide quay of +Rangoon, and took up her berth. Over her side leaned two figures we +know, one looking at the scene with eyes which noted the familiarity +of it all, the other drinking in every detail with eager interest and +curiosity. + +Jack was too absorbed in the scene to utter a word; the minarets of +the mosques, the vast spire of Shway Dagon, the famous pagoda, its +crest of gold glittering in the last rays of the sun; the crowd of +masts, the native boats, the swift little sampans darting hither and +thither, the quaint up-river craft, the Chinese junks--all was so new +and strange and wonderful that he could not gaze enough upon the +scene. And above all, he felt that this was the land whose wildest +recesses he must penetrate upon his quest, and his mind turned +strongly upon that. + +"Do you know, Buck," he murmured to his companion, "that the sight of +all these strange new things makes the whole affair very visionary to +me?" + +"I think I tumble to what you mean," replied the other. "I had a +touch of it myself when I first came to these queer parts. You feel as +if you were ramblin' about in a dream." + +"That's it, exactly," said Jack. "It seems impossible that this is +workaday life in which we have a definite task." + +"You'll soon shake that off," replied Buck; "the sight o' these places +makes every tenderfoot moon a bit; and we've got a straight enough job +before us. We'll have to rustle some before we've got the Professor +out o' the hands o' these people who want to jump his claim." + +"You feel certain my father is here, Buck?" + +"Three times as certain as when we started," replied Risley. "Mr. +Buxton's kept the search going, and found nothing. Very good. That +makes it all the surer the Professor is in front of us up this river;" +and Buck threw his hand northwards, pointing to the broad flood which +slipped past the quays of Rangoon to the sea. + +At different points of their voyage they had received cables from Mr. +Buxton giving the news of the search, which was going on in vain. + +The steamer took up her moorings, and the stream of landing passengers +began to flow swiftly to the quay. Jack and his companion stepped +ashore, each with a large kit-bag in hand. They had travelled light, +and all their luggage was with them. Buck held up a finger, and a +Chinese coolie darted up to them, his rickshaw running easily behind +him. The two bags were pitched into the light vehicle, and Buck bade +the man follow them by a gesture. + +"This way, Jack," said Risley, and led his companion up a broad +street, which, now that the dusk had fallen and the sea-breeze was +blowing, was filled with a strange and busy crowd. + +"Everybody turns out for an hour or two, now," remarked Buck. "It's +pleasant and fresh after the day. This is Mogul Street, about the +liveliest street in the city." + +Jack looked upon the crowd with wonder, the first Eastern crowd of +which he had ever made a part. The thronging pavements were a +kaleidoscope of the East--long-coated Persians; small, brown, +slant-eyed Japanese; big, yellow, slant-eyed Chinamen; a naked +Coringhi, his dark body shining in the lamp-light, and the rings in +his nose jingling together; Hindus of all ranks, from the stately +Brahmin to the coolie bearing loads or pulling a rickshaw; Burmese; +and, to Jack's pleasant surprise, three straight-stepping English +soldiers, swinging along with their little canes, their lively talk +sounding pleasantly familiar amid the babel of Eastern tongues. + +At a narrow opening Buck turned and left the main street. Fifty yards +along the side street he stopped the rickshaw and paid off the coolie, +each taking his own kit-bag. Next Buck plunged into a dusky, +ill-lighted alley, and Jack followed, wondering. + +"I'm making for a friend's house," murmured Buck, "an' I'm takin' a +shy road. We've got to keep our eyes skinned from now on." + +"Do you think the gang will be on the look-out for us in Rangoon, +Buck?" asked Jack. + +"Likely enough," replied Risley. "No harm in takin' care, anyway." + +The two gained a narrow lane beyond the alley, followed it some +distance, then turned into a wider street. Here Buck paused before a +shop whose windows were closed, but rays of light were streaming +through chinks in the shutters. He tried the door and found that it +was not fastened. + +"Nip right in," said Risley, and the two entered briskly, and closed +the door behind them. Behind the counter stood a tall, elderly man +taking a rifle to pieces by the light of a brightly-burning lamp. He +was surrounded by weapons of all kinds, and a single glance told Jack +that he stood in a gunsmith's shop. + +"Hello, Buck," said the tall man calmly. "Slidin' in like a thief in +the night, eh? What's wrong, and who's your friend?" + +"This is the Professor's son, Mr. Jack Haydon," replied Buck, +answering the last question first, as he put down his bag and shook +hands with his acquaintance. + +"Pleased to know you, sir," said the gunsmith, offering his hand to +Jack in turn. "Me and your father have known each other a long time +and done a lot of business together. Perhaps you've heard him mention +me, Jim Dent?" + +"Yes, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "I've heard your name many a time." + +"I'm very sorry for you, sir," said Dent. "This is a queer business +about the Professor. Knocked me all of a heap when I heard of it." + +"The news is about Rangoon, of course, Jim?" said Buck. + +"Came at once," replied Dent. "The Professor was known to so many +people here." + +"Well, between me and you, Jim," said Buck in a low voice, "that's +just what I've come to talk about. You know the ropes in this country +pretty well, and I want your advice." + +"Been in Burmah twenty-eight years, and spent a good deal of the time +shiftin' about here and there," remarked Jim Dent. "I know a thing or +two, as you may say. But come in; I should like to hear all about it." + +He secured the outer door, put out the lamp which lighted the shop, +and led the way to an inner room. Here another lamp was burning, and +all three sat down. Buck plunged into the story, and Dent listened +attentively, now and again putting a question. + +"They've got the Professor all right," said Dent at the conclusion of +Buck's narrative. + +"You, too, think so?" cried Jack. + +"Oh, yes, sir," returned Dent, nodding at him, "they're going to make +your father show 'em his find, there's no mistake about that. The +thing's been done before, but the men have been collared in this +country, I admit. I've never known anything so big and daring as this, +but still it's on the cards, and Buck has tumbled to the right +conclusion." + +"But how could they carry off my father with such secrecy?" asked +Jack. "It was impossible to book a passage back in any vessel. They +would have been found out at once." + +"That's right enough, sir," replied Dent. "They must have had a vessel +of their own, but that's a puzzling thing. Did you see any sign of +this Saya Chone on the voyage, Buck?" + +"Not a hair of him," replied Risley. + +"He and his pals might have been among the third-class passengers +after all," said the gunsmith. "You weren't looking out for them, but +it's pretty plain they were looking out for you. They must have been +fly to your posting that letter, and got an idea somehow or other of +the address. Well, this is a rum go. What's your next move, I wonder?" + +"Go straight up to Mogok," suggested Jack, "and strike into the +country where my father was exploring. Surely we can lay our hands +upon one or other of his native guides, and they will lead us to the +place. Then we can discover whether those people you suspect of +kidnapping him are anywhere in that neighbourhood." + +Dent nodded his head in agreement. "Well, sir," he said, "you'll have +to do something after that fashion. But you must go to work very +cautiously. The men you are after are at home there, and have a +hundred ways of finding out what you're up to, while you know no more +of them and their movements than you know which way a snake's slipping +through the jungle." + +"Would it be of any use to appeal to the authorities?" asked Jack. + +The gunsmith shook his head. + +"Not a mite, sir, not a mite. In the first place, you're moving on +suspicion, and you can hardly expect the police to go tramping round +in wild and only partly explored jungle to find out if your suspicions +are correct. Then, again, if inquiries were started you would only +warn the parties you suspect, and they'd take good care your plans +came to nothing. For holding a man tight and keeping the place of his +hiding secret, this country is a marvel. I've known many a native +disappear in a very mysterious fashion and be never heard of again; +some enemy had disposed of him." The gunsmith fell silent and mused +for a few moments. + +"I'll tell you," said he, "the best thing to do now, and that is to +strike up to Mandalay. There might be a chance there to pick up a bit +of river news which would help you. I wonder whether old Moung San is +up in Mandalay yet. He started up river with his _hnau_ weeks back, +and you know how they dawdle along, picking up every scrap of river +gossip." + +"Moung San!" cried Buck, "old Moung, why, he's the very man whose +_hnau_ took the Professor up the river Chindwin, the last trip Mr. +Haydon made before he went up to Mogok. He'll give us a hand if he +can, I know." + +"He was in here, buying stuff off me to trade along the river," said +Dent, "and he ought to be somewhere about Mandalay by now." + +"Then we'll start in the morning by the first train," said Buck; "and +that reminds me, Jim, we shall want some guns; we've got nothing at +all at present, and we'll look over your stock." + +"Come in the shop," said Dent, and all three went back to the little +front room where weapons stood in racks about the wall. + +"These Mauser pistols are handy things," remarked Dent, as he turned +some of his stock on to the counter. "Clap the holster on 'em and they +make a very smart little rifle." + +"We'll have a couple," said Buck, "they're daisies. I've tried 'em. +Have you got a light rifle or two in stock, Jim? We don't want to +drag any weight through the jungle, as you know as well as most." + +"What's the matter with the Mannlicher?" said Dent, picking up one of +those handiest of shooting tools and passing it over to Jack. "No +weight, and as good a little rifle as a man wants to put to his +shoulder." + +"This is all right," said Jack, putting it up. "I've never tried it, +but I've heard about it. Makes pretty good shooting, I think." + +"Wonderful good, sir," said Dent. "You can't wish for better. And such +a handy little cartridge, too. That's a thing to consider on a march. +You can carry a much bigger number for the same weight of ordinary +cartridges." + +For half an hour or more Buck and Jack turned over Dent's stores, and +laid in a very complete stock of weapons and cartridges. As the +gunsmith talked, speaking of the wild jungle into which they must +wander, the wild people they would be likely to meet, and what they +would need to meet the chances of their journey, his eye fired and his +excitement grew. He poured forth a flood of information, of warning, +of directions, which showed how complete was his knowledge of the +wilds into which they were about to venture, how deep was his lore of +jungle-craft, and how great his passion for the life of the explorer +and adventurer. His flood of speech ended on a sigh. + +"Five years it is now," he said, "since I made what I call a real +trip, getting clean off the track and striking a line which you might +fancy no white man had ever struck before." + +Buck had been watching his old acquaintance keenly. Now he leaned +over and laid his hand on Dent's arm. + +"Look here, Jim," he said, "you're achin' in every bone o' your body +for a real good trip again. Come with us." + +The invitation was like a spark thrown upon gunpowder. The gunsmith +struck the counter with his open hand till the weapons danced again. + +"By George, I will!" he cried, "I'll come fast enough. It's the sort +o' trip I'd choose out of a thousand." + +Jack saw what a splendid recruit offered here, and he hastened to +second Buck. + +"If you could, indeed, spare time to accompany us, Mr. Dent," he said, +"we shall be delighted to have your company and assistance." + +"Well, sir," said Dent, "I'll give you a month. I can manage, I know, +to get the business looked after by a friend as long as that. And +within a month, if we go the right way to work, we ought to get a good +idea as to whether the Professor's in the hands of that gang or not." + +"And if your business suffers at all, Jim, you need never fear you'll +be at a loss in the end," said Buck. "There's plenty of money for +everything." + +"Oh, that's all right," returned Dent. "Didn't you say you're offering +a reward of £500 for finding the Professor?" + +"That's so," replied Risley. + +"Very good," said Dent. "Suppose I hit on him first and pick that up. +That'll clear my expenses, and a bit over bar the fun o' the trip." + +"Oh, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "we're paying all expenses, of course." + +"Better an' better still," chuckled the gunsmith. "I get all the fun +and the chance of £500 thrown in, and the lot for nothing. You can +count in Jim Dent on this game." And so the matter was settled. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +UP THE RIVER. + + +It was on a Tuesday evening that Risley and Jack entered Dent's shop +in Rangoon: late on the Thursday afternoon the three comrades stepped +out of the train at Mandalay. + +"I know a little place down by the river where we can stay quietly," +said Dent, and they took a carriage and drove down to the banks of the +broad Irrawaddy. Here, at a native rest-house in a riverside village, +they set down their baggage and made a hearty meal in a room whose +window overlooked the noble stream with its crowd of craft. + +Before they ate, Dent had an interview with the master of the house, a +short, stout Burman in silken kilt and headgear of flaming scarlet, +and their business was put in hand at once. The Burman sent a native +boatman off to see if Moung San had reached Mandalay. + +The meal was scarcely ended before the light sampan was back with good +news. Moung San had been in Mandalay the last two days, and now lay at +his accustomed anchorage. + +"That's capital," said Dent. "We'll give old Moung a look up before +the evening's much older." + +Half an hour later all three embarked upon the sampan whose owner had +found out the anchorage of Moung San, and the tiny craft was thrust +into the river and pulled across the flowing stream. Jack looked with +much interest on the pretty, picturesque little craft with its bow and +stern curving upwards, and on its boatman, a strong Shan clad in wide +trousers and a great flapping hat, who stood up to his couple of oars +and sent the light skiff along at a good speed. A pull of a mile or +more brought them to the _hnau_, a big native boat moored near the +farther shore of the wide stream. The sampan was directed towards the +lofty and splendidly-carved prow of the _hnau_ and brought to rest. + +Now there looked over the side a dark-faced old Burman, whose face +broke into smiles at sight of his old acquaintances. + +"Hello, Moung San," cried Dent. "We've come to pay you a visit." + +"Very glad, very glad," replied the Burman. "Come up, come up." + +They climbed at once to the deck of the _hnau_, where Moung San shook +hands with them very heartily. When he heard Jack's name he smiled and +showed all his teeth, stained black with betel-chewing. + +"Me know your father," he said, and shook Jack's hand again. "Very +good man, very good man." + +Amidships there was a large cabin, roofed with plaited cane, built up +on the _hnau_. Moung San invited them to enter it, and all four went +in and sat down. + +"Now, Moung San," began Jim Dent "You listen to me. You know the +ruby-mines well, don't you?" + +"Yes," replied Moung San. "Do much trade with the miners for many +years." + +"Do you know a man named Saya Chone?" + +"Yes," said the trader. "Know him. Don't like him." + +"Who is he with now?" + +"With U Saw, the man they call the Ruby King." + +"U Saw," murmured Dent reflectively. "He's jumped into notice since I +was up here last. What sort of character has U Saw, Moung San?" + +The Burman lowered his voice and looked uneasily round to see if any +of his crew were within earshot. + +"Very dangerous man," he said, shaking his head, "if he hears of one +of the hill-miners finding good ruby, that man sure to lose it, +perhaps lose his head same time. U Saw has many Kachins who follow +him, and every Kachin carry strong, sharp _dah_ (native sword)." + +"Have the police been on to him, Moung San?" asked Buck. + +"The police!" Moung San laughed disdainfully. "What do the police know +about the hills and the jungle, and what goes on there? But we know. +The word goes from Kachin to Shan, and from Shan to Burman, over the +country, up and down the river. We know." + +"Where does U Saw sell his rubies?" asked Dent. + +"In China," replied the Burman. "Takes them along the great road to +China from Burmah over the mountains. Sells them there for big, big +money. Very rich and very strong is U Saw." + +Then, with scarcely a pause, Moung San came out with a piece of news +that made his hearers jump. + +"When I am at Prome two weeks ago, the 'fire-boat' of U Saw pass me, +and go up the river." + +"Fire-boat!" cried Jim Dent. "U Saw possesses a steamer. How big, +Moung San?" + +Moung San went into details. He compared the "fire-boat" with the size +of his _hnau_, he compared it with a river-steamer which now went +puffing past, he described it with the greatest minuteness, for he had +lain beside it at Bhamo for three days on the trip before last. + +"Say," murmured Buck, looking round on his deeply-interested +companions, "this beats the band. I didn't know U Saw had a steam +yacht of about three hundred tons, for that's what Moung San's talk +comes to. Say, Jim, my son, this clears things up a bit." + +"It does that," said Dent. He turned to Jack. + +"You see, sir," he remarked, "that Buck's guess hit the mark pretty +straight. I'd stake my shop that the party we want was on that yacht." + +Jack nodded, with bright eyes. "It must be so," he said, but Buck was +again in conversation with the Burman. + +"Do you know where the 'fire-boat' had been?" he asked. + +"There was a word that U Saw had been a long cruise in the islands," +replied Moung San. + +"Been a long cruise in the islands, had he?" said Dent, in a meaning +tone. There was silence while the three white men made swift +calculations mentally. + +"If the yacht is a good sea-boat," said Jack, "they would just about +have had the right time to do it, supposing they came up the river two +weeks back." He meant the voyage from the Mediterranean, and the +others nodded. + +The old Burman looked from one to the other gravely. There was +something he did not understand behind this, and it was plain that he +was about to shape a question. + +Buck whispered swiftly to Jack, then spoke: + +"Well, Moung San, we must be going. But the son of your old patron +wished to see you and to give you a little present because you have +served his father." + +Jack smiled and passed over twenty rupees. Moung San's mouth was at +once filled with thanks instead of questions, and an awkward moment +passed safely. + +"I could see the old fellow was going to ask questions," remarked Jim +Dent, when they were once more in the sampan, and the big Shan was +pulling strongly across the stream. "It was a lucky stroke to stop his +mouth with the rupees." + +"Yes," said Jack, "it's quite clear he knows nothing about my father's +disappearance, or he would have said something. So it was just as well +to leave him in ignorance, and escape a lot of talk. You never know +where the simplest question may lead you to." + +"You don't," agreed Dent. "He may wonder why we want to know about the +Ruby King, but as long as he's in the dark about things, he'll put it +down to mere curiosity." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE ATTACK ON THE SAMPAN. + + +Jack nodded and looked out across the wide, shadowy waste of waters +which surrounded them. The night had fallen and there was no moon, but +the sky was full of the glorious stars of the East, and the great +silent river spread itself abroad in the bright starshine till its low +distant banks were lost to sight, and the sampan seemed to be crossing +a vast lake. Far away up the stream a myriad twinkling lights showed +where the shipping lay thickly, and now a huge cargo boat came down +stream, its vast bulk looming high above the smooth flood. + +Somewhere on the shore a mandoline tinkled, the faint distant notes +coming sweetly to them across the water. Jack dropped his hand into +the stream and found it warm to the fingers. Then he felt that the +river was full of something floating on its surface, which brushed his +fingers, and circled about his wrist. + +"What's this in the water?" said Jack. + +Buck dropped his hand down. + +"Paddy-husks, the husk of rice," he replied. "There are rice-mills on +the banks up above, and they pitch the husks into the stream. When the +mills are busy, the husks cover the river." + +"It is a strong current," said Jack. + +"Ay, and a very dangerous one," remarked Dent "There's no mercy in +this river. It'll sweep you away like the under-tow of a strong tide, +and suck you down to feed the crocodiles, if it gets the chance." + +For a few moments there was silence, and Jack, who was seated with his +face to his companions, watched the big cargo-boat now passing them, +but a good distance away. Suddenly he sharpened the glance of his keen +eyes and looked more intently. A tiny dark patch shot from the shadow +of the great vessel and held its way straight towards them. + +"There's a boat just come from behind that big ship, and it's making +straight for us," said Jack. + +"That's queer," said Dent sharply, turning his head to look. "It must +have come down stream in shelter of the cargo-boat. I've been keeping +a watch on the river round us." He said a few words in the native +tongue to the big Shan, and the latter pulled much faster and altered +his course a little. + +"If they're only making for the shore they'll go straight on," said +Jim Dent. "If they're after us, they'll change their course." + +"They row fast," said Jack. + +Jim spoke to the Shan once more, and a few sentences passed between +them. + +"It's one of those long creek skiffs, pulled by six men," announced +Jim. "He knows by the shape of it on the water and the sound of the +oars." + +"Think they're after us, Jim?" asked Buck in a low voice. + +"I don't know, Buck," replied Dent. "But I wish we were ashore. This +isn't a country to take any chances in." + +All three watched the dark, long shape behind them, and the Shan +pulled with all his might. + +"It's after us." Jim Dent's low, fierce tones broke into the tense +silence, and Buck gave a growl of anger. + +"What's their game?" he muttered. + +"Run us down, there's no doubt of it," replied Dent. "That skiff is +built of stiff teak planks, with a nose as sharp and hard as an iron +spike. If they once hit this light sampan they'll cut it in two and +scupper us." + +"Ay, ay," said Buck, "and drop an oar on the head of a man who tries +to swim." + +The long narrow row-boat was now heading for them as straight as an +arrow. There could be no doubt of the rowers' intent. They meant to +run down the slight sampan and hurl its occupants into the deadly +current below. Driven by six powerful oarsmen, the skiff was coming on +at tremendous speed, and the shore was still a dim and distant line. + +Jim Dent spoke again quickly to the Shan, and the latter made a swift +reply and bent to his oars with all his might. He understood their +danger better than any one, supposing that his light vessel was run +down, and he beat the water with long powerful strokes which drove the +tiny craft forward with great power. Jim Dent had begun to rummage in +the stern, and soon drew out a broad-bladed steering paddle. He dipped +this into the water and added a strong dexterous stroke to the +efforts of the boatman; now the sampan began to fly. + +"Isn't there anything for us, Jim?" cried Jack. "Must we sit idle?" + +"There's not another thing to pull with in the boat," said Dent. "I'll +lay in with all the strength I've got with this paddle. We'll take +turns at it." + +Now commenced a stern, fierce race for life. The two men in the sampan +fought with set brows and clenched teeth to gain the far-off shore and +save the lives of themselves and their comrades. The six rowers in the +long skiff lashed the water furiously with their oars in order to +overtake and ram the slight vessel they pursued. One, two, three +hundred yards were covered. Jack's heart sank. The skiff had gained +terribly. Manned by six powerful oarsmen, she was cutting down the +distance between them with frightful rapidity. In the sampan the Shan +was still pulling with undiminished energy, but Jim Dent was beginning +to pant. Buck seized the paddle from his grip and took a turn. But the +skiff continued to come up hand over hand. + +"She'll get us long before we reach the shore," murmured Dent as he +marked the relative distances, and he spoke in the native tongue with +the Shan, who only answered with a grunt or two which had a sound of +acquiescence. + +"Give me the paddle, Buck," said Dent. + +"No, no," said Jack, "it's my turn." Every muscle in his body was +tingling to put its strength against the smooth current and the weight +of the sampan. + +"We're going to try a little trick," said Dent, and Jack perforce had +to sit still. He glanced down the river and saw a light low on the +water, as if a boat was coming towards them. He wondered whether it +meant chance of help, but in any case, it was far off, and the enemy +were now terribly near, and his attention was drawn again to their +position of immense peril. + +Dent and the boatman were now pulling easily, and the long skiff +darted up to them faster and faster still. Jack watched their pursuers +with a fascinated eye. There was not the faintest sound made, save for +the regular plash of the rising and falling oars. They were so near +that he could see the naked backs of the oarsmen glisten as they swung +their bodies to and fro in the starshine. Nearer, nearer, came the +long darting skiff. + +Jack held his breath. The sharp nose was within half a dozen feet of +the stern of the flying sampan, for Dent and the boatman were once +more pulling with all their might. For the first time a sound was +heard from the pursuing boat. A single word rang out from the +steersman, and the rowers bent to one last tremendous effort to hurl +their stout skiff upon the fragile sampan. But at that very instant +Jim Dent dipped his paddle deep on the left side, the Shan made a +corresponding movement with his oars, and the light vessel spun round +on her heel and darted away from the impending stroke. + +So close were the two boats when this skilful manoeuvre was executed +that the dripping bow oar of the pursuers was flourished almost in +Jack's face as the sampan flew round. He seized it, but did not +attempt to snatch it from the oarsman's clutch. He had no time for +that, but he made splendid use of the chance afforded him. He gave it +a tremendous push, and released it. The rower, caught by surprise, was +flung over the opposite gunwale, and the skiff was nearly upset. As +the sampan darted away on her new course, the skiff was left +floundering on the water. + +"Good for you," chuckled Dent, who had seen the swift action and the +confusion it caused; "that's given us twenty yards," and now he +allowed Jack to seize the paddle. Kneeling on one knee in the bottom +of the sampan, Jack put all his strength into the strokes of the broad +paddle. He had paddled a canoe often enough at home on the river which +ran near the school, and his powerful young arms backed up the +boatman's efforts to such purpose that the sampan travelled as it had +never done before. Behind him he heard the fierce swish of oars, and +knew that the skiff was once more in hot pursuit. + +Suddenly, without a hint of warning, the end came. Jack was just +beginning to thrust the paddle down for a strong, deep stroke when the +sampan struck something. The shock was so great that Jack was flung on +his face. As he sprang up again he heard Buck cry, "She's hit a +floating log." The sampan was uninjured. She had struck the obstacle +with her tough keel-piece, and had been turned aside at right angles. +The Shan had been flung down too, but was up in an instant and +gathering his oars. But this loss of a moment gave the pursuing skiff +her chance. Driven by twelve brawny arms, held straight as a dart, her +sharp beak of stout, hard teak crashed into the light gunwale of the +sampan, hit her broadside, and cut the little vessel down to the +water's edge. + +Scarcely recovered from the first shock, the second hurled Jack +headlong. He felt the sampan turn turtle under him, and in another +second he was shot into the dark, fierce current, and felt the waters +close over his head. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CLOSE CALL. + + +Jack did not rise at once. As he sank, the words of Buck flashed into +his mind, and he dived and swam swiftly down stream. When he could +stay under no longer, he came very slowly to the surface and put out +his face. He drew a deep breath and looked eagerly about for the +enemy, dreading to see a heavy oar poised against the sky to beat a +swimmer under. But there was nothing close at hand, and he trod water +and raised his head very carefully to look round. + +Suddenly the splash of an oar falling upon the water came to his ears. +He looked behind him and saw the dark mass of the skiff thirty yards +away. One of the oarsmen was standing up and striking at some object +in the water. A pang went through Jack's heart as he realised that one +of his companions must be there, struggling for his life, and being +brutally beaten under. Then he saw the frightful danger in which he +stood himself. At any moment the skiff might shoot towards him. He +turned and was about to strike away when a dark object appeared within +a few yards of him down stream. + +It looked like a head, and Jack struck out for it. He swam in silence, +and within half a dozen strokes had a man by the hair. He turned the +face up to the starlight and saw that it was Jim Dent, and that the +gunsmith appeared to be unconscious. Taking a firmer grip of Jim's +hair, Jack struck out down stream and swam as fast as he could towards +the approaching light, which was now much bigger and brighter. He had +turned on his side to swim, and looked back now and again as he rose +to his stroke. To his horror he saw the long, dark line which marked +the skiff begin to move swiftly after him. It was difficult to swim in +silence and support Jim. His splashes had marked them out to the +murderers, and they were hastening to beat him and his helpless +companion under before help could arrive. + +Jack marked the approaching light and lashed out more fiercely than +ever. Unencumbered by Jim Dent, he would have had ten times as good a +chance of escaping from the human tigers who pursued him, but of +abandoning Jim, the gallant lad had never thought for a moment. Like a +snake darting over the water, the skiff was upon them, and a figure in +the bow raised an oar to strike at Jack's head. Lifting himself high +out of the water with a tremendous stroke, Jack yelled, "Help! help!" +at the top of his voice. The oar fell, but the man had been flurried +by that sudden wild cry at his feet, and it missed its mark. Again he +raised it and struck. Jack had turned on his back, and as the oar +fell, he raised his hand, met the stroke, turned it aside, gripped the +blade, and hung on desperately. The figure gave a muttered cry and +strove to draw the oar back. + +But now a warning murmur arose among his companions. The light was +coming on at great speed. Jack's cry had been heard, and the vessel +was rushing swiftly up to the place. The men in the skiff knew well +now what vessel it was, and their only thought was of instant flight. +The oar was abandoned, the skiff was turned round, and away it darted +into the gloom which overhung the mid-stream. A moment later, a police +launch, with its brightly-burning lamp, and two Sikh policemen aboard, +shot up to the spot where Jack clung to the oar and to his comrade. + +In an instant the two were drawn into the vessel and Jack was telling +his story. + +"There are two others of us in the river," he said, and he raised his +voice and shouted, "Buck! Buck!" + +"Hello!" came a cry from some distance, and Jack's heart thrilled with +relief and delight. + +The launch was headed in the direction whence the reply came, and soon +Buck's head appeared in the ring of light cast upon the water by the +bright lamp. He was drawn into the launch, and then the little +steamer, circling to and fro, scoured the river to find the Shan +boatman. While this was being done, with one policeman keeping a watch +for the missing man, the second policeman, Risley, and Jack were hard +at work on Jim Dent, trying to bring him back to consciousness. + +"Say, this is great," suddenly snapped Buck. "I can feel old Jim's +heart beginning to thump. He'll do, he'll do." + +"Thank heaven," breathed Jack, who had been terrified at Dent's white +face and clenched teeth, and thought hope was gone. "He'll come round +then, you think, Buck?" + +"He'll come all right," said Buck. "Keep on rubbing him." + +"We'll take you ashore," said the first policeman; "there's no sign of +your boatman. That was the man they were beating under, there is no +doubt. Do you know anything of the men who attacked you?" + +"Nothing at all," replied Buck. "We have no idea who they were." + +"River-thieves," said the second policeman, "as hard to catch as a +monkey in the jungle. They work by night always. If we hadn't come up, +your bodies, stripped to the skin, would have been thrown up on the +river bank to-morrow." + +The police launch put them ashore near the rest-house where they were +staying, and Jim was now sufficiently recovered to be able to walk. + +"It was a close call that time," he said. "Who held me up? The only +thing I remember is hitting my head a terrific crack against the prow +of the sampan as I went over. I knew nothing after that till I sat up +on the deck of the police-boat." + +"Jack had got hold of you, good and all right, so the policeman told +me," said Buck. "Where he found you I don't know." + +Jack was compelled perforce to tell his story, and Jim Dent expressed +his deep gratitude. + +"By George, sir," he concluded, "I should have been a supper for an +alligator to-night if you hadn't stuck to me. Those murdering rogues +would have beaten me under easy enough, even if I hadn't been drowned +before giving them the trouble. I've got to thank you for my life." + +"Oh, you'd have done the same for me, Jim," said Jack. "We're bound to +stick together." + +At this moment Buck, who had gone forward, gave a loud cry of pleasure +and surprise. Jack and Dent hurried after him, and entered the door of +the rest-house. Here they saw Buck slapping the Shan boatman on the +shoulder. The man, like themselves, was dripping from the river, and +was telling his story to the Burman landlord. The latter acted as +interpreter, and they learned how the Shan, as much at home in the +river as out of it, had dodged the blows of the oar, and dived and +swum so far that their assailants had believed him sunk for ever, and +had followed up Jack and Jim. Meanwhile the Shan had swum quietly +ashore and walked up to the rest-house. His only trouble now was the +loss of his sampan, and his grief was soon turned to joy when he +received a sufficient sum of rupees to buy another and leave him +something in pocket. + +"River-thieves," was the comment of the landlord on the story. "They +are very daring sometimes. Without doubt they heard you speak English, +and hoped to make a fine booty by drowning and stripping you." He +bustled off to get them a supper, and Buck looked at his companions. + +"I dunno as I put much faith in this river-thief theory," he remarked. +"It's handy and natural, an' all these people jump at it, of course, +but I don't think there was much river-thieves about that lot." + +"Nor me, Buck," rejoined Dent. "I'd be willing to lay a trifle that +some friends of U Saw had a finger in that little pie. It would have +been a nice clean sweep of us, and as safe a way of being rid of us as +could easily be found." + +"After this I'm going to wear a gun," remarked Buck. "I fancy it +would have been rather useful if you could have pumped a few bits of +lead into that boat as it came swinging into us." + +"Very useful, Buck," returned Jack, "but after all, this afternoon we +were in a train where it would have seemed as out of place to wear a +pistol as if you were going from the Mansion House to Westminster." + +"Yes, things change mighty quick in this country," said Buck, "and +you've got to be ready to change with 'em." + +"By the way," said Jack, "those fellows who attacked us seemed to have +nothing to shoot with." + +"Best for them not," remarked Dent. "They've got their own way of +going to work, and a good one too. Their chief aim is to work in +silence. Suppose they'd cracked off gun or pistol at us. A sound like +that travels a long way over water, and draws a lot of attention. You +see what a sharp watch the river-police keep. Instead of one launch on +a regular patrol, there would have been three or four shooting up to +see what the row was about." + +They stripped off their wet clothes, gave them to the Burman landlord +to dry, and put on fresh garments from their baggage. Jim Dent +unstrapped the ammunition case, and each took a revolver, carefully +loaded it, and put it in a pocket hidden by the tunic. + +"We don't want to walk about with holsters strapped round us just +yet," said Buck, "and at the same time we might want to do some +shooting at any minute. My opinion is that the gang is watching us all +the time." + +"So I think," said Jack. "How can we drop them, I wonder, so that we +can make a start on our expedition without being ambushed as soon as +we strike into the jungle?" + +"It's going to be mighty dangerous to go into the Mogok country and +follow up the Professor's trail straight from the beginning," said +Buck. "We shall be spotted at once, and, as Jack says, an ambush will +be laid for us as soon as we hit the jungle and leave the last +policeman behind." + +Jim Dent scratched his jaw thoughtfully. + +"They're a trifle too handy at layin' a trap for you," he remarked. +"Let's have a squint at the map. We ain't bound to follow just the +only track which would give U Saw and his men the chance to scupper us +without givin' us a chance to lay one or two of 'em out." + +The map was spread on a table, and all three bent over it. + +"See, now," said Jim, "everybody knows the road to Mogok. You go up +the river by steamer to Thabeit-Kyim, and then you've got sixty miles +of road across the hills to the ruby-mines." + +"And the road about as quiet as Piccadilly on a fine afternoon in +June," remarked Buck. "There are mule-trains and bullock-carts, an' +men walkin' an' men ridin'. You can no more keep yourself hidden on +that road than you can if you walked down the main street of +Mandalay." + +"Can't we take the place in flank?" asked Jack. "Drop somehow on my +father's line without giving them such warning as they would receive +by seeing us about Mogok?" + +"Why, the bother is," said Jim, "we don't know the Professor's trail. +We must pick up one of his guides. Buck, here, can lay his hand on one +of the people who accompanied your father easily enough, but he's got +to be in Mogok to do it." + +"Wait a bit," said Buck. "Not so fast, Jim, my son. I see a glimpse o' +daylight. What's this place farther up the river, Kyan Nyat. That's +where the man came from who was the Professor's head man on his last +trip, the chap who engaged the coolies and looked after everything. He +was about as useful as they make 'em, the Professor said when he got +back. His name's Me Dain, and he told me he was going back to his +native village. He was tired of Mogok." + +"We'll look him up then, Buck," said Jack. "If we can get hold of him, +he could pilot us across country." + +"Yes, yes," said Jim. "Straight from the river. Very good, now we know +what we're after. The sailing orders are Kyan Nyat." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE DACOITS. + + +Two days later a swift river steamer dropped three travellers and +their belongings at the riverside village, and a couple of coolies +carried the baggage to a rest-house on the crest of a slope above the +wide stream. + +"Me Dain," said the landlord of the rest-house, a huge, fat Chetti, +with shaven head and scantily-clothed body. "Oh, yes, sahibs, he lives +here. He has returned from the ruby-mines with much pay, and has built +himself a fine, new house. I will send a messenger for him at once." +Within half an hour Me Dain appeared, a middle-sized, powerfully-built +Burman, with a broad, flattish, good-humoured face, marked by high +cheekbones. At sight of Buck, a merry face lighted up with the widest +of smiles, and he rushed forward to greet him. + +"Well, Me Dain," said Buck. "How are you getting on now?" + +"Pretty good, yes, pretty good," replied Me Dain, who had picked up a +fair amount of English on his travels. "And you, and the Sahib +Haydon?" + +"This is the sahib's son," said Buck, pointing to Jack, and the Burman +bent very politely. + +"I am very glad to know you, Me Dain," said Jack. "My father has +spoken very well of you." + +"The Sahib was always kind to the poorest and worst of his servants," +replied the Burman. "I, Me Dain, was always glad to be of use to so +kind a master." + +"Come aside with me, Me Dain," said Buck, and the whole party moved +out of earshot of the inquisitive Chetti, hanging about to hear what +passed between the sahibs and his neighbour. + +In two minutes Me Dain agreed to go with them. They had no difficulty +whatever in enlisting him. Despite his monied leisure and his new +house, Me Dain was already bored by the quiet life of his native +village, where nothing happened save that a river-steamer selling +goods called once a week. He was already longing for the trail and the +camp fire, and closed without delay on the good offer Jack made him to +act as guide to the region where Mr. Haydon had been surveying Lane & +Baumann's concession. + +"When we start?" asked Me Dain. + +"To-morrow morning," said Jack, and the Burman grinned. + +"Then we be very busy at once," he replied, and their preparations for +the march were commenced forthwith. + +"Can't we manage without coolies?" said Jack, and Buck nodded. + +"Best plan," said Jim Dent. "Just the four of us, and a couple of +ponies to carry the traps." And so it was decided. + +The dawn of the next day saw them afoot and leaving the rest-house. +Their baggage was strapped on a couple of Burmese ponies, strong, +shapely little beasts, not more than twelve hands high, hardy as wild +boars, nimble as cats. + +Me Dain marched ahead with the ponies, and the three comrades walked +behind. The Burman followed a country road which soon took them +through tall palm groves out of sight of the river, and then began to +climb upwards. They made a march of four hours, when a halt was called +on a lofty ridge, where they sat down in a little clearing to eat and +rest. + +"That's the country we've got to push through," said Jim Dent, and +pointed ahead. + +Jack gazed eagerly on the magnificent scene which filled the vast +outlook before him. Peak upon peak, spur upon spur, rose a vast array +of wild mountains running to the north-west, till a range of great +summits closed in the horizon. + +"See that big mountain shining red over there, the one with twin +peaks?" continued Jim. + +"Yes," said Jack, "I see it plainly." + +"That's near upon seventy miles from here," returned Jim, "and lies in +the ruby country. That's the finest ground in the whole world for the +ruby hunter," and he swung his hand in the direction of the vast sweep +of wild hill country into which they were about to plunge. + +For three days their march was quite uneventful. By day Me Dain led +them along secret ways, sometimes mule tracks, sometimes hidden +country roads, sometimes through trackless jungle where he steered a +course as straight as a ship at sea. Then, towards evening on the +third day, he rejoiced them by describing a village where he intended +to spend the night, and at the thought of fresh warm milk, eggs, +chickens, fruit, and such like provisions to be obtained there, the +four travellers made swinging headway. + +Presently Me Dain pointed forward and said, "Here we are," and they +saw the slender spire of a pagoda dart above the low trees ahead. A +few steps again carried them from the forest path they were following +to a narrow track deeply printed with the hoof-marks of cattle. + +"Here's the village highway," said Buck, and the Burman looked back +and grinned and nodded. + +The prospect of a night in a village with an exchange of gossip, a +thing so dear to the Burman heart, put speed into his heels. He +trotted forward, and the baggage ponies broke into a trot also. Jack, +eager to see every new sight on the march through this strange and +wonderful land, ran after him, and the two others came leisurely +behind. Me Dain vanished round a bend in the path, and, almost as he +did so, gave a wild cry. + +Jack bounded forward and gave a gasp of astonishment at the +extraordinary sight before him. Four little men, clothed in blue, had +leapt upon Me Dain from the bushes which lined the way. The powerful +Burman was fighting desperately, and the ponies had run on ahead. But +the four assailants were too much for him. They beset him on every +side, clutching him, grappling with him like four wolves pulling down +a deer. But even as Jack came into sight, the strangers had mastered +Me Dain, and in a second he was dragged to the ground. With incredible +speed and quickness they flung loops of rope around ankles and +wrists, ran them taut, and made the Burman a prisoner. Then two of +them dropped on Me Dain's legs and arms, and the third seized his hair +and dragged his head forward. The fourth leapt a pace back as nimbly +as a panther, and swung up a short, broad, heavy sword. + +It had all taken place so quickly that Jack had barely jerked his +Mauser pistol from his holster when all was ready for the decapitation +of their guide. But as the gleaming blade flashed above the head of +the little man in blue, Jack laid the muzzle true for his ribs and +pulled the trigger. The heavy bullet tore its way through the +headsman's body, and with a wild cry he pitched forward on the +captive's prostrate form. His three companions vanished into the +jungle beside them as Jack ran forward. He did not dare to fire at +them, for he might have struck Me Dain. Not one of them rose, but +darted away along the ground like four-footed creatures, and just as +nimbly. Jack whipped out his knife and slashed the bonds across; the +Burman at once leapt to his feet. As he did so, the other two ran up, +pistol in hand. + +"An attack!" cried Buck. "What's this game? Why, it's a Kachin. You +dropped him, Jack?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "he was going to lop Me Dain's head off with this +sword." + +Jim picked the blade up and looked at it carefully. + +"A Kachin _dah_ (native sword)," he said. "Did you see any more of +them about, Jack?" + +"Yes, there were four; three of them have cut into the jungle." + +"Come on, sahibs," cried Me Dain, who was very little disturbed by his +queer experience, "this dangerous place to stop. Perhaps they come +back with _jingals_ (native guns)." + +"What do you make of it, Me Dain?" said Buck. + +"Dacoits, sahib, dacoits; let us hurry. That man is dead," pointing to +his would-be executioner, "but plenty more in the forest." He seized +the _dah_ as a weapon for himself, and all four hurried after the +ponies, who had come to a stand fifty yards farther along the narrow +way. + +"Queer business, dacoits so near a village," muttered Jim. "Let's see +what the headman has got to say about it." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +BELEAGUERED. + + +But they found no headman to tell them anything. The forest clearing, +where the village had stood, was a scene of destruction. Their eyes +fell upon ruined houses and burned huts, with here and there a figure +lying about. They paused beside the first which lay in their way. It +was the body of a big, heavy man, a Chetti, as they saw at once by his +build, scored with the most terrible slashes. + +"That's the work of a _dah_," said Buck. "This village has been raided +by dacoits, and, by thunder, they're not far off." + +Everyone looked round uneasily. The forest lay calm and silent in the +evening sunshine all about the clearing, and no sign of a blue-clothed +figure was to be seen on its edge, yet all felt that the dacoits were +near, and that great danger hung over them. Jack had heard many times +of the Kachin dacoits, the terrible mountain banditti who descend at +times from their hills to plunder and slay, and now he was face to +face with them. + +"See how it was," said Jim. "This village was raided at daybreak this +morning. Not a body has been torn by a wild animal, and the beasts +would have been busy enough to-night. Then some of 'em were left +lurking about, and they spied Me Dain coming, didn't see us behind, +and thought he was coming to the village alone. Of course they slipped +out of the bushes and nabbed him, thinking to whiff off his head and +turn the ponies' packs out at their own leisure. But Jack upset their +little plan, and Me Dain's head stops in the right spot." + +"Many thanks, _phaya_ (my lord), many thanks," said Me Dain, bending +low before Jack. "Your servant thanks you for his life." + +Crack! There was a dull roar as of someone firing a very heavy +duck-gun from the forest, and a ball whistled by their heads. + +"A _jingal_!" cried Buck. "We've got to hustle round and find shelter. +The dacoits are on us." + +"The pagoda, sahibs," cried Me Dain. "It is the only place of stone in +the village. Let us hasten there." + +He gathered up the leading-reins of the ponies--which had been easily +caught--and hurried towards the spire. The others ran swiftly after +him, their steps hastened by the roar of a second shot and the whistle +of a second heavy ball. + +In a couple of minutes they had reached the pagoda and leaped on the +platform between the columns which supported the bulb-like roof +crowned by its tapering spire. In the centre of the platform was a +shrine. Jack glanced quickly round. + +"This won't do," he said, "not enough cover here, supposing the +dacoits attack us. What's that place?" + +He pointed to a new, strongly-built house of stone a short distance +from the pagoda. + +Me Dain looked at it in surprise. "It has been built since I was here +last," he cried. + +"Looks just the thing for us," said Jack. "Come on," and the whole +party hurried across to the building, whose door stood half open. + +"It is a small monastery," cried Me Dain, as they approached, "some +rich man has been winning merit since I was last this way. Stay a +moment, sahibs; I will enter and see that all is safe." He flung the +leading-reins to Buck and darted forward. In a few moments he +reappeared, and cried out, "There is no one here but a wounded +villager, sahibs. Come on, we shall be safe from the dacoits' guns in +this new, strong house." + +The party entered through a door formed of strong teak slabs, and Me +Dain closed it behind them. They now found themselves in a large, wide +apartment, formed of the whole ground floor of the building, from +which wooden stairs led to upper rooms. + +At the foot of the stairs was huddled a fine-looking old man, whose +rich silken kilt and jacket of delicate muslin showed that he was a +person of consequence. He had received a severe cut from a _dah_ on +the left shoulder, and while Me Dain skilfully bound up the wound, he +talked with the old man and learned the story of the affair. + +It proved to be the outcome of a blood-feud, one of those savage +vendettas so common among the hill-tribes of Burmah. A band of Kachin +dacoits had raided near the village some six months before, and three +of the dacoits had been cut off and killed by the villagers. Now, in +revenge, a strong troop of the savage mountain banditti had fallen +upon the village, burning, slaying, plundering without mercy. The old +man had fled for refuge to the monastery, his own monastery, for he +had built it to house a party of Burmese monks. + +"I am Kyaung-Taga Pah, 'Builder of a Monastery Pah,'" he declared +proudly, and Me Dain bowed before him in much respect. + +It is the great ambition of a wealthy Burman to show his piety by +building a pagoda or a monastery, and when he has done so, he is +always saluted by his fellows as "Builder of a Monastery," or "Builder +of a Pagoda," titles held in very high regard. This was the meaning of +Me Dain's phrase about some rich man winning merit, for it is +considered that such good works meet with the deep approval of the +gods. + +When "The Builder of a Monastery," Pah, had finished his story, Buck +inquired where the monks were, for, as a rule, such holy men are safe +even in blood-feuds. The old Burman replied that they were absent at +present. There was a great festival at a large village three days' +journey away, and the monks had gone to attend it. + +Jim had stayed at the door, keeping watch and ward. + +"We're in for a little blood-feud, too," he remarked. "They're dottin' +about pretty lively at the edge of the jungle." + +Jack ran across to him and saw a large number of little figures in +blue flitting through the trees; now and again he caught a flash of +steel as some naked _dah_ glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. +Buck had come too, and was looking over his comrade's shoulders. + +"Say, we shall have to flip our guns a bit before we drive those +blood-thirsty little ferrets away," he remarked. + +"Yes, they'll do their level best to cut our throats," agreed Jim. +"They're like a nest of hornets. Touch one and you've touched the +lot." + +"Hullo, they're bringing something forward," cried Jack. "It looks +like a clumsy gun on a stand." + +"That's a _jingal_," said Jim. "They're laying it for the door. We'll +get out of the way. It's a clumsy weapon and a clumsy ball, but if it +hits you, you get all you want an' a little bit over. I remember in +'85"--for Jim had once been a British redcoat and had fought in the +Burmese war--"we were carrying a stockade with a rush, and a chum o' +mine got a _jingal_-ball and went down. He must have been a dead man +when he dropped, for we found afterwards that the ball had fairly +ripped the inside out of the poor chap." + +He closed the door as he finished speaking, and a heavy bar was placed +in position across the stout planks. From one of the small, slit-like +windows they watched the movements of the dacoits. The _jingal_, a big +muzzle-loader on a stand of iron forks, was touched off and a heavy +shot crashed into the door. + +"Whew!" whistled Jim. "That's a heavier shot than I thought. That bit +of iron weighed nearer half a pound than anything." + +"It's cut into the door pretty badly," cried Jack, who had run forward +to look, and found a long streak of white in the plank which had been +struck. "We shall have to stop that or the door will be down." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "an' those little tigers away to the left o' +the _jingal_ are massing for a rush as soon as the gunners have worked +the door loose." + +"You're right, Buck," said Jack, who had returned to his window. "Look +here," he went on, "there are three windows facing that patch of +jungle where the dacoits are clustered. We'll take a window apiece. +I'll give the word, and we'll empty our magazines into them as fast as +we can pull the trigger." + +"Good plan," cried Buck. "It will show 'em we're well armed and an +awkward lot to tackle, even if we don't scare 'em off." + +"There ain't much scare about them, worse luck," said Jim, "but we'll +pepper 'em a bit an' see what happens anyhow." + +Each of them had unslung his Mannlicher and held it in hand since the +moment of the first alarm, and now they opened the magazine and saw +that all was in perfect order. Then they threw the deadly little +rifles into the embrasures formed by the window slits, and all was +ready for the word. + +"Fire!" cried Jack, and the swift trill of rifle-cracks rang out on +the soft evening silence. As swiftly as they could press finger on +trigger, the three comrades emptied their magazines completely into +the fringe of forest three hundred yards away. This storm of tiny, +whirling slips of lead struck among the dacoits at point blank range, +and, by the screams and yells of the banditti, did much execution. The +watchers distinctly saw three or four fall, but these were swiftly +dragged among the trees by their comrades, and for a moment not a +single dacoit was to be seen. Then, just inside the shelter of the +trees, five figures were observed very busy placing a new _jingal_ in +position. At a glance the besieged saw that the gun was much larger +than the first, and would throw a heavier ball. + +"We shall have to pick off those fellows at work with the new gun," +said Jack. "Perhaps that will terrify them into flight." + +"I hope so," said Jim, but there was not much hope in his voice. "The +worst of these little chaps is that they never know when they're +beaten. They'll give their lives to get yours, as cheerfully as +possible." + +"And they don't set any high value on their lives, either," chimed in +Buck. "Whoever's runnin' the show over there, he'll spend his men's +blood like water for the chance o' catchin' us and puttin' us to death +as slowly as he can make the time spin out." + +"Slowly? Killing us slowly, Buck?" said Jack. "What do you mean?" + +"Torture," replied Buck, and the one dreadful word was answer enough. + +Crack! It was Jim's Mannlicher which spoke, but the bullet missed its +aim. The dacoits at work about the big _jingal_ had artfully placed +the weapon so that its mouth pointed from between two close-growing +teak saplings, and the trees formed a safe cover for the gunners. + +"I thought I could pick one of 'em off that time," remarked Jim, "but +I believe I only hit a tree after all." + +At this instant a figure was seen for a moment behind the long gun. A +dacoit stepped into view, crouched down, and carefully trained the +piece. There was a second crack, and the freebooter dropped under the +_jingal_ and never moved. Jack had fired and sent a Mannlicher bullet +through the dacoit's brain. + +"I say, you can shoot a bit," cried Jim Dent admiringly, and Buck +chuckled. + +"I guess he can, Jim. He put on a very pretty string o' bull's-eyes at +Bisley, shootin' in the competition for public schools. The Professor +grinned all over his face when he read how Jack headed the list with a +highest possible." + +Buck's speech was cut short by a loud roar from the _jingal_. The +fallen dacoit had trained it perfectly before he dropped, and a +comrade now touched off the piece. At the next moment a terrific crash +rang through the building. The heavy missile had lighted full on the +point where the door was secured by the stout bar, had smashed its way +through door and bar and hurled the door open. As the portal flew +back, there was a tremendous yell from the edge of the jungle. Then a +cloud of blue figures burst into sight. With gleaming _dahs_ +flourished on high, or long-barrelled muskets thrown forward ready to +fire, the blood-thirsty little men of the mountains rushed upon their +prey. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A FIGHT FOR LIFE. + + +Jack ran forward to the door and tried to thrust it into place again. +It swung to, for its hinges were uninjured, and as he closed it, Me +Dain was beside him with a short, thick plank he had brought from the +other side of the room. The plank was placed diagonally against the +door, its head caught under a cross-bar piece of the framework, and, +for the moment, the open gap was filled up. The rifles in the hands of +Jim and Buck had been going steadily from the moment the Kachins flew +out of their cover, and Jack now poked the muzzle of his weapon +through a broken plank, and fired swiftly and steadily into the mass +of assailants racing directly towards him. The whole thing happened so +quickly that the dacoits had not crossed more than one half of the +space intervening between monastery and jungle when Jack opened fire. + +The withering storm of bullets poured from the three magazines had no +more effect in checking the dacoit rush than if the bullets had been +drops of rain. The men actually struck dropped, of course, but their +comrades were not in the least terrified by their fall. The short, +broad, powerful figures rushed on as undauntedly as ever, their dark, +wild faces full of the savage light of battle, their rough, deep +voices uniting in a terrible yell of rage and of fierce lust for +vengeance. A shower of bullets from their muzzle loaders pattered on +the door or whistled in through the windows. + +Buck gave a grunt of pain as a bullet cut him across a shoulder; Jim +and Jack were untouched. The Kachins did not stay to reload, and in +another moment their dark faces and blue forms were massed in the +doorway, and the door rang under the tremendous blows delivered upon +it by their _dahs_, weapons so broad and heavy as to be sword and axe +in one. The windows, luckily, were too narrow for them to swarm +through, and when Jim and Buck could no longer rake the flying crowd, +they ran to the door to help their young leader. This was the moment +when the Mauser pistol proved itself an invaluable weapon. Quicker and +handier in the narrow space than a rifle, it poured its stream of +heavy bullets into the assailants in an almost unbroken stream, as the +defenders slipped clip after clip, each containing ten cartridges, +into the magazine. + +Fanatically brave as were the desperate Kachins, this was a punishment +too severe for mortal flesh and blood to endure. Of a sudden they +broke and fled, leaving a heap of dead and wounded about the door, and +a trail of fallen men to mark the track they had followed. + +"Are you hurt, Buck?" cried Jack, drawing a long breath. Fiercely as +they had been pressed, he had not forgotten Risley's grunt of pain. + +"Snicked my shoulder, that's all," replied Buck. + +Jim looked at the wound and nodded. + +"A snick it is, Buck," he agreed, "and a lucky thing for you. A bit +lower, and it would have smashed the bone." + +"We'll wash the wound and tie it up," said Jack. + +"Later on, later on," murmured Buck. "We've got no time to spare at +present. What's the little move next with these boys in blue." + +"Do you think they will attack us again?" cried Jack. + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "they're a tough crew, I can tell you. We've +got a lot more to do before we chill 'em cold." + +"That's true," said Dent. "After they smell blood there's no more +holdin' them than you can hold a tiger." + +"We've punished them terribly already," said Jack. + +It was his first battle, and in true English fashion he had fought his +hardest for his own life and the lives of his comrades. Now he looked +with a troubled eye on the fallen, and sighed. + +Jim Dent nodded at him with a friendly smile. "I know just how you +feel, Jack," he said. "But the thing is pure necessity. If you hadn't +shot that chap back in the path there, he'd have had Me Dain's head +off as sure as sin, and after you shot him, the rest followed as +straight as a string." + +"True, Jim," said Jack, "the whole thing lies at their door." + +"Say, Jack," murmured Buck, "you'd better get your Bisley bull's-eye +trick on that _jingal_ again. They're goin' to try another shot or +two." + +Jack ran to the window, and as he did so, the _jingal_ roared, and +crash came the heavy shot into the door. It struck a weak place, +burst through, and rolled across the floor. In another moment Buck had +picked it up and brought it forward. + +"Say, boys," murmured Risley, "no wonder this _jingal_ makes the poor +old door crack. Look here!" He displayed a ball of iron, nearly the +size of a cricket ball. + +"By George! What a smasher!" said Dent. "The door's bound to go if +they can get two or three of those straight on it." + +Jack glanced at the heavy shot, then turned to the window to watch for +the gunners in order to check them in working their destructive piece. + +"I can't see them," he said. "There's no sign of them at all." + +Jim and Buck joined him at once. + +"There's the bunch of trees they were at work among," said Dent. "They +must have drawn the _jingal_ farther back into the jungle." + +"Yes, but if they can shoot at us we ought to be able to see them," +said Jack. + +"Sure thing," murmured Buck. "Where's the little old cannon gone to?" + +In another moment all three gave a cry of surprise. The mystery was +made clear before their eyes. A sudden puff of smoke burst from a +tangle of vines and creepers twenty yards to the left of the _jingals_ +former position, and a second ball crashed into the door, shook every +plank in it, and ripped a great piece out where it struck. The dacoits +had swiftly cut down and lashed a number of saplings across a couple +of trees to form a cover for their gun. Over the slight barricade they +had thrown a great tangle of creeping plants, and the whole concealed +and protected them in a wonderful fashion. + +"They know how to play their own game," said Jack, as he searched the +spot with a few bullets. "They're hidden all right." + +"Sure thing," said Buck. "They're up to all the tricks of the jungle. +I don't see how we're going to stop 'em gettin' the door down now. +It's pure luck firin' into that tangle." + +Within the next half hour Buck's fears were verified. Shot after shot +was launched from the heavy _jingal_, and at the short range the +gunners found the door an easy mark, and pounded it again and again +until it was utterly shattered, and the opening into their stronghold +was left defenceless. Nor could the besieged make the gap good with +any other barrier. Between the firing of the heavy balls a steady +fusillade of musketry was poured into the doorway, and no one dared to +show himself there. + +The three comrades stood each at a narrow window, each with his +weapons charged, and his mind sternly resolved to make the banditti +pay a heavy price for his life. + +"They'll come again soon," muttered Jim Dent. "We must pump lead into +'em like mad as they cross the open, then hold the doorway as long as +we can." + +"Yes," agreed Jack. "We must not let them get in if there's any way of +keeping them out. Once they surround us, their _dahs_ will finish the +struggle in a few strokes." + +"Say, I fancy I see a bunch of 'em just beyond the _jingal_," said +Buck. He fired, but there was no sign that his bullet had taken +effect. "They're gone again," he continued in a tone of +disappointment. + +There was now silence while each watched the fringe of the jungle with +the utmost vigilance. Minute after minute passed, and not a sign +appeared of the terrible little dacoits. The _jingal_ was fired no +more, the musketry had dropped, and the stillness remained perfectly +unbroken. Anyone less experienced in jungle warfare than Jim Dent +would have concluded that the fierce Kachins for once had had their +fill of fighting, and had retired towards their fastnesses among the +hills. But he bade his comrades stand close and be ready. + +"There is some trick in the wind," he said. "What it is we shall see +before long if we keep our eyes open." + +Suddenly into this silence came the sound of heavy blows on the planks +over their heads. These planks formed the ceiling of the lower room +and the floor of the upper. The noise in this unexpected direction +made them jump, and then Buck roared, "Who's aloft?" + +The head of Me Dain was now shown at the head of the flight of steps +leading to the next story. + +"Me up here," said the Burman. "Me got a job." He held in his hand the +heavy _dah_ which had so nearly been driven through his own neck, and +he now returned to his task without making any further explanation. +Buck moved as if to investigate into the Burman's doings, but at this +moment Jack gave a cry of surprise, and he turned hastily back to his +window. + +"What do you see, Jack?" said Dent quickly. "Are they coming?" + +"Something's coming," cried Jack, and pointed. "Look straight opposite +to us," he went on. "It seems as if a piece of the jungle were moving +upon us." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CUNNING TRICK. + + +Jim and Buck followed the direction of his outstretched finger, and +then gasped in surprise. As Jack said, it seemed as if a patch of +jungle had begun to move. A mass of tangled greenery was edging +steadily forward from the sharp line where the forest ended, and was +making its way very slowly across the open towards them. For a moment +the whole thing looked horribly uncanny, then at the next instant the +explanation flashed upon them. + +"Say, that's a deep game," cried Buck. "We're in for a hard streak o' +weather, boys. They're coming on in shelter of a movin' barricade." + +So they were. The cunning little men in blue had set their savage +hearts on the blood of the white men, and were sparing no effort to +compass the destruction of their enemies. But the terrible hail of +bullets from those steady rifles was a thing they must avoid, or the +attacking party would be wiped out before the shattered door was +reached. So they were coming on under cover. The thing was simply +enough contrived. They had cut down young palms and saplings and +lashed them together with tough creepers. Thus they had formed a +little palisade six feet high and fifteen feet along. Into the joints +everywhere they had thrust great feathery bushes of the wild plum, +completely concealing every sign of themselves. Six of the sturdy +little highland caterans were strung along behind the palisade. To +their muscles of iron it was the simplest thing in the world to swing +the barricade forward a step at a time, and behind them crept a score +of their comrades with _dah_ and musket ready for action. + +"They'll march right up to us if we can't stop them in some fashion," +cried Jack, and he fired his Mannlicher into the palisade. The others +followed his example, and for a few moments they searched the oncoming +mass of greenery with a close fire. + +"There's something behind those bushes of wild plum," said Jim Dent. +"Can't you hear the bullets striking into wood? They've formed a big +shield of logs, and are pushing it forward." + +Now that their advance was known, the Kachins gave up their silence. +The bearers began to shout to give each other the time and to make +their movements regular and swift. "Ai-ai-Ai!" they shouted. On the +last cry they all lifted and swung the barricade a step forward, +"Ai-ai-Ai!" On they came again, "Ai-ai-Ai!" Another swing of their +burden, and so they cut down the distance foot by foot, and the +blood-thirsty little men who crawled after them felt the edges of +their _dahs_ and promised to dull the shine of the great blades in the +blood of the English sahibs who had shot so many of their friends. + +In the building, Jack and his comrades were at their wits' end to +know what to do in order to check this deadly advance. + +"They're standing us off easily enough," cried Jack. "At the rate +they're coming, they'll be up to the door in a quarter of an hour, and +then they'll swarm straight in on us. These bullets are too light to +check them." Suddenly he turned on Dent, his bright eyes flashing. +"Jim, Jim!" he cried, "what are we thinking of? Didn't you pack a +heavy big-game rifle among the baggage?" + +Jim Dent leapt as if he had been shot. + +"Of course I did," he roared. "I put it in on chance of being useful +if we had trouble with tigers or a rogue elephant." He darted across +to the baggage ponies, who had been tethered in a far corner of the +large room, and swiftly cut a case loose. He unstrapped it and drew +out an eight-bore rifle, a big powerful weapon. In a corner of the +case was a package of the cartridges which fitted the rifle. Jim +caught up the packet and ran back to his window. + +"The very thing," he breathed in the utmost excitement, "and I stood +here like a dummy and never remembered it was with us till you thought +of it, Jack. Unless they've got some very stiff stuff in yonder +palisade, I'll send a bullet through it as if it was only paper. I've +tried this gun with nickel-covered bullets such as these, and sent the +bullet through eight one-inch teak planks and five inches of wet +sawdust." + +"That ought to be good enough," cried Buck. "Pipe the lead into 'em, +Jim, and me and Jack will watch for any you drive out of cover if your +bullet goes through." + +"If," snorted Jim, as he threw open the breech and slipped in the big +cartridge, "I'll show you." + +He threw the elephant gun forward and fired at the centre of the +palisade. There was an instant scream. The immensely powerful weapon +had driven the bullet straight through the centre of a palm log, +through the body of the dacoit behind, and wounded one of the party +following up. + +Jim whipped open the breech, and the empty shell flew out, for the +rifle was an ejector. His practised hands had another cartridge in and +the breech closed in an instant. He fired again and then again, aiming +each time at a different spot in the palisade. There was a roar of +anger from the hidden Kachins, a roar answered by an exultant shout +from the besieged. + +"Pipe it into 'em, Jim," roared Buck. "You're gettin' home every shot. +Hark at 'em squealin'." + +The barricade had now come to a standstill, and it trembled all over +every time that it was struck by the heavy bullet travelling at +terrific speed at so short a range. + +"Fire low, Jim," cried Jack, "they have stopped and are crouching at +the foot of the palisade, I know." + +Jim fired low, and his shot was answered by a fresh outburst of yells +of pain and rage. Suddenly the palisade began to waver, then it slowly +fell over, as a stream of blue-clothed figures darted from its +insufficient shelter. The dacoits did not make either for the door of +the hut nor for the jungle they had left. The pagoda was the nearest +cover to them, and they raced for it with all their speed, the +quick-firing Mannlichers scourging them with a whistling shower of +lead as they flew. When the last Kachin who could run had disappeared +behind the building, the comrades checked their fire and looked at +each other with joyful eyes. Jim slapped the breech of the eight-bore +exultantly. + +"It sent every bullet through their shield like a cannon!" he cried. +"Lucky I put it in; they'd have got up to the door all right if it +hadn't stopped 'em." + +"They would, indeed, Jim," replied Jack, "and it would have been all +over with us then." + +"Sure thing," agreed Buck. "We should ha' hit the long trail in short +order." + +"What's the next move?" cried Jack. + +"Hard to say," replied Jim. "We can do nothing but watch 'em." + +Watch them they did. The three comrades kept a steady look-out, but +the sun went down, and the swift dark of the tropics fell over jungle +and clearing, and the dacoits had given no further sign of their +presence. The approach of night filled the besieged with the greatest +uneasiness. There was no moon to light the early hours of the +darkness, and in the deep gloom the dacoits could creep upon them +unseen and swarm over them by sheer force of numbers. But just as dusk +fell, Me Dain began to drag down a number of planks and posts from +aloft. This was the fruit of his hacking away with the heavy _dah_. He +had cut loose enough timber to make a very useful barrier at the open +doorway, and he and Jim made the strongest barricade they could while +the others kept watch. + +When night fell they kept their places, every ear strained to catch +the faintest sound. They had only to watch one side of the ground +floor where they stood. Three of the walls were solid and very +strongly built; the fourth was pierced by the windows and the door, +and here they had taken their stand from the first. + +About two hours after dark, Me Dain came to the head of the stairs +leading to the next floor. He had been stationed there to move from +one to the other of the upper windows and keep strict watch all round. + +"Come here now," said Me Dain. + +"I'll go," murmured Jack, and he groped his way across the floor to +the foot of the wooden steps. Up he went, and found the Burman waiting +for him at the top. + +"Me think some men this way," muttered Me Dain, and took Jack's +shoulder to lead him through the darkness of the unlighted passage +above. + +"Which way?" whispered Jack eagerly, clutching his rifle. "Are they +creeping on us from the back, Me Dain?" + +"Me think so," replied the Burman, and led Jack to a long, narrow room +at the back of the monastery, a room lighted by a large window. Coming +from the blackness of the passages, Jack saw the window clearly, a +grey patch in the gloom of the walls. He ran across to it and looked +out. The window was high above the ground, twenty feet at least, and +looked upon a tangle of low bushes which ran almost to the wall of the +building. + +"Men in the bushes. Me hear them," said Me Dain. + +Jack nodded, and watched intently. The window was a mere hole in the +wall, closed, when necessary, by a shutter. At present the shutter was +fastened back, and Jack could hear every sound that was made below. + +Presently his ears caught a rustling among the bushes, and he threw +his rifle forward. Then he returned it to the hollow of his arm. He +would wait and see what were the plans of the freebooters now ambushed +below. At this moment he found Me Dain's lips at his ear. + +"They make ladder and come up here," breathed the Burman. + +Jack nodded. That was the idea that had already struck him. Well, it +would be easy enough from above to sweep the ladder with a swift rifle +fire and drive the dacoits back into their hiding-place. + +Then another idea struck him, and he turned it over and over. To drive +them back. Yes, that was all right. But it would still leave him and +his comrades prisoners with the Kachins in hiding about the monastery +and thirsting for their blood. Would it be possible to win a chance of +escape out of this? It seemed to him there was a chance, just a bare +chance, and he resolved to seize it. He drew Me Dain back into the +shadows, and whispered softly, "How many doors lead into this room?" + +"One," answered the Burman, who had thoroughly explored the monastery +before the dusk fell. + +"Can you fasten it?" + +"Yes, very easy. Big lock, strong lock, and key in it." + +"All right," said Jack. "Now you keep watch on, the men below. I'll be +back soon." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +JACK'S PLAN. + + +He hurried to the ground floor, and in a dozen swift words laid his +plan before his friends. + +"Frightful risky!" said Jim, "Frightful risky! I don't say there's +nothing in it, but a big risk." + +"We stand in fearful danger now, Jim," said Jack. "I know it's only a +chance, but we've got to do something, or these fellows will wipe us +out for a certainty." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "and there is a chance in Jack's idea. I'll +carry it out." + +"No, Buck," said Jack firmly, "I can't agree to that. Both of you came +into this thing to oblige and to help me, and it would be a cowardly +trick on my part to put the risky work on your shoulders. I'll try +it." + +"Let's toss up," suggested Jim, "or draw straws. I'm willing to take +my chance." + +"I know you are, Jim," said Jack, "but I insist on having a shot at it +myself. If they catch me, it may leave a chance for you two to get +clear away. I know it's a mere toss-up whether the plan comes off or +not, but we must try something." + +Jack left his Mannlicher with Buck and slipped away up the stairs +once more. He regained the window where Me Dain was watching, and +found that the Burman had nothing to relate save that much rustling +had been heard. Within five minutes again Jack saw the very thing he +had been awaiting. A dark, thin shape rose from the bushes and began +slowly to creep up the wall. It was a ladder which the dacoits were +raising to the window below which they stood, a ladder formed of a +couple of bamboo stems with rungs of creepers. + +Now came the time for action, and Jack drew the Burman back into the +passage and locked the door himself; luckily the big key turned +quietly and easily. Down to the lower floor hurried Jack and crossed +to his friends. + +"They have raised the ladder just as I expected," he said. "Now I'm +off." + +"Good luck, Jack, good luck," breathed Jim and Buck earnestly, as Jack +dropped on hands and knees at the door and glided out at a hole which +they had prepared for him by moving a portion of the barricade. When +he found himself in the open, Jack paused for a moment and listened +with all his ears. But he could not catch the slightest sound of +either voice or movement on this side, and he glided on like a snake, +keeping his body very low and pressing closely against the dark wall. + +He gained the corner of the building just beyond the door, and +cautiously put his head round. Again he listened and looked. All was +quiet, and once more he slipped on. Near the next angle was a patch of +low-growing bushes. He worked his way into these with the utmost care, +and raised his head slowly until he could peer through the upper +shoots. He now commanded the rear of the building, and his heart gave +a great thump of excitement and satisfaction as he saw the sight which +he had been hoping for. He saw the swaying line of the ladder clear +against the sky, and mounting it, rung by rung, a line of climbing +figures. The dacoits were swarming nimbly up to the quiet room, from +which they expected to fall like thunderbolts upon their unsuspecting +enemies below. + +Jack now began to work his way towards the foot of the ladder. He went +very slowly and with the utmost care. At last he paused. The bushes +which had helped the banditti to approach the back of the monastery +unobserved had helped him too, and he was now within ten yards of the +foot of the ladder. He raised himself to one knee and looked intently +over the ground. The last of the climbing dacoits was vanishing +through the window, high above his head, and one stood motionless +below. He, clearly, had been left on guard to keep the foot of the +ladder. Now Jack heard plainly a shuffling and creaking and straining +above. The Kachins were trying to force the door which he had locked +against them. + +"Lucky it's a strong door," thought Jack. "It'll keep them busy for a +few minutes. How shall I dispose of this fellow?" + +Suddenly the crash and uproar of heavy blows rang out from the room +above. The dacoits had given up trying to force the door quietly, and +were beating it down. This noise gave Jack a chance of a thousand to +carry out his plan. He had slung his rifle over his shoulder. He now +unslung it quickly, clubbed it, and bounded forward. The dacoit at +the foot of the ladder was staring upwards, intent on the doings of +his comrades, when Jack landed without a sound scarce a yard behind +him. + +Down came the butt of the rifle with a terrific swing, fair and square +across the skull of the dacoit, who crumpled under the blow and +dropped without a groan. Jack jumped at the ladder, seized it, dragged +it from the window, and flung it among the bushes. The dacoits were +trapped. Then he turned and darted away. He gave a glance at the +window as he ran. As far as he could see, his plan had met with +wonderful success. Not a figure showed at the dark square above; every +man seemed to be taking part in the furious assault on the door. + +Now Jack ran for his life. Would the dacoits beat the door down and be +upon them before he could give the word? He flew back to the front and +called in a low, quick tone, "Come on! Come on! I've cleared the +ladder away, and they're trapped above." + +"Then we'll be off before they've got the door down," said Jim softly. +"Forward, boys!" + +A little procession now streamed swiftly through the doorway and +hurried across the open space which led to the friendly jungle, where +they hoped to find shelter and hiding. + +Me Dain went first leading a pony, Buck followed with a second pony, +Jim and Jack brought up the rear, their rifles ready for any pursuers +who might hit on their trail. + +[Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY.] + +They were on the edge of the forest when a confused uproar of voices +told them that the dacoits had swarmed down the stairs and were in +the stronghold they had so luckily deserted. But even as the shouts of +the Kachins rang in their ears, the sounds were dulled, for Me Dain +plunged into a narrow path running through a thicket of bamboos, and +they left the clearing behind them. + +"Will they follow us?" whispered Jack to his companion. + +"It would be sheer luck if they hit on our track now," replied Dent in +the same soft tones. "Me Dain is leading us by a path that it isn't +likely these fellows know. Coming from a distance, they would only +know the chief road through the village, and they are almost certain +to divide and strike along that in both directions, thinking we have +fled towards the next village." + +"Where is the old Burman whom we found in the monastery?" asked Jack. + +"Dead, poor old chap," replied Jim. "He'd lost too much blood before +Me Dain tried to patch him up." + +"What savage fellows these dacoits are!" murmured Jack. + +"A merciless crew," returned Dent. "Any of our poor fellows who +dropped into their hands in the Burmese war were cut up in most +frightful fashion, and in cold blood, too. But we made them pay for it +now and again, when we got in amongst them with the bayonets." + +No more was said, and they tramped on in silence, with their ears laid +back to catch the faintest sounds of pursuit. But no sign of danger +was to be caught. Now and again they halted, and listened intently. +The jungle was perfectly silent save for its own noises, chief among +which was the sullen, deep roar of a tiger calling to its mate. + +"That's a tiger calling," said Dent to Jack. + +"I thought so," replied Jack; "it sounds like the Zoo, but how queer +to think that fellow is not behind bars, but roaming free through the +forest." + +"Say," remarked Buck over his shoulder, "I hope that 'Tiger, tiger, +burning bright' isn't a man-eater. If he is, he'll have a soft snap +with us, marching along this narrow path through thick cover." + +"By George, he's coming!" cried Jim, in a tone of sudden alarm. "Let's +bunch together, boys. If he doesn't get one of us, he may get a pony, +and that wouldn't suit our game at all." The tiger had again raised +his voice, but not in a roar so much as a fierce, grumbling snarl, and +the sound was much nearer. + +"Quick, quick!" cried Me Dain, from the head of the procession, and +the whole party hurried forward. Suddenly the trees above their heads +parted, and they saw the stars. The little band had reached an open +space in the jungle, and they gathered in the midst of this space and +closely surrounded the ponies. + +"Put your hand on this little beast's shoulder," said Dent to Jack. + +Jack laid his hand on the shoulder of the pony next to him, and found +that it was trembling violently and running with sweat. + +"I rather fancy it knows all about that noise, and what's making it," +went on Dent. "They understand when trouble's in the wind as well as +anybody." + +"It must be in a terrible fright," said Jack. "Do you think the tiger +will attack us, Jim?" + +"It isn't at all unlikely," replied Dent. "What do you say, Buck?" + +"If he doesn't want one of us, he wants a pony," replied Buck, "so it +comes to just the same. We'll have to pipe him full o' lead, I +shouldn't wonder." + +"This is a bad place for tigers," broke in Me Dain. "Very bad place. +Three Chinamen killed here four months ago." + +"How was that, Me Dain?" asked Jack. + +"Nobody know," returned the Burman. "Three diggers going up to the +hills to look for rubies. Make camp on little creek not a mile from +here. Somebody pass the camp next day and see one man dead. Then they +look, and see pieces of the other men in the jungle. Me forgot that, +running from Kachins." + +"Never mind, Me Dain," said Jim Dent. "Don't worry about that. A 'bad' +tiger is a very awkward brute to run up against, but a bunch of +Kachins is a more desperate case still. Hallo, he's pretty close. Hold +the ponies tight, Me Dain. They're ready to bolt." + +The little creatures were now frantic with fear, and the Burman had +all his work cut out to keep them in hand. + +"Look there! Look there!" cried Jack. "What's that straight in front +of us?" He had been staring hard into the blackness of the jungle, and +now, all of a sudden, two bright green flames seemed to start up in +the gloom. + +"That's a tiger just stepped from behind a tree," murmured Jim. "Stand +steady, boys, and don't let anybody loose off in any too much hurry." + +"There's another, and another," said Jack. + +In swift succession two fresh pairs of gleaming eyes were seen. Me +Dain gave a groan of terror. + +"Old tiger and two little ones," he said in a low voice. He was much +more terrified of tigers than of dacoits. + +"Say, he's got it quite straight," said Buck. "It's a tigress and a +pair of cubs. The eyes of the last couple are nearer the ground." + +It was so dark in the jungle which surrounded them that no sign of the +bodies of the savage creatures could be seen, only the eyes, which +burned upon them with a fierce, steady gaze. + +"It's a family party," said Jim. "Where's the old man tiger? It was +his call we heard, certainly." + +At this moment the tigress gave tongue. She let out a horrible whining +snarl, full of ferocity and threat. In an instant her call was +answered. Somewhere near at hand in the jungle arose a terrible sound +which seemed to fill the air and shake the earth, a sound which made +the blood run cold. It was the horrible coughing roar of a charging +tiger. + +"Here he comes," said Jim in a low voice, and Jack clutched his rifle +tightly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE JUNGLE. + + +A moment later, and a fresh pair of burning eyes was added to the +group in the jungle. + +"Shout, shout, or he spring," cried Me Dain. + +The whole party shouted at the top of their voices. This sudden uproar +checked the tiger; the most ferocious brute hesitates to leap upon +people who are making a great noise. Then a sudden flame spurted up, +and they saw the whole scene plainly. This was the doing of Buck. He +had been hastily gathering great handfuls of dried grass and piling +them together. He struck a match and tossed it into the heap. The +withered grass caught at once, and a great red flare leapt out and +lighted the scene. For the first time they saw the tigers clearly, an +immense male tiger, his smaller mate, and two large cubs. The tigress +and the cubs were retreating a little, and the male was crouching as +if for a spring, his tail lashing his flanks, but the sudden flaring +up of the fire checked him, and for the moment he did not leap. + +That moment's hesitation saved them, so quickly and well was it used +by Jack. He had his rifle already at his shoulder. As the flame sprang +up, his quick eye brought the sights to bear on the huge, round head +of the crouching tiger. He touched the trigger, and the rifle spoke. +The great tiger gave one convulsive shudder, but did not move. There +was a general thrill of terror among the party. Had Jack missed, or +only grazed him? If it was so, he would spring at once, and his mate +would follow. + +The flame leapt and fell. The grass had burned out. With frenzied +haste Jim and Buck tore fresh handfuls to feed the fire. Every second +they expected the tigers to rush on them through the darkness. But no +charge came, and once more the red flame ran through the dried grass +and leaped into the air. As it did so, they gave a cry of +astonishment. There crouched the tiger, just as before, save that his +tail no longer swept to and fro. His head was laid low, his paws were +drawn under him just as if he were about to rise in the air and +descend upon them like a living thunderbolt, but he made no movement, +uttered no sound. Suddenly Jim Dent broke the wondering silence. + +"By George," said he in a low voice, "what a shot! What a shot! Jack, +that's a dead tiger." + +"Do you think so, Jim?" said Jack, joyfully. "Have I killed him?" + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "that's a brain shot. He never moved after +the bullet hit him. Now for the others. Where's the lone, lorn widdy +and the poor orphans. Jack, they'll rip holes into you for robbing +them of a kind father." + +Buck was still speaking when the tigress returned and rushed up to her +mate. She seemed to suspect something, and she bent over the huge, +prostrate figure and snuffed at it eagerly. Then she gave a +blood-curdling growl and retreated slowly towards the cubs, which came +bounding to her side, whining impatiently. + +"Those cubs are very hungry," said Buck. + +"Yes," said Jim quietly. "What's her next move? Will she scent danger +and clear off with the young ones, or is she in so great a need of +food for herself and them that she will attack us?" + +Suddenly Me Dain began to shout, "Shoot, sahibs, shoot! She is coming! +She is coming!" His experienced eye had told him that the tigress was +about to charge, and another instant showed that he had given no false +alarm. Maddened by the scent of the pack animals, and by the whining +of her famished cubs, the tigress turned short and came at them with +two tremendous leaps! The second carried her full into the light of +the fire, and as she touched the ground, all three rifles cracked, and +three bullets were driven home into her shining, striped body. + +Again she rose to her leap, her eyes blazing madly, her mouth opened +to its fullest extent, showing her huge fangs, and the repeaters +crackled as a rapid fire was poured into her in hopes of checking her +rush, for a wounded tigress is the most savage and dangerous beast in +the jungle. The last volley carried the day. Each fired into the open +mouth, and each hit his mark. The bullets, travelling at terrific +speed, cut their way through flesh, sinew, brain, and bone, and almost +tore the head of the tigress to pieces. She dropped across the fire +and lay there without moving, her coat singeing in the embers. + +"Whew!" Jim blew out a long breath. "I thought she was in among us +that time. And if she had been, we should have known about it. There's +a fore-arm for you." As he spoke, he touched the short, thick leg +where the muscle bulged in huge rolls under the loose skin. + +"And look at her claws," said Jack, bending with much interest to +examine the dreadful creature now lying so still. "A stroke of those +would mean mischief." + +"I saw a tiger once rush out of cover and give a beater a stroke in +passing," said Jim. "I remember I thought the brute had only patted +the man. I wasn't fifty yards away, and I'm perfectly sure the beast +didn't put any particular force into the blow. But the man dropped, +and when we ran up to him, we found five of his ribs torn clean out of +his body. He died from loss of blood almost at once." + +Buck twisted a bunch of dried reeds into a rude torch and lighted it. +"Let's have a look at the boss," he said, and they crossed to the +great tiger, still crouching as if about to spring. There was no mark +of injury on him save a small patch of blood between his eyes. + +"That's where you hit him, Jack," said Buck. He bent down and felt +among the fur. "I can feel the hole in the skull," he said, "but those +Mannlicher bullets are so small, there's scarcely anything to be +seen." + +"That bullet took him through the brain and then went down the spine," +said Jim. "Must have done, to have settled him so completely. You see +he never moved after he was hit." + +Jack took the torch from Buck's hand and looked proudly over the +magnificent proportions of his first tiger. The gleaming, satiny skin, +the bright bars of black and yellow, showed that the animal was in +splendid condition, and at the height of his powers. + +"Isn't he a splendid fellow?" murmured Jack. "I should just about like +to have his skin." + +"Sahibs," came a voice behind them, "let us go. Perhaps the Kachins +hear the guns." + +"The dacoits!" cried Jack. "Upon my word, I'd forgotten all about +them! By Jove, it's a matter of saving our own skins without worrying +about the tiger's. We'd better be on the move." + +"I'd clean forgotten 'em myself," said Jim, and Buck chimed in with, +"So had I." + +"They're pretty awkward parties to forget," went on Jack. + +"That's so," agreed Buck. "If they hit our trail, we'll see trouble +yet." + +No more time was spent over the dangerous brutes which had threatened +to bar their way. They were left lying where they had fallen, and the +little party of fugitives turned once more to their flight, and pushed +rapidly through the jungle. + +An hour later the moon came up, and soon after that they reached a +wide, naked stretch of rocky hill-side. This was very hard travelling, +but they welcomed it, as it was country where they would leave very +few traces to guide pursuers. On and on they pushed, until dim grey +streaks in the east told them that the dawn was near at hand. They +climbed a steep slope, and were just on its crown when the morning +broke, and the sun shot up into a sky without a cloud. + +"Good place here to make camp," remarked Me Dain, and all agreed +heartily with the remark. + +"I reckon this is your first night march," said Jim to Jack, +smilingly. + +"Yes," said Jack. "It isn't bad fun either." His tall, powerful, young +figure was as upright as a dart, his eye bright, his cheek fresh; he +could have gone on all day again. + +"Well," said Jim Dent, "I don't mind saying I'm ready for a rest," and +he dropped on the grass beside the fire which Me Dain had already +begun to build. + +Buck got out the provisions, and they ate from their store of native +bread and dried beef, and washed it down with plenty of tea. + +"The country looks empty," said Jack, glancing over the wide stretch +they had traversed, "but for all that we had better keep our eyes +open, perhaps." + +"We had," said Jim. "Those Kachins will follow us hot-foot when once +the light comes and they get our track for certain. I should say we'd +better stop here a few hours and then push on again till we've got +clean out of this country-side." + +"Very well," returned Jack. "We'll set a guard. Best to run no risks. +I'll take first watch." + +The last watch fell to Me Dain, and Jack awoke just as Buck roused the +Burman and lay down himself for another nap before continuing the +march. Jack, who was lying in a patch of thick grass, and wrapped in a +blanket, watched the sturdy figure of the Burman as Me Dain paced +lightly to and fro, looking out keenly on every hand. Then Jack dozed +off himself for half an hour, and woke again. He glanced round and saw +that Me Dain was sitting on a rock with his back towards the +sleepers. The first glance aroused Jack's suspicions. The Burman's +head was sunk between his shoulders. Next moment suspicion became +certainty. A gentle snore reached Jack's ears, and he knew that Me +Dain was sleeping at his post. + +Up sprang Jack at once, and crossed to the sleeping man. He was about +to shake the drowsy watchman by the shoulder, when he paused and +looked intently at the slope below. What were those creeping figures +among the rocks down there? A second later he knew them, and aroused +his sleeping companions by a low, fierce cry. + +"Up, up! Buck! Jim! Get your rifles at once. The dacoits are on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE BRIDGE AND THE FORD. + + +The two men were on their feet at once. + +"Dacoits! Dacoits!" growled Jim, dashing the sleep from his eyes and +gripping his weapon. "How in thunder do they come on us so soon? Have +we overslept?" + +"No," said Buck, glancing at his watch. "We're inside our time. They +must have picked up our trail quicker than we thought, and followed a +lot faster than we travelled with the ponies." + +By this time Jack had taken cover behind a boulder, and was drawing a +bead on the first of the oncoming figures. Up the hill-side was +streaming a broken line of crouching little men in blue, following, +with the skill of born trackers, the signs of the fugitives' march. +Jack's finger pressed on the trigger, and the leader dropped. At once +the men in blue seemed to disappear as if the earth had swallowed +them. They vanished behind rock, or bush, or tuft of grass, and the +hill-side was empty save for the fallen figure. At this instant Buck +and Jim crept to Jack's shoulder. + +"How do they come to be so near to us as that?" cried Buck in +surprise. "In two minutes again they'd have been in the camp slicing +us up as we lay." + +"Me Dain was asleep," said Jack briefly. "I happened to wake up and +hear him snore. So I nipped up and took a look round and dropped my +eye on the dacoits making straight for us." + +"Good for you, Jack," replied Buck. "That's saved all our lives, for a +certainty." + +A groan of misery behind them drew their attention. They glanced over +their shoulders and saw Me Dain seated on his rock, a picture of +shame. He had been awakened by Jack's call and the crack of his rifle, +but sat still, unable to face the men whose lives he had risked by +giving way to his desire for more slumber. + +"Me Dain, you fat, brown-faced villain of the world," cried Buck. +"What d'ye mean by letting the dacoits nearly get us?" + +"Me sorry, me very sorry, sahibs," cried the Burman. "The sleep just +catch me. Me very sorry." + +"You'd better be sorry," returned Buck. "I've a good mind to boot you +till your nose turns grey. If it hadn't been for Jack, the king-pin o' +this outfit, we should all have hit the long trail this morning." + +"We'd better give those chaps down there a volley," said Jack. "See +how the tufts of grass shake as they creep on us." + +"You're right," said Jim. "They're trying to get within range. At +present they can't reach us with their muzzle-loaders, but we can +pepper them easy enough." + +Firing steadily but swiftly, the three comrades raked every patch of +cover with a stream of Mannlicher bullets. This checked the advance; +no more signs of movement were seen. + +The voice of the Burman was now heard behind them. + +"Sahibs," he said, "let us go on. Two miles more we reach a deep +river, and break the bridge. No Kachins follow then." + +"Sounds like a chance for us," remarked Jim. "Get the ponies, Me Dain, +and cut along ahead. We'll follow in a minute." + +The Burman at once slipped the hobbles from the ponies, whose packs +had not been removed, and led them quickly away. From the head of the +slope the path crossed a kind of tableland, and they could easily keep +their guide in sight for a long distance. + +"Now to search the places where these fellows below are in hiding," +cried Jack. "That will hold them back from following us till we get a +good start." + +"That's it," returned Jim. "Just what I was thinking of." + +Each man spent a couple of magazine loads in firing into every spot +where a Kachin had been seen to move or to go to cover. Then they drew +back out of sight, leapt to their feet, and ran at full speed after Me +Dain, who was hurrying the ponies along in the distance. + +"After that bit o' shootin' they'll wait a while before they push on +to the top of the slope and find we're gone," said Jim as they ran. +"And that will give us a good start to cross the river." + +Within a mile they caught up the Burman. Jack looked back as they ran +up to the ponies, but the top of the slope was now out of sight, and +he could not discover whether the Kachins had swarmed up to it or not. + +The fugitives were now following a well-worn path, clearly that used +by the people of the country-side to gain the bridge over the stream +in front. + +Jack was now leading the way, while Buck and Jim formed a rearguard +behind the ponies. Looking ahead, Jack saw that the path began to +descend very rapidly and fell out of sight. He ran forward and found +himself on the lip of a ravine with steep sides. At the foot of the +ravine flowed the river, and Jack gave a shout of joy when he saw how +near they were to the stream which promised safety. + +Then the sound of swift, heavy blows came to his ears, and he looked +in the direction whence they proceeded. His call of joy was checked in +an instant. What were those three figures in blue doing down there? In +a second he saw what it meant, and he dropped on one knee and clapped +his Mannlicher to his shoulder with a cry of anger. The dacoits had +been more cunning than they suspected. The pursuers knew also of the +bridge, and at this very instant three powerful Kachins were hacking +away with their keen, heavy _dahs_, cutting the bridge down. + +The three men in blue were so intent on their work that they never +once glanced upwards. They were slashing fiercely at the nearer end of +the bridge, and were about two hundred and fifty yards away. A +rifle-bullet would reach them more quickly than anything, and Jack +drew a careful bead on the nearest worker and fired. His bullet went +through the arm which had just swung up the heavy blade for a fresh +stroke at the frail bridge, and the _dah_ dropped into the water, +while the dacoit's yell of pain came clearly to the ears of the party +now gathered on the edge of the ravine. + +"Gosh!" cried Buck. "They're ahead of us." + +"So they are," snapped Jim. "They're cutting down the bridge and +penning us in. Drop 'em, boys, drop 'em quick, or it's all over with +us." + +At the next instant a swift shower of the tiny slips of lead was +pelting on to the bridge head where the two dacoits still hacked away, +striking harder and faster now that the rifles cracked on the lip of +the ravine. One dropped into the river with a splash, the other leapt +into cover of the big tree to which the bridge was swung, and was safe +from the darting bullets. But his gleaming _dah_ still flashed into +sight now and again as he hewed fiercely at the bridge. + +Jack at once bounded out, and, followed by his companions, raced madly +for the place. The bridge was but a slight affair, a native structure +formed of a couple of long bamboo poles with cross pieces lashed into +place by native cordage. + +The lower slope of the ravine was covered with tall bushes of wild +plum, and, as Jack ran through these, he lost sight, for a few +moments, of the bridge and the busy dacoit. He burst through them with +a straight, open run before him of seventy yards to the bridge head. +His heart beat thick and fast as he flew across the open. The blows of +the _dah_ had ceased. Had the bridge gone or not? A little clump of +water-grasses on the bank hid the bridge from him, but the silence was +terribly ominous. He thought he saw a blue kilt disappearing among the +trees, but he did not stay to intercept it. He shot up to the edge of +the stream, and saw a horrible space of blank water between bank and +bank. The bridge was swinging slowly towards the other side. Held fast +there, the current was thrusting the slight structure across the +stream. The dacoits had succeeded in their plan. + +Jack stood still and looked round for their enemies. There was no sign +of a Kachin to be seen. One had dropped into the river, and the +current had certainly carried him away; the others had escaped into +the jungle which grew thickly within a short distance of the bridge +head. + +"By Jingo!" cried Jim Dent blankly, as he ran up. "The bridge has +gone. We're in a pretty fix." + +"Gone," echoed Buck. "They've cut us off after all. Boys, we're in a +tight place." + +"Bridge gone!" cried Me Dain. "Bridge gone! What shall we do? Sahibs, +oh, what shall we do?" + +Jack looked from one to the other in some surprise at hearing this +outburst of deep anxiety. + +"It isn't very wide," he cried. "Why on earth can't we swim over? That +would be simple enough." + +"Ay, ay," said Jim Dent. "Easy enough if we were sure of getting to +the other side, but we're not. All these rivers swarm with alligators, +big, savage brutes that would pull a man under as easy as if he were a +dog." + +Jack's looks were now as blank as the others. This put a very +different face on crossing the river, and he gazed on the dark, swift +stream with horror. In those gloomy depths lurked huge, dreadful +reptiles whose vast jaws would drag a swimmer down to a frightful +death. + +"It's not a short journey across this creek, d'ye see," said Buck. +"The stream's so fast that a swimmer would be swept down full a +hundred yards in crossing from bank to bank, and in that time it would +give an alligator plenty of chance to lay hold of him." + +"We can't cross here, sahibs," put in Me Dain. "Stream too swift, too +strong. The bridge is here because the river at this place is very +narrow, but about a mile down there is a ford." + +"We'd better light out for it without losing any more time then," +cried Buck. "We might see an ugly row of Kachins any minute now along +the brink of the gully behind us." + +"True for you, Buck," said Jack. "Lead us at once to the ford, Me +Dain." + +The Burman turned and hurried down the banks of the stream, and the +others followed. In a moment they were lost to sight among the tall +bushes which were dotted about the bank. When the sound of their +footsteps had completely died away, two figures slipped from the edge +of the jungle and approached the spot where the fugitives had stood. +The newcomers were a couple of dacoits, one the man who had been +wounded by Jack's first shot. The short, broad, powerful figures stood +for a moment in close conversation, then the wounded man started to +climb the bank of the ravine. The second dacoit plunged into the +bushes, and followed easily the track left by four men and two ponies. +It was his task to track the intruders down: his comrade was +despatched to find the rest of the band and lead them to enjoy the +revenge for which the blood-thirsty dacoits lusted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A FRIGHTFUL PERIL. + + +Meanwhile the fugitives, unconscious that a sleuth-hound was on their +track, hurried forward and came to a point where the river spread out +broadly over sandy flats. + +"This is the ford," cried Me Dain. + +"Why was it given up?" asked Jack. + +"Because it was too dangerous, sahib," replied the Burman. "Many men, +many women have been seized by alligators at this ford. So the +villagers made a bridge at the narrow place higher up." + +"Well, we shall have to face it," said Jack. "How deep is it in the +middle?" + +"To the waist when the water is low," replied Me Dain. + +"H'm, that's awkward," remarked Jim Dent, "for the water certainly +isn't low to-day. There's been rain among the hills. You can tell by +the colour. It may mean swimming in the middle." + +"I'll try it first," cried Jack, "and I'll sing out to you how I find +it. Here goes!" He was about to spring into the river, when Jim Dent +called to him to stop. + +"No, no," said Jim. "That won't do, Jack. We might lose you that way, +and we should prefer a good deal to lose a pony." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, as Jim looked at him. + +"Now," went on Dent, "here's our best plan. We'll go in in a bunch +with a pony each side of the party. Then, if some of these ugly brutes +come up to see who's crossing their river, they're more likely to grab +a pony, and if we lose them, why we must." + +"It will be a frightful loss," said Jack. + +"It lies between that and being scuppered ourselves," said Dent. + +"Yes, yes, Jim, of course," cried Jack. "Your plan is the best." + +It was carried out at once. The four men went into the ford in a +bunch, with a pony up stream and a pony down stream. Jack was leading +the up-stream pony, Buck the down-stream animal, while Jim and the +Burman were between them. The crossing was a broad one, near upon a +hundred yards, for the river had spread out on a sandy flat, and they +were thirty or forty yards into the stream before they were more than +thigh-deep. Then the water suddenly deepened a full twelve inches, and +they were up to their waists. The stream, even on the flat here, was +fairly swift, and they could only wade forward slowly. + +"Slow job this," remarked Buck. "Water's tougher stuff than you think +to get through. I feel as if I was wading through treacle." + +"Yes, doesn't it clog your movements," agreed Jack, "but I should +think we're a good half-way over." + +"Deep part got to come yet, sahib," said Me Dain. "We have come +through easy part of ford." + +Just at this moment Jim's voice broke in; his tones were low and +fiercely earnest. + +"Push ahead, boys," he said. "Do your best. Strike it faster, +everybody." + +"What is it, Jim?" The question broke from Jack's lips, but a glance +up stream answered it before Jim could speak in reply. A hundred yards +above the ford a small sand-bank rose above the water. On this bank +lay, to all appearance, three logs washed thither by the current. But +now, oh horror, Jack saw these logs move and raise themselves. They +were huge alligators sunning themselves and waiting for prey. It was +clear that the vast saurians had noted the movement on the surface of +the river. One by one they slid down the sand and vanished into the +stream. + +"They are coming, sahibs, they are coming!" cried Me Dain, and his +brown face was hideously ashen with terror. + +"Strike it faster, everybody," growled Jim, and the party pushed +forward at their utmost speed through the stream. + +"Gosh!" panted Buck. "It's getting deeper and deeper. That's dead +against us." + +"Let us go back, sahibs," cried Me Dain, beside himself in terror of +the awful reptiles now coming down stream upon them with frightful +rapidity. "Let us go back. Better to face dacoits than alligators." + +"Easy does it, Me Dain," said Jack. "Peg along and do your best. It's +facing death either way. Let's have a go at the other bank." + +[Illustration: THE DANGER AT THE FORD.] + +"That's the way to talk, Jack," said Jim, through the teeth set in +his white, grim face. "We've got to go through with it now. And hark, +listen to that!" + +There was the crack of a musket on the shore behind them, and a ball +whistled over their heads and splashed into the water before them. +Jack glanced back and saw a blue-clothed figure on the river bank. + +"They're coming," he said. "One of them's trying to pot us now. +Impossible to turn back." + +"Gosh! it's deepening again," growled Buck. + +So it was. The stream ran nearly shoulder deep, and the other bank was +still a good forty yards away. Jack pushed on as fast as he could, +urging the pony forward. His breath came fast, and his heart thumped +like a trip-hammer. The situation was inconceivably desperate. +Somewhere through the hidden depths of the rushing stream, three +monstrous and frightful reptiles, fearfully dangerous and terrible +creatures in their own element, were darting swiftly towards them, and +behind them the dacoits now lined the shore and prevented return into +shallower waters which might promise safety from the huge saurians. + +Suddenly the pony which Jack led gave a great leap, and pawed the +water madly with its fore-feet, and uttered a loud snort of agonised +terror. Jack held him tight and looked over his withers. Nor could the +brave lad keep back a cry of alarm at the frightful thing he saw +there. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE COMBAT IN THE RIVER. + + +The river, though swift, was not muddy, and through the clear brown +water he saw plainly the vast open jaws of a huge alligator rising in +the stream, and about to seize the pony by the neck. In another second +the great saurian would have seized its prey, but the pony swerved +aside, and the huge snout shot out of the water, and the jaws, missing +their prey, clashed together with a sharp snap. At the next moment +they were opened, as the alligator drew back a little for a fresh +assault. + +Jack had been marching with his Mannlicher held on top of the pony's +pack, and his Mauser pistol held up in the other hand, hoping to keep +the weapons dry. Now he seized the opportunity of pouring a stream of +heavy Mauser bullets into the open jaws. + +So swiftly did he press the trigger that he drove five shots in before +the alligator once more snapped its jaws close. The great saurian was +badly wounded, and in its rage and agony began to lash the water +furiously with its huge tail, while blood and foam poured out at its +jaws and nostrils. The deadly, ripping, soft-nosed bullets, which +would have glanced off its hide of mail, had torn their way down its +throat and through the soft parts of the body with fearful destructive +power, inflicting mortal wounds. At sound of the pistol shots so close +to its ear, the pony leapt forward more frantically still, and the +huge dying brute was left floundering in the water. + +"One done for," roared Jim in delight. "Peg away, boys. We may come +safe yet." + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Buck let out a yell of +alarm. + +"Say," cried Buck, "there's one here. He's got hold of the pony." + +Buck's words were drowned by the loud shrill squeal of affright from +the pony, whose off-hind leg had been seized by the second of the vast +brutes to attack the party. + +"Here's another," shouted Jack, and he and Jim, who had been also +holding his pistol above the stream, fired rapidly. The third +alligator was sailing straight upon them down stream, floating on the +surface, his evil, unwinking eyes fixed full on the pony which he was +about to attack. Jim planted a lucky shot in one of the wicked-looking +eyes and knocked it clean out of its socket. Jack plainly saw the +bleeding hole before the alligator threw up his huge tail, slapped the +water with a crack like thunder, and dived. + +In the meantime Buck was engaged in a terrible struggle with the +alligator which had seized the pony. He held the bridle of the unlucky +beast, and assisted it as much as possible in the strong fight it made +for its life. So desperately did the powerful little animal struggle +with its terrible foe that it actually gained a dozen yards or more, +dragging the huge reptile along the river-bed. But the immensely +powerful jaws, fanged with strong, sharp teeth, never loosed their +grip. + +Jim now turned to Buck's assistance. At that instant the alligator +rolled in the water, showing its softer underside. It rose towards the +surface, yet never easing its grip, and lashed the river into foam +with its powerful tail as it tugged backwards with tremendous force, +aiming to pull the pony into the deeper water. For a moment Jim saw +its underside near the surface, the four horrible legs armed with huge +claws striking out savagely in the water. + +He thrust his rifle into the stream, pressing the muzzle against the +saurian's body. Luckily the magazine still remained above water, and +he fired several shots in swift succession into the vast brute, the +water boiling and swirling as the gases of the discharge came to the +surface in huge bubbles. One of these shots must have reached a vital +part; the alligator gave a final convulsive shudder, its jaws ground +savagely together, then they gaped wide, and the pony was free. + +Jack was pushing on swiftly with the pony under his charge. That was +his business, and he hurried forward, feeling joyfully that the water +was growing shallower with every step. His shoulders were out, and now +the pony's withers began to rise. Suddenly a horrid dark snout was +thrust up in front of him. It was the wounded alligator, which had +returned to the assault. + +Before Jack could fire the saurian dived, and Jack saw the huge dark +form dart at him under water. He felt his legs swept from under him +at the next instant, and down he went. He had not been seized, he had +simply been knocked from his foothold by the rush of the great brute, +and he landed full on the alligator's back. He felt plainly with his +hand its rough scaly covering like knobs of horn. He had kept his eyes +open, and saw clearly the horrid brute below him, and the dark forms +of his companions at hand. + +He dropped his pistol, whipped out a great hunting-knife from his +belt, and drove it time and again into the underside of the big +reptile. Then he struck out for the surface and came up gasping for +breath. He swam a dozen swift strokes before he dared to drop his feet +again and find the easy depth which the whole party had now reached. +He saw that the Burman was leading ashore the pony he had been torn +away from, and that Buck and Jim were doing their utmost to keep the +second pony on its legs. Suddenly the bottom began to rise swiftly, +and the whole party, fearfully exhausted, but very luckily unhurt, +staggered ashore and threw themselves down on the warm sand. + +"You all right, Jack?" snapped Buck. "I thought I saw you go under." + +"Yes," said Jack, "the brute that Jim knocked an eye out of attacked +me and fetched me off my legs. But I dug a knife into him and got +away. How are you two?" + +"Oh, we've come through with a sound skin," replied Jim. "But that was +a near shave. And look what we've missed." He pointed to the water, +where, thirty yards out, half-a-dozen huge ridged backs were now to be +seen cruising to and fro. + +"By Jove!" said Jack, "it's a fresh lot turned up just as we got out." + +Everyone shuddered as they thought what their fate would have been if +the alligators, attracted to the scene by the scent of prey, had +arrived a few moments earlier. + +"Where are the dacoits?" said Jack, looking across to the other bank. +"They've all cleared out, except a couple who seem posted to watch +us." + +"So they have," rejoined Buck. "What's their little game?" + +"I wonder if there's another bridge handy," remarked Jack. "Where's +the next bridge, Me Dain?" + +"A long way down the river, sahib, but there is a village about four +miles off." + +"Then they've gone there to borrow a boat, I'll wager a trifle on +that," cried Jack. + +"Right for you, Jack," said Dent. "We'd better be on the move. But +what can we do with this pony?" + +The poor beast, which the alligator had mauled, had managed to get +ashore and that was all. Its leg was frightfully torn. + +"This pony 'll never hit the trail again," remarked Buck, after he had +examined it carefully. "We shall have to carry its pack partly between +us and partly on the other pony." + +"Poor little brute," said Jack. "It's suffering fearfully. Look at its +eyes!" + +"We can do nothing for it, I'm afraid," remarked Jim. + +"No," said Buck, "but if we don't hump round a bit, somebody'll do +something for us." + +This hint of the danger in which they still stood from the +blood-thirsty and revengeful dacoits quickened their movements, and +the wounded pony was stripped in a few moments. The other pony was +quite unhurt, and a good share of the baggage was added to its load +for the present; the remainder was swung up on the shoulders of the +four members of the party. + +Jack, Jim, and the Burman now marched swiftly up the river bank +towards the road which ran from the broken bridge. Buck stayed behind +for a moment. Soon his companions heard the crack of the pistol which +put an end to the sufferings of the wounded pony, then heard Buck's +footsteps as he hastened to rejoin them. + +"What a lucky thing you packed the ammunition in water-tight tins, +Jim," remarked Jack, as they pushed at full speed along the bank. + +"Yes," said Jim, "I've been in this country a time or two afore. It +wasn't wetter in that river than it is in the jungle at times when a +storm catches you." + +"I've lost my Mauser pistol," said Jack. "It had to go when that brute +knocked my legs from under me. I had to drop it to whip my knife out. +Luckily I've got my rifle all right. That was on the sling." + +"We've got another Mauser in the outfit," said Jim. "I slipped a couple +of spare ones in. We'll turn it out at the next stopping-place." + +No more was said, and they pushed on swiftly along the river bank. The +day was fearfully hot and the road rough. Jim Dent began to puff and +blow under his burden. + +"Say," grunted Buck, "this is a tough job running away under loads +from dacoits who'll scour after us like coyotes as soon as they hit +our bank of the river." + +"It is," panted Jim. "Me Dain, how far is it to the next village which +is strong enough to make us safe against the Kachins?" + +The Burman shook his head. + +"Soon the road leaves the river," he said. "Then it goes through +jungle. But it passes only little villages, very little." + +"A jungle road, and no chance of a haven," said Jack. "This sounds +precious awkward. It strikes me our only chance will be to pick a +strong position, or as strong a one as we can find, and wait for them. +They'll certainly run us down pretty soon at the pace we're travelling +now." + +"And we can't go any faster," said Buck, "without we leave our traps, +and then we should be up a tree for want of them, even if we escaped +from the dacoits in the end." + +"I'm getting beat, and that's a fact," murmured Jim Dent. "I had a +sharp touch of fever about three months ago, and it's not gone so +clean out of my bones as I thought." + +"I'll carry your pack, Jim," cried Jack. + +"In addition to your own?" said Dent. "Not likely. I'll peg along a +bit farther before I agree to that." + +At that moment the path ran into a grove of tall bamboos clustered +along the bank. The grove was of no great width, and they emerged from +it to see a little camp pitched on a sand-bank beside the stream. A +fire was burning, and a pot of rice simmering over the flame. Watching +the rice, sat, or rather squatted, a couple of Shan boatmen, and their +boat was moored to a tree at the water's edge. + +"Hallo!" cried Jack, "these chaps have got a big boat here. Can't we +get them to run us and our stuff up the river?" + +"By George!" said Jim Dent, "there's something in that." + +"Ask them, Me Dain," called Jack. "Tell them we'll pay them well if +they'll carry us up the river." + +The Burman ran forward at once and began to talk quickly to the +big-hatted boatmen. In two moments everything was settled. The men +were poling their boat back up the stream after selling a load of +tobacco in a down-river village, and were glad to serve travellers who +would pay them well. The baggage was stripped from the pony, and +hastily swung into the empty boat. + +"What shall we do with the pony?" said Jack. + +"Turn him loose into the jungle," said Buck. "He's got heaps of sense, +they all have. Before night he'll hit on some village, and then he'll +soon find a master. A stray pony comes in very useful to anybody." + +This was done. Me Dain led the pony a short distance from the river +bank and loosed it, and gave it a cut with a switch. The little +creature threw up its heels joyfully to find itself free, then +cantered off among the trees, and they saw it no more. + +By this time the Shans had swallowed their rice, and were ready to +seize their poles. All sprang aboard, the Shans and Me Dain grasped +the boating-poles, and the craft was soon being driven steadily up +stream. For some time Jack watched the boatmen with deep interest. +They drove their craft along just as a punt is propelled in England. +Each man handled a long stout pole, and, where the water was shallow +enough, he set the bottom of his pole in the gravelly bed and urged +the boat forward. Where the water was too deep the craft was turned +inshore, and the polers thrust the ends of their staves against the +bank or against tree trunks lining the water's edge. Jack saw that +quite deep holes had been made in many of the trunks where boatman +after boatman had gained the purchase which sent his craft spinning up +stream. + +"Well, Jim," said Jack, "this is a bit easier anyhow." + +"It is," sighed Dent, wiping the streaming sweat from his brow. "I was +pretty near caving in, and that's a fact." + +"We'll drop the dacoits for a sure thing," said Buck. "They'll stop to +hunt all about the place where they lose our trail, and then they'll +follow up the pony for a dead cert." + +"True for you, Buck," replied Jim Dent. "We left no marks at all to +show them where we got into the boat." + +They had embarked secretly by pushing the boat up to a big stone, and +moving carefully in order to leave no trace. + +"Where does the road turn off from the river bank, Me Dain?" asked +Jack. + +"We have passed it already, sahib," replied the Burman. "It is solid +jungle on both banks now, with no path at all The dacoits cannot +follow except along the river itself." + +"Then we've dropped 'em," said Jim Dent decisively. "We shall never +see 'em again." + +And Jim's words proved to be right. They had at last eluded the +pursuit of the blood-thirsty little Kachins. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL. + + +For three days the strong arms of Me Dain and the two Shan boatmen +drove the river boat up the stream, and every day's journey brought +them nearer to the mountains where the rubies were found, and among +whose recesses they believed that Jack's father was a close prisoner +in the hands of men who coveted rubies above all things. + +Jack said very little to his companions about the object of their +journey, but his own thoughts were full of it at every waking moment. +Since he had discovered that U Saw, the Ruby King, had a steam yacht, +and that it had returned and gone up river shortly before their own +arrival, he had felt no doubt whatever in his own mind as to his +father's fate. He knew that the great ruby expert was on that yacht a +close captive, and that he had been carried by secret ways, through +the jungle and over the hills, to the place where U Saw was +all-powerful, and would do his utmost to wrest from Thomas Haydon the +knowledge which the latter certainly possessed of a great ruby-mine. + +Very good. They, too, would push into the Ruby King's country, and do +their utmost to foil his plans and snatch his prisoner from his +clutch. Hour after hour Jack thought over the situation, while his eye +rested almost carelessly on the lovely scenes of hill-side and jungle, +past which their boat was driven. + +At the end of the first day they left the main current of the river, +and poled eastwards by a network of creeks leading to the village from +which their boatmen came. For the most part the water-way was very +solitary. Here and there they passed a village, but, as a rule, no +life, save that of wild animals, was to be seen. Monkeys chattered in +the trees over their heads, panthers and deer came down to the stream +to drink, tigers roared in sullen fashion in the jungle, and once, a +troop of wild elephants crossed a ford before them in stately line. + +With the evening of the third day the boatmen reached their native +village, and the travellers stepped ashore. A new hut, built of reeds +and cane, was set apart at once for their use, and, after supper, they +talked over their future movements before turning in. + +"How do we stand now as regards striking the course my father followed +from Mogok?" asked Jack. + +Jim Dent, who knew the country well, cross-examined Me Dain for a few +moments. + +"We ought to hit it to-morrow afternoon," he said. "We've come a long +way on the right road by dropping on these boatmen. We're just handy +to the foot-hills, and the Professor skirted 'em, according to what Me +Dain says." + +"Very well," said Jack. "Then we'll roll into our blankets, and be off +by daybreak." + +Jack was so eager to start on the real trail, and so excited by its +nearness, that he slept but little. He was up an hour before the dawn, +and had got the fire burning when his companions awoke. Buck sat up, +and rubbed his eyes, and sniffed the smoke. + +"Keen on a start, Jack?" he murmured. + +"I am, Buck," replied the tall lad. "Haven't you told me a score of +times how the news of travellers in a country runs with marvellous +swiftness through the jungle, from village to village? Well, I want to +be ahead of the news. It might make Saya Chone and U Saw suspicious. +They knew very well we were in Mandalay. I don't want them to learn +too soon that we're at their very doors." + +Jim Dent nodded. He, too, had wakened, and had been listening to Jack. + +"Me Dain," said Jack, "go to the headman, and tell him we want a +couple of good ponies to carry the packs once more. Bring them here +for us to see, and then we'll pay the owners." + +Within half an hour they had the pick of a score of capital little +beasts. They looked them over carefully, chose the couple which seemed +best suited to their needs, paid for them, and set to work to pack the +traps on them. Within an hour after sunrise they were on the march. + +For several miles they followed a well-worn road running due north +from the village. This was to conceal their true line of march from +the knowledge of the curious villagers. But when they were well away +from the place, and safe from all prying eyes, they swung to the east +and marched straight through open country for the foot-hills, plainly +in view a score of miles away. + +The sun was low and they had made a good day's journey, when Me Dain +halted on a little ridge, overlooking a sloping green valley with a +brook tinkling down its centre. Jack was beside him. + +"There, sahib, there," said the Burman. "We have reached now the path +which the sahib, your father, followed. We made our camp, one night, +under those trees." + +He pointed to a group of noble teak trees growing beside the little +brook, and Jack strode forward, and was soon standing on the spot +where his father had camped a month or two before. He had scarcely +reached the place when he received proof positive that Me Dain was +right. Something glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. It was an +empty tin tossed carelessly into a clump of wild-fig bushes. Jack +picked it up with a cry of recognition. + +"Look here," he said; "the Burman's hit the trail all right. Here's +one of the governor's empty tobacco tins. He's never smoked anything +else in my knowledge of him." + +Jack held in his hand an empty tin which bore the name of a brand of +Carolina tobacco. Though little known out of America, the tobacco was +an immense favourite with Mr.. Haydon, who carried an ample supply of +it with him wherever he went. + +"Sure thing," chuckled Buck. "That's one o' the Professor's tins. +Well, we'll follow him up." + +They camped that night under the teak trees, and with the first light +of the next morning, began to follow up the track which Mr.. Haydon +had taken some time before, the track which led into the wild +hill-country, where U Saw, the Ruby King, was all-powerful. + +They now moved with the utmost caution. When they saw a caravan of +cattle, laden with salt, marching along a hill road they were about to +cross, they hid from it in the jungle. When they saw afar off the +spire of a pagoda peeping over the trees, and knew they were near a +village, they sent Me Dain ahead to make inquiries, and find whether +the villagers were familiar with the name of U Saw. And so for three +days they worked cautiously along the track running up into the hills +where Thomas Haydon had found the immense ruby of priceless value. + +On the fourth morning they were just breaking camp, when, to their +surprise, a troop of gaily dressed villagers passed them, and called +out a cheerful greeting to Me Dain. The Burman went forward to talk to +them, while Jack, Jim, and Buck went on with their packing, and tried +to look unconcerned. + +They were in reality vexed that they had been seen. But the bunch of +walking figures had descended the ravine in which they were camped so +suddenly and unexpectedly, that there was no time to get out of the +way. + +"Where under the sun have these people turned up from, in so lonely a +part of the hills?" said Jack to Buck. "Why, we haven't seen a village +since yesterday morning." + +"I dunno," replied Buck. "This beats the band. They seem to have +dropped from the sky." + +When Me Dain came back to them, the explanation was simple enough. +Four hours' march ahead was a large village, where every three years a +great religious festival was held. To this festival the whole +country-side gathered, and the band of villagers, now pushing ahead +and almost out of sight at the foot of the ravine, had already come +three days' journey to attend the feast. + +The Burman reported that the villagers had been filled with curiosity +at the sight of three white travellers in this out-of-the-way region, +and had overwhelmed him with questions about them. + +"What did you tell them, Me Dain?" asked Jack. + +"Said you were crossing the hills to strike up to the great road from +Bhamo," replied the Burman. "Sahibs, we must go to that village now, +and pass through it openly." + +"But won't that make our presence known throughout the whole +district?" cried Jack. + +"Not half so much as if we don't show up," said Jim Dent "D'ye see, +Jack, it's uncommon, but not impossible, for travellers to strike +across the hills this way. Now, if we pass through this village in an +open sort of fashion, it won't make a tenth of the talk as if we were +to slip off and never be seen again. Then there'd be such a chatter in +the country-side as we don't want to start." + +"I see what you mean, Jim," returned Jack. "We must hope that we can +get through the place quietly." + +But Jack's hopes proved utterly vain. Half a mile outside the village +they were met by a dozen of the leading inhabitants, each wearing a +fine new silk _putsoe_, and with a _gaung baung_ of gorgeous colour on +his head. The strangers were politely bidden to take up their +residence in the house of the headman, and to be present at the great +feast which was that night to open the week of religious festival. It +was impossible to refuse these attentions, and the little group of +travellers, whose keenest wish was to pass unnoticed, entered the +place under the stare of many hundreds of eyes. + +A large room was set at their disposal in the house of the headman, +and here they talked together. + +"It's vexing, but it can't be helped," said Jack. "We must slip off +again in the morning. After all, this fandango, you say, will last a +week. At that rate, we shall get a big start of the people assembled +here, and shall outrun the country gossip far enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE DANCING GIRL. + + +After the dusk had fallen, the travellers were conducted by the +headman himself, a white-headed old fellow, who showed them the utmost +respect, to the spot where the festival was to be opened with a play +and a performance of dancing girls. + +Jack was fascinated with the wonderful sight now presented to his +view. He, alone, among the party, had never seen such a spectacle +before, and he looked on with the deepest interest. He was seated on a +heap of cushions, before a wide open space surrounded by thickets of +low trees and tall bushes. On the branches of these were hung +innumerable coloured lamps, which lighted the scene with a soft, +bright radiance. + +In the centre of the space were ranged sixty dancing girls, in ten +rows of six in a row, and each dancer stood at an equal distance from +her next neighbour on either hand. Each girl was dressed in beautiful +silks of the most glowing, or the most delicate shades. Her short +embroidered jacket, her tightly folded skirt, were of the brightest +and newest, and her hair was decked with beautiful flowers. + +The dance began, and the graceful swaying movements, to which the +clink of the bangles worn in rows on every arm kept time, were full of +fascination and charm. All round the open space the villagers from far +and near were gathered, and this mass of spectators in strange garbs, +but everything of the freshest and gayest, formed a striking setting +for the scene. + +When the dance was over, the headman, through Me Dain, begged them to +inspect the pagoda and the offerings which had been brought to it by +the faithful. They went and saw a very quaint and beautiful structure, +its columns inlaid with mosaics and coloured glass which glittered +with a thousand glancing rays in the lights of the myriads of lamps. +Chief among the offerings at the shrine were huge packets of +gold-leaf, for the religious Burman loves to decorate his favourite +pagoda with sheets of gold-leaf, till it glistens in the sun like a +palace of gold. + +Among the offerings ranged on the steps of the pagoda was a native +painting, a quaint piece of work which drew Jack's attention at once. +He bent down to look at it, while his companions rambled on with Me +Dain and the headman. + +As Jack straightened himself again, he felt a light touch on his arm, +and looked round. Beside him stood a dancing girl, wrapped in a +close-fitting robe of yellow silk, and a scarf of muslin so wound +about her head that he could not see her face. + +Jack stared for a moment in surprise, wondering what the girl could +want with him, then he gave a great start as she began to speak. She +used the softest, gentlest whisper, but her voice came easily to his +ears, and, marvellous to relate, she spoke in perfect English. + +"I know what you seek," she said, "and I can help you." + +Jack's surprise was so great that, for a moment, he could not answer, +and the veiled figure went on: + +"Would you not like to know where the object of your search is?" + +"How do you know that I seek someone?" said Jack in wonder. + +"Oh, I know," murmured the dancing girl with a soft, light laugh. "I +will go a little further. Would you not like to know where your +father, Thomas Haydon, is imprisoned, and what is happening to him?" + +For a moment the whole glittering scene of lamps and gaiety went round +before Jack's eyes. Then he pulled himself up steady once more. This +savoured of the utterly marvellous, that a dancing girl in this +village which he had never seen before, should glide up to him and +tell him the innermost secret of his heart, the purpose of his quest. + +"Who are you, and how did you come to know such things?" said Jack. + +"Oh," said the girl lightly, "in this strange land we can do many +strange things. But I cannot talk to you long. Do you wish, I ask you +once more, to gain tidings of your father?" + +"There is nothing I wish for more upon earth," returned Jack +earnestly, for it was idle to pretend that the girl was wrong, and try +to hide his secret. It was known only too clearly to this strange +creature in the yellow robe, with a score of silver bangles tinkling +on her arm. Jack turned his head towards his companions who had +strolled on, and were now a dozen yards away, and half hidden by a +group of villagers standing before the shrine. + +"No," said the girl, laying her hand on Jack's arm, "no, you must not +call to them. I do not wish to talk to your Burman guide. It would +place me in great danger if it became known that I had warned you. If +you do not listen to me, and alone, I shall vanish into the crowd, and +you will never see me again, or learn that which you long to know." + +The girl's hint that she stood in danger by warning him, at once +checked the call on Jack's lips. He looked at her keenly, but could +only see a pair of lustrous eyes flashing through the folds of +delicate muslin, her features he could not make out at all. His brain +was in a whirl. Here seemed a most extraordinary, a most wonderful +chance to gain news of his father, but at the same time his reason +bade him be careful. + +Suppose he were to seize the girl and declare that she must tell him +at once what she knew? But Jack's feelings revolted at such conduct. +Suppose she should come into danger by his doing so, by his making +public the fact that she was warning him? No, he could not do that. +Besides, they were but a few strangers amid a great concourse of +natives. Such an action might give great offence, and place, not only +himself, but his friends in a position of the utmost peril. + +These thoughts went through Jack's head in a flash. The girl at his +side gave another light laugh. + +"You can find out all you want in so simple a fashion," she murmured. +"Turn your head to the right, and near a patch of acacia bushes you +will see a monk with his begging-bowl. Cross over to him, and drop a +piece of money into the bowl. At the same moment you can take out of +it the letter which your father has sent to you by his hands. I would +fetch it for you, but he will not give it up to anyone but you." + +This became more and more bewildering, but at the same time, Jack saw +that this matter was very simply settled. He looked away to the right, +and saw the monk plainly enough, a Buddhist monk in yellow robe, his +begging dish of bronze held out before him. The man stood upright and +motionless, not thirty yards away. + +Jack turned on his heel and strode straight across towards the monk, +resolved to see at any rate what was in the dish. The dancing girl +followed him with graceful, swaying step. + +At the instant that Jack moved towards the monk a fresh band of +revellers came out of a path leading from the acacia bushes and +crossed towards the steps of the pagoda. From among them a tall, thin +man dressed in white robes stepped out and moved with long, soft +strides after the young Englishman. His companions lingered and stared +idly about them. + +As Jack approached the monk, he saw the latter raise his head and +glance at him meaningly. Then, with a slight movement of the hand, +the monk pointed to the bottom of his bowl. Jack had taken a rupee +from his pocket and stretched out his hand to drop it into the bowl. +As he did so he glanced eagerly into the bronze vessel. A folded piece +of white paper lay in the bottom of it. Jack dropped his coin and +stretched out his hand to seize the paper. But he never touched it. + +With horrible swiftness and suddenness, someone clutched him from +behind. Once more he felt his throat in the frightful strangling grip +which had seized him on Rushmere Heath, in far-away England. He tried +to shout, but his half-choked voice was drowned in the sudden burst of +song which rose from the band of gaily dressed figures which now +swarmed around him. He tried to struggle, to throw off the fearful +grip which held him, but now the dancing girl sprang to him and +pressed against his face a cloth she had drawn from beneath her yellow +robe. Almost at once the powerful drug with which the cloth was +saturated took effect. Jack's head dropped forward, and the dancing +girl nodded to the strangler to loose his frightful clutch. + +At that moment Buck looked round and missed his young companion. + +"Where's Jack got to?" he asked. + +"I don't know," said Jim. "He was looking at a picture just along +there, the last time I saw him." + +[Illustration: THE DANCING GIRL] + +"I don't see him anywhere about," said Buck, in an uneasy voice, and +he walked rapidly back. He came to the picture, stopped in front of +it, and looked eagerly round for Jack. He saw the band of singers a +short distance away, but took no notice of them. He had seen scores of +such bands during the evening. Little did he dream that, under cover +of those harmless looking revellers, the body of his young comrade was +being dragged among the acacia bushes by the monk and the dancing +girl. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +JACK FINDS HIMSELF IN BAD HANDS. + + +When Jack came to himself again, he felt faint and sick, and his head +ached dully. This was the effect of the powerful drug which had been +used to overcome him, but for the rest he was unhurt and quite +himself. He found at once that he was securely bound hand and foot. +His ankles were fastened together by a short cord, his hands were tied +behind him, and a rope ran round the middle of his body and tethered +him securely to a strong post. But he was not gagged, and his eyes +were free. + +He looked eagerly around the place in which he found himself. It was a +native hut, built of canes and reeds, woven upon a framework formed of +saplings and stronger trees. The floor was of earth, and he could see +the whole of the bare, empty room, for in one corner a lamp stood on +the floor, and gave sufficient light to show him every nook in the +place. Somewhere, not far away, there was a hoarse roar of water, as +if a river leapt over falls near at hand. + +Jack raised his voice and shouted. He could not move, but his throat +was free. Twice or thrice he shouted the names of his companions. The +only answer to his call was a light mocking laugh outside the door, +which swung half open straight before him. Then a figure appeared in +the doorway, a figure in a tight yellow robe and short embroidered +jacket, the dancing girl who had ensnared him. But even as he opened +his mouth eagerly to speak to her, he was silenced. The figure was +drawing aside the muslin veil from its head. As the soft shimmering +folds of the delicate wrapper slipped away, Jack's heart leaped within +him. He knew that face. This was no dancing girl. It was the +half-caste in disguise. It was Saya Chone, the man who had stopped him +on Rushmere Heath, the man who had slipped out of his clutch at +Brindisi. + +"Ah," said the half-caste, squatting down in front of Jack, "I have no +need to ask if you know me. I see recognition in your astonished face. +Well, does it now surprise you that a dancing girl should know so much +of your business up in these hills?" + +"So it was you, you rascal, was it?" said Jack, drawing a deep breath. +"You, all the time." + +"I, all the time," chuckled the half-caste, clicking consonants +between his teeth. + +"If you'd have spoken out, I should have known you," said Jack. + +"Ah, possibly," said Saya Chone; "but then for my purpose the soft +voice, the gentle whisper, was the only thing." + +"What do you mean by this, and what do you want with me?" demanded +Jack. + +"Orders, orders, I am acting under orders," murmured the half-caste, +waving his brown hand in the air. "And I do not want you at all. It +is merely my business to hand you over to my patron U Saw. It is he +who wants you, not I." + +"And what does he want me for?" said Jack. + +"Ah," murmured Saya Chone, "that I shall not tell you now. It is not +good for the servants of U Saw to interfere too much in their master's +business. Well, I must prepare for the march." + +He clapped his hands, and a tall, thin man in white robes came in. +Saya Chone said a few words to the newcomer, and the latter sat down +and fixed his dark, menacing eyes on Jack. + +"This is a Malay, who is entirely devoted to U Saw's service," said +the half-caste, with an evil grin. "He is a very useful man, for he is +absolutely the cleverest hand with the strangling noose that I have +ever known. I believe he could strangle a child in its mother's arms +and she would know nothing about it. You have already had a slight +taste of his skill on two occasions. Once on that heath in your queer, +cold England, and again to-night. But as he was under strict orders on +both occasions not to take your life, he spared you the last touch of +his art, that sharp, neat twist which breaks his victim's spinal +column as if he was snapping a bit of dry stick." + +Saya Chone turned to go, but paused at the door and looked over his +shoulder. + +"I heard you shouting as I came in," he said. "If you have a fancy for +that amusement, pray shout as much as you like. But I ought to warn +you that it is a pure waste of breath. We have carried you nearly a +couple of miles into the jungle, and fifty times the uproar you could +make would be quite useless to attract attention." + +He left the hut, and Jack sat back against the post to think over his +desperate situation. He had fallen into the hands of the very people +that he and his comrades were trying to circumvent. How they had +discovered their line of march, and been enabled to lay this clever +trap for him, he could not imagine. But one thing he saw clearly, that +U Saw's arm was very long in this country, and that his net for +information was spread abroad very widely and very successfully. + +He looked across at the Strangler, and found the dark bright eyes of +the Malay fixed intently upon him. Jack had been thinking to test the +strength of the knots and the cords which bound him, but in the +presence of this keen watchman it was useless, and he bent down his +eyes in thought once more. + +"I am to be carried to U Saw," he thought. "Then my father must be +there already. At any rate I shall see him, I hope, and find out what +has happened to him, and how he has been treated." + +Several hours now passed in complete silence. Jack's bonds chafed him +miserably, but he could do nothing to relieve himself, and the Malay +watched him with fierce alertness at every moment. Then the ricketty +door was jerked open again, and Saya Chone came in. + +"It is the dark hour before the dawn," he laughed jeeringly. "A +capital time to slip away while all the revellers are sleeping, and +the forest paths are empty. Your conveyance awaits you, my lord." + +He said two words to the Strangler, and drew a revolver from beneath +his jacket. He had thrown aside his disguise as a dancing girl, and +now appeared in the rich tartan silk kilt, the jacket, and turban-like +head-dress of a prosperous Burman. + +"Get up," he said curtly to Jack, while the Strangler unfastened the +rope which bound the captive's feet and also that which bound his body +to the post. + +Jack got up, and Saya Chone motioned to him to go outside, and Jack +went, with the Malay and the half-caste in close attendance. +Resistance was impossible. His hands were still bound behind his back, +and the half-caste held a big, blue "Smith and Wesson" within two +inches of his ear. + +In front of the hut loomed up a huge beast looking monstrous in the +light of a couple of lanterns held by attendants. It was an elephant, +and a ladder was placed against the open howdah fixed on its back; the +great beast was swinging trunk and tail impatiently, and its driver +was already seated behind the huge head. + +"Up with you," said Saya Chone. Jack glanced round, and saw nothing +but dark, fierce, inimical faces all about him. + +"No chance in the world at present," he thought, and began slowly to +climb the ladder. It was very awkward work with no hand free, but the +Strangler stretched out a long arm, supported him to the top rung, +then thrust him violently forward, so that Jack rolled into the +howdah. It was the simplest form of this kind of carriage, and was +exactly like a huge open basket of strong wicker-work fastened on the +elephant's back. Before Jack could recover himself from his fall, the +Malay and two other men bounded into the howdah, and flung themselves +on the prisoner. In a trice they had strapped his ankles together +again. Then they swung him into a sitting posture, and lashed his arms +firmly to the back of the howdah. + +Next they descended, another figure leapt up, and the ladder was taken +away. The newcomer gave an order, and the elephant driver spoke to his +huge beast in a low voice. The elephant at once swung forward, and in +a moment the hut and its lanterns were left behind, and they were +moving through the darkness of the jungle. + +Jack had known by the voice that it was the half-caste who was his +companion in the howdah, but he said nothing, and Saya Chone, too, was +silent. Soon the half-caste lighted a huge Burmese cheroot, and in the +light, almost the flare, of this immense cigar, nine or ten inches +long and an inch thick, Jack saw now and again his beardless brown +face, his big, shining, evil eyes. + +When the dawn came and Jack could look about him, they were traversing +a narrow path through jungle so thick that the sky could scarcely be +seen overhead. + +"Ah," said Saya Chone, breaking the silence at last, "you may look +round, my lord, but you will never be able to keep in mind the details +of the route. I shall take you into the hills by paths so hidden in +the jungle or along ravines so deep that to track you will be +impossible." + +Jack was silent for a moment. Then he spoke. "Shall I see my father?" +he asked. + +Saya Chone laughed. "You will see what U Saw wills that you shall +see," he said mockingly. "I am U Saw's humble servant, and can say no +more." + +Jack made no reply. He was sorry he had spoken, but the question had +slipped out on the impulse of the moment. + +All that day they travelled on, and at night they camped in a hollow +among the rocks at the foot of a tall cliff. Jack was not ill-treated, +and plenty of food was given to him, but the keenest watch was kept +upon his every movement, and escape was a thing altogether beyond his +reach. His captors were six in number, including the man who drove the +elephant. The driver and Saya Chone were Jack's companions on the +great beast, and when they were on the move the captive was always +lashed tightly to the framework of the howdah. The other four, the +Malay and three companions, rode the strong, nimble ponies of the +country. The baggage of the party was conveyed on a pack-pony, and +they travelled at a good speed. + +On the second morning, Saya Chone sat on the edge of the howdah, +purring at his huge cheroot, while the Strangler and a companion +lashed Jack into position. The half-caste had been superintending the +operation with his revolver at Jack's ear, until the knots were tight, +and our hero could not move. + +"This is a very good idea, indeed," he murmured, "this carrying of a +prisoner in a howdah on a pad-elephant. I had an idea it would be a +success, but it is better than I thought. It is a neat, little, +portable prison. It is far better than tying the feet of an active +young man under a pony's barrel. The young man may dig his heels in +and gallop off after all. But tied up in a howdah he is quite safe." + +Jack paid no attention whatever to the half-caste's sneers and jeers: +he had resolved to take his gruel without whining, and he bore +everything in stoical silence. + +Two hours' march brought them to a clearing in the jungle, and the +road ran between small paddy-fields. This meant that a native village +was near at hand, and Jack looked out for the slight huts of reed and +cane in which the villagers lived. To his surprise he saw nothing. And +not to his surprise alone. He could not understand the words used by +his companions, but he saw plainly that they were puzzled about +something. Then the cries of wonder broke out loudly as they passed a +grove of bamboos and came upon a scene of extraordinary destruction. +The native village had been built in shelter of the bamboos, only a +little place, a cluster of fifteen or twenty huts. But every house lay +in ruins as if the place had been knocked about the villagers' ears +with a huge flail. Near at hand a man lay dead, his body horribly +crushed and battered. No sign of life was to be observed about the +place. + +But while the travellers stared in wonder on the havoc which had been +made, they were suddenly attacked by the author of it, and knew that +their own lives were in deadly peril. There was a terrific crashing +among the bamboos, and then a huge, dark object was seen to be +bursting a way through the tall stems. All but Jack knew at once what +it meant; he was enlightened in an instant. + +"A 'rogue' elephant! A 'rogue' elephant!" cried Saya Chone, and the +driver urged the pad-elephant forward with voice and spear. + +Then Jack understood. His father had told him many times how that a +big, savage male will often leave a herd of wild elephants, take up a +solitary life in the jungle, and become a "rogue." There is no more +terrible beast to be met with. His enormous size and strength, his +terrible ferocity, make him the king of the jungle. He attacks all he +meets, and tramples every foe under his huge feet. + +This "rogue" had evidently been attracted to the clearing by the +paddy-fields, where the elephant loves to feed. Then, irritated +probably by some attempt of the natives to drive him away, he had +attacked their village and swept it out of existence. Now he was +charging savagely upon the newcomers. + +He came at them across the open with terrific speed. Jack had not the +faintest idea that so ponderous a beast could move at such a pace, and +he stared with fascinated eyes at the extraordinary sight. The "rogue" +was an immense tusker, a big, wild, savage-looking brute, who charged +with up-lifted trunk, and now trumpeted with so tremendous a note that +the jungle and the hill-sides rang with the hoarse thunder. His course +was laid straight for the men in front, two of the attendants on +ponies. The Malay, the remaining attendant, and the pack-pony were +behind the pad-elephant. + +The ponies, obedient to their riders, had at first bounded forward, +but when that frightful trumpeting broke out, and they saw the huge +tusker thundering upon them, they were seized with such fear that they +stopped and stood still, trembling in every limb. Before their riders +could urge them on, the immense brute was upon them. One of the +riders, a bold fellow, stood up in the stirrups, and struck at the +"rogue" with his _dah_. But he might as well have struck with a straw. +The monster literally swept the two ponies down in his stride, +trampling them under foot in his frightful charge. The man who had +used his heavy sword to so little effect, went down with his pony. The +second man had leapt from his saddle, and he ran at full speed for a +teak tree, intending to swarm up its trunk. + +His flying figure caught the eye of the "rogue" just as he was about +to turn and trample on those he had hurled to the ground. Now the +savage brute strode on, and it was seen how swift was his great +lumbering stride. He caught the man up, long before the fugitive was +anywhere near the tree, and hurled him to the ground with a stroke of +his tusk. Then he pulled up and deliberately knelt down on the unlucky +wretch, who screamed horribly as his life was crushed out of him by +the tremendous weight of the gigantic beast. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE TWO ELEPHANTS. + + +All this passed directly below Jack's horrified eyes. The pad-elephant +was so frightened at the advent of this savage specimen of his own +species, that he had turned stupid and made no attempt to obey his +driver's orders. Instead, he turned and backed slowly from the place, +keeping his head towards the "rogue." Thus Jack saw the ferocious +brute swiftly crush the life out of the man upon whom he knelt, then +leap up and rush back to the spot where the two ponies and the rider +who had used the _dah_ were still lying on the ground. + +The ponies had both been trodden on in that terrific charge, and the +man, untouched by the elephant, had been flung three or four yards, +and lay half-stunned by his fall. As he scrambled to his feet the +"rogue" was upon him. With a scream of rage the maddened brute bent +down his huge head and delivered a sweeping stroke with his tusk. The +great sharp spear of ivory struck the man in the back and was driven +clean through the body. The elephant raised his head and swung the man +high above the ground. Jack shuddered as he saw the writhing figure +impaled on that huge tusk. + +For a moment the elephant held his victim aloft as if in triumph, then +with a swing of his head he hurled the man far away, and looked round +for fresh victims. At the next moment the earth shook under his tread +as he thundered down upon the pad-elephant and the burden it bore. + +"Cut me loose!" roared Jack to the half-caste. "What chance have I +got, tied to this howdah?" + +But Saya Chone, ashen with fear, clung to the edge of the car, and had +eyes and ears for nothing save for the great beast charging full upon +them. Jack hurled himself to and fro, trying to slacken a little the +bonds which held him a prisoner under such fearful circumstances. If +the pad-elephant would only make a fight of it, there would be a +chance for its riders to slip down and escape, but how could Jack help +himself? + +As the "rogue" made his last few sweeping strides upon them, the +pad-elephant seemed to pluck up the courage of desperation. He was a +fine, big, powerful fellow, though not equal in size to his wild +enemy, and now he took a step or two forward, threw out his huge +forehead, and met his enemy in full career. + +The crash as the two huge beasts charged into each other was +tremendous. The pad-elephant was driven back half a dozen yards, but +he kept his feet. Then the two immense creatures, head braced to head +and tusks locked in tusks, began a steady trial of strength, each +striving to force the other back. + +Now Saya Chone plucked out his heavy revolver, and, leaning over the +edge of the howdah, began to fire swiftly into the head and body of +the savage "rogue." But though the bullets cut deeply into the flesh, +and the blood spouted freely, the big brute troubled nothing about +that. As far as reaching any vital part went, the revolver might have +been a pop-gun, and the wild elephant gave himself up entirely to the +struggle with his tame brother. + +In a few minutes it was seen that he was carrying the day. The +pad-elephant, with deep grunts of anger and fear, began to give way +before the fierce strength and impetuosity of his terrible opponent. +Jack looked round and saw that they were alone; the Malay and the +fourth attendant had fled from the place. + +Then, at the next moment, the elephant under them gave up the fight. +He suddenly backed off, turned, and lumbered across the clearing in +full flight. The "rogue" threw up his trunk, and trumpeted a roar of +victory, then dashed after the pad-elephant in savage pursuit. He was +much swifter, and soon came up on the flank where Jack, by turning his +head, had him in full view. Jack saw the small, fierce eyes burning +with fury, and then the head was bent and the great forehead was +driven against the flying enemy. The shock was such that the +pad-elephant was driven to its knees, the driver was hurled over its +head, and Saya Chone flung headlong out of the car. Jack alone +remained in the howdah, held fast by his bonds. + +Again the "rogue" elephant charged his enemy, and now the latter was +flung over on to its side, and the rim of the howdah brushed the +ground. Jack looked up in despair. The vast bulk of the infuriated +elephant hung right over him as the "rogue" prepared to trample upon +the foe whom he had hurled to the ground. In vain did Jack dash +himself to and fro in his bonds; he was fastened only too securely, +and he knew that the least stroke of the foot now raised above his +head would crush him as surely as a steam-hammer would crush a nut. At +the next second Jack saw a gleaming white tusk dart down towards him +as the "rogue" bent his head and struck. + +The tusk went through the howdah within six inches of Jack's leg, and +was buried deep in the back of the pad-elephant Then the "rogue," as +he withdrew the dripping spear of ivory, caught sight of something and +turned his wicked little eyes on it. He saw the driver and Saya Chone +at some little distance running for their lives, and his fickle fancy +turned to the thoughts of making short work of them before he finished +with his tame brother. + +Away he went in pursuit of this new object, and the pad-elephant +scrambled to its feet, and stood for a few moments as if bewildered +and uncertain what to do. During these few moments Jack saw the driver +caught and felled to earth by the huge beast before whose savage might +all stood helpless. Saya Chone had far outrun his companion, and the +half-caste disappeared among the trees as the "rogue" began to trample +upon the driver, whose frightful screams were silenced as both breath +and life itself were swiftly crushed out of the body, so soon made +pulp under those huge round feet. + +Suddenly the pad-elephant wheeled about with big clumsy movements, and +was off at a good round lumbering trot in the opposite direction. He +had seen quite enough of this savage brother of the jungle, and had no +wish for further punishment. But the "rogue" had no intention of +letting him go so easily. Leaving the driver, the wild elephant dashed +after the tame one at full speed. + +And now began a most extraordinary race. The pad-elephant darted +straight into the jungle and took the country as it came, straight +before him, thinking of nothing but escape. He dashed through groves +of bamboos and saplings, cutting his way clean through; he raced +grunting and puffing up hill-side and down ravines; he dodged through +the big trees with an agility and swiftness most wonderful in so heavy +and clumsy a beast, and all the time his enemy hung upon his rear, +sometimes near enough to gore his flank, sometimes out-distanced for a +little as the tame beast, frenzied with fear and pain, put out an +extraordinary burst of speed. And in the howdah, fast bound still to +the tough wicker-work, was Jack, the only spectator of this marvellous +chase through the jungle, and one with an immense stake in it. + +When the "rogue" came up, Jack's heart beat thick with anxiety. If the +creature that bore him was once more knocked down, then he knew that +it would be all over with him. He would certainly be crushed like a +fly in the terrific struggle which would follow. When the +pad-elephant got away, Jack breathed a little more freely, until he +heard his enemy's ponderous steps once again thundering up. + +Mile after mile, through jungle or over open plain, this marvellous +chase went on, and still the pad-elephant raced snorting for his life, +still the furious "rogue" pounded at his heels in hot pursuit. + +Jack was nearly shaken to pieces. He braced his feet against the side +of the howdah, and propped himself firmly against a corner of the huge +basket in which he rode. More than once the curling trunk of the +pursuer was raised above his head, but, as is well known, the wild +elephant hesitated to attack a rider on the tame one's back. For three +full hours the furious monarch of the jungle drove the pad-elephant +before him, a ride Jack never forgot to the end of his days. Then they +came out on a wide grassy plain by a river, where a large herd of wild +elephants was standing knee-deep in the stream, solemnly spouting +water over their backs. + +On rushed the pad-elephant, now panting and almost ready to fall from +exhaustion, towards his fellows. But the "rogue," a hater of his kind, +pulled up, trumpeted a few shrill notes of defiance, turned, and +trotted back into the jungle. + +The pad-elephant now stood still, trembling from head to foot with his +tremendous exertions. The herd of wild elephants, more than twenty in +number, left the river and came towards the beast which bore the +howdah and Jack. They marched up in slow and stately fashion, without +any sign of anger, but apparently full of curiosity as to this +newcomer and his strange equipment. + +At the next moment Jack found himself in a most extraordinary +position, his elephant being surrounded by the wild herd, whose trunks +ran here and there over their tame brother like so many hands being +stretched out to examine him. One big bull put his trunk into the +howdah and ran it over Jack, who remained perfectly still, knowing +that an incautious movement might arouse the animal's anger. But these +creatures seemed as mild and gentle as the "rogue" had been ferocious. +Before long their curiosity was satisfied, and they strolled away to +crop the young bamboo shoots. + +At last Jack breathed a little more freely. His wild ride had been a +terrible business for him. A hundred and a hundred times had his heart +come into his mouth when the great beast that bore him had plunged +through groves where it seemed that over-hanging boughs must sweep +howdah and rider from the elephant's back. But he had come through all +these dangers safely, and now the "rogue" had gone back to the jungle +and the pad-elephant was at peace. + +Presently Jack underwent an odd experience. His elephant walked down +to the river and took a long drink. Jack envied the lucky brute; he, +too, was parched with thirst. But in another moment he had water +enough and to spare, for the elephant, filling his trunk with water, +began to cool himself by spouting it over his body, and in a very +short time Jack was drenched to the skin. + +"It's refreshing, at any rate," thought Jack, as he shut his eyes +against a fresh deluge of yellow water. "I wish to goodness I could +only work myself free. I've got clear away from Saya Chone and the +Strangler, and that's something to the good." + +He began again to work himself about in his bonds, but he was soon +obliged to desist. He was already stiff, and he soon became very sore +as he struggled with his fastenings, which seemed to be eating into +his very flesh. + +"It's no go," he said half-aloud. "I cannot shake myself loose," and +he fell back into his corner. + +His elephant now came out of the river, and looked around eagerly for +food. The herd of wild ones was already deep in a large bamboo +thicket, and the tame one went at once after them and began to crop +and munch the bamboo shoots. The wild elephants, feeding as they went, +plunged farther and farther into a region of wild jungle, far from any +habitations of men, and the tame one steadily followed them, bearing +on his back the young Englishman, a prisoner, and forced to accompany +the elephant wherever he might go. + +"I've heard," thought Jack, "that these tame ones will often break +away and join wild herds. I'm in a pretty desperate fix if I've got to +remain lashed in this howdah while this brute rambles far and wide +with this troop of companions he has hit upon." + +He looked around on every side, but saw nothing that could give him +the slightest cause for hope. With every step he was being carried +deeper and deeper into the recesses of the jungle where no hunter +dare venture, where the elephant, the tiger, and the leopard rule as +undisputed masters. His plight was terrible. Who would free him, who +could free him of the bonds which held him in subjection to so cruel a +fate? + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE PANTHAY WOOD-CUTTERS. + + +It was within an hour or two of dark, and Jack, faint with hunger and +the strange and exhausting experience through which he had gone that +day, was hanging listlessly in his bonds. The elephants had gathered +in an open stretch at the foot of a deep ravine, and all was very +quiet. The pad-elephant stood with his trunk gently swinging, his huge +ears slowly flapping; he had eaten and drunk, and now he was taking a +rest. + +Suddenly into the silence of the narrow valley there fell the sound of +blows. Thud--thud--thud. A pause. Thud--thud--thud, again and again. +Jack started and listened eagerly. There was a ring about the sound +which told him what it was. + +"It's the sound of an axe on a tree," cried Jack to himself, and he +knew that other human beings were in the neighbourhood. He collected +all his breath and gave a loud shout. Again and again he shouted. The +noise on the hill-side far above was now stilled, and once more Jack +roared at the top of his voice. + +At the next moment his outcries were drowned in the wild trumpeting +of the elephants. The human notes had disturbed them, and they +trumpeted shrilly and moved uneasily away from the neighbourhood of +the pad-elephant. Then the wild herd set off at a trot, went a mile or +more up the ravine, and came to a halt near another feeding-place, a +clump of young bamboos. The tame elephant with its burden had followed +steadily, and now Jack shouted no more. He feared lest his cries +should disturb the herd so much that the wild creatures should take +flight, and run a great distance. If they did so, the pad-elephant +would be sure to follow them, and thus very possibly carry Jack +completely out of reach of the human beings, whoever they were, that +he had heard at work among the trees high up on the bank of the +ravine. + +So now Jack was silent, but he looked about eagerly on every hand for +some sign of human life. If the people had heard his cries, surely +they would come to see who called for help in such a place. His +elephant was now quietly feeding with the rest, and the last rays of +the sun were shining through a gap in the hills straight into the +hollow where the elephants were gathered. + +Looking eagerly back on the track the herd had followed, Jack saw +something moving in the wild plum-bushes about three hundred yards +away. He looked closer and saw that it was a man, a native. His heart +leaped for joy. Whether friends or enemies, perhaps he was about to be +loosed from his dreadful position. Now he saw a second man, and the +two dark figures, both naked save for a waist-cloth, crept slowly +towards him under cover of the bushes. + +They were a couple of Panthay wood-cutters, felling teak trees on the +edge of the ravine. At present the ravine was dry, but in the rainy +season an ample flood of water roared along the hollow, a flood which +would carry the teak logs down to the big river below. They had heard +Jack's cries, and, wondering at the strange sound, had followed up in +rear of the flying elephants. + +Their surprise was immense when they saw a white sahib in the howdah +on the elephant's back. But in this part of the country, where white +men very rarely came, a white face was regarded with the deepest +reverence, and the simple, harmless Panthays at once set about the +task of relieving the sahib who seemed unable to rise in his carriage. +One of them disappeared at once into the jungle, one remained in the +bushes. + +Jack saw that they were engaged upon some plan, and hoping that it +meant his deliverance, he remained silent, and watched eagerly for +what was about to happen. + +Within ten minutes he saw one of the woodmen swarming up a tree some +distance ahead, a tree growing beside the well-trodden path which wild +beasts had made along the foot of the ravine. Then his companion +showed himself among the bushes below and uttered a peculiar cry. The +wild elephants stopped feeding at once. Always sensitive to the +presence of man, which means danger, they gathered uneasily in a +group. Then, following the lead of an immense bull, the patriarch of +the herd, they lumbered along the path up the ravine and away from the +wood-cutter who had shown himself. + +Jack saw, to his immense relief and delight, that his elephant would +pass directly below the branch where the second Panthay was now +perched. As the pad-elephant jogged up, closing the file of the +retreating herd, the native, swinging himself from the bough, dropped +with the greatest ease and certainty into the howdah. + +For a moment the Panthay, a short, strong, powerful man, looked upon +Jack and his bonds with great surprise. Then he thrust forward the +head of his axe, which he had carried with him all the time, and laid +the keen edge against the cords which bound Jack to the howdah. In a +trice Jack was free. He flung his arms up thankfully, but dropped them +again with a groan. They were so stiff that all movement was painful. + +He thanked the Panthay again and again, and patted his bare, smooth +shoulder, and the native grinned and bowed before him. Then the +wood-cutter pointed to the ground, and Jack nodded. He saw that the +man wished him to drop from the howdah and leave the elephant. Jack +was perfectly willing. It was plain that the pad-elephant meant to +stick to his new friends and follow them wherever they roved. + +The Panthay slipped down the right flank of the elephant and dropped +to his feet like a cat. Jack was wretchedly stiff, but he also climbed +over the side of the carriage which had been his prison, and let +himself slide over the elephant's tail. + +"I shall stand the least chance of being trodden on that way," thought +Jack. He dropped to the ground all right, for the pad-elephant took +not the least notice of their movements. But as for keeping his feet, +that was impossible. He rolled to the earth, for his ankles were even +more numbed than his wrists. + +At this instant the second Panthay ran up. The natives seemed to +understand at once what was wrong, for both began to rub Jack's ankles +and wrists briskly. Jack had to set his teeth to keep back a cry of +pain. After the long numbing confinement, it was pure agony when the +blood began to move freely once more, but he grinned and bore it, and +soon began to feel better for the treatment. + +When he could stand up and walk a little, the Panthays beckoned to him +to accompany them, and they went down the ravine, following the track +used by the wild inhabitants of the place. The dusk was falling over +the jungle when they reached the camp of the Panthays, a deep cave in +the side of the ravine, where a few simple cooking-pots and a small +store of rice furnished all the woodmen needed. + +By signs Jack was invited to sit down on a big heap of dried grass at +the side of the cave, and one of the men swiftly built a fire and put +on a pot of rice to cook. Soon the simple meal was ready. The +cooking-pot was swung from the fire, and the rice was flavoured with +salt and other condiments; each of the latter articles was contained +in a small neat cylinder of bamboo, and packed away again when done +with in the basket which was the only baggage of the teak-cutters. + +Jack was as hungry as a wolf, and he ate heartily of the food which +his new friends offered to him. They were extremely respectful, called +him _phaya_, my lord, the only word of their speech which he could +make out, and did not touch a single grain of rice until he had +finished. + +While they ate, Jack rested on the soft, dried grass, and went through +his pockets to see where he stood. Somewhat to his surprise, Jack +found that his captors had relieved him of nothing save his weapons. +His money-belt round his waist, the contents of his pockets, his +watch, everything had been left untouched. + +"No," thought Jack, "I don't know what their game was, but it was a +lot bigger thing than just collaring what I had about me. However, +it's lucky my money's left. It's bound to be useful even in the +jungle. If I can only get these fellows to lead me to a village, I can +find a guide to put me on the road towards joining Buck and Jim +again." + +The thought of Buck and Jim turned Jack's thoughts towards them, and +their surprise and consternation when they found that he was missing. + +"What will they do, I wonder," thought Jack. "They'll never in the +world be able to discover what's become of me. I must try and hit a +line back towards them as soon as possible." + +His eyes now turned on the Panthays, busily devouring the last of +their rice. + +"How can I talk to these chaps?" thought Jack. "I'll give them a tip. +They've done me a first-rate good turn. Perhaps they'll be willing to +do more if they see there's something to be got by it." + +He drew a handful of rupees from his belt, and gave them five each. +The woodmen stared in astonishment at so much wealth, fingering the +big silver coins with childlike wonder and delight. Then they bent +before Jack, and made him at least a score of deep obeisances, and +poured forth floods of thanks. Jack did not understand their words, +but their movements told all they wished to convey. + +Each tucked his new-gained riches in his waist-cloth, and then they +busied themselves in making Jack comfortable for the night. He was +soon satisfied. He was far too tired to be very critical of his +sleeping quarters. As a matter of fact, they were excellent. The cave +was dry and warm, and the Panthays made up for him a big heap of soft +dried grass. + +The thought of sleep made Jack's eyes drop to of themselves. In a +couple of minutes after he stretched himself on the couch of grass, he +was deep in slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +AN UNWELCOME MEETING. + + +When he awoke the next morning the pot of rice was once more bubbling +over the fire, and one of the natives was squatted near by, feeding +the fire with dry chips; the second man was not to be seen. The +Panthay feeding the fire looked up with a cheerful grin when he heard +Jack move, and pointed to the cooking-pot, as if to assure him that +breakfast would soon be ready. + +Jack stretched himself and yawned. After his long sleep he felt like a +giant refreshed. He wondered what time it was, and glanced at his +watch. But his watch had stopped, he had forgotten to wind it up. The +sun, however, showed him, by its height, that the morning was well +advanced. + +"I've slept off my weariness with a vengeance," murmured Jack to +himself. "It must be nine or ten o'clock by the look of the sun." + +At this moment the native by the fire uttered a cry which was answered +from without. The second Panthay ran up at that moment, panting as if +he had travelled fast and far. He bore upon his shoulders a basket +from which he took a couple of chickens, half a dozen plantains, and +a fresh supply of rice. + +"Then there's a village somewhere in the neighbourhood," thought Jack. +"But it may be ten or a dozen miles off. This fellow looks as if he +had had a long run for the stuff. I suppose it is in my honour." + +The two men prepared one of the chickens in a trice. They stripped off +the feathers, cut up the fowl, and broiled the pieces over the fire on +little skewers of hard wood. In a short time an excellent breakfast of +broiled chicken, rice, and plantain was set before him, and Jack +devoured it with the utmost relish. Then he set himself to work by +means of signs to make them understand that he wished them to lead him +to the village from which the Panthay had fetched the supplies. + +In the end they understood him, and put their axes in a corner of the +cave. By motions of their heads and hands they gave him to understand +that they would lay by work for the day, and become his guides. Jack +patted them on the back, and gave them another couple of rupees apiece +to strengthen them in this excellent resolution. + +When he had finished his meal, Jack sat down again on the heap of +grass to await the pleasure of his companions. The second man had not +eaten, but he soon despatched his portion of rice, and then they were +ready for the road. + +They left the cave, and the two Panthays led the way down the ravine, +retracing the line the elephants had taken in coming into this part of +the country. + +"That's good," thought Jack. "We're striking on the road back at +once. I wish I knew the name of the village where the festival was +held, but I'm pretty certain to find someone in the place these chaps +come from who can tell me. People were marching to the feast from a +much greater distance away than this can be." + +Their progress was slow, for the day was one of scorching heat. The +naked Panthays slipped through the jungle as easily as the monkeys +skipped through the trees, but Jack could not move at any speed. As +the sun approached high noon a halt was called in shade of a thicket +on a little ridge, where the air was fresher than in the dark, +steaming hollows. Here they stayed for three hours, and Jack, after he +had eaten the meal the Panthays prepared, dozed in the shade. + +When he saw his guides gathering their baggage and packing it into the +big basket which one carried slung over his shoulders, Jack sprang to +his feet, stretched himself, and strolled forward half a dozen yards. +They had halted beside a narrow path which crossed the ridge, and he +wished to see toward what kind of country below the path led. + +The bushes thinned, and he saw that a vast plain was opening out +before him. But he did not leave the cover of the edge of the thicket. +Something moving below caught his eye, and he parted the tall shoots +of a bush before him, and peeped through the huge trails of pink and +crimson convolvuli which festooned the branches of the low trees. +Straight before him the path ran down a steep slope and then wound +over a broad plain, showing itself here and there in the gaps between +patches of bamboo and acacias and palms. It was among a clump of +palms at some distance that Jack had caught sight of a moving object, +and he now looked eagerly to see it come into view again. + +It was not that he feared any particular evil at the moment, but in +his present desperate circumstances, utterly stranded in these wilds +among savage hill-tribes, he knew not at any moment when a savage +enemy might appear. He knew well that he had been lucky in falling in +with these quiet wood-cutters, and he hoped that such luck would stay +with him for a little till he could rejoin his friends. + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when he saw that it was +vain, and that at this very moment he stood in the utmost danger from +his worst and deadliest foes. The moving objects he had seen came in +sight once more, a couple of naked fellows in turban and waist-cloth. +Jack knew them for Panthays, like the men who were now behind him +making ready for the march. Then, at the next second, he saw two +brilliant spots of colour, and knew that the Panthays were not alone. +A little cavalcade of six riders, mounted on ponies, followed the two +naked men on foot. The whole of the tiny procession passed over a +little clearing, and was lost again in a clump of bamboos. + +Jack's heart beat fast and he drew a deep breath. Who were these men +the Panthays were leading towards him? He remembered two of his +enemies yesterday, and the two leading riders brought them to mind +again. Saya Chone had worn a head-dress of brilliant flaming scarlet, +the Strangler a turban of bright yellow. + +Again the little procession filed into sight, out of the bamboos. +Scarlet and yellow the head-dresses of the first couple of mounted men +flashed vivid into the burning radiance of the sunlight. The riders +were too far off for Jack to make out their faces, but he did not need +that; he felt in his bones that his terrible enemies were upon him +once more, and he turned to fly. It was plain enough, too, how they +had hit upon his whereabouts. They had followed up the tracks of the +flying elephants, and inquired in every village round-about. Then the +Panthay, returning to his home for food, had spoken of the sahib they +had found among the hills, and had put the pursuers on Jack's trail. + +As Jack turned he heard a grunt of surprise. One of the Panthays had +stepped forward and caught sight of the approaching cavalcade. Jack +sprang upon him, seized his naked shoulder, and drew him back into +shelter of the thicket. The two men looked at him in wonder. Our hero +had nothing but signs with which to communicate to these men the +danger in which he stood. He chose three effective movements. He +pointed to the oncoming strangers, he pointed to himself; finally he +seized the _dah_ which one carried swinging in a thong over his +shoulders, and made a motion as of passing the keen weapon across his +throat. + +By their looks of intelligence he saw that the Panthays had fully +grasped his meaning. They spoke swiftly to each other for a few +moments. + +[Illustration: A SUDDEN ALARM.] + +Jack awaited the upshot in keenest anxiety. If these men did not stand +by him he was indeed lost. Then, to his immense relief, the elder man, +he who had dropped into the howdah and had taken the lead from the +first, stepped forward, raised Jack's hand, and kissed it. Then he +pointed to the depth of the jungle. Jack nodded and patted him on the +shoulder. The younger Panthay swung the basket on his back, and away +glided the three, leaving the path, and striking off directly among +the trees. + +In two minutes they were out of sight of their camping-place, and as +the advancing party was not yet at the foot of the slope, Jack never +doubted but that the half-caste would be thrown off the scent, and +would pass on towards the ravine where the wood-cutters were known to +be at work. But he had made one mistake, the error of supposing that +the two Panthays in front of the horsemen were the first of the party. +They were not. A single tracker had led the way some distance ahead, +and him Jack had missed among the thickets and groves which hid the +path here and there. So that, as the three fugitives disappeared among +the thicker growth of jungle, a dark figure gained the crown of the +slope, and with swift and noiseless tread approached their +camping-place. + +The quick eye of the Panthay at once caught sight of the retreating +men, above all of the sahib, so easily to be known by his dress, and +the tracker drew back instantly into the bushes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE. + + +In the meanwhile Jack and his companions hurried forward, quite +unconscious that they had been spied upon. The elder Panthay led the +way through the jungle, and within a mile they came to the edge of a +steep descent. Down this they climbed with much difficulty, swinging +themselves by creepers and holding on to the boles of saplings until +they gained the foot of a deep ravine. + +The Panthay paused and pointed with a laugh. Jack nodded cheerfully. + +"By George!" he murmured to himself, "we shan't be hard up for a +hiding-place here." + +The wall of the farther side of the ravine was honey-combed with black +holes, looking for all the world as if a colony of gigantic +sand-martins had built their nests in the place. Jack knew that these +were the mouths of caves, and he ran swiftly after the Panthays as +they hurried for a hole which was within easy reach of the ground. + +A small fig tree grew below the mouth of the cave. Jack slipped his +foot into the crutch where a bough struck away from the parent stem, +swung himself up, and tumbled into the hollow, which was an irregular +circle about nine feet across. The Panthays at once followed him, and +all three pushed over the broken floor within, towards the shelter of +the cave. + +Inside, the place hollowed and widened out. Thirty feet back from the +entrance it was dusky, and here Jack seated himself on a huge fragment +of rock which had fallen from the roof. He was very glad of a rest and +of a chance to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, as it was terribly +punishing for a European to have to hurry on foot through the +frightful heat of so scorching a day. + +The elder Panthay had followed Jack to the back of the cave, and was +now squatting on his haunches in front of the English lad. The younger +native had remained nearer the entrance, and, placing himself behind +another big fallen boulder, was keeping watch through the mouth of the +cave. + +The Panthay who had accompanied Jack now entered upon a series of +gestures so clear and striking that Jack understood them as if he +spoke. The signs were to the effect that they should stay in the cave +till darkness had fallen, and then they would resume the journey. + +Half an hour later, when Jack was lying at full length on the rock, +lazily staring into the gloomy heights above him, a sudden, low, sharp +cry broke into the stillness. The cry had been uttered by the watcher +at the mouth of the cave, and now he said a few quick words. The elder +Panthay leapt to his feet and shot down the cave with the glide of a +panther. Jack sprang from his rock and followed. + +The English lad had known at once that the cry meant danger, so deep +an anxiety had lain in the low troubled note. As he crept up to the +boulder behind which the two Panthays crouched, he saw that the peril +which threatened him a short time ago still hung over his head. +Looking through the hole, they commanded a full view of the upper edge +of the opposite side of the ravine. Gathered aloft there, in full +sight, was a bunch of figures, and, in the front of the group, the +scarlet and yellow turbans still blazed. + +Jack knew at once that danger was closer than ever. By some means Saya +Chone and the Strangler knew that he and his guides had turned aside +from the ordinary track, and had followed on their new trail. + +Now their pursuers began to climb down the steep side of the ravine, +led by a Panthay tracker. In a moment Jack saw that the man was +following the path they had followed. His quick eye was marking the +displaced stones and torn creepers, and he was leading Saya Chone and +the Strangler straight upon their prey. + +Jack looked swiftly round the cave in which they stood. Did it offer +any securer hiding-place than the part in which they were? To leave it +was impossible! They could only step out in full sight of the +advancing band of enemies. He looked at the Panthays and saw that they +could render him no help. They were trembling like leaves with terror. +He caught a name on the elder Panthay's lips, and knew it. + +"Saya Chone," the man was murmuring. "Saya Chone." + +"Oh," thought Jack, "this fellow recognises the half-caste and fears +the vengeance of a powerful enemy. Then we can't be far now from the +country where the Ruby King rules the roost. But the point for the +moment is, how to dodge Mr. Saya Chone." + +He beckoned to the Panthays to follow him, and all three retreated to +the depths of the cave. The elder Panthay ran ahead, waving his hand +to Jack to follow. + +"Hullo!" thought Jack, "looks as if this chap knew of a spot to hide +in," and he hurried forward. At the lower end of the cave the roof +dipped sharply down, and the sides closed in, forming a tunnel about +six feet high and five feet wide. This tunnel was three or four yards +long, and then it opened out again into a second cave of fair size. +The second cave was dimly lighted from a rift in the rock, forty feet +above their heads. In two minutes Jack had made the circuit of it, and +knew that, except for the fact that it was an inner cave, it offered +them no refuge. The walls were smooth and unclimbable, and there was +no break in them except at the point where the tunnel ran in. + +Jack returned from his swift search and peered down the tunnel. From +the cool darkness he looked out and saw a ring of brilliant light, the +mouth of the outer cave. Suddenly a head shot into the patch of +blinding sunlight without. The head was covered with a yellow turban, +and Jack saw the Strangler slowly draw himself up and stand in the +mouth of the cave. The big Malay did not rush forward. Instead, he +stood gazing curiously about, and then Jack understood. He and his +companions had left no track on the smooth hard rocks which paved the +bottom of the ravine, and their enemies were not certain in which cave +they lay; each cave was being searched in turn. + +"Oh," thought Jack, "what would I not give for my handy little +Mannlicher, and a good pocketful of cartridges. I could hold an army +at bay in this narrow tunnel. But they stripped me of every weapon, +even to my knife." + +At this instant there flashed across his mind the thought of the _dah_ +carried by the younger Panthay. He turned and found the man at his +shoulder. Jack seized the thong by which the man bore the weapon, and +lifted it over the Panthay's head. The native made no resistance, but +gave up the sword at once. + +Jack drew the weapon from its sheath and looked at it carefully in the +dim light. He saw at once by the bright gleam that it was in excellent +order, and well polished. He tried the edge with his thumb; it was as +keen as a razor. He stepped back two or three paces to give himself +room to swing the blade, and flourished it about his head in order to +find out its swing and play. These, too, were perfect. So well +balanced were the huge, broad blade and heavy handle, that the great +sword swung easily about Jack's head in his powerful young hands. + +"By George!" thought he, "I'll make it warm for these rogues before +I've done with them. If I can't give it 'em hot in this narrow tunnel +with this good bit of steel, I'm a Dutchman." + +He stepped forward and peered once more down the tunnel. He started. +Saya Chone was climbing up, and after him came three or four figures +in blue kilts. Jack had seen such before, and knew them for tough, +wiry, hard-bitten little Kachins, small men, but immensely muscular +and powerful. Behind him he heard a sound as of a withered leaf +blowing along the floor. He turned his head and saw the two Panthays +fleeing to the uttermost part of the cave. They trembled before these +terrible enemies. + +At this moment the Panthay tracker climbed into the cave. He spoke for +a few moments to Saya Chone, pointing to the tunnel where Jack stood, +but where in the darkness no one could see him. Saya Chone nodded, and +the whole party moved forward until they were within a couple of yards +of the mouth of the tunnel. Now Saya Chone began to speak. + +"Haydon," he called in a loud voice. "Come out at once. The game is +up. We know you are within there. You have left a score of signs in +the outer cave to show whither you have retreated. Come out, I tell +you." + +He ceased, and stood as if awaiting a reply, but Jack made no answer. +He meant to give his enemies no idea of the point where he had +stationed himself. Again the half-caste's voice rang out. + +"I will give you one minute again to come out," he called, "and then, +if you do not appear, I shall send in those who will fetch you out +more roughly than you will like." + +Jack made no answer, but went down on one knee to give himself plenty +of room to strike overhead in the combat which was now near at hand. + +The minute passed, and Saya Chone called out some orders to the +savage little men in blue, who were now hovering about the mouth of +the tunnel as if burning to rush in to the assault. Upon the orders +being given, three Kachins started forward. + +Jack saw them clearly against the bright light outside, and his heart +swelled with rage and fierce anger. Not because each man held in his +hand his broad and glittering _dah_. Oh, no. That was all in the game, +and Jack was willing to give and take in the struggle between man and +man, out-numbered as he was. But each man had now drawn out a coil of +fine rope and slung it about his left arm. Jack saw that shameful +bonds were being prepared once more for his free limbs, and his heart +burned with fury. + +"I'll die fighting before they shall tie me up again," breathed Jack +to himself, and he clutched still more tightly the heavy _dah_. Then +he drew a short, sharp breath, and held himself ready, every nerve +strung up to its highest tension, every muscle braced and ready for +action. + +The Kachins were coming. Already their figures darkened the mouth of +the tunnel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM. + + +We must now return to Buck and Jim, whom we left in great perplexity +at the village festival, wondering what had become of their young +leader. + +At the moment that Jack was dragged into the bushes by the Buddhist +monk, who was not really a monk at all, but one of Saya Chone's +followers in disguise, and the dancing girl, who was Saya Chone +himself, Buck was within a dozen yards of them, looking all about for +Jack. But he saw nothing of his young master, because a group of +people, also in Saya Chone's pay, covered the movements by which Jack +was drugged and carried off by his enemies. + +"Thunder and mud," growled Buck. "Where's Jack got to? I left him here +not five minutes ago, laughing over this picture." + +At this moment Dent came up. + +"Where's Jack?" said he quickly. + +"I don't know, and that's the square-toed truth," replied Buck. +"P'raps he's rambled off in a different direction." + +The two comrades began to move swiftly about in search of their young +leader. They kept together, for, with their knowledge of the country, +they felt uneasy at once, and were not willing to separate, lest each +might not find the other again. They found Me Dain, and set him to +hunt in every direction. They found the headman, and he seemed +bewildered at the idea that Jack had disappeared. He gave, or seemed +to give, them every assistance possible in their search, but within an +hour the two comrades were looking at each other very blankly. Jack +had gone. There was no sign of him from end to end of the village, but +how or where he had gone was a completely impenetrable mystery. + +Buck and Jim and the Burman gathered in the hut which had been +assigned to them, and held a council of war. + +"Say," muttered Buck uneasily, "this beats the band. What's come to +Jack?" + +Jim Dent shook his head, and made no reply for a moment. + +"Well, Buck," he said at last, "there's one thing quite certain; he +hasn't gone on his own account." + +"Sure thing," replied Buck. + +"And if he's been nabbed in some mysterious fashion or another, we're +pretty certain who's got hold of him," pursued Jim, and Buck nodded +with a blank face. + +At the next instant Jim's suspicions were confirmed by the Burman. + +"Well," grunted Me Dain, "U Saw got both now, for sure, both young +master and old master." + +"What makes you think that, Me Dain?" cried Buck. "Have you seen or +heard anything?" + +"Nothing, nothing," replied the Burman, waving his hand. "But what +else can be? They catch him and take him off. Oh yes, sure to be." + +"After all, it would only be in line with plenty of things we've heard +of, Buck," remarked Jim Dent, and again Buck had to give a sorrowful +nod. + +"Well," said Buck, in a decided voice, "s'pose we put it at that. In +some fashion or other he's been kidnapped by the people who kidnapped +his father. Let it go at that. Then, next thing is, what are we going +to do?" + +"I'll bet I know what you're going to do, Buck, my son," said Jim +Dent, with a dry chuckle. "You'll follow on a bit and see what's +happened to father and son, or I'm making a big mistake." + +"You're quite right, Jim," said Buck Risley. "I don't hold with +backin' down on a pardner, and I'm goin' along to see what's happened +to the Professor and Jack just as far as I can crawl." + +"And I'm with you, old man," said Jim quietly. "I owe Jack my life, +too. One good turn deserves another." + +"And me, sahibs, and me," said Me Dain quickly. "The young sahib save +my life also when the dacoit thought to chop off my head. I go with +you everywhere to help the two sahibs." + +"Bully for you, Me Dain, you're a good sort," cried Buck, and he +thrust his hand out to the Burman. Me Dain, highly delighted to +receive the white man's sign of friendship, shook hands very solemnly +with both Buck and Jim, and they formed at once a confraternity of +three to hunt up U Saw's quarters, and see where he held the +prisoners, whom they now firmly believed to be in his grasp. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNEL. + + +We must now return to Jack, whom we left crouching at the end of the +tunnel which led to the outer cave, and awaiting the onslaught of +three powerful Kachins. + +As the natives drew step by step along the tunnel towards Jack, he +balanced the great broadsword he held by both hands, and poised it +ready to strike at the foremost. Though he was greatly out-numbered, +yet he held one advantage. The forms of his enemies were clear against +the sunlight which poured into the mouth of the outer cave. He could +see every movement they made, but they could not see him. The inner +cave was very dimly lighted, and, coming from the bright light +without, his enemies could not mark that Jack was waiting for them. + +A second advantage he enjoyed was that they did not know that he was +armed. They knew that they had stripped him of every weapon when he +was first seized, and now they did not dream that he had secured a +_dah_ for himself, and was thoroughly resolved to make the deadliest +use of it before he would submit to capture. + +On crept the Kachins in the boldest fashion, urged forward not merely +by their native bravery, but convinced that they had before them the +simplest of tasks, the seizing of an unarmed lad who would surrender +at sight of their weapons. + +At the next moment they were terribly undeceived. Fetching a sweeping +blow, Jack cut down the leading Kachin with a terrific stroke. The +edge of the keen, heavy blade fell at the point where neck and +shoulder meet, and the doomed man was nearly cut in two. He dropped +with a single groan, and the two men behind caught him by the feet and +dragged him swiftly back. + +Jack drew a deep breath, regained his heavy weapon, and poised it +anew. But for the moment he was left in peace. The group in the outer +cave had gathered about the fallen man. They uttered loud cries of +surprise when they saw the deep and dreadful wound he had received +with such terrible force from the dah. "_Dah! dah!_" Jack heard the +name of the native sword pass from lip to lip, and knew that they had +recognised by what weapon that frightful slicing blow was delivered. + +But in another moment he recognised how grim and fell were these +people who were his foes. As coolly as though it were but a dog that +Jack had slain with that tremendous blow, the Strangler lifted the +dead Kachin and tossed him carelessly aside. Saya Chone said a sharp +word, and a fresh man stepped forward, drawing his _dah_ with a grin +as he was ordered to join his companions in a fresh assault. Jack knew +these little men in blue kilts to be brave to desperation, utterly +careless of life, either their own or another's, and he braced +himself once more for the struggle. + +But this time the Kachins came on in different order, and in a +different fashion. A sudden flare of yellow light filled the tunnel, +and Jack saw that two men marched ahead, each with his _dah_ ready to +strike, and that behind them the third man held a flaming torch. He +saw at once how cunning was the trick. The glare would flash over the +assailant's shoulders straight into his eyes, confusing him, while +they would be lighted perfectly to the attack. + +In a second Jack had devised a plan of meeting this danger. He dropped +his _dah_ over his left arm, bent and seized a huge pebble from the +floor. He poised the stone for an instant, then flung it with great +power. At this short range he struck the mark to a hair, and his mark +was the grinning face of the Kachin who carried the torch, and +rejoiced that his friends would now make short work of the fierce +young Feringhee who had hidden in the cave. + +The dark face of the native was wrinkled with a savage smile, and all +his gums were on view when the heavy stone struck into his open mouth +with a crash of splintering teeth. The first pebble was followed by a +second, which took him between the eyes. Stunned and blinded, he +reeled back and dropped the torch. His comrades, bereft of their +guiding light, upon which they had counted so much, hesitated for a +moment and hung upon the next step. There was no hesitation with Jack. +Things stood at too desperate a pass with him that he should let +things hang in the wind. No sooner did he see the Kachin with the +torch reel back and drop the firebrand, than he swung his weapon on +high and darted at the two men who had halted in the tunnel. As he did +so he let out a mighty shout. Shout and blow fell together on the +hesitating Kachins. Both thrust their _dahs_ forward to parry the +unseen assault. + +Jack's weapon fell with a ringing clash of steel across the _dah_ of +the leading man, beat it down, went on, and bit deeply into the +Kachin's skull. The latter reeled against his companion and clutched +him. For a second they swayed, then both men fell heavily together to +the ground. + +Lying helpless as they were at his feet, it was a mere matter of a +couple of blows for him to utterly destroy both, and so lessen the +number of his enemies. But Jack could not strike fallen men. He +returned to his own end of the tunnel, and allowed them to creep back +to the outer cave, the wounded man crawling slowly after his friends. + +This second repulse seemed to put Saya Chone and the Strangler beside +themselves with fury. They screamed invective and insult against Jack, +and threatened him with the most frightful penalties when he should +fall into their hands. Both had a perfect command of some of the worst +language in English that Jack had ever heard, but he took it all for +what it was worth, clutched his faithful broadsword tighter still, and +waited to see what their next attempt would be. He still cherished a +hope of escape. He had crippled pretty well half of the attacking +force, and if he could but hold them off till darkness came, there +might be an opportunity of escape in the moonless night. + +"There were only four Kachins with them," thought Jack, "and the +natives they have picked up from the neighbouring village may be +dismissed as fighting men, if they are anything like the chaps who are +somewhere behind me here. The half-caste and the Malay seem to keep +out of the scrimmages. If I only have a bit more luck, I can chew them +up enough perhaps to make them sheer off and leave me alone." + +As far as appearances went, they were leaving him alone now. But Jack +knew that appearances are too often deceitful. The outer cave looked +perfectly empty. Neither sign nor sound of human presence was given. +Saya Chone and the Strangler had gone away, leaping down from the +mouth of the outer cave to the ravine. But Jack was certain that the +unwounded Kachins were still lurking in the cave out of his sight, and +he had no intention whatever of creeping out and engaging in a +hand-to-hand struggle with the iron-limbed little mountaineers. Fully +half an hour passed in this profound silence. Jack kept the sharpest +look-out, but could catch no sign to show that his lair was still +watched. + +"If they can wait," thought Jack, "so can I. I'll not stir an inch +from my cover, however silent they may be." + +At that instant he caught a sharp, low cry of surprise behind him. He +whirled round swiftly, for in his intentness he had actually forgotten +the two Panthays, his fellow-prisoners. With a gasp of relief, Jack +found that it was the elder Panthay who had called out. The two men +had been crouching in a corner of the inner cave, and had given no +sign of their presence while Jack struggled with his foes. Now one was +calling out, and both were pointing upwards. + +Jack took a step back from the mouth of the tunnel and looked aloft. +The rift in the rock forty feet above, which lighted the cave, was +obscured and darkened. In a moment he saw that the gap was filled with +a human body, and that a Panthay was peering down upon them. + +"What's this game?" thought Jack. "They've climbed up to that hole, +but unless I obligingly stand under it, and let them drop a stone on +my head, I don't see what they get by it." + +Little did the heroic lad dream of the fearful use to which his +enemies meant to put the rift in the rock high above him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE RUSE OF SAYA CHONE. + + +In a moment the native drew back, and Jack jumped to cover as he saw a +dark object come whirling through the rift and fall straight into the +cave. But the thing flung in was harmless enough in appearance, a mere +bundle of dried grass bound loosely with a shred of creeper. Then, +thick and fast, bundle after bundle was hurled into the cave, dried +reeds, more grass, big loose splinters of pine, fat with resin, +withered brushwood, and the like. + +Down they came, thicker and faster, until a great pile of this rubbish +was heaped on the floor of the cave. Jack was staring wonderingly at +this novel method of attack by flinging rubbish apparently at large, +when once more the Panthay above thrust his head through the rift and +spoke a few words, his voice ringing down hollow into the depths where +the three prisoners stood. Jack did not understand what was said, but +he saw that the effect on his companions was most extraordinary. + +They sprang to their feet, and, braving all the terrors of Saya +Chone, whose name had appeared so dreadful to them, they darted for +the tunnel, brushed swiftly by Jack, and were gone. The English lad +watched them eagerly. He saw them fly down the outer cave, leap wildly +into the ravine, and disappear. A minute later he saw them cross his +field of view as they climbed the opposite bank. They were going like +the wind, and there seemed not the slightest attempt made to stop +them, nor was the faintest sound of pursuit to be heard. + +"All the same," murmured Jack to himself, "I don't think I shall +follow you, my nimble friends. It's pretty certain you've been allowed +to go in peace in the hopes of drawing me out as well. I hardly fancy +I should be permitted to pass so quietly. Well, I'm thankful the poor +beggars have got away in safety. But what scared them so frightfully? +They went like rabbits bolting from a hole when the ferrets have been +put in. There seems nothing very terrifying about this heap of +rubbish." + +But was there not? was there not? Ten seconds later Jack was ready to +take his words back, and acknowledge that heap of rubbish to be a very +terrible and awful weapon in the hands of his enemies. Something +flashed above him, and he glanced up to see a flaming torch hurled +through the rift. It did not, however, fall into the heap of light +inflammable materials awaiting it. It struck against a projecting +point of rock, was turned aside, and fell almost at Jack's feet. He +stamped the flame out swiftly with his boot. + +But his breath came fast and short, and his brave face paled as he saw +the frightful cunning of this master-trick. He had luckily quenched +one torch, but he could not be sure of quenching the next and the +next. One of them had but to fall into the mass of reeds, canes, dry +grass, and withered brushwood, to cause a swift, fierce flame to run +through the whole mass. + +This, then, it was which the Panthays had learned from their fellow +who looked down from the rift. The Englishman was to be roasted out, +and they were warned of the fearful fate about to befall him. Before +this vision of horrors they had fled, the greater fear conquering the +less. + +Jack stood looking up at the rift with blanched face, and teeth set +like a steel-trap. His heart gave another jerk within him. A second +torch flashed through the rift. But this time the torch whirled +flaming through the air, and fell at the mouth of the tunnel, within a +yard of Jack's foot. He stamped it out. A second torch followed, +almost in the same place. He stamped this out too. He looked eagerly +to see where the next would fall. + +It seemed extraordinary fortune that not one of them should fall in +the midst of the waiting heap. Then he heard a low, evil, chuckling +laugh from someone beside the rift, and he understood. Saya Chone was +there, playing with him, as a cat plays with a mouse. The half-caste +was tossing torches within Jack's reach, simply to torture him with +the idea of what would happen when one of the flaming splinters of +pine fell into the heap of tinder awaiting it. + +Five minutes of perfect silence passed, and not another torch fell. To +Jack the time seemed like five years rather. He cast swift alternate +glances at the rift above and through the tunnel, where he felt that +enemies waited and watched for the opportunity the fire might give +them. + +And now a great flare appeared in the rift. A huge bundle of reeds, +blazing fiercely, was thrust in, and dropped. His enemies meant now to +fire the pile and bring the play to an end. The flaming mass rolled +slowly down the steep face of the cliff within, and Jack was torn in a +fierce dilemma as to what was the best course for him to follow. +Should he leave the mouth of the tunnel and try to beat out the flames +with the broad blade of his _dah_, or should he not? + +But if he left the tunnel, then he would give up the key of the +situation, and be swiftly surrounded. If he did not, the roasting +flame and the masses of billowing smoke would render the inner cave +untenable. Yet, before the bundle of reeds had rolled down to the mass +below, the question had been settled for him. + +A second and a third faggot, each blazing fiercely, and each directed +towards a fresh part of the heap, were flung through the rift. + +"I can't stop all three," thought Jack. "The pile must burn." + +Within a few seconds it was burning in very truth; the fire ran +through the heap of light combustibles with magical power and +swiftness. Scarce had the first bunch of burning reeds fallen, than a +vast scorching flame was leaping up and roaring towards the rift, +while a powerful current of air was drawn through the tunnel and +fanned Jack's face. + +"What's this?" thought Jack; "they reckoned without the draught, I +fancy. It looks as if I shall be no worse off than before. It's very +hot, certainly, but with this rush of air through the tunnel I can +manage all right." + +But he soon found that his enemies had not made any miscalculation. +For five minutes the air rushed fiercely past Jack, fanning the +tremendous flame which leapt from the blazing pile and carrying it +upwards to the rift, then it began to slacken, and the flame, instead +of roaring upwards to a point, began to sink, and spread its wide red +wings abroad in the cave, fluttering from one side to the other. + +Jack looked upwards with a sinking heart: _the rift was closed_. It +had been left open till a terrific fire had burned up, and now it was +blocked, and the whole of the heat and the smoke was pent up in the +cave; and Jack was pent up, too, in this roasting inferno. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE TORTURE BY FIRE. + + +For some time Jack was but little troubled with the smoke. It billowed +up and up, and rolled in huge clouds about the lofty roof. But +gradually the cave filled, and Jack saw that with every moment the +smoke came lower and lower, threatening to fill the cave from the +floor to roof and choke the life out of him. A cloud whirled about him +and was gone again. But it left Jack coughing and half-choked, so +pungent and keen was the whiff which he had drawn into his lungs. + +Thicker and thicker rose the clouds of smoke as the fire burned, for, +cunningly intermingled with the dried tinder of the canes and reeds, +his enemies had flung great bunches of fresh-cut boughs. The green +wood of the latter, roasting and spluttering with sap in the midst of +the roaring fire, threw out vast rolling clouds of choking smoke. + +The freshest air was still at the mouth of the tunnel, and here Jack +crouched, his head as low as possible, for he knew that the last fresh +air would be found nearest to the floor. He was resolved not to go +out. His stubborn British blood was aflame at the thought of being +placed afresh in bonds, and he was ready to face the fiery torture +within rather than creep out and give his enemies the joy of knowing +that he was beaten, and of seeing him surrender. + +Hope, too, was not yet dead in his heart. The heap of blazing +brushwood was at some distance from him, for the rift was at the other +side of the cave. If he could but set his teeth and endure this agony +of fire until the heap had burned out, he would not be forced from his +post. + +But at that instant the fire reached several great faggots of green +palm branches, and fresh clouds of aromatic smoke rolled out still +thicker and faster than before. A swirl of the air currents within the +cave sent a thick billowing mass full on the spot where Jack crouched. +The brave lad felt that he was choking, that his senses were deserting +him, as he drew, involuntarily, the pungent, biting smoke into his +lungs. + +He flung himself on his face, coughed out the smoke he had swallowed, +and caught one refreshing gasp of sweet air blowing up the tunnel. +Then the fresh air was driven back by the huge billow of smoke, and +the heavy clouds settled about Jack. He could not have moved now had +he wished. He was the prey of the thick suffocating smoke, and a swift +merciful unconsciousness fell upon him and put an end to the agonies +he had so nobly endured. + +When Jack came to himself again, the first thing he knew was that he +had failed to keep himself out of the clutch of his enemies. When he +opened his bleared and smarting eyes and looked round, he saw the +dark face of Saya Chone straight before him. The half-caste said +nothing, only grinned in evil joy, and Jack closed his eyes again with +a groan of despair. He felt that he was once more in bonds, though +they were not so close and galling as before. He was dripping wet, and +his eyes pained him cruelly. + +He lay still for a few instants, then pulled himself together, jerked +himself into a sitting position, and looked round boldly, determined +to put the best face possible on the situation, and not give the +half-caste the joy of gloating over an enemy who acknowledged himself +beaten. + +He found he was in the outer cave, and through the tunnel he could see +plainly the glow of the fire still blazing in the inner recess. But no +smoke came this way. Clearly the rift had been opened, and the fire +was pulling up towards the natural vent. Jack looked round and saw +that he was in the midst of a pool of water; he supposed that it had +been flung upon him to bring him to. + +"Well," said Saya Chone at last, "are you not going to thank me for +saving the life you seemed obstinately bent upon throwing away? If I +had not been able to order a couple of fellows, as careless of their +lives as you of yours, to go into the smoke and drag you out, it would +have been all over with you by now." + +Jack made no answer. He did not so much as trouble to look at Saya +Chone. He ignored him entirely, and glanced down at the fetters which +confined his limbs. He found that his ankles were bound together with +light and slender links of steel, a steel ring encircling each ankle, +and similar fetters bound his wrists. At first glance it seemed as if +these light bonds might easily be broken, but Jack gave up that idea +very soon. He saw that they were the work of a very cunning and +skilful craftsman, highly wrought and beautifully tempered, slight in +appearance, but immensely strong. + +A head now came in sight outside. It was the Strangler, and he called +out a few words to Saya Chone. The half-caste had been sitting with +his hand in the breast of his jacket. He now drew it out and showed +that the butt of a heavy revolver had been in his clasp. He pointed +the weapon at Jack's heart. + +"I must beg of you to get up, my lord," he said, in tones of sneering +deference. "Your conveyance awaits you outside the cave." + +When he saw that Jack hesitated to obey, he gave a shrill whistle. A +couple of Kachins at once sprang up at the mouth of the cave. Sooner +than be handled by these evil little ruffians, Jack now got up and +shuffled slowly down the cave, his fetters allowing him to move about +ten inches at a stride. But this, however, did not save him from their +hands. At the mouth of the cave the two Kachins and the Malay seized +upon him and swung him down to the bed of the ravine. Here a strong +pony was waiting, and when Jack's ankles had been freed, he was tossed +astride and the reins put in his hands. + +The half-caste followed him at every step with the revolver, nor did +he put the weapon away until the Strangler had once more locked the +fetters which bound Jack's ankles together. This he did with a small +key, and, as the links of steel were brought under the pony's barrel +from one foot of the prisoner to the other, Jack was securely tethered +to the animal. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE STRONGHOLD OF THE RUBY KING. + + +As soon as Jack was mounted, Saya Chone and the Malay also got to +their saddles, and the party moved off down the ravine. Save for his +fetters, Jack rode as usual, but the two Kachins, one on either side, +held his pony by stout thongs of raw hide, fastened in the bridle. At +his heels trotted the two leaders, and Jack knew that both were well +armed. + +On the journey that followed it is not necessary to dwell, for it was +quite uneventful. They travelled steadily till dusk, when they halted +in a small village where Jack was assigned a hut, and a strict watch +was kept over him at every moment. The next morning the journey was +resumed at earliest dawn, and now they held their way for mile after +mile through wild, gloomy passes between lofty mountains, where no +sign of human life or cultivated fields was to be seen. Hour after +hour they pushed on through this deserted hill country, until, late in +the afternoon, they topped a stony ridge, and Jack gave a sharp +exclamation of surprise. + +Below him the ground fell away steeply to a small and fertile valley +with a river running down its midst, and fields of paddy and plantain +lining the course of the stream. Groves of palmyra, and teak, and +palms were dotted about the scene, and in the midst of the valley rose +a tall house of stone. Instinctively Jack felt that they had reached +their journey's end, and that before him was the goal he had set +himself to win, the stronghold of U Saw, the Ruby King. But how +different was his approach from that he had hoped to make! Instead of +advancing upon it in company of his trusty friends, he was marching in +as a prisoner, fettered hand and foot. + +Jack fixed his eyes eagerly on the great house below as another idea +sprang to his mind. Was his father there? Had his quest been in vain, +and was Thomas Haydon far away from this lonely valley set among the +wild hills? But Jack believed that his father was there; everything +seemed to point to it. Well, he would soon know, one way or the other. + +The path now ran through a native village, whose slender huts of reed +and cane bordered both sides of the narrow way. The people ran to +their doors to gaze upon the passers-by, and Jack knew them for +Kachins. He recognised the short, dark, sturdy forms of the men. +Beside the latter, women in embroidered kilts, with big, queer +head-dresses, and brown, naked, nimble children, came to look upon the +sahib who rode into their valley, the captive of their lord and +master, U Saw. + +The village was passed and a grove of palms was entered. Beyond the +palms the land ran smooth and open to the front of the great strong +house of stone which U Saw had built to keep himself and his treasures +safe. + +The cavalcade halted before a strong gate formed of huge bars and +beams of teak, and in another moment half of the gate was flung open +by a pair of blue-kilted Kachins. Jack's pony was led inside, and the +English lad now found himself in a large courtyard beside the house. +The walls of the courtyard were formed of great logs of teak, and +round them ran rows of thatched huts built against the palisade. +These, as Jack learned afterwards, were used as the lodgings of the +strong body of retainers whom U Saw kept about his person, his +bodyguard. + +Only one small door opened upon the courtyard from the house, and +towards this Jack's pony was led. The Malay unlocked the fetters which +bound Jack's feet, and he was hauled roughly to the ground. + +"March in," said Saya Chone, and pointed to the small, narrow, dark +doorway. Jack went in, staring hard into the dark before him, and +wondering what fate would befall him in this great, lonely house to +which he had been led in so strange a fashion, and through such wild +adventures. He found himself in a small, dusky hall, lighted only by +one tiny window, and that heavily barred with iron. The door was now +closed and bolted behind him, and he was taken up a narrow flight of +tortuous stairs. Then he was conducted along a maze of narrow +passages, being led now and again through doors which Saya Chone +unlocked and carefully locked again after them. The stone walls, the +iron bars which covered every opening, the narrow passages, the locked +doors, all told of the caution of U Saw, he who trusted no one, and +suspected all. + +At last they arrived before a narrow door, heavily banded with iron, +and fastened by a huge bar of teak. Before it squatted a little man in +blue, with a big naked _dah_ across his knees. Saya Chone spoke to him +and it sounded like a password, for the man sprang to his feet and +stepped aside. The great bar of teak was drawn from its staples, and +the door was opened. The Malay thrust Jack into the room, and the door +was at once closed and barred behind him. + +Jack now found himself in a bare stone cell, lighted only by one small +window eight feet or more from the ground. There was nothing in the +place save a small bench in one corner, and he sat down on this and +awaited the next movement of his captors. For full three hours he sat +there, and had begun to wonder whether they had forgotten him, when +the door was suddenly opened and the Strangler appeared, attended by a +couple of the bodyguard. The Malay beckoned to Jack to come forward, +and the latter went. + +He was now led into a large room, where a tall, stout man sat on a +heap of rich cushions, and Jack knew by the deference paid to him that +the latter was U Saw, the Ruby King. The room was lighted by a couple +of large lamps, for the dusk had fallen, and the English lad was led +into the bright light and placed before the Ruby King. + +The latter looked steadily at Jack, and Jack returned the stare with +interest. The Ruby King had a huge, gross face, thick-lipped and +evil-eyed. He was dressed splendidly in a rich embroidered jacket of +pink silk, a silken kilt striped in red and white, and a huge pink +_gaung-baung_ on his head; in the front of his head-dress blazed a +magnificent ruby. + +He looked long and keenly at Jack, and the latter thought that U Saw +was going to speak to him, but the Ruby King said nothing, and at last +waved his hand. Upon this Jack was led aside by the Malay and made to +sit down upon a large, heavy chair near the right-hand wall. All this +was done in perfect silence, and for some minutes Jack sat there +waiting, while U Saw seemed to forget his presence, and rested upon +the pile of cushions with head bent as if in deep thought. + +Suddenly the Strangler, who had been moving to and fro, disappeared +behind Jack's chair. Jack was about to turn his head to keep an eye on +his enemy's movements, when he felt a soft silken band slipped swiftly +over his head and tightened about his shoulders. At the same instant a +couple of attendants flung themselves upon him and held him down +tightly in the chair. + +Jack tried to throw them off and wrench himself free, but his hands +had never been unfettered, and he was easily mastered. In a trice he +found himself securely lashed to the heavy chair, and then felt +another broad band of silk drawn over his mouth. Coolly and +methodically the Strangler gagged him in so skilful a fashion that he +could not utter a sound, though he was able to breathe quite easily. +When both bonds and gag were secure he was released from the grip of +the men who had held him down, and the attendants and the Malay +stepped aside. + +The next movement puzzled Jack beyond measure. A muslin curtain, +running on a light bamboo rod, was drawn before him, thus cutting him +off from the main body of the apartment. With the exception that he +had been firmly seized and held down while the Strangler bound him, +Jack had not been roughly treated, and he was quite free to turn his +head from side to side and mark all that went on. + +In a few moments the Ruby King raised his hand. As if in response to +the signal an attendant struck one deep booming rolling note on a +great gong. Jack looked eagerly to see what would follow. And that +which did follow held him spell-bound with amazement and wonder. + +A door opened and Saya Chone came in. Jack recognised him at once, for +the delicate filmy veil of muslin which hung just before him was so +slight in texture that he could see through it easily and make out all +that went on in the light of the lamps. But the part of the room where +he was a prisoner was unlighted, and the veil served to hide him +sufficiently from anyone standing in the brighter part of the place. +Saya Chone came forward and conversed with U Saw for a few moments, +then a second note was struck upon the resounding gong. + +Again the door opened, and a couple of Kachins came in, leading a man +between them, a tall, thin man with grey hair and pale face. Jack's +heart leapt within him, and he felt suffocating under his gag. Yes, +there was his father, there he was. They had been right in their +suspicions all the time. Thomas Haydon had been carried off by the men +who served the Ruby King. + +Jack's heart swelled within him at sight of that well-known form and +face, and he strained every muscle against his bonds. But he had been +secured too strongly, and his efforts were utterly in vain. He could +only stare and stare at the old familiar figure, and long for the +moment when his gag should be loosed and he could acquaint his father +with his presence. He wondered whether his father would see him +through the curtain, but he felt sure at the next moment that it was +impossible. He was seated in a dusky corner, and his father stood full +in the light of the lamps. + +What an end was this to his quest! He had set out to find his father. +He had found him: they stood within a few yards of each other. But he +had found him a prisoner in cruel and merciless hands which now also +held Jack captive. What an end to all his fine dreams of rescuing his +father! What a mockery of his hopes! As these thoughts thronged +through Jack's mind, Saya Chone began to speak. Jack was at once all +attention to the words of the half-caste. + +"Well, Mr. Haydon," began the latter, "you have now had several days +to know whether you are more inclined to be reasonable. You have only, +you know, to write down on a scrap of paper the bearings of the place +where you found the big ruby, and then you are free to go where you +please." + +There was silence for a moment, then Mr. Haydon replied. How the +well-known tones thrilled Jack through and through as they fell on his +ear! + +"Exactly," said Thomas Haydon, in a tone of quiet but bitter scorn. "I +have only to give up the interests which were confided to my hands, to +prove myself a traitor to those who trusted me, and then you say I may +go. I take leave to doubt the latter statement. In any case, I shall +certainly not do as you wish." + +"You still refuse to disclose the secret of the ruby-mine you found?" + +"I do." + +"It would be better, I think, for you to reconsider that decision," +said the half-caste, in his cold, cruel voice. "There are ways, you +know, of making people speak, however obstinate they may be." + +"You refer to torture, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon, in as cool a +tone as though he were speaking on the most indifferent subject. +"Well, I do not wish to boast, but I hardly think you will get +anything out of me that way." + +"Why, there I am inclined to agree with you," said the half-caste, in +his silkiest tones. "That is to say, so far as applying torture to +yourself personally is concerned. You are a stubborn Englishman, and +that means you will cheerfully die before you give in; is it not so?" + +"Then, if you think it useless to deal with me in such fashion, why +enter upon talk of it?" demanded Mr. Haydon. + +"Oh," said the half-caste, "such a thing may be useful yet. If you +were careless about torture applied to yourself, you might see it in +another light when brought to bear on someone to whom you were +attached?" + +Mr. Haydon gave a scornful laugh. "And where will you find such a +person in this den of thieves?" he asked, drily. + +Upon this reply, Saya Chone and U Saw burst into a great shout of +mocking laughter. They rolled to and fro in their mirth, and the room +rang again with their hideous merriment. Mr. Haydon looked from one to +the other, his brow knitted in puzzled wonder. + +But behind the curtain Jack's heart had sunk very low indeed, and a +light of terror had come into his eyes. Now he saw at a flash why the +half-caste had carried him off, and pursued him so closely and +fiercely, yet without doing him the least harm. It had puzzled Jack a +score of times why Saya Chone had not killed him, and so put an end to +any further trouble, but now he saw the whole plan only too clearly. + +By this time the Ruby King knew the character of Thomas Haydon, and +had learned that neither threats nor force had power to sway him from +his duty in order to save himself. But what if his only son, his boy +Jack, was exposed to a like danger: would that not break down his iron +resolution? + +The terror which had come into Jack's eyes was not for himself, not +for an instant. But he saw at once what the arch-rogues meant to do, +to put pressure upon his father through him. And Jack felt sick at +heart to think that he had won the thing he had longed for, that he +had gained his father's side, and yet he came only as an added +difficulty to a cruel situation. + +"You have a son, I think, Mr. Haydon?" began Saya Chone again, in his +purring tones. + +"How do you know that?" replied Thomas Haydon. + +"Oh, we know many things," replied the half-caste lightly. "We have +even heard of your only son, Jack Haydon." + +Mr. Haydon made no reply. + +"You would, I suppose, be very unwilling to see any harm happen to +him?" + +"Thank God!" cried Thomas Haydon fervently, "that, at any rate, is far +beyond your power. He is safe at home in England." + +Again the mocking laughter burst out in redoubled volume until the +rafters rang again. The Ruby King and Saya Chone enjoyed their mirth +to the full, then the half-caste sprang to his feet, and pointed with +glittering eyes and laughing face to the soft white muslin veil. + +"Look there! Thomas Haydon," he cried, "look there!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +FATHER AND SON. + + +Mr. Haydon turned his calm, steady eyes on the filmy curtain, but he +could see nothing. Then, as he gazed quietly at it, U Saw raised his +hand, and a deep booming note resounded from the gong. The full, +musical trembling of the note still rang through the room when an +unseen hand drew back the curtain, and the light of the lamps fell +full upon Jack. + +Thomas Haydon stood for a moment with the wild, distraught look of one +who sees a sight altogether beyond belief or reason, then he made to +spring forward. But he was chained to the Kachins who stood upon +either side of him, and two more leapt forward from their posts by the +wall to check his movements. And again the mocking laughter of his +enemies filled the room. + +But Thomas Haydon had neither eyes nor ears for them. He could only +stare and stare upon his son as if he found it impossible to believe +the evidence of his own sight. At last he spoke. + +"Jack!" he said in a tone of wonder beyond all wonder, "Jack, is it +you?" + +Jack could not reply, for the gag effectually checked his utterance, +but he nodded, and his eyes spoke for him. + +"My son here," murmured Thomas Haydon again, and a bitter groan broke +from him. He could not restrain it; this last stroke was utterly +beyond all human endurance. When his son had been mentioned by his +unscrupulous enemy, his thoughts had flown thousands and thousands of +miles, far away from the hot, glaring East, with its mysteries and +dangers, to the cool, quiet English meadows amid which lay Rushmere +School, where his only son, as he believed, worked and played in +safety. + +And all the time Jack was within a few yards of him, hidden, a +prisoner, behind the muslin curtain. How he had got there, how he had +fallen into the terrible hands of U Saw, were the most insoluble of +mysteries to the elder man, and he could only stare at his son with a +white and ghastly face, for he knew only too well the character of the +men in whose power they both lay. + +The jeering voice of the half-caste broke out on a high note of +derision. "And is there no one among this den of thieves for whom you +care, Mr. Haydon?" he cried. "If there is not, what an unnatural +parent you must be!" + +A deep guttural chuckle from U Saw echoed this speech. The Ruby King +said never a word from first to last. He sat on his cushions as one +enjoying the play. His gross face was filled with an evil joy, his +small dark cunning eyes twinkled for ever with laughter at the scene +which was enacted before him, but he maintained, except for his +laughter, a perfect silence, and there was something terribly uncanny +and threatening about this. + +"Where has he come from?" asked Thomas Haydon, in a low and troubled +voice. Yes, it was Jack, bound there; he was compelled to believe his +own eyes at last. It was not an hallucination; it was a piece of +dreadful fact, and in it the elder man saw his difficulties trebled +upon the spot. + +"Oh, as to that, he will have plenty of opportunity to tell you +himself in a short time," smiled the half-caste. "We shall shut you up +together to talk things over. In the meantime, another piece of work +demands U Saw's attention." + +He waved his hand and the Kachins led Thomas Haydon aside and placed +him against the farther wall. There was a shuffle of feet at the door, +and three or four natives from the village brought in a man whose +hands were bound behind his back. They were followed by at least a +score more of men and women, and for the next half hour there was a +fearful babel of tongues. As far as Jack could gather it seemed a sort +of trial, and the Ruby King acted as judge. + +The latter uttered never a word, all the questioning being done by +Saya Chone; but at last he opened his mouth and pronounced a verdict. +It was received with cries of joy by some, and howls of grief by one +or two women. Now the bodyguard drove the whole crowd, save the +prisoner, out of the apartment. + +When the uproar of the noisy horde had died away in the narrow +passages, Saya Chone waved to the guards to bring Mr. Haydon forward. + +"Look at this man, Thomas Haydon," said the half-caste in a low, hard +voice, pointing, as he spoke, to the native; "he has killed a +neighbour; he is a murderer. Very good. U Saw has sentenced him to +death. Now I tell you that if you do not give us the information we +want, you have as surely sentenced your son to death as U Saw has +sentenced this man." + +He said no more: there was a far more dreadful threat in his quiet, +cool words than any violence could have shown. He waved his hand once +again, and Mr. Haydon was led away by the guards. + +When he had disappeared, Saya Chone turned to Jack. + +"You have heard what was said," he murmured. "Do not be so foolish as +to think it was spoken as a mere threat. Base all that you do or say +on that statement as a fact. There is no hope for you unless you get +your father to do as we wish." + +He turned away, and the Strangler at once released Jack from the chair +and removed the gag from his mouth. Next Jack was led away by a couple +of guards and conducted once more through a labyrinth of narrow, +winding passages until they halted before a door, where the Malay +unlocked and took off Jack's fetters. The door was opened, and he was +thrust into the room, his limbs once more his own. + +The room in which Jack now found himself was lighted by a small lamp, +and, as he entered, a figure sprang up from a low bench. "Father!" +cried Jack, and at the next moment their hands were clasped together. + +"Jack, Jack," said Mr. Haydon, in a low voice which he strove to keep +steady; "where, where have you come from, and how do you come to be +here?" + +Jack at once plunged into his story. They sat down together on the +bench, and now Mr. Haydon learned the whole history of Jack's +adventures. + +"Your quest, Jack, was well and bravely undertaken," he said, when his +son had finished the story, "but these powerful and cunning rogues +have been one too many for us up to the present." + +"But how were you seized, father?" cried Jack, and Mr. Haydon related +his story in turn. It was short and soon told. He had gone for a walk +along the shore near Brindisi, when, in a lonely spot, he had been +attacked from behind and felled by a severe blow on the skull. This, +however, did not entirely reduce him to unconsciousness, for he had a +distinct recollection of inhaling the smell of some powerful drug +before he became insensible to everything about him. + +He had awakened to consciousness to find himself in a cabin of U Saw's +steam yacht, and here he had been kept the closest of prisoners on the +voyage back to Burmah and up the river. He had been put ashore by +night on some deserted part of the river bank, and then carried, by +unfrequented ways, through the jungle and across the hills to U Saw's +stronghold. In the latter place he had been kept in strict +confinement, and urged by threats to disclose the ruby-mine he had +discovered. Hitherto his enemies had not proceeded to torture, though +he had been daily expecting it. + +"And now they threaten me through you, Jack," concluded his father in +an anxious voice Jack laughed, a quiet, steady, confident laugh. + +"They will threaten in vain, father," he said. "We shan't give way an +inch. What do you think that half-caste said to me last thing before I +was brought here to you?" He related the speech Saya Chone had made to +him, and Mr. Haydon gave an uneasy movement of the shoulders. + +"Yes," he said, "they hope that you will plead with me, Jack, to give +up the secret of the ruby-mine in order to save the pair of us." + +"Not likely, father," returned Jack at once. "Whatever they do to me, +mind you are not to give way on my account. We'll keep a stiff upper +lip and win through this yet." + +His bold, brave words cheered Mr. Haydon, and the latter eyed his +straight, strong lad with pride. But at the same time the look of deep +anxiety never left his face. He had met his enemies boldly enough face +to face with them alone, but to have Jack in their clutches too was a +terrible thing. + +"At any rate," burst out Jack, "it's awfully jolly to be in here with +you, and be able to talk things over. I hardly expected such luck as +this." + +Mr. Haydon made no reply, only smiled. He saw plainly enough why they +had been allowed to share the same cell. His enemies knew that the +more he talked with his frank, brave boy, and looked into those +bright, courageous eyes, the less would he be inclined to let ill come +to Jack, the more powerful would be their hold upon him. + +"And was the ruby that you found such a very fine one?" asked Jack. + +"It was a most wonderful stone, Jack," replied his father. "I have +never seen one like it. Unfortunately a couple of natives, old +ruby-miners, were with me when I found it, and of course I could not +keep their tongues quiet." + +"These fellows went to a tremendous lot of trouble, the rascals, to +follow you up and get possession of it," remarked Jack. + +"They were well repaid, my boy," returned his father. "The stone is +worth a large fortune, and the greed of a man like U Saw for a +precious stone is beyond your understanding, for you do not know the +tribe." + +"And the mine, was that rich?" asked Jack. + +"Very rich," said his father, "but it is best for us not to speak of +these matters, Jack. Walls have ears with a vengeance in these +places." + +Their talk now turned to the channel of their own doings while they +had been separated. For nearly twenty-four hours father and son stayed +together, and were as cheerful as the dark fate hanging over them +allowed. Then towards sunset of the day after Jack's arrival at U +Saw's stronghold, the door of the cell was opened, and the Strangler +appeared at the head of a strong guard. + +By signs he ordered the two prisoners to follow him. As they stepped +forward, they were placed in single file, and the guard closed round +them. Jack and his father were now led into the courtyard, where they +saw that a larger procession was awaiting them. At the head of the +latter was placed the villager who had killed his neighbour. His hands +were bound behind his back, a loop of cord was thrown about his neck, +and he was in charge of a couple of the Kachin bodyguard. + +Jack and his father were placed behind this prisoner, and were now +allowed to walk side by side. + +At the next moment the Ruby King and Saya Chone rode forward, and took +their places at the head of the procession. They moved on, walking +their ponies quietly, and the line of men on foot at once marched +after them. + +Neither Jack nor Mr. Haydon was bound. They were entirely free except +for the Kachins who marched on either side and kept a wary eye on +their movements. + +"After all," thought Jack sadly to himself. "What need is there to +bind us? Suppose I broke loose now and ran? Even if I got away from +these fellows, where could I go to? The whole valley is a prison just +as sure as the stone walls we have left behind for the moment." + +But scarce two minutes had passed before Jack had burst from the guard +and was running at his fleetest. It happened in this way. They filed +out of the courtyard and along a broad, ill-kept, dusty road passing +the village. + +Near the first houses of the village, a woman sprang out of the crowd +which was waiting to see the procession pass. She rushed forward, an +infant in her arms, and flung herself on the ground before the ponies +ridden by the Ruby King and the half-caste. Holding the infant out at +the fullest reach of her arms, she lay in their path, and poured out a +string of loud, supplicating cries. Jack knew not a word she said, but +he understood very well that the wife and child of the doomed man were +before him. + +He looked to see the riders pause upon witnessing this spectacle of +wretched despair. Then, with a start of horror, he saw that they were +intending, in cold-blooded fashion, to trample mother and child +beneath the hoofs of the animals which bore them. The woman had +stretched herself out so that her body was in front of the +half-caste's pony, her infant in front of that of the Ruby King. Saya +Chone's pony was more merciful than the flinty-hearted wretch who +bestrode it. It started back, reared, shied, refused absolutely to +step forward upon the unhappy woman. The Ruby King uttered a brutal +laugh, and urged his own animal on. + +The latter beast went forward willingly, and was within a stride of +placing its fore feet on the little brown, naked body, when Jack gave +a sharp cry of horror and darted forward. Several of the bodyguard +sprang after him, but they might as well have leapt after a deer. Jack +raced forward, flew between the ponies, and caught the child from the +ground. At the same instant three or four of the villagers ran to the +spot, lifted the woman, and dragged her away. One of them took the +child from Jack and put it in her arms. + +Now the guards came up, seized Jack, and hustled him back to his place +in the procession. + +"Well done, Jack," said his father quietly. "You were just in the nick +of time. Another second and U Saw's pony would have trampled the life +out of the poor little mite." + +"Really, he would have done it," breathed Jack incredulously. "Even +after cutting in and picking it up, I can hardly believe it." + +"Oh, he'd have done it, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon drily. "You +will find out, Jack, that these people hold human life very cheaply, +and human suffering cheaper still." + +The Ruby King and the half-caste had taken no notice of Jack's action +save to laugh derisively, and now the procession moved forward once +more. They went about a couple of miles, and halted on the edge of a +steep descent which ran down to a broad swamp. It wanted now about +half an hour to sunset. At the foot of the descent, on the edge of the +swamp, a cross had been raised. Jack's blood ran cold within him. What +awful sight were they now to see? Were these monsters about to crucify +the condemned man? + +[Illustration: THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE HORROR IN THE SWAMP. + + +He breathed more freely when he saw that the men who led the villager +forward had coils of rope in their hands and nothing else. In a trice +the man was bound to the cross, his arms at full length, his body +firmly lashed to the upright. + +The half-caste now beckoned to Jack. + +"Come down the slope," said Saya Chone. "I want you to look at this +man now. You will see him again in the morning. Perhaps you will find +it useful to note the difference." + +Jack was led down the descent and brought face to face with the +native. The English lad saw at once that the man bound to the cross +was stupefied with an extremity of terror. His brown skin was a +frightful ashen shade, his eyes were wide, distended with horror, and +fixed on the swamp, his mouth open, his jaw hanging limp. + +"You will see him again in the morning," repeated the half-caste; "and +you will see, I assure you, another kind of man." + +"Yes," said Jack, "after you have practised your brutal devilries on +him." + +"No, no, oh no," laughed Saya Chone in his soft, cunning tones. "We +shall do no more to him. His whole punishment consists in remaining +here in bonds from sunset to sunrise. Then we shall loose the ropes, +and he will be free." + +"Yes," said Jack, who thought now that he saw daylight, "with every +vein full of the fever and malaria that haunt this swamp." + +"Fever," laughed Saya Chone, "this fellow is absolutely safe against +fever. You could no more give him jungle fever than you could make him +ten feet high. A night here would give you a fever that would kill you +in ten days, never him." + +Jack was puzzled once more, and said nothing. He resolved to ask his +father what it all meant. + +But he soon found that this chance was not to be afforded him. He was +led back up the rise, and placed at some distance from the spot where +his father stood. He saw his father taken down the slope and +confronted with the condemned native, then brought back. At once the +procession was reformed. Jack was placed at the head, his father at +the rear, and they were not allowed to exchange a word. + +Jack's heart sank a little. Did this mean that they were to be +separated? It did. When the great house was once more gained, Jack was +shut up by himself in a room which he had not seen before, and there +he spent the night. + +The sun had been up a couple of hours next morning before Jack heard +the sound of any movement outside his cell. Then there was a rattle +of creaking bolts and the door was flung open. Saya Chone stood in the +doorway with the usual band of blue-kilted and well-armed Kachins. + +He did not speak, only beckoned with his hand, his malicious eyes lit +up with their usual evil grin. Nor did he speak throughout the +subsequent journey when Jack was led over the track he had followed +the night before. Jack looked round for his father, but no sign of Mr. +Haydon was to be seen. The half-caste ambled ahead on a pony, Jack and +four of U Saw's retainers followed behind, and that was the whole of +the party. + +As they approached the edge of the declivity which ran down towards +the swamp, the sound of a loud, measured voice came through the air. + +Saya Chone started, touched his pony with his heel, and cantered +forward. Then he dropped back to his former pace as they cleared a +patch of bamboo and saw the origin of the sound. On the edge of the +slope stood a man dressed something like a monk. His head was close +shaven, and he carried a large yellow parasol through which the +sunlight poured, and made his polished skull shine like gold. He +carried a large basket on a pole slung over his shoulder. + +Jack had seen such a figure before, and Buck had told him all about +it. It was a _pothoodaw_, a man who, without belonging to the order of +regular monks, still leads a life of prayer and pious works. The holy +man had paused on the edge of the slope to recite his prayers, moved +doubtless thereto by the sight of the condemned man below. Now, as the +little procession arrived, he swung up his basket and moved away +without a glance at them. + +Nor, save for Jack, was a glance cast at him. A _pothoodaw_ is a +familiar sight in every corner of the country, and his wanderings from +place to place take him to every nook, however desert or solitary. + +Jack, too, soon had eyes for something beside the holy man. They +reached the edge of the slope. Saya Chone turned with a grin and spoke +to one of the Kachins. The latter at once whipped off his turban, +unrolled it and folded it over Jack's eyes, and so the latter was led +down the slope. + +"Now you can look," said a mocking voice, and the turban was whipped +aside. + +Jack gave a cry of horror. He could not help it. He had meant to +restrain all signs of feeling, but this was too much. He had been +placed so that he stood almost breast to breast with the most dreadful +and grisly horror that the mind of man could conceive. He looked upon +the horrible, dry, shrivelled mummy of something which had been a man. +The shape of the villager hung there in the bonds, but it was a mere +framework of bones, upon which hung wrinkled brown folds of shrivelled +skin. The haunting terror of the vision was beyond all description. + +Jack tried to speak, to ask what had done this fearful thing. But his +dried tongue refused its office; it clung to the roof of his mouth. + +The half-caste at his shoulder now broke into a chuckling laugh. + +"He looks pretty, does he not?" said Saya Chone. "And you see nothing +has happened but what I said. He has been tied here all night." He +was silent for a few moments in order to let the awful sight sink +deeply into Jack's mind, then he went on. "You are puzzled. I can see +it in your face. What has happened to him? I will tell you. You now +see what a man looks like when _every single drop of blood has been +sucked out of his body_." + +The half-caste paused a little, then laughed gaily. "It is having a +better effect on you than I should have hoped for, my young friend. +You look sick with horror. But even through your disgust I see a +glimmer of wonder as to the manner in which it is done. Simply enough, +I assure you. This swamp is famous throughout the valley for the +immense size and virulence of the mosquitoes which breed in it. With +the fall of dusk they pour from its recesses in vast swarms, and +fasten on man or beast or any creature into whose skin they may drive +their stings, and from whose body they may suck its blood. Here has +been a feast royal for them." + +He waved his hand towards the dry, rattling, shrivelled remnants of +humanity, fastened to the cross, and Jack understood the awful, the +sickening cruelty of this exquisite torture. + +"It is a slow death, but terribly sure," went on the half-caste. "As +one gorged horde drop off, be certain that a thousand hungry swarms +hover round, eager to fill the empty places, and taste also of the +feast. Think of it to-day, think of it well." + +He waved his hand and the Kachins marched away up the hill, leading +Jack with them. The road back to the great house was taken in +silence, and Jack was thrust once more into his solitary cell. There +he spent the whole day alone, not seeing even those who thrust his +dish of meat and rice through a small trap in the door. + +The afternoon had worn far on, and he was sitting on his bench deep in +thought. He had striven to keep out of his mind the spectacle he had +seen that morning, but the impression it had produced upon him was one +of such terrible power that it was before his eyes at every moment. +What did it threaten to them, to his father and himself? His mind +recoiled before the idea. + +Suddenly, without a sound, the door of his cell swung back, and there +was a swift rush of naked feet on the floor. Four of the guard were +upon Jack before he could lift a finger, and at the next moment his +hands were bound behind him, and his ankles fastened together with a +rope which permitted him to walk with fair ease, but gave him no +freedom to do aught beside take short steps. Within five minutes again +he was in a procession such as he had walked in the night before. + +In front once more rode Saya Chone and the Ruby King. The latter rode +on a fine white pony, and was attended by a couple of retainers, one +of whom held a huge scarlet umbrella above U Saw's head, and the other +carried his betel-box of solid silver. Jack turned his head, and saw +at first no sign of his father, but when they had gone about half a +mile, he looked back and saw his father's tall figure, conspicuous +among the short, sturdy Kachins who guarded him, among a group now +setting out from the gate. + +This order of the march was kept until they reached the edge of the +slope. Down this Jack was hurried, and now saw a sight which filled +him with the gloomiest of fears. The villager still hung in his bonds, +and two yards in front of the cross to which he was bound stood two +similar crosses, each surrounded with a framework of strong cane. + +Jack stiffened himself for a struggle against the horrible fate which +menaced him, but his struggles were all in vain. His enemies, small +perhaps, but many, and with muscles of iron, had him strung up to the +cross in a trice, and here he was gagged, after he had been bound +securely. + +In a few moments he saw his father bound in like fashion, and then, to +his surprise, he saw a couple of men swiftly and thoroughly cover the +framework of cane around each cross with strong mosquito-netting. + +"What does this mean?" thought Jack. "Are they only putting us here to +terrify us? The mosquitoes cannot get at us through this netting." But +at the next moment he learned that this was but a trick to prolong +their agony, and cause them to endure an extremity of mental suffering +which the villager had never known. Saya Chone, as ever, was the +spokesman of his master's will. + +"You will be safe under these nettings until these cords are pulled," +he said. Jack and Mr. Haydon looked to the ground whither the +half-caste pointed. There they saw a couple of stout cords, one +fastened at the corner of each mosquito-net. + +"A sharp tug at the cord will displace the nets," went on Saya Chone. +"But you will have a chance to save your skins before that is done. In +any case, the first cord will not be pulled until an hour after +sunset. Then," went on the half-caste, addressing himself to Mr. +Haydon, "this is the cord which will be pulled," and he pointed to the +cord fastened to Jack's net. Mr. Haydon ground his teeth. "If you +don't want it pulled," purred Saya Chone softly, "you know what you +have to do, a few words, nothing more. An hour later the other cord +will be pulled, and you will be left for the night. On the other hand, +if you wish for release, you have only to shout that you will tell us, +and a dozen men will rush down with torches and smoking green boughs +to beat aside the mosquitoes, and bring you out in safety. I myself +shall remain under shelter and within earshot." + +Without another word he turned and marched up the slope. The +attendants had already retired, and within a few moments the edge of +the swamp was empty save for the prisoners and the dead villager. + +Jack closed his eyes. He and his father were so placed that straight +before them, almost at arm's length, was the horrible, shrivelled +figure which was so dreadful a pledge of the terrible powers which +lurked within the dismal swamp behind them. + +Jack now heard his father begin to speak. "I see you are gagged, +Jack," said Mr. Haydon. "It is a compliment to your staunchness, my +poor boy, if nothing else. Had they fancied there was the least chance +of your showing the white feather, they would have left you your +powers of speech, that you might beg for release. This is a frightful +position. I have been expecting some cunning device, but this is awful +beyond what I could have dreamed of." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE POTHOODAW. + + +Jack could make no answer. Mr. Haydon now remained silent, and his +brow was knitted in deep thought as he turned their cruel situation +over and over, yet saw no hope of release for his son save in +betraying the secrets of those who employed him, secrets he was in +honour bound not to disclose. + +The sun sank swiftly. Before it had disappeared Jack saw swarms of the +dreaded mosquitoes begin to thicken in the air, like flights of gnats +on a summer evening in England. The swift tropic dark swept over swamp +and hill-side, and almost at once the framework which covered each of +the captives was literally hidden with the vast masses of the venomous +insects, which knew that a fresh prey awaited them within. + +It did not need sight to tell the prisoners that an incalculable +number of their tiny but deadly enemies awaited the moment when the +nets would be drawn aside, the sense of hearing told them only too +clearly. The air was filled with a steady hum caused by the beating of +myriads upon myriads of tiny wings. + +Jack shuddered. He had already been bitten severely by mosquitoes when +they had invaded a camp in their dozens and scores, and he had been +free to defend himself, but what hideous torture would lie in that +moment when they would be exposed to the onslaught of these +innumerable swarms, and be unable to move a finger to disturb them at +their dreadful feast upon the life-blood of their victims. + +Jack and his father had spent half an hour in silence, when a yellow +glow brightened over the swamp, and presently the moon came up and +cast a strong light over the scene. Now Jack saw the mosquitoes. They +hovered in vast clouds around and above the netting, they hung in huge +festoons from every fold, from every corner, from every point of +vantage where foothold could be gained. It had seemed incredible to +him at first that such tiny creatures could drain the body of a man of +every drop of blood, but now that eye and ear together assured him of +the vast number of their swarming myriads, he wondered no longer. + +He was still staring at them when there was a flare on the edge of the +slope above. He glanced up and saw a couple of men in the moonlight. +They bore burning green branches, and waved them to and fro to keep +off the clouds of mosquitoes which danced about them. From the midst +of the smoke came a voice. "In ten minutes more the first hour will +have gone and the first cord will be pulled." + +It was the voice of Saya Chone, and he added no word to that brief +message. He and his attendant withdrew, and the prisoners were left in +silence to stare at the horrible death which now hung with terrible +nearness over the head of Jack. + +Mr. Haydon gave a deep groan. + +"This is too dreadful, Jack," he said, in a low, shaking voice. "I see +they mean it. There can be no possible doubt of that now." Then +suddenly the note of his voice changed. It became tense, vibrating, +eager. "What's that?" he said, and again, "What's that?" and fell +silent. + +Jack turned his head and saw what his father meant. Twenty yards to +their right a large patch of reeds grew on the edge of the swamp. From +the reeds the figure of a man was slowly creeping towards them. +Swathed from head to foot in folds of thick white linen, to defend +himself from the bites of the venomous mosquitoes, the man was working +his way inch by inch along the ground. + +Jack watched the stranger's progress with deep and burning interest. +Surely he came as a friend! The bitterest enemy could not come to make +their situation worse than it was at present. + +With a last swift wriggle the creeping figure was at the foot of the +net which shrouded Jack. The latter looked down and saw that the man +was literally covered from head to foot with masses of the swarming +insects. Then, with wonderful dexterity, the newcomer jerked aside the +insects which were massed upon him, raised the lower edge of the net, +and shot with a swift, sinuous movement inside. + +As he sprang to his feet, his linen wrapper fell aside, and, to his +great astonishment, Jack saw the bald shaven head of the _pothoodaw_ +flash up into the moonlight. Then the holy man smiled, and Jack knew +the cheerful grin. His heart leapt for joy. It was Me Dain, the Burman +guide. Out gleamed a keen knife, half-a-dozen rapid cuts were +delivered, and Jack's bonds, gag and all, hung in shreds about him. +Jack caught a fervent, grateful whisper from the neighbouring +framework. + +"Thank God! a friend, a friend!" Mr. Haydon breathed in a tone of +intense relief. + +"Wait!" breathed Me Dain in Jack's ear, and was gone. The Burman +wrapped himself again in his linen shield, wormed his way across to +the framework where Mr. Haydon was a captive, and cut him free in an +instant. + +"Me Dain!" Jack caught the whisper from his father, and knew that the +latter had recognised his old guide. A few whispered words passed +between the Burman and Mr. Haydon, then the latter whispered across to +his son: "Wrap your coat round your head, Jack, to keep these venomous +little brutes off as much as possible, then follow us." + +Jack whipped off his Norfolk tunic and folded it about his head, +leaving himself a peep-hole to watch the guide. He did as he saw them +do. He dropped to the ground, wriggled under the net, then sprang to +his feet and hurried beside his father, following Me Dain, who led the +way back to the patch of reeds whence he had crept. Skirting the reeds +he raced at full speed along the edge of the swamp, keeping at the +foot of the slope which ran down to the marsh, but heading away from +the spot where Saya Chone and his attendant Kachins were posted. + +The torture of that journey through the swamp was a thing which Jack +never forgot. The mosquitoes worked their way into every crevice of +the tunic he had folded about his head. They crept into his hair, down +his neck, and swarmed over his face through the breathing hole he was +compelled to leave open in front of it. The pain of their sting was +such that he had to set his teeth to keep back a growl of malediction +upon their evil fangs. Every venomous little wretch seemed to carry a +red-hot needle which it thrust joyfully into the soft flesh wherever +it happened to alight. + +At last, after three hundred yards of silent scurry through this +pestilential tract, they struck hard ground, and went at full speed up +the hill-side for open country and purer air. Still following Me Dain, +who pushed on as fast as he could go, Jack and his father plunged into +a bamboo groove, and followed a narrow path. This brought them in a +few minutes to a small clearing, where the Burman paused, and all were +glad of an opportunity to draw breath, and knock off the mosquitoes +which still clung to them. + +Jack sprang forward and seized the guide by the hand. + +"Me Dain," he cried, "wherever have you sprung from to lend us a hand +in this fashion, just in the nick of time?" + +"Ay, ay," said Mr. Haydon, "just at the moment of our hardest trial +and greatest danger. Me Dain, old fellow, we are enormously indebted +to you." + +Father and son shook hands with the Burman and thanked him over and +over again, and Me Dain grinned all over his broad, pleasant face. + +"Better get on," he said, "Saya Chone not far away yet." + +These words recalled the fugitives to a sense of the great danger in +which they stood as long as U Saw's valley still held them, and they +hastened to follow Me Dain, who was now walking briskly forward. +Twenty minutes of swift and silent progress brought them to a native +hut in a little clearing. + +"Here you must stay for a time," said the Burman. + +"But will it be safe, Me Dain?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "Whoever lives +here must belong body and soul to U Saw. We shall be informed upon at +once." + +"No, no," said the Burman emphatically, "not by this woman. She tell +nothing. She help you all she can. She is the wife of the man who was +killed in the swamp. The young sahib save her child. She never forget +that. Oh, no, I settle with her to-night. She keep you safe." + +Mr. Haydon said no more, and all three crept under cover of a patch of +plantains to the shelter of the broad eaves of the thatch of reeds +which covered the dwelling. Here they found that a hole had been made +in the cane walls, and they crept into the house, thus avoiding the +entrance by the door, which faced another house at some little +distance away. + +Inside the place they found no one but the woman and her child. She +came forward and _shekoed_ again and again, and Mr. Haydon, who had a +fair knowledge of the language of the country, spoke to her and +thanked her for the refuge which she offered to them. + +At one end of the cottage there was a rude loft of logs where the +little household had stored their stock of rice and other necessaries +when the time of harvest came. The loft was now partly empty, and at +its farther end there was plenty of room for two men to lie in hiding +behind a row of tall earthen jars in which the paddy was stored after +threshing. + +In this place of safety Me Dain bestowed them, assuring them that no +one ever went to the loft save the woman herself, and that he must be +off at once to show himself at the local monastery in his character of +_pothoodaw_, and so avert all suspicion that he had been concerned in +the escape. + +"The monks give me a room," said Me Dain. "I jump through the window, +and jump back. No one knows then that I leave it. Must be careful. U +Saw and Saya Chone, both bad men, very bad men." + +We must now return to that very bad man Saya Chone, who was also about +to be a very disappointed and furious one. On the stroke of the hour +he reappeared at the brink of the slope, just after the fugitives had +vanished round the patch of reeds. Had they not muffled their heads +they would have heard his call to Mr. Haydon. Had he not been thickly +surrounded by the smoke of the green boughs which partly kept off the +clouds of venomous assailants, he would have seen that the frameworks +were empty in the moonlight. But such an idea as that his victims +could escape never for an instant came into his mind. The whole +neighbourhood was under the thumb of his brutal lord, and he knew that +no one would interfere to save a friend from U Saw's hand, much less a +pair of strangers and foreigners. + +Thrice he shouted his threats and warnings to the empty cages, and he +judged that the silence meant stubborn resolution not to be conquered. +Then, with his own hand, he pulled the cord which should have stripped +the net from Jack. + +"Now the father will give way," thought the half-caste, and strained +his ears to catch a sound of yielding from Thomas Haydon. + +When never a sound was heard, the half-caste played what he thought +would be his trump card. He ordered a Kachin to dart down, and cut the +gag loose from Jack's mouth. Saya Chone counted for certain that the +son's moans of agony would be too much for the father to stand, and +that the latter would give way. But in an instant the nimble blue-kilt +was back, his face full of a surprise beyond description. + +"The white men have gone," he gasped. + +"Gone!" screamed Saya Chone, and he rushed down the slope waving a +smoking bough about his head. A glance at the prisons told him that +the man's words were true, and for a second he stared in stupefied +amazement at the severed bonds before he rushed back up the slope. He +ran at full speed to the place where U Saw was placidly chewing betel +and waiting the upshot of the affair. The Ruby King was fearfully +incensed at the idea that anyone had dared to meddle with the +prisoners, and both he and the half-caste breathed the most furious +threats of torture and death against all concerned in the affair. That +they would re-capture Jack and his father they did not doubt for an +instant. The fugitives must be somewhere in the valley, and within an +hour they had a hundred men threading every path and searching every +corner of the vale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE HIDING-PLACE AND THE THIEF. + + +Jack and his father spent the night safely stowed behind the great +earthen jars on the loft. Stretched out on a heap of soft, dried +grass, they slept and watched in turns, for it was not safe for both +to go to sleep at once. + +At break of day the woman brought them a meal, and they ate and drank, +and Jack gave her a few rupees. A couple of hours after dawn they +heard a movement below and saw a sight which they welcomed gladly. The +loft stood upon a dozen wooden supports raised six or seven feet from +the ground. It had no window, but, upon moving the dried grass aside, +they could peep through the chinks in the floor of logs. Peering +cautiously down, they saw a yellow umbrella, and presently that was +laid aside as the _pothoodaw_ seated himself in shade of the loft and +began busily to recite his prayers. + +When these were ended he sat to all appearance absorbed in profound +meditation. But had anyone been near enough, they would have found +that a busy whispered conversation was going on between the +_pothoodaw_ and those hidden in the loft above his head. + +For half an hour the holy man sat there, then went his way. But in +that time Jack and his father had learned much of deep interest to +them. Me Dain told them that Buck and Jim Dent were now camped in a +lonely place among the hills near upon twenty miles away, awaiting the +Burman's return. The latter had been sent in disguise to U Saw's +village to pick up what information he could, and had only just +arrived when Jack saw him on the edge of the slope above the swamp. He +told them he would stay in the neighbourhood and watch for a +favourable moment to make a start for the camp where their friends +awaited them. + +For two days the fugitives lay in hiding under the care of the native +woman and in perfect safety. They proved once more the truth of the +old adage that "the nearer to danger the nearer to safety." U Saw and +Saya Chone urged the pursuit with the most savage eagerness. They +searched every corner of the great swamp, every cane-brake, every +patch of forest, every nook, and every corner. They had a cordon of +sentinels drawn round the valley, patrolling day and night, so that no +one could slip through their hands. But it never occurred to them for +an instant to search a cottage lying almost beneath the walls of the +Ruby King's stronghold, a hut so slight that it seemed incapable of +concealing anything. + +Another piece of luck greatly befriended them. + +On the day that they were tied up at the edge of the swamp, one of U +Saw's retainers had been cruelly flogged for some misdemeanour. The +man had deserted the same night, and was never heard of again. The +idea at once got abroad that it was he who had released the prisoners +in order to spite the Ruby King, and had guided them out of the +country. + +Then, on the third night, the luck of the Haydons came to an end, and +their hiding-place was hit upon in a very odd fashion, a fashion which +could not have been foreseen or guarded against. It was about +midnight, and Jack had the watch, for one or other stood on guard all +the time. He sat with his back against a great post which ran from +ground to ridge-pole, and, without the least warning, he felt that it +was shaking very slightly. + +In an instant Jack was on the alert. He could not hear the faintest +sound, but the post still trembled, and Jack felt certain that +something or someone was climbing up it. In a few moments he was +certain of this, for he heard faint rustlings on the reed roof as if +someone was moving about. He stretched out his hand and shook his +father gently. Mr. Haydon woke at once. He made no sound, only shook +Jack's arm in return to let his son know that he was on the alert. + +The rustling on the roof grew a little louder. The thatch was being +torn aside, but so cautiously, so cleverly, that the two watching +below could only catch the sound by listening intently. Suddenly the +stars flashed upon them. A hole had already been made above them, and +in this hole they saw the head of a native against the sky. + +They remained perfectly still and silent, and watched the hole grow. +Silently, deftly, the midnight marauder plucked handful after handful +of the reed thatch away and enlarged the opening. Both of those below +who watched him, had grasped by this time what it all meant. This was +no man in the pay of U Saw, who suspected a hiding-place; it was just +a common thief, pure and simple, who had an eye to nothing save the +widow's paddy. Believing that she was alone and defenceless in the +house, he had come to plunder her loft. + +But, whatever his motive, the risk to the Haydons remained the same. +In another moment he would drop among them and infallibly discover +their presence. Then his outcries would arouse the village and their +capture would be certain. + +Very, very slowly the thief slipped his legs in at the hole, which was +now big enough to admit him, and began to slide downwards. As Jack +watched the rogue gently drop upon them, he felt for a second his +father's hand laid upon his throat, and he understood; the man was to +be seized and choked into silence; nothing else remained for them to +do. + +Inch by inch the rascal slipped down. So cunning was he that he made +less noise than a mouse moving among the dried grass, and, without +doubt, he thought that he was carrying out his raid finely, and would +make the widow's store of rice smart for it. + +The thief loosed his hold upon the rafter of the roof by which he +hung, and his long, slender, naked body, bare but for his waist-cloth, +dropped as a great snake might drop between Jack and his father. Mr. +Haydon made one clutch, and closed his fingers in a tremendous +throttling grip about the rogue's neck. Jack caught him by the arms. + +A most extraordinary struggle followed. The fellow was like an eel, +and it proved a task of the greatest difficulty to hold him and keep +him from getting loose and raising a disturbance. He was like an eel +not only in his marvellous agility, his twists, his feints, his +wriggling, but in his actual bodily slipperiness. The cunning rascal +had smeared his naked body from head to foot with oil, so that, if +seized, he could the more easily wriggle out of the hands of his +captors. + +How clever a device this was Jack learned to his great surprise. The +arms he seized were whipped out of his clutch as if he was trying to +lay hold of quicksilver. He grabbed something which proved to be a +leg. A swift jerk, and his fingers slipped off the greasy limb. +Finally he settled the matter by throwing both arms round the slim, +bare waist, and closing upon the rogue with a bear's hug which drove +the breath out of the thief's body. + +Together they threw the man upon the dried grass, and Mr. Haydon, who +had made his hold good by locking his fingers about the fellow's +windpipe, now eased his grip a little so that the man could breathe. + +Suddenly a light flashed upon this scene of fierce but silent +struggle. The woman herself had been aroused from her couch in the +room below, had lighted a small lamp, and climbed the rude steps to +the loft. + +Mr. Haydon turned his head, saw her, and snapped out a single word. +She set down her lamp, disappeared, and was back in an instant with a +long strip of cloth in her hand. Mr. Haydon took this, and soon +whipped a gag round the mouth of the intruder, while Jack held him +down. In response to another whispered request of Mr. Haydon's, the +woman fetched a length of cord, and in two minutes the thief was bound +hand and foot. Then father and son got up and stood looking down at +their captive, who stared sullenly up at them from his dark eyes. + +"If this isn't a confounded fix," murmured Mr. Haydon. "Why should +this thieving rogue choose us to drop in on, of all people?" + +"The unprotected house drew him, I expect," replied Jack. + +"Ah, true," returned his father. "I wonder, though, if he had any +accomplices." + +He turned and spoke to the woman, and she at once blew out the lamp. + +"The light in any case is dangerous as likely to attract attention," +whispered Mr. Haydon. "Now, listen." + +They listened intently for some time, but there was not the faintest +sound of any movement in the neighbourhood. + +"I hope to goodness this rascal was working by himself," went on Mr. +Haydon, "and no one knew what he was about. We don't want a companion +peering in to see what has happened to him." + +[Illustration: THE MIDNIGHT THIEF.] + +"What under the sun are we going to do with him, father?" whispered +Jack. + +"We must leave him tied up here and run for it," replied Mr. Haydon. +"I see nothing else that we can do." + +"Nor I," replied Jack; "and the sooner we march the better. We don't +know that there was not someone outside to help him carry off the +spoil, and the accomplice may have learned of our presence." + +"You are right, Jack," said his father. + +"But there is Me Dain, we must pick him up," pursued Jack. "Without +him we do not know where to strike. How can we get hold of him?" + +"The woman will be of service there," said his father. "She is our +only hope." + +He spoke with the native woman for a few moments, then gave a whistle +of satisfaction below his breath. + +"She knows where he is lodging, and thinks she can rouse him without +disturbing anyone else," whispered Mr. Haydon; "at any rate, she is +going to try." + +The woman shuffled down the steps, and was gone in an instant. + +"We may as well go down and be ready for a move," murmured Mr. Haydon, +"but we'll try this chap's knots first." + +They examined the bound thief, and made certain that he could not +easily shuffle out of his bonds, then they went down to the main room +of the hut and posted themselves near the door. + +The time they waited seemed never-ending. In reality it was not more +than twenty minutes. But when they feared that every sound would see +an alarm raised upon them and their escape hopelessly cut off, every +minute seemed an hour. + +Jack had his eye at a huge crack in the door, and to his immense +relief he made out at last a couple of figures approaching the house +under the dim shade of the trees. + +"Here they are," he breathed. "She's brought it off all right. I can +make out Me Dain." + +Two seconds later the Burman shot into the hut with a stealthy, +noiseless glide. + +"Come on," he said. "Not stop at all. She tell me everything." + +Away they went at once, Me Dain leading the way, with Jack and his +father close behind. The Burman dodged round the corner of the hut, +and struck at once into a hard well-trodden path which was at once +swallowed up in the thick shade of a close-set grove of bamboos. It +was a path leading to a pagoda much frequented by the villagers, and +would show no sign by which they might be tracked on the morrow. Me +Dain had made himself familiar with the ins and outs of the place, and +he marched forward with a swift and assured step. Luckily, the hut +stood right on the outskirts of the village, and in a few moments they +were out of sight of any house, and when they turned aside from the +path to the pagoda they soon left behind all sign of human presence. + +As they crossed a little clearing, Jack thought he heard a soft +footfall in their rear. He turned, and saw, to his surprise, that the +native woman was a short distance behind them, with her child in her +arms. + +"Why," said Jack, "the woman of the hut is following us." + +"Yes," replied Me Dain. "She must come, sahib. If U Saw catch her, he +burn her alive for hiding you." + +"Likely enough, the unspeakable brute," murmured Mr. Haydon. "We must +put the poor woman in a place of safety, Me Dain. We owe her a great +deal." + +"She not want to stop in that place, anyhow, sahib," replied the +Burman. "She belong to a village over the hills. She want to go back, +now her husband is dead." + +"Oh, very good," said Mr. Haydon. "We'll put her right if we have the +chance." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack. "She's been a good staunch friend to us, the +same as you, Me Dain." + +"Very true, Jack," said Mr. Haydon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE FLIGHT FROM THE VALLEY. + + +They now went a couple of miles in silence, keeping a sharp look-out +on every hand. But they gained the foot of the hills which encircled +the valley without seeing or hearing anything which might promise +danger. + +With Me Dain still in the van, they climbed steadily up a steep slope +and over a rocky saddle between two peaks which lifted sharp points +against the starry sky. + +As they gained the saddle, Jack whispered sharply: "Stop, Me Dain, +what's this? I smell something." + +"Me too," said the Burman, snuffing cautiously. "There is a fire +somewhere ahead." + +"A fire," said Mr. Haydon. "We must take care. Who have lighted it, +and what are they doing in a lonely spot like this?" + +A dozen steps again and the questions were answered. They cleared a +little ridge and saw, two or three hundred yards ahead, a great +glowing patch of red where a big fire blazed up, and figures moved to +and fro about it. + +"A watch-fire," said Jack. "We'd better dodge back. Luckily they're up +wind." + +The fugitives retreated until the fire was hidden from their view by a +great rock, then put their heads closely together to whisper to each +other. + +"Watchmen," said Me Dain; "they are watchmen keeping guard over the +path which runs out of the valley towards the hills." + +"Then those cunning villains have set a watch over every road," +murmured Mr. Haydon. "Do you know of any way to get out without +following a path, Me Dain, any way by which we can clamber over the +hills?" + +"No, sahib, I do not," replied the Burman; "but here is the woman who +has lived ten years in the valley. I will ask her." + +For a couple of minutes Me Dain and the native woman held a whispered +conversation, then the Burman breathed a deep sigh of relief. + +"She can take us out of the valley, sahibs. She can lead us by a way, +very rough and hard to follow, but very little used, where they would +not trouble to set a guard. But we cannot follow it in the darkness. +She will take us to the mouth of the pass, and there we must wait for +daylight." + +"Good, good," said Jack in a cheerful whisper, "we'll dodge these +fellows after all. What luck that the woman marched with us!" + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a fierce yelping and +snarling broke out not forty yards away, and the sound swiftly +approached them. + +"Confound it all, a dog, a dog!" growled Mr. Haydon. + +In another instant the animal was leaping and bounding within two or +three yards of them, snarling savagely, and then making the hill-side +ring with its piercing barks. It belonged to one of the guards, and +had been prowling about in search of food when it caught the scent of +the fugitives. + +"This way, this way, sahibs," cried Me Dain in low, eager tones. +"Quick, quick, the men sure to come to see why the dog make a noise." + +"Sure to, for a certainty," groaned Mr. Haydon. "Well, we must run for +it." + +Away they hurried as fast as the darkness would permit, and the +wretched cur hung on their heels, yelping and barking without pause, +and thus guiding the guards straight to their prey. + +"We must stop this brute's mouth or we are utterly done for," said +Jack. At that instant he stumbled over a large stone. He bent, picked +it up, and turned round. Four or five yards behind them, and plainly +to be marked by its eyes shining green in the darkness, was the dog, +which, by its mere power of drawing enemies upon them, was, at the +moment, the most terrible enemy of all. + +For a second Jack hung on his aim, the heavy stone poised high in his +right hand. Then he hurled it with all his force. Crash! He heard the +missile strike the brute with a heavy thud. The dog gave one last +frightful yelp of pain, then dropped and lay silent Whether the beast +was dead or only stunned Jack did not know, nor did he care. He knew +that he had silenced the miserable cur, and that was all he wished. + +Enough harm had been done already. A bunch of dancing lights now shot +into view, and he saw them borne swiftly on. The watchmen, carrying +torches, were running to the spot where the dog had given the alarm. + +Jack now caught up his friends with a few swift strides, and all the +party hurried on, the woman leading the way and guiding them. + +"Well done, Jack," murmured his father. "Well done, my lad. If you +hadn't put a stop to that brute's yelping, he'd have brought those +fellows on us as straight as they could run. Now they've got to look +for us in the dark, and that's a very different affair." + +"Do you think they'll pick up our trail from the spot where they find +the dog?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, no," said Mr. Haydon, "not easily. The ground is hard, and +running a line by torchlight is a very different thing from running it +by daylight. I hope to goodness we can make good headway before the +dawn, for with the first peep of day they'll be after us as fast as +they can lay foot to ground." + +At this moment both looked back and saw the plump of torches come to a +stand. The watchmen had reached the spot where Jack had struck down +the dog, and, through the silence of the night, the eager, excited +voices of the Kachins could plainly be heard as they debated hotly +about the dog's fate, and what it meant. + +Then the bunch of lights scattered and began to flicker here and +there. The guards were looking for the trail of those who had struck +down the dog. On and on ran the fugitives, and soon Jack saw that his +father had been right about the difficulties of tracking by +torchlight. The points of fire behind them became more and more +scattered, and not one came on or followed them. Then they turned the +shoulder of a hill, and all was darkness and silence once more. + +It wanted an hour of daylight when they came to the mouth of the pass +by which they were to escape through the ring of hills which encircled +the valley. + +"Must wait now," said Me Dain. "She say no man can go through the pass +unless he can see the way." + +"Are we to lose time, Me Dain?" said Jack. "Can't we creep on slowly +and make a little headway?" + +The Burman talked again to the woman, but she was most emphatic in +declaring that nothing could be done until the day broke; so they +crouched in silence under lee of a great boulder until the first faint +bars of light began to show in the east. + +As soon as it was possible to see a yard or so before them the march +began. The woman led the way, with her sleeping child in her arms, Me +Dain followed her closely, and Jack and his father brought up the +rear. + +They soon saw why daylight had been needed for the task of escaping +from the valley by this road. Their way lay through a narrow pass +which ran through a deep cleft of the mountains, a cleft which seemed +as though it had been carved out by a blow of a Titanic axe. There +was scarcely a yard of the narrow path upon which a step could be +taken smoothly and easily. For ages upon ages the forces of nature had +been tearing huge boulders and slices of rock from the frowning +heights above, and toppling them into this crevice between the +mountains. Thus the way was littered with huge stones, over which they +climbed, between which they threaded their way, down which they often +slid and scrambled as best they could. + +For some hours they toiled steadily along this wild, rocky gorge, then +a halt was called to rest and breathe. The native woman, a lithe, +nimble creature, was as little discomposed by the hard, rough march as +any of them, although she carried her child, nor would she allow +anyone to help her with her burden. + +Their breathing space was but short. They had halted on a ridge which +commanded a big stretch of the country they had crossed. Jack was +seated on the ground, with his back to the wall of rock behind them. +Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He looked steadily for a moment down +the pass, then he said quietly, "We are pursued." + +Mr. Haydon had stretched himself at full length on the ground to rest. +Hearing those words from his son, he leapt also to his feet and looked +eagerly in the direction to which Jack's outstretched finger was +pointed. Far away a patch of the pass lay in sunlight. For the most +part the narrow cleft through the hills lay in gloomy shadow of the +precipices which bordered it on either hand, but the climbing sun +shot pencils of light here and there into the deep rift. Across one of +these sunny patches a line of tiny figures was streaming. Only for a +moment were they visible. They crossed the field of light, then +vanished into the huddle of rocks which littered the foot of the pass. + +"Fifteen," said Jack, as the last of them disappeared. + +Mr. Haydon whistled sharply and nodded. + +"We've travelled fast, Jack," said he, with a troubled brow, "but +these hard-bitten, wiry, little mountaineers have travelled faster. We +must put our best foot foremost. It will be fatal to be caught in this +narrow gully between the rocks. They will get round us and rush us +from all sides at once." + +"I thought we'd got a much better start than this," said Jack. + +"So did I," replied his father, "but it has turned out otherwise." + +Me Dain's words were short but to the point. + +"Kachins!" he cried. "Come on," and pushed ahead with the woman, who +was off like a deer at the first hint of danger. + +"How far to the end of the pass, Me Dain?" called Mr. Haydon. + +"Not more than two miles, sahib," replied the Burman. + +"Good," said Jack, "if we can only clear the pass we may find some +means of throwing them off. In the pass they have us tight between the +walls." + +"That's it, Jack," returned his father, and then they hurried over the +wild broken track in silence. + +Half a mile farther on Jack pointed forward. "Hallo!" he said, +"here's another of those roads built along the precipice. I hope it +will be a bit sounder than the last." + +In another moment they arrived at a stretch of the path where the road +was carried in mid-air over a deep chasm in the bed of the pass. They +had already passed two such places, and at each point the road was +constructed in the same manner. Holes had been cut horizontally in the +sheer face of the precipice and huge beams driven into them. About six +feet of each beam was left projecting from the hole, and upon these +outstanding bars, smaller beams were laid parallel to the face of the +rock. The earth had been heaped on all, and the result was a narrow +road running along the cliff like a shelf. + +The last they had passed had been very rotten, and Me Dain had gone +through one hole up to his arm-pits. He had only been saved from a +fall into the yawning gulf below by the promptness of Jack, who had +flung himself on his knees and whipped his hands under the Burman's +arms, and held him up. Warned by this misadventure, they moved slowly +and carefully along the narrow track which now lay before them. + +"Take care, take care," said Mr. Haydon, "this road is worse than the +others. We must go in single file. These beams will not take any great +weight." + +They spread themselves out in a line, with a yard or more between each +person, and went gingerly forward. + +The truth was, that hundreds of years before, when some native ruler +had gone to immense trouble and labour to build these roads, the pass +had been an important highway. But a tremendous land-slide had blocked +a portion of the pass, and swept away a number of the wooden roads, +and the way had fallen into disuse. Since then the vast beams of teak +which formed the road-bed had been slowly crumbling into decay, and +many were very insecure. + +As Jack brought up the rear of the little procession, he kept his eyes +fixed on the road at his feet, and this for two reasons. One, to avoid +the rotten places, and the other, because to look around from a +roadway six feet wide into the yawning gulf which gaped beside him was +very dizzying. + +Suddenly he heard a scream from the native woman who guided them. He +looked ahead at once, but could not see her. The little procession was +now winding its way round an acute angle of the cliff about which the +road had bent sharply. The woman was out of sight; Me Dain was +disappearing. Mr. Haydon quickened his steps, and Jack hurried on too. +What had that scream meant? It had not been loud, but low and full of +awful terror. What lay beyond the angle? + +Jack turned the corner and saw, and his brown face blanched as he saw +the frightful corner into which circumstances had driven them. Ten +yards beyond the angle, the road ended abruptly, broken short off. +Whether the beams had given way and fallen into the chasm, or whether +an avalanche of rocks had beaten the road into ruins, they knew not, +nor did it matter. What mattered was this, that fifty yards beyond +them the road had again joined the solid bed of the pass, and that now +along that fifty yards nothing was left save here and there a broken +stump of teak standing out from the face of the precipice. Nothing +without wings could pass over the wide space where the road had been +stripped from the cliff. + +For a moment no one could speak. They could only stare aghast at the +gulf beside and before them, at the little strip of road broken off +short and square at their feet. How were they to pass this frightful, +yawning abyss? + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +PENNED IN THE PASS. + + +"What's to be done now, father," said Jack in a low, quick voice; "the +road's clean gone. We're trapped." + +Both stepped forward and looked over the edge of the sheer descent +where the road ended. A broad torrent foamed along fifty feet below. +The side of the precipice fell away to the stream as smooth as a wall. +It rose above them just as smooth. No way up or down. They saw that in +an instant. + +"Better go back and try another way," said Mr. Haydon. "Ask her, Me +Dain." + +A few swift words passed between the Burman and the native woman. Then +the guide shook his head soberly. There was no other way that she knew +of. + +Jack stepped back to the angle and peered carefully round it. "The +Kachins are coming," he said. + +The shelf-road had risen as it ran along the precipice, and from this +point he could see a long way down the pass. He saw the bunch of +pursuers sweep into sight and race up the pass. His father joined him +at once. + +"They would see us now if we went back," said Mr. Haydon. "What on +earth are we to do, Jack?" + +Jack knit his brows in perplexity, but made no answer. He could not +see what to answer. Behind them a band of savage and determined +enemies; before them a gulf over which none but a bird could pass. + +"We're in a frightful fix," he murmured at last. + +"Frightful," rejoined his father. "I give you my word that I see no +way out." + +"Nor I, father," said Jack. "It seems to me that all we can do is to +try to hold them off at this corner." + +"But how?" asked Mr. Haydon. + +"The road's fearfully rotten just at the bend," said Jack. "I think we +could break it down pretty easily. It trembled and shook as I passed +over it." + +"I see," returned his father, "break the road down and keep them from +rushing us. But what of ourselves? How will it advantage us to be +isolated on a patch of road, stuck against the face of the cliff like +a swallow's nest against a wall?" + +"Frankly, I don't know, father," replied Jack. "I simply put that +forward as the only means I can see of gaining a slight respite. +Otherwise they will be among us and cut our throats in short order." + +"Or make us captives, which would be a long sight worse," said Mr. +Haydon. "Well, Jack, we'll give ourselves an hour or two longer to +look at the sun. Down goes the road!" + +The three men sprang to the task at once. First, with their hands, +they scraped away the earth, which was very thin on the face of many +of the beams. When this was removed, there was exposed to sight the +flooring of small beams laid lengthways across the big beams which +jutted from the rock. From this flooring each selected the soundest +stick he could find. + +Jack was lucky in dropping across a bit of teak in capital +preservation, a bar eight feet long, four inches square, and as hard +as iron. With this he began to batter at the rotten patch of roadway +where the angle of the cliff was turned, and a few strokes on the +rotten timbers served to tumble them headlong into the raging torrent +below. His father and Me Dain were hard at work beside him, and in a +very few minutes they had broken away the softest part of the road, +leaving a ragged gap fifteen feet wide, just at the turn. + +They made the last strokes at the outer side in the very face of their +enemies. When they withdrew to the shelter of the inner angle, the +racing Kachins were not a hundred yards away. In another moment the +fugitives heard their pursuers gather close at hand. The little men in +blue were now only a few yards away, clustered about the farther edge +of the gap, and chattering to each other in a very excited fashion. + +Me Dain listened intently. "They make a bridge," he whispered. + +"Ay, ay," returned Mr. Haydon. "Drop a few sticks across and come at +us." + +Jack gripped his stout bar of teak as a plan flashed into his mind. He +crept forward inch by inch until he was on the verge of the gap they +had torn in the road. Yet all the time a friendly rib of rock at the +projecting angle of the precipice protected him from the long +iron-barrelled muzzle-loaders carried by U Saw's retainers. + +The expert hands of the Kachins made short work of tearing up a number +of small beams. Jack heard them dragging the timbers forward, and he +poised his bar. A beam was flung across, and a second almost at once +fell beside it. Out darted Jack's bar, and both were hurled into the +chasm. + +The Kachins gave a yell of anger, and threw the next beam across at +the outer angle, as far as possible from the face of the cliff. But +Jack could just reach it, and that, too, he thrust into space. Again +and again they tried to make for themselves a footbridge by which the +gap could be crossed, but every time Jack's ready bar foiled their +purpose completely. There was a still louder yell of anger from the +savage little men as the last beam they had torn up was hurled from +its place. Then for a few moments there was a respite. The fugitives +could hear them draw off to a short distance and hold a conference in +low murmurs. Jack now looked round at his companions. His father and +Me Dain were close behind him. The native woman, her child closely +clasped to her breast, was watching his every movement, her face +filled with mingled feelings of fear and hope. + +"Well done, Jack!" murmured his father. "You've been one too many for +them at that game." + +The Burman now crept forward, and thrust his head as far as he dared +round the angle. The voices of the Kachins had risen in eager debate, +and many of their words could be caught. Me Dain listened intently. In +a few moments he turned his head, and there was a very puzzled look on +his face. + +"They are--they are," he began, then stopped. Clearly his English +could not bear him out this time. He said a few words in Burmese to +Mr. Haydon. + +"They are casting lots," said the latter to Jack. + +"What for, I wonder?" said Jack. "Seems a queer thing." + +"They're a queer little crew," returned his father. "As savage and +blood-thirsty as so many ferrets. We shall soon see." + +Within five minutes they did see, and the event proved how desperate +an enemy they had to deal with. + +Me Dain had retired, and Jack had once more taken up his place beside +the gap, his bar in his hands, and his ears strained to catch the +faintest sound made by those who beleaguered the little party. + +Lucky for them was it that he kept so close a watch. For there was a +sudden patter of feet beyond the gap, and then a figure with flying +kilt, and fierce, dark face flashed into sight. Upon this Kachin had +the lot fallen to leap the gap and lead an attack on the fugitives. +Had not Jack's bar been ready, the fiery mountaineer would have been +among them, with his gleaming _dah_ poised for the stroke. + +But even as he landed, his splendid bound carrying him a couple of +feet over the edge, the heavy bar shot out and caught him a tremendous +butting blow, full in the chest. He reeled, staggered, and his _dah_ +flew from his hands, as he made a frantic clutch at the bar. For a +second he struggled to make his foothold good on the brink of the +abyss, but failed. He dropped back and vanished into the gulf without +a sound. + +Jack recovered his bar, and waited with a stern, grim face for the +next attack. It was a life and death struggle now, and it was his duty +to guard the gap. Mr. Haydon caught up the _dah_ which had flown from +the hand of the Kachin, and swung it with a deep guttural sound of +satisfaction. Me Dain had his great knife in his hand. + +For some time there was complete silence among their enemies. The +terrible fall of the man who had been chosen by lot to lead the way, +seemed to teach them a little caution. But it had not the smallest +effect in the direction of quelling their desire to come to close +quarters with the fugitives. The Kachin is utterly too careless of +human life, whether his own or another's, for that. + +Half an hour passed before a fresh assault was made. The minutes +dragged by with horrible slowness to those who awaited their fate on +the isolated patch of ledge. + +Then, with no more warning of their approach than the patter of naked +feet on the earthen path, a second assault was made in the same +fashion. Again a Kachin leapt into sight, but farther out, and so more +out of reach of the bar. His hands were empty, too, and as Jack +stepped forward and thrust at him, he clutched the end of the bar. +This he did just as he alighted, and, dropping on his feet as nimbly +as a cat, he strove to turn the bar aside. Swift upon his heels three +more Kachins came, clearing the gulf and landing in safety, while +their comrade and Jack struggled for mastery of the bar. + +Upon the instant the tiny ledge was filled with the fury of a +desperate combat. Mr. Haydon sprang out and cut down the second +Kachin, as he ran forward to strike at Jack with his heavy weapon. The +third attacked the Burman, and the fourth closed with Mr. Haydon, +their heavy swords clashing together as they slashed fiercely at each +other. + +Jack had no eyes for any but his own enemy. The Kachin, perched as he +was on the very brink of a horrible abyss, fought as coolly as +possible to master the bar and avoid the swift thrusts by which at +every second Jack threatened to drive him over the edge. + +Suddenly the Kachin gave way and dropped flat. Jack thought his enemy +was disposed of, but the shifty mountaineer had only fallen along the +lip of the gulf to dodge the powerful strokes delivered by the English +lad. With a swift movement the Kachin rolled under the bar, and then +was up like lightning and rushing on Jack, a long dagger, plucked from +his girdle, in his hand. + +Jack had no weapon but his fists, but with these he sprang to meet the +savage, blue-kilted figure. Taking advantage of his longer reach, he +let fly with his right fist. The Kachin was clearly no boxer, for +though he raised his left arm, Jack's fist went straight through the +feeble guard and landed full between his opponent's eyes. This shook +the Kachin so much that the vicious knife-thrust he launched went wide +of its mark, and at the next moment Jack closed with him and tried to +wrench the knife from his grasp. + +But though the Kachin was no boxer, he was a wrestler of uncommon +power and skill, and Jack felt the little man seize upon him with an +iron clutch. To and fro they swung on the horrible, dizzying edge, +each straining every nerve and muscle to free himself from his enemy's +clutch and fling his opponent into the torrent which roared and foamed +far below. + +Locked in this clinging embrace, they stumbled and fell headlong, +still bound together by that straining clutch. They were now actually +hanging with heads over the brink of the gulf, and the uproar of the +rushing waters below sounded loud in Jack's ears. Suddenly he felt +that they were both going over, slowly but steadily. The Kachin was no +longer trying to master his foe. So that his enemy went, he was +willing to fall with him. He was now driving his heels into the +roadway, and, with all the force of the iron muscles packed in his +compact body, was trying to force himself and Jack over the brink. + +Before Jack had mastered his meaning, the pair were head and shoulders +clear of the last beam, and the Kachin was working his way outwards +and downwards, inch by inch. Jack made a terrific effort and hurled +himself backwards. He gained a few of the lost inches, and felt his +shoulders against the edge of the beam. Getting a purchase, he strove +to raise himself and fling the Kachin off. In vain. The arms were +closed around him in a powerful grip, the savage face within a few +inches of his own was working convulsively with hate and rage, and the +Kachin now was blind to everything save the desire of destroying the +white man. + +Another twist and turn in the desperate life-and-death wrestle, and +Jack's face was turned towards the opposite side of the gulf. But this +was only to show him that a new danger hung over him with fearful +menace. He looked straight down a gun-barrel. On the farther brink +knelt one of his enemies, a long-barrelled muzzle-loader in his hands. +He was leaning across with the evident purpose of firing a heavy iron +bullet into Jack's brain. Yet, though beset with death on every hand, +Jack struggled on gamely. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +HOW THEY MADE A ROPE. + + +"He may miss," muttered the plucky English lad to himself. "Anyhow, +I'm not going to let this chap chuck me over here if I can help it." + +At this moment an unexpected diversion was made in his favour. The +native woman had crouched stolidly in rear of the combat, until she +saw the Kachin about to empty his weapon into his English foe. Now she +rose swiftly to her feet, a heavy stone in her right hand. Just as the +Kachin was crooking his finger on the trigger she hurled it with all +her force. + +It proved the luckiest of shots. The missile struck the stooping man +square on the top of his head and caused him to start violently. As he +did so the jet of smoke and flame spurted from the long barrel and the +bullet sped. But not in the direction he had intended. The muzzle of +the piece was jerked a foot aside, and the wrestler received the +charge full in his body. He gave a convulsive start, then his arm fell +limp, and Jack was free. + +Up he sprang, aflame to see what was happening with his father and Me +Dain. Long as his own struggle had seemed, it had only been a matter +of seconds, and Mr. Haydon and the fourth Kachin were still engaged in +fierce sword play. Me Dain and the third man had closed in savage +wrestle, and were trying to find each other's heart with their knives. + +Jack whipped up the bar with the speed of thought, and dropped it on +the head of the man with whom his father was engaged. Down went the +Kachin, stunned and helpless. But at that very instant a wild scream +went up from the two struggling figures close at hand. Jack turned his +head to see the last flutter of their garments. The rotten foothold +had given way beneath them, and, held fast in each other's clutch, +they had fallen headlong into the deeps below. Jack and his father +were about to leap forward to see the last of their faithful guide, +when a musket cracked and a bullet flew by their heads. They sprang +back into cover and looked at each other. + +"We have lost Me Dain!" cried Jack. "Brave fellow, he has gone, +fighting to the last." + +Mr. Haydon nodded gloomily. "It is a cruel, bad business for all of +us," he said. + +A profound silence now fell upon the little battlefield. The remaining +Kachins made no further attempt at an assault. Jack peered out very +cautiously to see what they were doing, and was surprised to see them +drawing off. His father joined him, and they watched the mountaineers +retire to the point where the shelf-road began. Here they squatted on +the ground, lighted their pipes, and calmly smoked, motionless as the +rocks around them. + +"There are two short," said Jack, after counting them. + +"Yes," returned his father, "they have been despatched for +reinforcements, and to give word that we have been discovered. Their +friends are on guard." + +At this moment the Kachin whom Jack had felled with the bar began to +move. Jack was upon him in a moment, whipping off his girdle, and +tying him hand and foot with stout strips of it. Mr. Haydon now began +to talk with the native woman. As a rule he had preferred to speak +with her through Me Dain, for her dialect contained many words +unfamiliar to him. But now Me Dain, their stout-hearted, faithful +guide, was gone, and it seemed as if no great interval could elapse +before their fate, too, would be settled. + +The woman had brought a small store of food with her. She ate, and +offered some to her companions. But they would not touch it, though +hunger was gnawing keenly at them. + +Mr. Haydon sat down with his back against the cliff, but Jack could +not keep still. He moved restlessly to and fro on their narrow patch, +and glanced into the depths on every side. Was there nothing to be +done? Must they wait idly here until their enemies were strong enough +to rush them in overwhelming force? + +Jack had gone to the farthest point of their refuge, and was lying at +full length with his head over the edge of the last beam. He was +staring into the wild foaming torrent, when an inequality in the face +of the descending cliff caught his eye. He looked intently, and saw +that some fifteen feet above the river a narrow ledge ran horizontally +along the cliff. He followed the ledge with his eye. It ran down +towards the river, narrowed, and disappeared. He raised his head and +called his father. Mr. Haydon was by his side in a moment. Jack +pointed out the ledge. + +"If we could drop on to that," he said, "we might get away up the pass +after all." + +"I'm afraid there's not much of a chance there," returned his father. +"The ledge shelves away to the river. But in any case, how are we +going to descend a precipice as smooth as glass? It's a good +five-and-thirty feet down to that point." + +Jack bit his lip in perplexity for a moment. Then his brow cleared, as +a sudden idea slipped into his mind. + +"We'll make a rope," he said. "There's stout stuff in these fellows' +kilts and jackets," and he pointed to the Kachins lying near at hand. + +Mr. Haydon slapped his son on the shoulder. "Good for you, Jack, my +boy!" he cried. "We'll have a try at it." + +He spoke a few words to the native woman, and she laid her child down +and sprang at once to help. She proved by far the deftest and +cleverest of the three at the task now to be performed. Jack and his +father quickly stripped off belt, jacket, girdle, and turban from the +fallen Kachins, and their clothes were tossed over to the woman. With +a small, sharp knife which she produced from the little basket in +which she had carried her food, she swiftly cut up kilts and jackets, +while the other two knotted together turbans and girdles. Half an +hour's hard work saw the heap of clothing converted into a stout, +well-knotted rope. Jack took a glance at the men on guard. They were +still seated at the end of the shelf-road, smoking calmly, and +confident that their prey could not escape them. Jack now tied a heavy +stone at the end of the rope and let it down. The stone slid along the +face of the precipice and rested on the ledge. Nine or ten feet of +their rope were still unpaid out. + +"Plenty long enough," said Jack, and they hauled the rope up quickly. + +The woman and her child were, of course, sent down first. With a broad +strip of the strong home-spun the child was bound on its mother's +breast, so that she might at least have one hand free to hold herself +steady as she was lowered. At the end of the rope they made a broad +loop, and this was drawn tight about her body. When all was ready, she +slipped over the edge of the abyss with all the coolness and bravery +of her race, and the strong hands began to lower her. Foot by foot she +slid down the face of the cliff, and at last those above felt the +strain upon their muscles suddenly relieved. The woman was safely on +the ledge. + +They now made the rope secure around the outer beam, which, luckily, +was fairly sound. The Kachin who was their prisoner was shouting and +yelling at the full pitch of his voice to warn his comrades that the +fugitives were escaping. His dark eyes snapped and glittered with +fury. He cared not what danger he brought upon himself if he could +but warn his friends. Jack and Mr. Haydon took no notice whatever of +the man's clamour. A hundred voices would have been drowned in the +hoarse roar of the torrent which thundered below. + +"I'll go down now, father," said Jack, "and hold the rope steady for +you." He slipped over the side and was gone. Hand below hand he swung +himself swiftly down the rope, and was on the ledge in a few moments. +He held the rope steady, and Mr. Haydon descended in safety. + +They left the rope where it hung, and crept forward along the narrow +ledge. Jack led the way, the woman came next, and Mr. Haydon brought +up the rear. There was very little room on the ledge, but it was sound +and smooth. It had clearly been made by the river eating away the +softer rock in times of flood. It descended gently towards the stream, +and within thirty yards it broke short off. The river was now not more +than five feet below, and Jack bent and looked into it. Then he swung +himself off the ledge, and dropped into the stream with a cry of +delight. It was clear and shallow, and he stood in it barely +knee-deep. He helped the woman down, his father sprang after them, and +they all waded on in a shallow backwater, where the furious torrent of +the main stream died away to an easy flow. + +Moving on in this manner, they gained the farther side of the ravine, +which had been spanned by the shelf-road. Here a vast mass of rock and +boulders lay piled along the cliff wall. + +"That's the landslip which carried away the road," said Mr. Haydon. + +Jack eyed it critically. + +"We can get up into the pass again by it," he said. "It'll be a rough +climb, but we can do it." + +Jack was right. They did it. It took them an hour's hard climbing, but +at last they stood at the point where the shelf-road had joined the +main path along the pass. Here they rested awhile, for the steep climb +under a burning sun had been very exhausting. + +Then Jack sprang to his feet "Come on," he cried cheerily. "We'll hit +on Buck and Jim's camp yet, and with them at our back we'll stand off +U Saw and his men easily enough." + +"I think I can strike towards it all right once we clear this path," +said his father. Mr. Haydon had had much talk with Me Dain about the +spot where he had left Buck and Jim, and he believed that he could +find the place. + +"Poor old Me Dain," said Jack, in a tone of bitter sorrow; "if we'd +only brought him up with us out of the fix there, it would have been +all right. He was a fine, brave chap." + +"He was," said Mr. Haydon; "it is a terrible loss to us that he has +gone." + +They pushed on in silence, thinking of the good, faithful Burman who +had fallen, close-grappled with his enemy, into the raging torrent. +From this sad reverie they were roused by the voice of the native +woman speaking to Mr. Haydon. + +"She says that we shall soon be out in the open country," said he to +his son. + +"Good business!" replied Jack. "As long as we are between these walls +of rock, there seems a trap-like feeling about the affair." + +Ten minutes later they crossed a low ridge, and at once the precipice +which had encompassed them opened out swiftly on either hand. Before +them lay a huge, cup-like hollow, filled with buildings. + +"A town!" gasped Jack. "We shall be seen!" + +"Deserted, my boy," said his father quietly. The more experienced eye +had at once seen the true nature of the place. Jack looked again, and +saw that all was silent, and that the buildings were empty shells. The +walls of the houses stood up along the streets, the vane of a pagoda +darted aloft and glittered in the sun, but no form moved along the +narrow ways, no face peered out upon them as they passed. + +Their way lay along what had been the main street of the city, and the +silence, which had been pleasant in the pass, became strange and +creepy here. It told of utter ruin, and seized upon the spirit of +those who passed with a sense of haunting desolation. + +Suddenly, into this eerie silence, there broke a sound which set every +heart leaping. It was the swift rattle of a pony's hoofs galloping +towards them. The sound had broken out sharply and near, for the main +street was paved, and the rider had burst on to it from the sandy +track beyond, where he had ridden in silence. They could not see the +rider, for the way bent sharply just before them, and their only +thought was to hide from this newcomer, for to be seen by anyone in +this country spelled danger. + +Close at hand was a narrow alley, and into this they hurried. Just +inside the opening was an empty doorway, and they ran through it, and +paused inside a house which turned a blank wall to the street A huge +crack seamed this wall from top to bottom, and Jack, springing forward +softly, clapped his eye to it. + +The wall stood at an angle to the street, and the rider darted into +sight as Jack peered out. The latter turned and shot a single whisper +over his shoulder, "Danger," and all stood silent. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +IN THE DESERTED CITY. + + +Jack had known the rider at once. It was the tall Malay, the +Strangler. He was mounted on a nimble pony, and flogging it to its +utmost speed. A few yards from the house the pony slipped on the +smooth stones and nearly came down. This, perforce, checked its +headlong career, and the Malay drew it in to a walk. Everyone held +their breath, and Jack watched the dark, sinister figure pace by, +wishing that his furious speed had not been interrupted. + +He was past, he was gone, and Jack breathed more freely. Then, oh, +unhappy turn of luck, the infant in its mother's arms stirred and gave +a feeble cry. + +The mother hushed it at once, and the fugitives looked at each other +aghast. Had that cry been heard? The answer came at once. They heard +the pony swiftly wheeled on the stones without. A second later it +dashed back the way it had come, the Malay flogging fiercely, reckless +of slips or stumbles. + +"It was U Saw's man, that big Malay," said Jack to his father. "What +shall we do?" + +"We must push on and see what lies beyond the town," said Mr. Haydon. +"It is clear that he suspects something. All depends now on whether +our line into the open country is blocked." + +The little party swiftly sped up the farther part of the alley, and +worked their way through the town by the narrow lanes which threaded +the mass of buildings like runs in a rabbit warren. Through these +by-ways the native woman proved a sure guide, and soon, through a gap, +they saw the open, sandy waste which lay around the deserted town. + +From the last patch of cover they looked out cautiously and saw a +dismal sight. The town, as has been said, lay in a great cup-like +depression. On the rim of the farther rise, straight in their path, a +horseman sat motionless. Jack knew him again at once. It was the +Malay. He had drawn up his pony on the ridge above the town, and now +sat there, watching intently, a dark figure on the sky-line. + +"We are beset front and rear," groaned Mr. Haydon. "He is waiting for +companions, and watching to see which way we break cover." + +Mr. Haydon had hit upon the truth. At earliest dawn skilful trackers +had been set upon the trail of the fugitives at the point where Jack +had silenced the dog. Thence they had followed them to the mouth of +the pass, and had divined their number and the identity of those who +made up the party. + +U Saw and Saya Chone had been on the scene without loss of time. The +Ruby King ordered that a party of his men should march up the pass +and pursue the fugitives. He himself, with the half-caste, the +Strangler, and a score of other men, all well mounted, had galloped by +a long detour to gain the other end of the pass, in hopes of cutting +them off. It was a long journey which the mounted party had to make, +and they would have failed if Jack and his friends had been able to +keep steadily forward. But the long delay on the shelf-road had told +heavily against the fugitives, and now, as they suspected, fierce +enemies lay between them and the open country. + +As the Ruby King and his followers approached the place where the pass +ran out on to the plain, the Malay had been sent forward to gallop at +breakneck speed down the path the fugitives must follow, and report +any sign he could observe of their presence. He had heard the cry of +the child, and suspected at once their presence in the deserted city. +Now he sat watching the hollow and waiting for his companions. + +"Can we dodge back through the city, and slip out on the other side?" +said Jack anxiously. His father shook his head. + +"The lie of the ground is dead against that," said Mr. Haydon. "The +place is built in a cup. Leave it where you may, you must go up open +hill-side, and he will see us at once." + +"Then we must find a hiding-place among the ruins until nightfall," +said Jack. + +"That's all there is for it now," replied his father. "If we can keep +out of their hands until the dark, we can slip off and travel by the +stars." + +He told the native woman what had been decided upon, and she nodded. +She knew perfectly well what terrible fate awaited her and her child +if they fell alive into the merciless hands of U Saw. The little party +turned in search of a hiding-place, and their steps were quickened by +seeing the figures of half a dozen mounted men rise over the rim of +the ridge and join the Strangler. + +In a few moments the fugitives had lost all sight of the men without +the city; they were swallowed up in the maze of narrow lanes and +by-ways which had once been thronged by busy crowds of city folk, and +were now given up to the snake, the owl, and the wolf. + +Here and there they glided, looking on every hand for some secure +hiding-place, but found none; every house, every room seemed open to +the sun and the broad light of day. + +"Surely among so many houses we should hardly be found, if we lay +close in some of these open places," murmured Jack, but Mr. Haydon +shook his head. + +"They will split up, and every man will take a patch of the city for +himself," replied Mr. Haydon. "And they are adepts at a search of this +kind." + +"Hallo, what's that?" said Jack in a low voice. They paused and +listened, then looked at each other. The chase was afoot. They could +hear afar off the voices of men shouting to each other as they hunted +through the deserted city. + +"That sounds as if they were about the main street," said Mr. Haydon. + +"Sure to be there first," replied Jack. "They're searching the place +where the Malay heard the youngster cry." + +"Very true," said the father. "Let's strike towards the pagoda. It +lies away from the danger zone, and there may be a chance for us +there." + +As they hurried towards the tall shaft which shot high above the maze +of ruined houses, Mr. Haydon chatted coolly about its possibilities. + +"A pagoda, my boy, is often a solid piece of masonry, built above a +relic chamber. The latter is a large room of immense strength, and if +anything has stood in the place, that is the most likely. If it has +stood, and we can find the way in, we may be able to hide till +nightfall. In any case, we can make it an awkward job to attack us." + +Both father and son had brought a _dah_ from the battle-ground, and at +close quarters no better lethal weapon can be found. + +They arrived before the pagoda, and Mr. Haydon, leaping on the first +platform, ran swiftly to and fro in search of the entrance. His wide +knowledge of such buildings guided him to the spot where it would most +likely be found, but, as it happened, the entrance was not difficult +to find. They saw a low doorway half-blocked by a huge fallen stone, +but with ample room left for them to creep in. + +"Here's the spot," said Mr. Haydon. "In we go. But," he hesitated for +a moment, "we don't know what may be inside. I'd give a trifle for a +torch." + +"We'll make one," said Jack. "There are heaps of dried sticks and +grass about, and I've got some matches." + +He put his hand into an inner pocket of his tunic, and pulled out a +waterproof metal box half full of vestas. + +"Good! good!" ejaculated Mr. Haydon. "I haven't had a match for a long +time, and I'd forgotten you might have a few." + +He caught up a bundle of dried grass, and Jack took up several sticks, +dry and tindery, ready to burst into flame as soon as a light was set +to them. All three now crawled through the low, half-blocked doorway. +As soon as they crept into the darkness, a strong, fetid, musty smell, +mingled with a horrible scent of decay, made the air pungent and +choking. + +"Some beasts or other here," murmured Mr. Haydon calmly. "Let's see if +they're dangerous." + +He struck a match and applied it to the great bundle of dried grass +which he had collected. The flame ran through it at once, and it +flared up strongly. Jack thrust a stick into the blaze, and they now +had ample light to see around them. + +They found themselves in a large, low room, whose floor was littered +with bones and the remains of animals dragged there for food. They +darted glances on every side to discover what kind of beast it was +whose lair they had entered. But for a moment they saw nothing. There +was a movement in a bed of dried reeds in one corner, and presently +they saw two pretty little creatures, having the appearance of big +cats, bound out and begin to yowl plaintively. At sight of them the +native woman gave a shrill scream of terror. + +"Tiger cubs!" snapped Mr. Haydon. + +He glanced quickly around the place, but there was no sign of any +other living creature there save the two cubs, which now began to +frisk about the light. + +"Lucky for us Mrs. Stripes isn't at home," said Jack, "or it would +have been a case of out of the frying-pan into the fire." + +"It would," agreed his father. "But it isn't long since she was here," +he added. "Here's a fresh kill." + +He pointed to a small buck lying almost at their feet. The blood was +still wet on the graceful creature's coat, and it was untorn save for +the rents made by the huge claws which had brought it down and dragged +it to the tiger's lair. + +"If this is the only place available," said Mr. Haydon quietly, "we +shall have to creep out again. It isn't healthy to ask a tigress to go +halves in her den when she's rearing a family." + +"We'll have a look round in any case," laughed Jack, and they crossed +swiftly to the other side of the place, holding their torches high, so +that a red, dancing light was cast before them. + +"What's this?" cried Jack, who was a little ahead. "What's this?" He +was standing at the foot of a narrow flight of stone steps which ran +upwards and was soon lost to sight in the thickness of the wall. + +"Up, up!" cried Mr. Haydon. "This is what I hoped for." + +The little party climbed the narrow, winding stairs as fast as they +could go. Round and round in the wall the steps twisted, and then they +saw a dim light ahead, and came out into a second room, as large as +the one below. A broken door of teak hung loosely at the narrow +opening which led into the room, and Mr. Haydon put his shoulder to it +at once. + +"Here's our refuge, Jack," he cried joyously. + +"Half a minute, father, before you clap that door to," said Jack. "I'm +frightfully hungry." + +"So am I, ready to drop," returned his father. "What of that?" + +"I'm going to fetch that buck up, or a good piece of it," remarked +Jack. "It's a fresh kill, and quite sweet." + +"I'll come with you," said Mr. Haydon. "Food is priceless at present, +for we may well need all our strength." + +"No, no," said Jack, "I don't want to brag, father, but I can leg it a +lot quicker than you if the old lady comes home suddenly." + +"Very likely," said his father. "I don't doubt that for an instant, +Jack, but I'll come all the same." They lighted a couple of fresh +torches and went quickly down the steps and across the room below. +They found the tiger cubs, drawn by the scent of blood, playing with +the new kill, trying to fix their baby fangs into it, and leaping to +and fro like a couple of kittens. + +"Clear off," said Jack, thrusting one of them aside with his foot, "we +want this." + +The buck was only a young one, not more than forty or fifty pounds' +weight, and Jack swung it up from the ground by its horns. As he drew +it away from them, both cubs gave a loud cry of complaint. Their cry +was answered upon the instant by a frightful roar, and turning their +heads, the two men saw a long, low, huge form gliding in at the +opening with lightning speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE SECRET CHAMBER. + + +"Shout, shout!" cried Mr. Haydon, and the two yelled at the top of +their voices and waved their torches as they ran for the steps. But +neither the noise nor the fire saved them. They owed their safety to +the cubs. These ran at once to their mother, and the fierce creature +stayed a moment to lick and fondle them and assure herself of their +safety. + +Jack and his father used the respite to full advantage. They tore up +the steps and hurled themselves into the room above. Mr. Haydon and +the woman pushed the broken door into place before the opening and +held it, fearing a rush from the great savage beast But the tigress +made no charge. They heard her prowling about the foot of the steps +below, and growling horribly, but she made no attempt to pursue them +farther, and presently her fierce notes of anger died away. + +"She has gone back to the cubs," said Mr. Haydon with a deep breath of +relief. "That was a close shave, Jack. If she'd come straight at us +instead of staying beside them for an instant, it would have been all +up with us." + +"We could have had a chop at her with a _dah_," said Jack. Mr. Haydon +shook his head grimly. + +"Not good enough to tackle a charging tigress," he said. "Might as +well chop at a hurricane." + +"Well," said Jack, "a miss is as good as a mile; and anyhow, we've +landed the buck." + +Jack had hung on to their quarry like grim death, and the buck now lay +on the floor at their feet. But before they satisfied their hunger, +they looked carefully around the place in which they found themselves. +Like the vault below, the room was large and low, and it was lighted +by a number of small apertures on two sides. They approached these +little holes, and found that none was of greater size than to admit of +a fist being thrust through them. Mr. Haydon looked carefully at them. +"These holes," said he, "are hidden among the ornaments and carving of +the exterior. The room below is in the base of the pagoda. This room +is built in the second of the three terraces known as Pichayas. Above +us the pagoda is solid right away to the vane." + +"We're in a queer fix now," said Jack. "Mrs. Stripes below is very +useful to keep out U Saw and his friends, but she'll keep us in as +well. It will be an awkward job to slide out after dark and take the +chance of blundering into her with claws and fangs ready for +business." + +"Yes," replied his father, "it cuts both ways." + +"Well, we won't worry about it now," said Jack. "Let's have something +to eat. Here's plenty of meat, but how shall we cook it?" + +It would have been easy to make a fire, for the remains of a couple of +large chests lay in one corner, but smoke curling from the holes would +betray their hiding-place. + +"We'll make some biltong, as I've done many and many a time in South +Africa," said Mr. Haydon. "In this sun the meat will parch very +quickly." + +He cut some long and very thin slices from the leg of the buck. Then +he thrust them through one of the holes which lay towards the sun, and +spread them on the flat stone outside. The stone was burning hot, so +hot that the hand could not be borne upon it, for the sun had been +beating there with immense power for many hours. Between the fiery sun +and the hot stone, the meat parched swiftly, and ere long they were +satisfying their ravenous hunger with the excellent venison. They +offered some to the native woman, but she preferred to eat from her +own stock of food. + +"I wonder why this city was deserted," said Jack, as he devoured his +venison. + +"War, pestilence, or famine," replied his father briefly. "I'll pump +this woman and see how the local tradition runs." + +He conversed with her for some time, then turned to his son. + +"I can begin as I used to begin stories when you were a nipper," said +Mr. Haydon. "Once upon a time there was a great king." + +"How long ago?" queried Jack. + +"Goodness knows," said his father. "Time is a mere blur in these old +stories. A hundred, two hundred, five hundred years, all are one to a +people who keep no written records. Well, a great king ruled here over +a busy and wealthy people. He built this pagoda and was immensely +proud of it He delighted to deck it with gold and precious stones. She +says that once the whole of the exterior was covered with plates of +solid gold, and the _Hti_, the umbrella, that is the topmost stage of +the pagoda, was hung with thousands of golden and silver bells, and +decked with huge rubies and other precious stones. Most of these +didn't belong to him. For he had a habit of marching upon neighbouring +rulers and stripping their treasuries to brighten up his pagoda. + +"At last the usual thing happened. A better fighting man came along +and stripped him. He and his people fought well, but in the end they +were overcome and the whole city was put to the sword. The conqueror +had the plates of gold and a vast number of rubies, emeralds, and +diamonds. But many of the finest rubies slipped out of his grasp. The +priests fled and carried them off. Since that day the city has been a +desert. And so you have the legend." + +"Is it true, do you think?" asked Jack. + +"Substantially true, without a doubt," replied his father. "The thing +has happened again and again. It might easily happen to-day in Burmah +itself, were it not for the British Raj. These local rulers were +forever cutting each other's throats." + +At this point the low murmur of his voice became mingled with a +louder noise without. The sound of busy Kachin tongues in full flow +came through the tiny apertures which lighted the room, and Jack and +his father sprang to their feet. + +"The enemy have arrived," murmured Jack, and his father nodded. They +stole swiftly across the room and peered through the little apertures +which lighted the place. No better spying-place could be needed. They +looked straight into the broad open space before the pagoda, and saw +their pursuers defiling from a narrow street. One man was mounted, and +they knew him at once for U Saw, the great ruby in his head-dress +glinting scarlet fire in the rays of the sun. At the tail of his horse +strode the Strangler, and a dozen busy little blue-kilted figures ran +hither and thither, chattering and calling to each other, and +searching eagerly for traces of the fugitives. + +A loud shout presently told the Haydons that something had been +discovered. Half a dozen Kachins began to yell together, and Mr. +Haydon listened intently. + +"They've found the hole," he murmured coolly. "What next?" + +"It's very lucky for us that Mrs. Stripes is at home and on guard," +said Jack. "We could hold them in the narrow stairs there with our +_dahs_, but she'll do the job much better." + +"Yes, for a time, without doubt," replied his father, shaking his +head. "But these chaps are splendid little shikarees, and fear nothing +that stands on four legs." + +They could not see the group of Kachins which had gathered before the +opening, but they saw the Ruby King wave his hand, and knew that the +blue-kilts had been ordered to explore. They listened breathlessly, +but, for some moments, all was silence. Then in the vault below there +broke out a frightful roar of anger, and mingled with it came yells +and outcries. The two watchers looked eagerly from their apertures, +and saw the Kachins recoiling in a disorderly body, carrying among +them a man whose legs dragged along the ground. + +"Looks as if she'd settled one of them," remarked Mr. Haydon. It was +soon apparent that the tigress had thinned by one the number of their +enemies. The man was laid down in the open space, and his fellows +gathered about him. But very soon they left the body lying where it +had been placed, and collected about the Ruby King in a chattering +crowd. + +"Clearly the man is dead," said Jack. "They do not attempt to do +anything for him." + +"I should say she smashed his skull in, by the look of things from +this distance," remarked his father. "See how the blood spreads in a +pool about his head!" + +Their eyes were fixed on the debating crowd, and they were wondering +what the next move of the Kachins would be, when they heard a low call +behind them. Both whirled round at once, and saw that it was their +companion who was attracting their attention. She was kneeling on the +floor, and they ran to her at once. She knelt beside a large stone +which was sunk three or four inches below its fellows and shook easily +under the touch. + +"This is strange," said Jack. "We dried our meat and ate our meal just +about here, and the stone was not out of its place then." + +"Perhaps our movements loosened it," replied his father. He spoke with +the native woman for a little, then turned to his son. "It sank a +moment back when she stepped on it," he said. "Just when she cried +out. She feared she was going to fall through the floor." + +Jack knelt down and pressed heavily on the stone. It slid away from +his hands, and, had he not grasped the edge of the hole quickly, he +would have rolled after it The stone vanished, and was heard to land +with a heavy ringing crash on stone below. + +"By Jove, I nearly went head first after it," said Jack. "It was as +loose as possible. Where does this lead to?" + +Mr. Haydon knelt down and looked carefully around the sides of the +square hole left in the floor. + +"It's a secret entrance to some place or other," he said. "See, Jack, +the wooden bar on which this stone worked. It has rotted through, and +the stone held its place, as you may say, by clinging to the +neighbouring stones. But a slight weight was sufficient to start it +moving." + +"What's underneath, I wonder?" murmured Jack. + +"Some chamber built in the thickness of the floor between this room +and the vault below," replied his father. + +"We ought to have a look into this," remarked Jack. + +"We will," said his father; "but I hardly see how it will avail us. +There might be a chance to make it useful if we could get the stone +into place, but it is very heavy, and the machinery on which it worked +has rotted away." + +Jack took a half-burned torch, whose flare had been quenched upon +their regaining the room from the raid in which they had secured the +buck, and relighted it. He held it as far into the darkness as he +could, and the red light showed that a ladder, built of heavy beams of +teak, ran downwards from the edge of the hole. Mr. Haydon sniffed +cautiously. "The air doesn't smell bad," he remarked; "close and +musty, but no mephitic vapours. I think we'll go down." + +Jack swung himself over the lip of the hole, dropped his feet on the +stout ladder, and went down first, holding the torch before him, and +his father followed. They found themselves in a low room of fair size, +but not one-half as large as that above and below. + +"What's that?" said Jack, and pointed to the far corner, where +something gleamed white. They crossed to it, and stood before a knot +of skeletons. Nine they counted, each lying as the dead man had fallen +long, long ago. In the houses of the city, where roofs had fallen in, +where wild beasts had devoured the flesh, and where sun and rain and +wind had worked their will upon the bones, all trace of the citizens +of that long bygone day had utterly disappeared, but here, where the +secret chamber had protected their remains, the skeletons were +perfect. + +"These are some of the men who fell in the sack of the city," said +Jack. + +His father bent and carefully examined them by the light of the torch. + +"I scarcely think so, Jack," he said. "The bones are perfect and bear +no sign of injury. It is more likely that they were priests of the +pagoda who took refuge here, and perhaps died of famine, not daring to +leave their hiding-place." + +Jack moved a little, and started. In his new position a ray of red +fire darted at him from one of the heaps of white bones. He stepped +forward, bent, and picked up the glittering object. + +"Look here," he said to his father, "this is something in your line, +if I'm not very much mistaken." + +His father turned it over, rubbed the dirt off it, and held it up to +the light. It lay in his palm and winked in the light of the torch +with dancing gleams of deep scarlet fire. + +"Whew!" whistled Mr. Haydon, "a magnificent ruby, large, and of the +purest water. Where did you get it, my boy?" + +Jack pointed to the skeleton at his feet, among whose bones it had +lain. + +"Could this have been their secret treasure-room?" said Mr. Haydon, +looking round. "Yet it is very unlikely. It is too large, and hardly +in the place where they would have built it." + +At this moment they heard a murmur at their shoulders. The woman had +followed them, and they turned to see that she had picked up a couple +of rubies from among the bones of another skeleton, and was holding +them out to Mr. Haydon. + +The great expert took them and examined them swiftly. + +"Finer than the one you found in point of size," he said to his son. +"As to purity, they are all of the highest quality. These three stones +in my palm represent a substantial fortune." + +Jack had never before seen such magnificent stones. He gazed in wonder +at the three gleaming splendours, and turned them over with his +finger. + +"They are true oriental rubies," said his father, "of the finest +colour and without flaw. Any one of them is ten times as valuable as a +diamond of the same weight." + +The native woman was turning over the bones of another skeleton. She +straightened herself, came forward, and dropped another noble ruby +into Mr. Haydon's hand. + +"Jack, Jack," cried the latter to his son, "don't you see what this +means, my boy? Here is proof positive of the truth of the legend." + +"I see," said Jack, "these are the monks who were said to have fled +with the pick of the rubies." + +"These are they without a doubt," said his father. "They disappeared, +and the conquerors believed that they had escaped, and so the story of +their flight was worked into the tradition. But they had hidden +themselves here, and here they died. The rubies were shared among +them, and concealed in their garments. The ants have made short work +of the robes long since, and the stones have fallen among the bones." + +"Then among these skeletons lie the chief treasures of the ancient +city?" said Jack. + +"The thing is beyond all question," replied his father. "These +glorious stones bear ample witness." + +The intense interest of this marvellous find had almost driven the +thought of their enemies from their minds. But the recollection of +their deadly peril came back in full flood when a hoarse thunder broke +out beneath their feet in the lower vault. + +"The tigress!" cried Jack. "Is it a fresh assault?" + +Not another thought did they give to the gleaming treasures within +their grasp. Life was worth a mountain of rubies. + +They rushed at once to see what U Saw and his retainers were doing. +Mr. Haydon did not even pocket the rubies, such was his haste. He +tossed them aside among the mouldering bones, where they had lain for +so many generations, and flew after his son, who was already climbing +the ladder. + +They raced across the room, and now heard the savage roars of the +tigress pealing louder and louder up the narrow stairway. In the vault +below they heard shots and yells. + +"They have attacked her in her lair, there is no doubt of it," said +Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep anxiety. "They have without doubt flung +torches in to light the place up, and shot her as she stood before her +cubs, checking her charge with fire, noise, and spears. I have known a +band of them take as desperate a risk for the sake of a mere skin to +sell, so they would certainly take it to seize us." + +The growls of the tigress became more furious and deafening. + +"They are running out!" cried Jack. "They are flying before her." + +In the open space below, the Kachins were running swiftly from the +entrance to the vault. Some looked over their shoulders, as if fearing +pursuit. + +"Very possibly," said his father. "They are running for the moment, +but I fear they have done their work. See how joyous they look!" + +This was quite true. The dark faces of the little mountaineers were +bright with smiles, and their teeth flashed white as they grinned at +each other, and shouted as if in triumph. + +"Their muskets at close range are not to be despised," murmured Mr. +Haydon uneasily. "They fling a heavy ball, and drive it with great +smashing power. And again, the bullets may be poisoned. They often +are." + +The Kachins did not run far. They faced about, and three or four who +were armed with spears threw their weapons forward, ready to receive +the charge of the wounded creature. But no charge was made. Had the +tigress been alone, she would have rushed out, but the presence of her +cubs made a great difference. She stayed beside them, growling and +roaring with rage and pain until the very building shook. + +Half an hour passed, and the tigress was now making no more than a +low moan. Little by little her growling had died away. The Haydons +heard the sound diminish with uneasy hearts. They knew that the +strength of the great fierce beast was going with it, and that very +soon the Kachins would be at the foot of the stairs. + +They talked the situation over, and looked at it from every point of +view, but could see only one thing to do. That was to wait for the +enemy on the narrow winding steps, where but one could pass at a time, +and hold them at bay. + +Jack looked round. "Where's the woman?" he said, "she has not come +up." + +"No more she hasn't," said his father. They had been so deeply engaged +in watching every movement of their enemies that they had utterly +forgotten their companion. When Jack rushed up from the secret +chamber, he had thrust the flaring torch into her hand, in order that +she might follow at her leisure, but there was no sign of her in the +room behind them. + +Jack ran across to the spot where the square black hole yawned in the +floor. + +"It's all dark down here," he cried in surprise. "Has the torch gone +out? But why has she not come up?" + +Near at hand lay a large lock of dried grass, part of a bundle which +the woman herself had gathered and brought up on their first entrance. + +Jack caught it up, struck a match, and thrust the burning vesta into +it. In an instant the tuft of grass was ablaze, and he flung it into +the secret chamber. It dropped to the floor, and the flame shot up +brightly, lighting the little room from corner to corner, from roof to +floor. + +"She's gone!" gasped Jack in utter amazement "She's gone!" Save for +the skeletons, the little room was completely empty. There was not the +faintest sign of the native woman. She had disappeared absolutely and +entirely. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE BATTLE ON THE STAIRS. + + +Jack was about to spring down the ladder and see what had become of +their companion, when a low cry of warning burst from his father's +lips. The elder man had been watching the enemy, and now he called +out, "They are coming! they are coming!" + +Jack caught up his _dah_ and ran at once for the stairs. The mystery +of the woman's disappearance must wait; the first thing to be done was +to keep the Kachins from their throats. + +He and his father had already settled upon the point which they would +occupy for defence. Halfway down the narrow winding flight there was a +small landing, about six feet long, with a sharp turn above and below. +Jack felt his way down to this in the darkness, then stood and +listened eagerly for any sounds of movement in the vault below. He +heard his father softly tiptoeing after him, and then all was silence, +save for the mournful cries of the tiger cubs trying to rouse their +dead dam. + +"They have not come in yet," whispered Jack to his father. + +"No," replied Mr. Haydon, "but I saw seven of them start across the +open space, clearly bent on a fresh attack." + +At this moment a muffled sound of voices rang through the vault and +came up the narrow stairs. The Kachins were at the entrance. Then +there was silence for a short time. The next sound was a joyous yell, +which rang and re-echoed from wall to wall. The Kachins had discovered +the dead tigress. Then the vault resounded with voices as they ran to +and fro, searching every corner. + +The fugitives knew that the flight of steps running upwards must be +discovered at once, and Mr. Haydon gave a low murmur as they heard a +party of searchers gather at the foot of the stairs. Up to this moment +Jack and his father had stood in complete darkness, but now a faint +glimmer of light began to shine up from below, and they knew that the +flare of their pursuers' torches was being reflected along the winding +walls. + +The preparations of the savage little men in blue were quickly made, +and up they came. As Jack heard their feet shuffle swiftly up the +steps, and saw the shine of the torches become brighter and brighter, +he poised his heavy blade and prepared to launch a swinging blow. +Nearer, nearer came the light and the chattering voices, for they +talked as they came. Then a gleaming spear-head flashed round the bend +below. It was held by the leading Kachin, and the second man carried a +torch to light his comrade's way. + +Jack drew aside to the wall, and waited for the man's head to appear. +In an instant it came, and the dark face and glittering eyes of the +mountaineer were filled with excitement as he saw the white men within +arm's length. He shortened his grasp of the spear to strike at Jack, +but the broad, gleaming _dah_ fell at that very instant with +tremendous force. + +The Kachin whirled up the spear to guard his head, but the trenchant +blade, wielded by those powerful young arms, was not to be denied. It +shore clean through the stout shaft of the spear, it fell upon the +shoulder of the Kachin, and clove him to the spine. He pitched +backwards among those following, and the torch was dashed from its +bearer's hand. But it was caught as it fell, and another of the +dauntless little men sprang up to cross swords with the defender who +could strike so dreadful a blow. + +Again Jack launched a sweeping cut at his assailant, but this time his +blade was caught upon a blade of equal strength and temper, and the +iron muscles of the wiry Kachin turned the slashing stroke. He fetched +a swift return blow at Jack, and the latter avoided this by springing +a pace backwards as he recovered his own weapon. + +The little man followed with the leap of a cat, and gave a grunt of +satisfaction. This was his aim, to make ground, and Jack saw it in an +instant. It allowed another man to come round the turn and support the +assault with a long spear. The second Kachin was crouching low, and at +the next moment the shining head of a spear darted past the first +assailant and was directed at Jack's thigh. Jack avoided it by a +miracle. He did not see it, did not know the man had struck at him, +for he was too busy cutting and parrying with the leader. But as the +spear-head was darted at him, he sprang aside to avoid the _dah_, and +so dodged both sword and spear. + +The Kachin with the spear had made his stroke so heartily, and with +such certainty of reaching his mark, that on missing his blow he +sprawled forward. Mr. Haydon bent down, gripped the strong shaft +behind the spear-head, and tore the weapon from the baffled Kachin's +grasp. Then, with a growl of satisfaction that he could take a share +in the fray, he reversed the long weapon, and swung its keen point +forward. + +The spear came to his hand at a most opportune moment. A third man was +creeping on hands and knees beside the wall, aiming to pass his +leader. He gripped a huge knife in his hand. In another instant he +would have seized Jack by the ankles and dragged him down, had not Mr. +Haydon driven the spear into him with such force that the head was +completely buried in his body. He dropped to the floor with a +frightful yell, and at that moment the leading Kachin gave way and +leapt back among his friends. Jack had half cut through the swordman's +right arm, and the latter could no longer wield the heavy _dah_. + +"Come back a few steps, Jack!" cried his father. "They are meeting us +on the flat, and that is to their advantage." + +Father and son darted up half a dozen steps from the landing, gained +the sharp turn above, then faced about again. But no Kachin was +following them. The little men chattered and yelled, argued and +disputed with each other, but did not advance. Finally, they retired +to the vault below, taking their fallen with them. + +"First round to us," breathed Jack. "How strange they brought no +muskets with them! My dread from first to last was of a bullet being +loosed into us." + +"I observed as they crossed towards the door that they carried only +spears and swords," said his father. "That is U Saw. He wishes to take +us alive, wounded, perhaps, but still alive. So he forbade shooting." + +"What next?" murmured Jack. + +"I wish we knew," replied his father, "then we might be prepared for +it." But no preparation within their power could have availed against +the cunning of the next assault. They had been watching and waiting +half an hour or more in the darkness, when again the red shine of fire +began to glow on the walls below them. + +"What is this?" muttered Mr. Haydon. "This light is far too strong for +torches." And now with the gleam of fire came gusts of heat sweeping +up to them, and clouds of thick pungent smoke. Half choked, and with +smarting eyes, they watched for the fire to appear. Presently they saw +it below them, and saw that a furnace of leaping flame was advancing +towards them, flame which filled the whole of the space, licking +walls, roof, and floor. They watched it with horrified eyes. It was +impossible to meet this subtle and dreadful enemy with spear or _dah_. + +"What is it?" cried Jack. + +"A cunning trick, a cruelly cunning trick," replied his father. "They +are thrusting great burning bundles of dried reeds and grass before +them. The draught comes up the stairs and keeps the air cool and sweet +for them, while it drives suffocating smoke and heat upon us." + +Jack ground his teeth as he saw how perfectly the plan was calculated +to drive them out of the staircase into the open room above, where the +numbers of the Kachins could be used to deadly purpose. + +"The fire is flagging," gasped Jack. + +"For the moment, yes," said his father. + +The glowing mass of flames wavered and began to sink. Then they saw +how it was fed. A huge bundle of dried canes and reeds on the end of a +spear was thrust into the flickering glow, and at once took fire and +burned with the utmost fury. Fresh bundles were pushed forward beside +it, and these, too, flared up with a shrill crackle of snapping canes +and the roar of a fire fanned by a strong draught. Inch by inch the +flames moved forward, themselves a terrible enemy, and behind them +crept up and up a savage and merciless foe. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +THE SECRET PASSAGE. + + +Within that confined space, the heat became that of a fiery furnace, +the pungent smoke became overpowering. + +"We must get back or we shall be overcome," gasped Mr. Haydon, and +they climbed the steep steps of stone. + +"Who's here?" snapped Mr. Haydon, as they turned the last bend. Jack +looked under his father's arm. + +"It's the woman," he gasped, for the pungent smoke had almost stopped +his breath. "She's come back. Where has she been?" + +Now the woman's voice came to them calling earnestly, "Sahib, sahib, +sahib!" she cried. + +Jack and his father leapt into the room, where the wider space, though +dim with smoke, made the air taste wonderfully fresh and sweet after +the choking passage. + +The woman at once sprang at Mr. Haydon and seized his arm, talking +earnestly. As she spoke, the elder man's face lighted up with a great +hope. + +"Jack! Jack!" he cried. "Come on! come on! Here's a wonderful chance +turned up." + +Jack asked no questions. He only followed as the other two hurried for +the hole which led to the secret chamber. The woman went swiftly down +the teak ladder, and the other two followed. At the foot of the ladder +a torch, freshly lighted, was thrust into a wide crack between two +stones, and stood there burning steadily. The woman caught it up and +led the way. They passed the heap of skeletons, and went to the far +corner, where a very low, small door stood open. It had been closed +when Jack looked into the chamber, and so he had been able to gain no +idea of the fashion in which the woman had left the place. + +The woman shot through the opening, and the light of her torch showed +that she had entered a low tunnel not more than four feet in height +and about the same in width. + +"Duck your head down and come on," said Mr. Haydon, and Jack brought +up the rear in the march along this tiny passage, where he had almost +to scramble on hands and knees. + +"What is this?" he called to his father, as the latter scrambled ahead +of him. + +"This," said Mr. Haydon, "explains the secret chamber. It is a passage +by which the priests could enter or leave the pagoda without the +knowledge of worshippers. The secret chamber was merely its ante-room, +as one may say." + +"How did the woman hit on it?" asked Jack. + +"Looked round the place and saw the door and found it would open +easily. She crept along the passage till she saw daylight, then she +returned to give us the word." + +"Good for her!" said Jack. "She's a first-rate sort. But I wonder how +long it will be before those little ferrets behind are after us. +They'll come along here in double-quick time." + +"We've got a fair start," replied his father. "They'll come up the +steps very slowly, having to push the fire before them." + +They had gone fifty or sixty yards along the tunnel, when the woman +looked over her shoulder and spoke to Mr. Haydon. + +"We've got to be careful here," said the latter to Jack. "The roof is +sagging and hangs very low. We must go through one at a time." + +At this moment the woman threw herself on the floor and began to wind +her way along like a snake. By the light of her torch Jack saw that +the roof threatened at every second to fall in and block the passage. +One great stone hung half-released from the grip of its fellows, as if +about to topple headlong. The woman went through the tiny space in +safety, and then crouched down on the other side and threw the light +into the gap to show her companions the road. + +"For heaven's sake, be careful how you come through, Jack!" breathed +his father. "Don't touch this huge stone for your life. It trembles +now, and there isn't thirty inches fairway." + +Very slowly and cautiously Mr. Haydon and then Jack wriggled along +flat to the ground until the dangerous spot was cleared. + +At last all were on the other side, and the woman began once more to +hurry forward. Mr. Haydon began to follow her, but Jack sang out, +"Half a moment!" + +"What for?" cried his father. + +"Can't we put a stopper on the pursuit here?" said Jack. "Seems to me +we can tumble these wobblers down, and block the route." He pointed to +the over-hanging stones. + +"Right, right!" called his father. "Where's my sense? I never thought +of it." + +Mr. Haydon took the torch from the native woman and looked at the roof +above his head. "Mustn't fetch too much down," he remarked, "and pin +ourselves under the ruin." + +"There's no fear of that," replied his son. "Look at the roof over us. +It's as sound as a bell. The loose stones come from a flaw in the +masonry, not from general decay of the roof." + +"I believe you're right, my boy," said Mr. Haydon. "You hold the torch +and I'll have a try at it." + +Jack took the torch, and Mr. Haydon raised the spear which he had +brought with him. He thrust the head into a long crack above the great +stone, and bore with all his weight and strength on the extremity of +the long shaft. Luckily the latter was very stout and of a tough wood, +enabling him to bring a great stress on the big stone. + +"Look out!" cried Jack, "it's going, it's going!" + +Both of them moved back, as the huge stone toppled swiftly to the +ground. It was followed in its fall by a dozen more, and in an instant +the path through the tunnel was blocked by a heap of ruins which rose +from floor to roof. + +"That's all right," said Jack, in a tone of deep satisfaction. "It +will take an hour or two to shift those whacking big stones. This +tunnel's a case of no thoroughfare at present." + +The torch was handed once more to the native woman, and on they went. +The next time she paused was to dash the head of the torch against the +wall of the tunnel and put out the light. As soon as the red flare had +been extinguished, they saw that the beams of day were pouring faintly +through branches and brushwood a little before them. + +"Ah," said Mr. Haydon, "that's why the air was fairly sweet in the +tunnel. There has been a draught through, more or less." + +Jack sprang forward, _dah_ in hand, and began to slash at the network +of creepers and saplings which blocked the mouth of the tunnel. In a +few minutes he had cut a path out, and they crept cautiously forth and +looked round to see what place they had gained. + +They found themselves in the broad courtyard of a large, ruined house. + +"May have been a monastery," said Mr. Haydon. "Now for U Saw and his +men. Are we clear of them or not?" + +He moved cautiously forward to reconnoitre, Jack following him. + +"Where's the pagoda?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "That will give us our +bearings." + +"I see it through this doorway," said Jack, and pointed to a gap in +the wall. Mr. Haydon looked at the pagoda, and noted how it stood with +regard to the sun and their present position. + +"This is capital," he said. "We've come out on a side opposite to the +open space where U Saw is waiting for reports from his men. We can go +ahead in safety. He will have men on the watch all round the pagoda, +of course. But we've come clean under their feet, and risen to earth +amid the ruins behind them." + +"I should say our best plan now would be to try to get clear of the +city before they push a way through the tunnel," said Jack. "We've +certainly got a couple of hours before they find where we came out. +Then, very likely, they'll start a fresh search for us among the +ruined houses. That would give us a bit more pull in making a flit of +it." + +"We can't do better," said his father, and the latter spoke a few +words to the native woman, who would be by far the best guide to set +them on the line they wished to follow. Led by her, they threaded once +more the narrow by-ways and lanes tangled with creepers, and sometimes +so choked with growth that they had to turn back and choose another +way. At last they came to a broken gap in what had once been the city +wall, and from it they looked across the bare, bright, open plain. + +"There's no one to be seen," murmured Jack, "and if we can once get +over the rim of the hill, we shall be out of sight. What is it? Not +more than four hundred yards." + +They stayed for a few moments longer in shelter of the ruined wall, +and looked warily on either hand again and again. But there was not +the slightest token of danger to be seen or heard. The sun, now +sloping to the west, shone brilliantly upon the open space of stones +and sand, stones too small to hide a spy, and sand too bare of +brushwood to afford him an ambush. + +"There's a risk, of course, in venturing into the open," murmured +Jack. "But there's risk whichever way you take it. We may as well make +a dash for it as hang about in the ruins till someone drops on us or +on our tracks." + +"That's true," agreed his father. + +"Come on, then," said Jack in a low voice, and he led the rush across +the open. + +For the first hundred yards they ran breathlessly. How naked and bare +the land seemed around them after the friendly shelter of the narrow +lanes and alleys they had just left! Then, as they forged steadily +ahead, and the rim of the cup-shaped hollow came nearer at every +stride, hope awoke in their hearts and they strained forward, counting +on the moment when they would slip over the sky-line, and be lost to +sight of the broken walls and towers amid which their enemies sought +them. + +"See that big white stone," said Jack, who had to draw himself in to +an easy trot lest he should outrun his companions, "we have only got +to make that, and we're clean out of sight." + +Thirty yards from the white stone the woman tripped, stumbled, and +fell. Before they left the ruins Jack had wished to carry the child, +but she had refused. + +"Push ahead, father," called Jack. "I'll pick her up and bring her +on." + +He sprang to the woman's side, and swung her to her feet by main +strength. He glanced back as he did so--he had looked back every few +yards as he ran. He gave a mutter of deep satisfaction, "All quiet!" +But the words on his lips came to a sudden end in a gasp of dismay and +horror. Round a far angle of the ruined wall four horsemen swept into +sight at a gentle trot. + +For a second Jack stared at them aghast He knew at once what it was. +Their enemies had foreseen the possibility of such a bolt from cover +as they were now making, and a patrol was on guard about the deserted +city. + +Jack hurried the woman forward, hoping against hope that no eye would +be raised to catch sight of the knot of fugitives on the hill-side. A +wild yell raised from four savage throats told him a moment later that +his hopes were vain. He glanced back, and saw that the riders had +lashed their speedy ponies to a furious gallop and were climbing the +slope towards them at terrific speed. + +The fugitives exchanged not a word. They ran now in silence, looking +on every hand for some way of escape from the horsemen who followed. +Jack burned to gain the ridge and see what was beyond. "If it's broken +and rocky ground," he thought, "it may prove too rough for their +ponies to face." + +[Illustration: THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT.] + +He looked eagerly out as they gained the ridge, and a bitter +exclamation broke from his lips. The ground was more open and easy +than that they had just crossed. They still ran on, but now without +hope of escape, merely running forward with the instinct of flight +which possesses every hunted creature. They heard the ponies' hoofs +rattle over the ridge, they heard the thud of the galloping feet close +at their backs, they heard the mocking laughs and yells of the +triumphant riders. + +"I can run no farther, Jack," gasped Mr. Haydon, and pulled up. + +Jack whirled round, _dah_ in hand, and stood at bay, his blood on fire +to have a stroke at those who hunted them. + +The riders were now not more than a score of yards away, and coming on +at the same furious speed. Scarce had Jack turned, when the leading +horseman was upon him. Jack looked up and saw the tossing mane and +fiery eyes of the pony straining to its utmost speed, and above the +tossing mane leaned forward the half-caste, his dark eyes shining with +savage fire, his mouth widened in a cruel grin. Jack sprang aside and +launched a sweeping blow at Saya Chone. The latter, with hand and +knee, swung his pony round and hurled the animal full on Jack. The +knees of the powerful beast, just rising to the first movement of the +gallop, caught the English lad square in the body and dashed him +headlong to the ground. Stunned and unconscious, Jack was left in a +heap on the sand, while the horsemen encircled the other fugitives. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +IN THE COURTYARD. + + +When Jack came to himself after that rough tumble he felt bruised from +crown to heel, and his head was aching dully. For a few moments his +mind was in a puzzle as returning consciousness began slowly to array +before him the last things he remembered. Then he came to himself with +a start, and looked round eagerly to see where he was and what had +happened to his companions. + +The first glance told him that he was once more within the deserted +city. He lay in the corner of a ruined house, bound hand and foot; two +Kachins, with muskets across their knees, squatted within six feet of +him, and watched him with a fixed stare. Over his head the sky was +still bright with sunshine, but the low rays told him that the night +was not far off. + +"They've got us after all," thought Jack bitterly. "We're in their +hands as tight as ever, and they'll take care, I know, that we don't +slip out of them again." + +It was heart-sickening that after their struggle through the pass, +their fight in the pagoda, and their escape by a way which seemed to +open for them in a magical fashion, that they should end by falling +once more into the hands of their cruel foes. As the light faded, Jack +lay and wondered what had become of his father and the native woman, +and what would be the next turn in their strange and wild adventures. + +The sun sank, and the night fell with tropic swiftness; soon he was +gazing at a velvety sky, full of bright stars. Still no one came near +them, and his guards sat before him like two statues. + +An hour after nightfall a voice called to them from the lane without, +and they obeyed the command at once. They sprang up, and removed from +Jack's ankles the thong which bound them together. Next they dragged +him to his feet and led him forward. + +At the gap in the wall, where once a door had been, two other guards +awaited the prisoner, and marched one before and one behind him. Thus +closely watched, Jack was led along the narrow lane. They went fifty +yards or more, and then entered the very courtyard into which the +secret passage opened. Here a huge fire of brushwood and broken beams +was burning, and the place was as light as day, and filled with busy +figures. Jack was led across the courtyard and placed near the +opposite wall. + +He looked round, but could catch no glimpse of his father. He saw the +native woman, their companion in misfortune, seated in a corner, a +Kachin beside her as if on guard. The woman's head was bent upon her +breast, and her child was closely clasped in her arms. She did not +look up when Jack was brought in, and her attitude was one of utter +dejection. She had already learned her fate. She was to be taken back +to the village from which she had fled, and there suffer by fire in +the presence of the other villagers. Thus would U Saw teach a lesson +of obedience to all. + +The Ruby King himself was seated on a rug spread over the stones of +the courtyard on the other side of the great fire. A meal was just +over. A smaller fire was smouldering near the entrance to the +courtyard, and beside it lay cooking-pots and the long, square baskets +in which food had been carried. Several of the retainers were still +devouring the last fragments of their portion, and the rest were +placidly smoking as they moved to and fro. U Saw was quietly pulling +at a huge cheroot, his eyes fixed dreamily on the leaping flames of +the great fire, and, save for the prisoner and his armed guards, the +whole scene had the air of a peaceful camp, of a caravan of merchants +resting for a night on their march. + +An hour passed, and the scene had but changed to this extent that the +moving figures had settled down to a man to give themselves up to the +soothing influence of tobacco. On his rug, U Saw had not stirred a +limb save to flick the ashes from his cheroot, nor had his gaze +wandered aside from the glowing flame. The quiet had become profound. +Then, in deep silence, there was a sound of footsteps approaching the +courtyard. Without turning his head, U Saw raised his hand. The +gesture was scarcely begun when Jack felt himself gripped from behind +by more than one pair of hands, and he knew among them the deadly +clutch of the Strangler. + +He was gripped at the same instant by the throat, the waist, and the +heels, nor, so cunning had been their approach, had he dreamed that an +enemy stood behind him. In an instant the thong at his wrists was +severed and his arms drawn out to their fullest extent, a rope tight +about each wrist, while his ankles were lashed together with magical +swiftness and dexterity. He was swung against the wall despite his +struggles, and his body and feet bound to an upright beam. Then the +ropes which were about his wrists were drawn taut and made fast, and +he was a helpless prisoner. + +Just as the last twist was given to the bonds, a group of four entered +the courtyard. Saya Chone, the half-caste, came first, and he was +followed by Mr. Haydon, under guard of a couple of Kachins. Now U Saw +slowly rose from his rug and moved forward, his silken kilt catching +the light and glowing with the softest, brightest hues of crimson and +gold. + +"How are you, Jack?" called out Mr. Haydon anxiously. "Any bones +broken?" + +"Not one, I believe, father," replied Jack; "only bruises." + +"If either of you speak another word," said the half-caste smoothly, +"I'll gag you till you choke." + +Jack and his father knew that much significance lay under the quiet +words, and they remained silent. U Saw and Saya Chone now spoke +together in a low tone, and then father and son were brought face to +face. + +"You are such a slippery couple, and have evaded us so often," said +the half-caste, "that we are going to pay you the compliment of +dealing with you once and for all upon the spot. Now you can be +assured that your last chance of saving your skins has arrived. Here +and now we settle the matter. You can start for Bhamo or Mandalay with +the break of dawn, or you can become food for wild beasts. It remains +with you to decide." + +"Don't say a word, father," broke in Jack impetuously. "Don't you see +that we're done for in any case? If you told, do you think such men as +these would keep their word? Dead men tell no tales." + +"That's horribly true, Jack," said his father in a low voice. + +The faces of the Ruby King and the half-caste had blackened with rage +upon hearing this swift, shrewd speech, which laid bare their motives +and intentions, for Jack had hit the mark fair in the centre. Saya +Chone thrust his face forward till it was within six inches of Jack's. + +"Bold words," he hissed viciously, "bold words; but we shall see +before we have done with you." + +At this moment there ran into the courtyard a man who panted as if he +had travelled far and fast. He bore beneath his arm a small basket +made of rushes very closely and strongly woven. The Ruby King gave a +grunt of satisfaction, and moved towards him. + +Saya Chone now sprang forward and seized the collar of Jack's tunic. +He fixed both hands in it and ripped it open. Then he gripped the +collar of the flannel shirt beneath and made a snatch at that With a +grin of vicious pleasure he rent that open too, and tore a piece of +the stuff clean out. He raised his open hand and struck the bare +breast of the English lad with a resounding slap. + +"Now we shall see," he cried, "now we shall see!" + +At sight of this Mr. Haydon had attempted to spring forward, but half +a dozen of the iron-muscled little men had leapt at him like cats, and +kept him in his place. They hung on to him and held him a close +prisoner during the scene which followed. + +Jack was little affected by the slap. He had his eyes on U Saw. He +felt strongly that the grim, silent Ruby King was the man to be feared +above all. + +U Saw and the man with the basket had retired to the other side of the +fire, and a group of Kachins watched the Ruby King respectfully from a +little distance. The watching group now gave a loud murmur of wonder +and admiration, as if they had divined some superlatively clever trick +of their master's, and were applauding it. Then U Saw turned and came +across the courtyard, his right arm oddly and stiffly extended. + +Jack watched him come, and wondered what it was that seemed to move +and writhe about his arm as he came. The Ruby King stepped into the +full light of the great, blazing pile, and Jack saw what it was that +moved, and felt his blood run cold within him. + +Upon his right hand U Saw wore a thick leathern hunting glove, and his +right arm was heavily swathed with a woollen girdle. About his arm +the body of a snake was twisted, and he held the head firmly in his +hand. A terrible groan of agony burst from Thomas Haydon's lips as he +saw the venomous reptile coiling and uncoiling its short, thick body +round the arm of the Ruby King. It was a small cobra of the most +venomous kind, a creature whose bite took effect at once, and was +followed swiftly by death. + +U Saw walked up to Jack and held the head of the horrible creature +within a foot of Jack's face. The latter tried to look steadily at the +frightful death which menaced him, and, for a few seconds, was +fascinated by the dreadful sight. The tiny, glittering, bead-like eyes +of the reptile sparkled with rage, and its hood swelled and swelled in +its fury as it sought something to strike, something upon which it +might expend its store of deadly venom. But the grip of the Ruby King +held head and neck immovable except as he wished, and the cobra had no +power save over its coils. These were in constant and furious motion. +They were now wrapped tightly round U Saw's arm, now flung loose, and +then tightened anew as the angry snake twisted and writhed and sought +to free itself from the clutch which imprisoned its head. + +Inch by inch U Saw advanced the frightful flat head until the forked +tongue played immediately before Jack's eyes, and the grip on the head +was now slightly loosened, and the cobra opened wide its horrid jaws +and disclosed its poison fangs, and made convulsive efforts to reach +and strike the face just before it. + +Jack closed his eyes and drew a long, quivering breath. This torture +was exquisite beyond any bodily pain. But there was no thought of +yielding in his heart. Among these dark-skinned Asiatics he and his +father stood alone, and it lay with them to maintain the English name +and credit in this moment when men of a weaker race would have given +way and cringed and begged for mercy. + +Summoning up his utmost resolution, Jack opened his eyes again, +resolute to deny to his enemies the smallest token of their triumph. +But he found that the horrid, gaping jaws were no longer close to his +face. U Saw had stepped a pace backwards, and was adjusting his grip +of the reptile with the greatest care. + +He grasped it anew and more tightly, and stepped forward once more. +Now he advanced the flat head little by little towards Jack's naked +breast. At last it was so close that the cobra's tongue, darting in +and out, was touching the lad's body. Ah! that was horrible. To feel +the cold, forked tongue playing upon the warm flesh above the beating +heart, that heart which would be silenced for ever were but the keen +fangs advanced an inch or so farther. + +The natural repugnance of the flesh to so horrible a situation was too +strong for the spirit, and Jack could not restrain a convulsive +shudder, which shook him from head to foot. His father groaned in rage +and agony. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY. + + +The sullen face of the Ruby King was lighted up with a smile of deep +relish. His savage nature was pleased to its depths to see the effect +this simple but exquisite torture had upon the Englishman within his +grasp. Again he drew back a pace, and waited a moment for Jack to +recover himself. Next he waved to the men who were holding Thomas +Haydon to bring their prisoner closer to the bound captive. They did +so, and now the position of those gathered in the ruined courtyard was +as follows. Jack faced the doorway, and the Ruby King and the +half-caste, with their followers clustered behind them, were on his +left. His father, under charge of the guards, was on his right, and +the fire, which was now at its highest, lighted the whole scene in +most brilliant fashion. + +Now U Saw raised his arm and stepped forward. His evil grin shone out +once more. He was enjoying himself to the full. Jack braced his back +against the post and clenched his fists as tightly as the ropes around +his wrists would allow, and set his teeth to endure without flinching. +His eyes were staring straight before him, into the blackness of the +ruined doorway. + +Suddenly into that patch of darkness there flashed a face, peeping in +on the scene, and as suddenly vanishing. Jack gave a great start and a +gasp. Was the torture turning his brain? He had known that face, but +it was not the face of any living man. It was the face of Me Dain, +their brave guide, who had fallen headlong into the raging torrent, +close-grappled with his foe. Jack's movement was hailed by a grim +chuckle from the ring of hostile faces. They misjudged it altogether. + +U Saw once more held the cobra forward, and glanced with savage +meaning at both father and son. Thomas Haydon watched the evil +creature with fascinated eyes, and saw that the Ruby King was +loosening ever so slightly, and little by little, his grasp of the +head, so that the venomous reptile was working forward through the +leathern grip towards Jack's breast. + +By tiny degrees the cobra worked itself on and on, but Jack saw it +not. His eyes were strained into the outer darkness. What had it +meant, that face? Was it a mere fancy, or was there more behind it +than he dreamed of? Then, with another great start of his frenzied, +overwrought body, he saw something else, a thing which none saw save +himself, for every eye was fixed on the deadly, wriggling serpent, +fighting to get his venomous fangs into that smooth white breast. + +There slipped into the light of the fire a little round gleaming tube +of steel. Six inches beyond the doorway was it thrust, then held still +and steady. Jack knew it for the muzzle of a Mannlicher, and realised +with a swelling heart what it meant. He turned his eyes on the dark +face of the Ruby King, who, with an air of infinite enjoyment, was +giving the writhing reptile a little and a little more liberty, and +Jack knew that U Saw was a dead man. + +A moment later the rifle spoke. There was a sharp jet of flame, a +crack, and a scream. The three were practically simultaneous, and the +scream rose from the wildly-parted lips of the Ruby King as he whirled +round and staggered against Saya Chone, a slip of lead driven through +his brain. + +The fate of the half-caste was striking and dreadful. The +mortally-smitten man flung out his right arm, and the cobra was swung +full against the man who stood beside him, and, at the same instant, +the Ruby King's grasp was loosened. Here was the chance for which the +creature, irritated to the utmost fury, had longed. It struck, struck +with all its might, and drove its deadly fangs deep into the throat of +the half-caste. + +The latter staggered back with a frightful yell, and tore the horrible +reptile from its grip, and cast it away. But the work was done, and +the full-filled poison sacs had emptied their store of venom into the +blood of Saya Chone. + +All this happened in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye; and +before a hand could be lifted among the retainers, a whirling +hurricane of lead smote with crushing fury among the close-packed +group of Kachins which had been clustered behind the leaders. A stream +of bullets was poured into them as swiftly as magazines could be +worked, and half their number went down headlong. None of the rest +stayed to face this awful and mysterious foe. To them it seemed as if +evil spirits must be encompassing their destruction, and they fled +from this dreadful attack, which leapt upon them so suddenly from the +darkness and the silence. Those who could move ran for a low place in +the ruined wall, climbed it frantically, and fled into the darkness, +yelling and terror-stricken. + +Now there burst into the courtyard three familiar figures. Buck Risley +led the way, Jim Dent followed, and Me Dain raced after. + +"Say," cried Buck, "we only dropped on this little fandango just in +time. Stand steady, Jack." With a few swift strokes of his knife he +severed Jack's bonds, and the English lad staggered aside, and was +caught by his father. They exchanged a strong, silent hand-grip, but +neither could speak. + +Jim Dent, a reloaded Mauser pistol in hand, was standing on guard. But +they had nothing to fear from the groaning wounded, nothing from the +Ruby King who lay with his evil smile fixed for ever on his dark face, +nothing from the half-caste, now writhing in the agonies of a terrible +death. + +"Say, Professor, this is great to see you again!" cried Buck joyfully, +as Mr. Haydon seized his faithful follower's hand. + +"Buck, Buck, this is wonderful," said Mr. Haydon in a shaking voice. +"You have come to our rescue at the moment of our utmost need. And +Dent and Me Dain. A thousand thanks. But what are words to tell you +how we feel?" + +"We know just how you feel, Professor," said Jim Dent. "We're only too +glad we turned up in time to put a stopper on their fiendish tricks. +Now the word is march." + +"Right, Jim," said Buck; "off we go. Come on, Me Dain." + +The Burman was bending over the body of the Ruby King, and stripping +off his rich silken girdle. + +"I come," he said, and they trooped across the courtyard together. + +Jack had not spoken a word. He had clasped the hands of his faithful +friends, but he was too overwrought and bewildered to be able to frame +his feelings into speech. He stumbled as he walked, for his limbs were +numbed from his bonds, and his father and Buck supported him. Near the +doorway the native woman waited for them. Her guard had fled, and she +had at once sprung to join her companions in flight. + +Their path ran across the open space before the pagoda. Here the +ponies of U Saw and his men had been picketed, and were now left +without watchers, for all had been drawn to the courtyard. Three of +these were caught and saddled, and led with the party till the ruins +were cleared and the open hill-side was gained. + +"Now we're right," breathed Jim Dent. "I don't reckon there was much +to fear from that lot we sent scuttling. They're dangerous enough as a +rule, but this time we rattled 'em all to pieces. Still, I'm glad to +be in the open." + +"Me Dain!" cried Jack, who was rapidly becoming himself again. "Is it +really you, alive and in the flesh? How did you escape after that +frightful fall from the ledge?" + +"I had very good luck, sahib," chuckled the Burman, "very good luck. +The Kachin was under when we drop down, and that break my fall. I very +near drowned, but at last I got on bank. Then I go on up the pass, and +run to the other sahibs." + +"Here's the road," said Jim Dent. "There's no moon, but we can see all +we want by the stars. Up you go." + +Jack, Mr. Haydon, and the native woman were set on the ponies, and +then the little cavalcade moved briskly forward, talking as they went, +and exchanging experiences. + +Me Dain's story made it plain that he had cleared the mouth of the +pass just before U Saw and his men blocked the way. He had put his +best foot forward and regained the camp, made in a solitary glen among +the hills, where Buck and Jim awaited him. The three of them had +started back at once well armed, but had travelled on foot in order +the more easily to escape observation. Thus the night had fallen by +the time they had gained the outskirts of the ruined city. They saw +the flare of the fire, and heard the voices of the encampment. Little +by little, and with the utmost care, they crept upon the Kachins and +brought aid in the very nick of time. + +"Say, I don't guess we need trouble much about these little blue-kilts +any more," remarked Buck Risley. + +"Not in the least, Buck," replied Mr. Haydon. "The death of their +leaders sets them at once free from their allegiance. I've no doubt in +the world but that the survivors will hurry back home and plunder U +Saw's house." + +"And how did that little half-caste come off?" asked Jim Dent. "I hope +he had something for his trouble." + +"Say, Jim," cried Buck, "didn't you twig that? It was about the best +touch in the show. The snake they'd got ready for Jack worked loose +when you dropped the King, and nipped the half-caste, and he hit the +long trail right away." + +"Serve him right, the little varmint," was Jim's comment. + +They had covered a league or more from the deserted city, when the +tinkle of running water fell on Jack's ears. + +"That sounds like a brook," he said. "I'm fearfully thirsty." + +"So am I," said his father. A brook it was, and they halted beside it +and drank their fill. + +"Better stop here till daylight," said Me Dain. "Not easy to find the +way over hills in the dark." So it was agreed to make a camp beside +the brook. The fugitives were quite willing, for they were exhausted +by fatigue, and when they had eaten a little of the food which Me Dain +had carried in a wallet across his shoulders, and drunk once more of +the water of the brook, they lay down and slept the deep sleep of +utter weariness. Their fresher companions, Buck and Jim, took turns to +watch through the night. + +By an hour after dawn they were all on the move, and did not halt +again till they reached the secluded hollow where the pack-ponies, +securely hobbled, were quietly grazing. In a trice Me Dain had a fire +blazing, and he and Buck soon made ready a good meal. When the meal +was over they sat in the shade of a clump of bamboos and discussed +affairs. + +Suddenly, with a grunt of surprise as if at his forgetfulness, Me Dain +sprang up and fetched the wallet which had been slung over his +shoulders. He laid it before Mr. Haydon, and began to draw forth a +long band of rich, glittering silk. + +"Why, you've brought U Saw's girdle, Me Dain," said Mr. Haydon. + +"Yes, sahib," said Me Dain, a broad smile lighting up his dark face as +he looked up at his old master. "And for why? You lose a big ruby. U +Saw got it." + +The meaning smile on his face broadened. + +Mr. Haydon slapped his knee with a crack like a pistol shot. There was +no need of words between them. + +"By Jove, Me Dain!" he cried, "I shouldn't be surprised if you are +right." + +"Right, quite right," said Me Dain. "U Saw never leave great stone +like that at home. Carry it everywhere. U Saw trust no man." + +By this time the others had grasped the meaning of this conversation. +Was the great ruby in U Saw's girdle? + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +HOW THINGS ENDED. + + +All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain. His swift, +practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft +band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby +King. + +"Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife. He made a couple of +rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his +old master. + +"Hold your hand, sahib," he said. + +Mr. Haydon held out his hand, and the Burman shook the girdle sharply. +A cry of admiration and wonder burst from every watcher as an immense +ruby fell into Mr. Haydon's palm and lay there glittering with +richest, deepest fire. + +The great expert did not need to take a second glance. "That's my +stone," he said. "Me Dain, I am indebted to you for ever. Its value to +me is beyond all money, for it represents my honour and the good faith +which I owe to those who employ me. Me Dain, my good friend, I shall +give you ten thousand rupees." + +"Oh, sahib," cried the Burman, overcome with the vision of so much +wealth, "it is too much for your servant." + +"Not a penny," said Mr. Haydon earnestly, "not a penny too much. You +have rendered me a service which no money can repay." + +Amid a buzz of wonder and surprise and delighted congratulation, the +huge stone was examined and passed from hand to hand. Then Mr. Haydon +took it again, wrapped it up in a piece of silk cut from the girdle, +and carefully bestowed it in an inner pocket. + +"I'll have another try to get to London with it," he said. "We ought +to manage it this time among us." + +Jack stood looking at his father with shining eyes, and Mr. Haydon now +turned to his son. As he did so, Buck slapped the tall lad on the +shoulder. + +"Say, Jack," he cried, "is this good enough for you? You've got your +father and the big pebble. Seems to me you've worked your way through +this business pretty successful. I reckon you've been the king pin of +this outfit." + +"Right, Buck, right," said Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep feeling. "I +was just thinking of what I owed to my boy." + +The next morning they struck south across the hills for Mogok, the +great mining town, and their journey thither, under the skilful +guidance of Me Dain, was made in safety. The native woman accompanied +them for the first half day of their journey, and then her path +branched off to the west. She took leave of them with a thousand +thanks and good wishes, and, from the store of ready money, carried +on one of the pack-ponies, she was furnished with a bag of silver +pieces which would make her a rich woman when she reached her native +village. + +Her parting words were mysterious. She said, "Tell the young sahib +that he will find that I have not forgotten him." + +Me Dain asked her what she meant, but, with a smile, she refused to +explain, and presently was lost to sight along a forest path, and they +saw her no more. + +From Mogok the travellers pushed on straight to Mandalay, where, +through a merchant of his acquaintance, Mr. Haydon obtained sufficient +money to pay Me Dain the reward he had promised. So that this time the +Burman retired to his native village with wealth beyond anything he +had ever dreamed of. + +This business detained them in Mandalay for some days, but one evening +Mr. Haydon said, "We'll take the first train to-morrow morning," and +the others nodded agreement. + +Jack went to his room to pack the big bag which he had bought to +contain his share of the baggage. The latter had been carried to the +room he occupied in the hotel, and he now began to look over it and +lay things in order. Presently he came to a torn flannel shirt, and he +looked at it with interest. It was the shirt which the half-caste had +rent from his breast, and he had replaced it with a spare one which +had been among their store. He raised it, and it felt oddly heavy. He +unrolled it, and found that it was wrapped round a small parcel. + +"What's this?" murmured Jack. "I never wrapped anything up in this +shirt." + +He took up the parcel and examined it. The outer covering was of +native cloth of a dull blue shade. Jack wondered where he had seen +such cloth before, then remembered that the head-dress of the native +woman, their companion in so adventurous an escape, had been made of +it. + +"Looks like a bit of that great bundle of stuff she twisted round and +round her head," reflected Jack. "Let's see what she's wrapped up for +a keepsake." + +But the chuckle with which these thoughts passed through his mind was +suddenly cut short. A lamp burned brightly on the table beside him. He +untied the scrap of cloth which was fastened about the parcel, and +unwrapped the folds. He gave a jump of astonishment and a cry of +amazement. For there before him, gleaming softly and richly in the +strong light of the lamp, lay a heap of magnificent jewels, glorious +rubies every one. + +He was still staring entranced at this extraordinary find among his +traps when the door was opened and a head thrust in. + +"Say, Jack," began the newcomer. + +"Buck!" cried the lad, "run and fetch my father and Jim, and come back +with them." + +Buck hurried away, and in less than a minute the four of them were +gathered about the heap of precious stones. + +"Oh, thunder!" breathed Jim Dent, in a soft tone of amazed wonder. + +"Say, Jack, who've you been stickin' up on the trail?" murmured Buck. +"Well, if they ain't got a shine on 'em!" and he could say no more. + +Mr. Haydon was whistling softly, his eyebrows raised. At last he +opened his mouth. "I fancy we've seen these before, Jack," he said. + +"Rather," said his son. "These are the rubies that lay among the bones +of the priests in the secret chamber. I dropped to that at once." + +"We never thought of them again," went on Mr. Haydon, "but the woman +gathered them and carried them off. Now she has passed them on to you +in this fashion. She must have tucked them into the baggage at some +moment when our backs were turned." + +"And this is what she meant by saying that he'd find she hadn't +forgotten him," broke in Buck. "Say, Jack, you've struck it rich this +time." + +The fingers of the expert were busy at the next moment among the rich +stones. Mr. Haydon handled each carefully, sorted them, then took a +pencil and began to appraise them roughly on a scrap of paper. While +he did this, Jack related in a low voice to the other two the story of +the secret chamber in the pagoda. + +"Well," said Mr. Haydon at length, "there are thirty-seven altogether. +They vary very much in size, but all are of excellent colour. Speaking +in round figures, they are worth about ninety thousand pounds." + +"Bully for you, Jack!" exclaimed Buck. + +"Bully for all of us, Buck," replied Jack quietly. "If you fancy I'm +going to pocket these, you've missed your kick by a long chalk. We'll +all share and share alike. Where would my father and myself have been +if you hadn't come to the rescue?" + +"Right, Jack, quite right," said Mr. Haydon. "But you will count me +out, if you please. We'll realise this parcel of stones in London, and +then divide the money squarely among you three;" and so it was +settled. + +"Then I'll come home with you!" cried Jim Dent. "I've had enough of +Rangoon, and this trip'll set me up as a rich man for life." + +"I hope the woman kept a few stones for herself," said Jack. His +father laughed. + +"If she's a wise woman she most certainly did not, my boy," he +answered. "The possession of rubies would lead to her getting her +throat cut as sure as she had a throat. No, no. She's much better off +with her bag of rupees." + +Five weeks later, about eleven o'clock on a Thursday morning, Jack and +his father walked into the city, and sought the offices of Messrs Lane +and Baumann. They had come through from Rangoon without a hitch, and +had run into Charing Cross by the boat-train the day before. + +As they walked along the crowded streets, Mr. Haydon smiled, and said +quietly to his son, "You've seen a thing or two, Jack, since last you +paid a visit to Lane & Baumann." + +"I have, father," said Jack. "It seems years ago since I was here +instead of a few months." + +Mr. Haydon had insisted on Jack accompanying him on this visit. "It +was in their offices that you vowed to begin your quest, Jack," he +said; "and in their offices you shall end it, as far as the great +stone is concerned." + +They were expected, and were at once shown up to Mr. Lane. The latter +sprang forward and greeted Mr. Haydon and Jack most warmly. + +"Welcome home," he said, "welcome home. I am delighted to see you safe +and sound in England once more, Mr. Haydon." + +"And I am very pleased to see you, Mr. Lane," said the famous expert, +"and glad to say that I have brought home in safety, after all, that +big stone, an account of which I cabled to you." + +He drew from his pocket the great ruby still wrapped in the fragment +cut from U Saw's girdle, and laid it before Mr. Lane. The latter gazed +spell-bound at its size and beauty. + +"A marvellous stone, Mr. Haydon!" he murmured at last. "A marvellous +stone! Ah," he went on, "I wonder what Baumann would say to-day if he +were confronted with this wonderful proof of his folly in leaving us." + +"Mr. Baumann is no longer your partner?" cried Thomas Haydon. + +"No," said Mr. Lane. "We disagreed, and he withdrew from the +partnership." Mr. Lane had too much delicacy to say that the quarrel +had arisen over their respective opinions as to Thomas Haydon's +honesty. Finding that he could not induce the senior partner to make +public what he believed to be the theft of the great jewel, Baumann +had broken off his connection with the firm. + +"I have a long story to tell you, but this is not the time to tell +it," said Jack's father. "You are too busy." + +"Will you both dine with me to-night?" cried the great merchant. "Then +we can have a good talk over things," and the invitation was accepted. + +As Jack and his father walked away from the offices, the former +remarked, "In one way I was much disappointed that Baumann was not +there. It would have been a cheerful arrangement to make him eat his +words. But on the whole it just caps the affair nicely to find that he +won't benefit by it. Now we'll turn our parcel of rubies into cash and +set up Jim and Buck with a good banking account apiece." + +His father nodded absently. Between his fingers he held the piece of +shining, delicate silk in which the great ruby had been wrapped. + +"I see you've brought the scrap of U Saw's girdle with you," said +Jack. + +"Yes, my boy," returned his father. "I shall never part with this +patch of silk. It stands in my eyes for a good deal. I am here safe +and sound, and the big stone is at last in the right hands." + +"Yes," said Jack quietly, "with the aid of staunch friends, I have +come to the end of my quest." + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + +***** This file should be named 19877-8.txt or 19877-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/7/19877/ + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/19877-8.zip b/19877-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d894eb --- /dev/null +++ b/19877-8.zip diff --git a/19877-h.zip b/19877-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7efd15f --- /dev/null +++ b/19877-h.zip diff --git a/19877-h/19877-h.htm b/19877-h/19877-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b86d38 --- /dev/null +++ b/19877-h/19877-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10904 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + a[name] { position:absolute; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; background-color:#FFFFFF; + text-decoration:none; } + a:visited {color:#0000ff; background-color:#FFFFFF; + text-decoration:none; } + a:hover { color:#ff0000; background-color:#FFFFFF; } + + table { width:80%; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .tocch { text-align: right; vertical-align: top;} + .tocpg {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + + .f1 { font-size:smaller; } + .sig { margin-left:70%; } + .img1 { border-style:groove; border-color:#FF0000; border-width:thin; } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style:normal; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; + font-size: smaller; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack Haydon's Quest + +Author: John Finnemore + +Illustrator: J. Jellicoe + +Release Date: November 20, 2006 [EBook #19877] +Last updated: January 3, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + + + + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/image_001.jpg" alt="Cover_Page" width="600" height="651" /></div> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_1" id="Pic_1"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_002.jpg" width="450" height="634" alt="IN RANGOON." title="IN RANGOON." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">IN RANGOON.</span> +</div> +<p> </p> + + +<h1>JACK HAYDON'S<br /> +QUEST</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>JOHN FINNEMORE</h2> +<p> </p> + +<h3><i>CONTAINING EIGHT FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS<br /> + +IN COLOUR FROM DRAWINGS BY J. JELLICOE</i></h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>PHILADELPHIA</h3> +<h3>J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</h3> +<h3>LONDON: ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK</h3> +<h3>1907</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + + + + + + + + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr><td class="tocch f1">CHAPTER</td> + <td></td> + <td></td><td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">I.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">The Attack on the Heath</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">II.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">A Mysterious Disappearance</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_12">12</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">III.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">The Big Ruby</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_25">25</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Buck sees Light</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_35">35</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">V.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">The Spy</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_41">41</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">In Rangoon</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_46">46</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Up the River</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_57">57</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">VIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">The Attack on the Sampan</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_62">62</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">IX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">A Close Call</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_69">69</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">X.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Dacoits</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_77">77</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Beleaguered</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_83">83</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">A Fight for Life</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_91">91</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">A Cunning Trick</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_98">98</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">Jack's Plan</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_105">105</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">In the Jungle</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_113">113</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">The Bridge and the Ford</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_120">120</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">A Frightful Peril</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_128">128</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XVIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">The Combat in the River</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_132">132</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XIX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">The Village Festival</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_142">142</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">The Dancing Girl</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_149">149</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">Jack Finds Himself in Bad Hands</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_156">156</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">The Two Elephants</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_166">166</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">The Panthay Wood-Cutters</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_175">175</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXIV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">An Unwelcome Meeting</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_182">182</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">The Cave in the Ravine</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_188">188</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXVI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">The Resolve of Buck and Jim</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_195">195</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXVII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">The Fight in the Tunnel</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_199">199</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXVIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">The Ruse of Saya Chone</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_205">205</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXIX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">The Torture by Fire</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_210">210</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">The Stronghold of the Ruby King</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_215">215</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">Father and Son</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_225">225</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">The Horror in the Swamp</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_235">235</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII">The Pothoodaw</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_244">244</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXIV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">The Hiding-Place and the Thief</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_253">253</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">The Flight from the Valley</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_262">262</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXVI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI">Penned in the Pass</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_272">272</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXVII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII">How They made a Rope</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_281">281</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXVIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII">In the Deserted City</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_290">290</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XXXIX.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIX">The Secret Chamber</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_299">299</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XL.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XL">The Battle on the Stairs</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_313">313</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XLI.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLI">The Secret Passage</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_319">319</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XLII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLII">In the Courtyard</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_328">328</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XLIII.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIII">The Face at the Doorway</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_336">336</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td class="tocch">XLIV.</td> + <td> </td> + <td><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_XLIV">How Things Ended</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_344">344</a> </td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + + +<table summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_1">In Rangoon</a></span>,</td> +<td><i><a href="#Pic_1">Frontispiece</a></i></td> +</tr> +<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg f1"><i>Page</i></td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_2">The Attack on the Monastery</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_108">108</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_3">The Danger at the Ford</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_130">130</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_4">The Dancing Girl</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_154">154</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_5">A Sudden Alarm</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_186">186</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_6">The Rescue of the Native Child</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_234">234</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_7">The Midnight Thief</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_258">258</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap"><a href="#Pic_8">The Intercepted Flight</a></span>,</td> +<td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_326">326</a> </td></tr> +</table> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>JACK HAYDON'S QUEST.</h2> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK ON THE HEATH.</h3> + + +<p>Jack Haydon, prefect of Rushmere School and captain of the first +fifteen, walked swiftly out of the school gates and turned along the +high road. He had leave to go to the little town of Longhampton, three +miles away, to visit a day-scholar, a great friend of his, now on the +sick list.</p> + +<p>He was alone, and he swung along at a cracking pace, for he could walk +as well as he could run, and a finer three-quarter had never been +known at Rushmere. He was a tall, powerful lad, nearly nineteen years +of age, five foot ten and a half inches in his stockings, and turning +the scale at twelve stone five. At the present moment he carried not +an ounce of spare flesh, for he was in training for the great match, +Rushmere <i>v.</i> Repton, and his weight was compact of solid bone, +muscle, and sinew. As he stepped along the highway, moving with the +easy grace of a well-built athlete, he looked the very picture of a +handsome English lad, at one of the finest moments of his life, the +point where youth and manhood meet.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>The road he followed was called a high road, but the name clung to it +from old use rather than because of present service. Eighty years +before it had been a famous coaching road, along which the galloping +teams had whirled the mails, but now it had fallen into decay, and was +little used except by people passing from Rushmere to Longhampton. A +mile from the school it ran across a lonely, unenclosed piece of +heath, the side of the way being bordered by clumps of holly, thorn, +and furze.</p> + +<p>Halfway across this desolate stretch of country, Jack was surprised by +seeing a man step from behind a thick holly bush and place himself +directly in the lad's way. As Jack approached, the man held up his +hand.</p> + +<p>"Stop," he said, "I want to speak to you."</p> + +<p>Jack stopped in sheer surprise, and looked at the speaker in wonder. +What could the man want with him? At a glance he saw the man was not +English, though upon closer examination he could not place the type. +The stranger's skin was darker than an Englishman's, but not darker +than many a Spaniard's. His eyes were large and black and liquid; +their look was now crafty and a trifle menacing; his hair was lank and +intensely black. In build he was very slight, with thin arms and legs. +Jack's idea was that if he had been a little darker he might very well +have been a Hindoo.</p> + +<p>"And what, my friend, may you want with me?" said Jack genially.</p> + +<p>"This morning you received a letter from your father," said the dusky +stranger.</p> + +<p>"How under the sun do you know that?" asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> Jack; "and what if I did? +I don't see where your interest comes in."</p> + +<p>"I wish to see that letter. You had better hand it over at once."</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever apply for a further stock of cheek, my little man," +said Jack, "for you've got all you need, and a little bit over."</p> + +<p>"The letter is almost certainly in your pocket," said the stranger in +perfect English, yet pronounced with a curiously odd lisp and click, +"and I must see it."</p> + +<p>"It's in my pocket all right, confound your cheek," replied Jack, "and +there it will stay. Come, get a move on you, and clear out of my way."</p> + +<p>"I shall not get out of your way," said the other. "I shall stop you +until I have read the letter."</p> + +<p>"I don't know what lunatic asylum is short of your cheerful presence +to-day," remarked Jack, "and if you don't clear out quick I shall +certainly rush you. In which case, I beg you to observe that I am, +even if I say it myself, a pretty stiff tackler, and about three stone +heavier than you."</p> + +<p>The man laughed mockingly and waved his hand, as if making very light +of Jack's purpose.</p> + +<p>"I assure you," he said in a soft voice, and giving once more his +laugh of light mockery, "that it would be much better for you to hand +over the letter at once. I do not wish to hurt you, but I have not the +least objection to do so if it becomes necessary."</p> + +<p>Jack's warm blood was fired at once, and he pulled himself together +for a swift charge which would fill this stranger with surprised +regret for what he had brought upon himself. But, for a second, +something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> checked him; a strange, mysterious feeling came over him as +he wondered what lay behind all this. He stood, though he knew it not, +at a great parting of the ways. Behind him lay his happy days of +triumph on the football meadow and the cricket field. How was he to +know that this dark, slight figure before him meant that a strange, +new life was opening out to him, a life of wild adventures in far-off +lands, in lands where the memory of English meadows would seem like +thoughts and dreams of another life. Jack Haydon knew nothing of this; +yet he paused for a moment as some strange prevision seized upon him +and held him in its grip. Then he brushed away this odd influence, and +was back at once in the present.</p> + +<p>"For the last time, clear out," said Jack. The man laughed, and Jack +made a swift leap at him. They were not three yards apart, but Jack +never reached his man. Without a sign, without a sound, someone sprang +upon him from behind, flung a cord over his head, and seized him in a +strangling grip. Jack was as strong as a young bull, but in this +awful, noiseless clutch he was helpless. He fought madly to throw off +his unseen assailant, but he fought in vain. He felt a noose close +upon his throat, and his eyeballs began to start out and his head to +swim. In front of him stood the mysterious stranger, who had moved +neither hand nor foot, and Jack's last conscious recollection was of +the quiet, smiling face, and the mocking laugh once more rang in his +ears. Suddenly the frightful, strangling clutch seemed to tighten, the +blood drummed madly in his ears as if every vein was bursting; then he +knew no more.</p> + +<p>When Jack Haydon came to himself, he found<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> that he was in the same +spot, and that someone was chafing his hands and pouring water on his +face. He gave a deep sigh, and a well-known voice said: "Thank God, +Haydon's coming round. Whatever could have been the matter with the +poor lad? What does this mark round his throat mean?"</p> + +<p>Jack opened his eyes and saw Dr. Lawrence, the headmaster of Rushmere +School, bending over him. Near at hand stood Colonel Keppel, a +gentleman residing in the neighbourhood. The Colonel had been driving +Dr. Lawrence back from Longhampton, and his trap stood close by. At +the present moment the Colonel held a hat from which water was +dripping. He had fetched it from a pool near at hand.</p> + +<p>Jack gulped once or twice, then began to speak. The two gentlemen +heard his story with the utmost surprise.</p> + +<p>"Garrotters!" cried Dr. Lawrence, "I never heard of such an outrage in +this neighbourhood before. What a frightful thing! Yes, yes, that +explains the mark on your throat. Their object must have been robbery. +What have they stolen from you, Haydon?" But the mystery now deepened. +Jack's watch and chain, his purse, everything he had worth stealing, +were perfectly safe and untouched. Suddenly Jack started up and thrust +his hand into his pocket. "The letter! the letter!" he cried. He drew +out several letters and looked over them. "My father's letter has +gone!" he said.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel, pointing to a sheet of paper +fluttering over the heath about thirty yards away. He ran and fetched +it. "This is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> letter," said Jack, "the letter I received from my +father this morning."</p> + +<p>"But what an extraordinary thing that you should be attacked in this +manner, Haydon, in order that this man may read a private letter. Is +there anything in it, may I ask, to explain such a strange +proceeding?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir, that I know of; nothing in the least. My father says +nothing there but what anyone may see. I beg that you and Colonel +Keppel will glance over it; you will then see how ordinary it is."</p> + +<p>The two gentlemen demurred, but Jack insisted, and they ran their eyes +over what Mr. Haydon had written. "Purely and simply an ordinary +letter from a father abroad to his son," said the Doctor; "it seems +madness to go to such lengths to gain a glimpse of such a letter."</p> + +<p>"All the same, young Haydon was quite right in not giving up his +father's note to such rogues to read, whatever their purpose may have +been," remarked the Colonel.</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite so, quite so," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "They had no right +whatever to see his private correspondence. By the way, Haydon, I see +your father is on his way home. This is posted at Cairo. In what part +of the East has he been staying lately?"</p> + +<p>"He has been in Burmah for some time, sir," replied Jack, "but I do +not know exactly what he has been doing. I rather fancy he went out to +survey some ruby-mines for a big London firm."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said the Doctor, "I have seen him referred to many times +as a famous ruby expert."</p> + +<p>At this moment Colonel Keppel came towards them with something in his +hand. He had started away<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> after concluding his last speech, and had +gone in the direction where he had seen the letter fluttering. Now he +was returning.</p> + +<p>"Here is something they dropped, something which throws a flood of +light on the affair in one way, and makes it much stranger in +another," he remarked in a grave voice, holding up his find. It was a +curiously-plaited thong of raw hide, with faded strips of silk worked +into the plaits.</p> + +<p>"The cord with which Haydon was garrotted!" cried Dr. Lawrence. "They +dropped it."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Colonel slowly, "but this does not mean common +garrotters. The fact that they stole nothing really disposes of that. +This means a much darker and more terrible business."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?" cried the headmaster.</p> + +<p>"Thuggee," said Colonel Keppel very gravely.</p> + +<p>"Thugs, Colonel!" said Dr. Lawrence in a tone of stupefaction. "Are +you serious? Thugs on the heath here, in our quiet, familiar country?"</p> + +<p>"This is a Thug noose, at any rate," said Colonel Keppel. "I know it +very well. I served twenty-seven years among the hill-tribes of +northern India in one capacity and another, and once I served in a +Thug country, and I shall never forget it. The way young Haydon was +handled suggests Thuggee. No common garrotter could have overcome such +a fine, powerful young fellow in that fashion. But the skill of these +Thugs is a thing truly diabolical. I remember one instance well. One +night, just upon dusk, two men of my regiment were entering the gate +of the cantonments. The guard saw them pass, and one was relating a +story to the other. The man telling the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> story expected his comrade to +laugh at the conclusion of the anecdote. Hearing nothing, he turned +and found that he was walking alone and talking to the empty air. +Thinking his comrade had slipped aside and played a trick upon him by +leaving him to himself, he went on to the barrack-room. Later the +second man was missing, and inquiries were made. A search followed, +and the dead body of the unfortunate man was found under the wall of +the cantonments. He had been seized and strangled by Thugs when +actually walking beside a comrade, and the latter had known nothing of +it.</p> + +<p>"That shows frightful skill and cunning, Colonel," said Dr. Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"It does indeed," said the other, "and I could relate a dozen such +stories. But why Thugs should be here and attack Haydon seems a most +extraordinary mystery. How do you feel now, Haydon?"</p> + +<p>"Much better, sir," replied Jack. "My throat's a bit stiff, but for +the rest I am none the worse."</p> + +<p>"You've had a wonderful escape, my boy," said Colonel Keppel; "there +are not many who have felt a Thug noose and lived to say what it was +like. But now, Doctor, what are we to do? There must be some inquiry +made into this."</p> + +<p>"Of course, of course," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "You are a magistrate, +Colonel; what do you recommend?"</p> + +<p>"We must put it into the hands of the police at once," said Colonel +Keppel. "The fellows cannot have got far. We saw no sign of them on +the road, so they must have slipped away over the heath, very probably +as soon as they heard the sound of wheels in the distance. Now, +Haydon, jump up at the back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> of the trap. The cob will soon run us up +to the constable's cottage in Rushmere."</p> + +<p>All three climbed into the Colonel's dog-cart, and away went the brown +cob at a slashing pace for Rushmere. Tom Buck, the Rushmere constable, +was just returning from a round, and he touched his hat respectfully +to the gentlemen. Colonel Keppel told the story, and Buck slapped the +gate-post with his open hand.</p> + +<p>"Well, gentlemen," he said in surprise, "then they are the very men +I've just been hearing about."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel. "Where have you heard of them?"</p> + +<p>"From Parsons, the postman, he drives the mail-cart, you know, sir, +from Longhampton. This morning, just after six, he was coming through +the Chase, the wood beyond the heath, when two men slipped out o' the +trees before him and made a dash at the horse's head. There was hardly +light enough to see 'em, an' they'd ha' stopped him as easy as could +be if he hadn't been drivin' a young, fresh, chestnut mare. She's that +wild he daren't use a whip to her, but seein' these suspicious +characters, he snatches the whip out and gives her a cut as hard as he +could lay it on. Off she went like a shot, took the bit between her +teeth and bolted. As for the men jumpin' at her head, it was all they +could do to save themselves from being run down and trodden underfoot. +Parsons luckily managed to keep her on the road, and after she'd +galloped a couple o' miles or so, he managed to pull her in all of a +lather."</p> + +<p>"Then those rascals meant to raid the mail-bags to find your letter, +Haydon," said Colonel Keppel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> "They seem to have been thoroughly +posted as to its time of arrival. Missing the postman, they hung +about, and a strange chance delivered you into their hands."</p> + +<p>"It's certainly a most mysterious business, sir," replied Jack. "But +why they should want to see so simple and ordinary a letter, who they +are, and what they're after, are altogether beyond me."</p> + +<p>"We must try to get hold of them," said Colonel Keppel, "then we shall +perhaps be able to fathom the mystery." He gave orders to Buck, who +went off at once to follow, if possible, the track of the strangers +across the heath, to inquire at cottages, and do his utmost to trace +them.</p> + +<p>"For my part," said Colonel Keppel, "I shall drive back at once to +Longhampton, and see the superintendent. The railway must be watched, +and every constable for miles round be warned by telegraph to keep a +look out for the rascals."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind to take so much trouble, Colonel," said Dr. +Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"I'm working for myself as much as anyone," laughed the other. "My +wife and daughters use that road continually, and very often they are +driving alone in a pony-carriage. It is imperative that the +neighbourhood be cleared of such desperate characters."</p> + +<p>He drove away at once, and Dr. Lawrence and Jack walked up the hill to +the school. Jack had given up the idea of his visit to Longhampton.</p> + +<p>"If I were you, Haydon," said the Head, "I should go and rest a +little. Sit down quietly in your study for an hour or two; you must +feel badly shaken by your awful experience."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Jack, "I will do as you say, though as a +matter of fact I am practically recovered now. Luckily, I'm in +first-rate condition, I'm not bothered with nerves."</p> + +<p>"No," smiled Dr. Lawrence, "I suppose not. Still, I should be careful +for a time if I were you."</p> + +<p>At the Doctor's gate they parted, and Jack went to his own study and +sat down. He could not keep his mind from his extraordinary adventure. +Why had those fellows seized him, and what did they want? Would they +be caught, and then would their secret be discovered? His mind worked +over these points again and again, like a squirrel working the wheel +in his cage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3>A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.</h3> + + +<p>Four days later Jack Haydon was in his study, his heels on the +mantelpiece, his eyes fastened on the pages of a novel, when there was +a tap at his door and a telegram was brought in. He broke open the +envelope and read the contents in growing surprise and wonder. Then a +look of uneasiness came into his eyes. It was a cablegram from +Brindisi, and ran, "Come at once. Most urgent," and was signed +"Risley." Jack went across to the Doctor's house, sent up his name, +and was bidden to go up to the study. Here he laid the cablegram +before the Head.</p> + +<p>"Who is Risley, Haydon?" asked Dr. Lawrence.</p> + +<p>"My father's man, sir," replied Jack. "It seems to me that they must +have got as far as Brindisi on their way home. I feel wretchedly +uneasy. Something tells me that things have gone wrong with my +father."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not," said Dr. Lawrence. "There is no word of ill-news +here. The urgency may be quite on another score."</p> + +<p>"I should like to start at once, sir," said Jack. "I know my way about +the Continent very well. I have spent two or three vacations in +Italy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Quite so, quite so," said Dr. Lawrence. "Have you plenty of money for +the journey, Haydon?"</p> + +<p>"I don't need more than sufficient to carry me to London, sir," +replied Jack. "I shall go there to Mr. Buxton, my father's friend, who +manages all his business affairs, and he will supply me with funds."</p> + +<p>Jack was on fire to be off to Brindisi and see what was wrong. He made +short work of his packing, and within an hour he was driving to +Longhampton to catch the London express. He caught it with scarcely +two minutes to spare, and was soon whirling towards the great city. A +short distance from Longhampton, he caught a glimpse of Rushmere +School in the distance on its hill, and the strip of heath country +running up to the foot of the slope. This brought to mind his +adventure, which remained as mysterious an affair as ever. The police +had been most active, stations had been watched, inquiries had been +made in every direction, but all to no result. The Thugs had vanished +and left no trace behind. But the thought of his encounter on the +heath soon faded from Jack's mind. It was crushed out by the pressing +question of the moment. What was the matter at Brindisi? Why had +Risley cabled and not his father? Had something happened to his +father? Jack felt wretchedly uneasy, for he and his father were bound +together by no ordinary ties of affection.</p> + +<p>In the first place, he had, as far as he knew, no other living +relation. His mother had been dead for many years, and his father was +the only close friend that Jack knew. Then the elder Haydon had always +been a great hero in his son's eyes. His profession of mining engineer +had carried him into many wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> corners of the world, and the store of +marvellous tales which he would pour forth for the boy's delight had +made Jack's holidays a time of intense pleasure. Mr. Haydon had always +made a point, if it was possible, of keeping himself free for such +times, and he and Jack had spent the weeks joyously, until the day for +return to school had become a Black Monday indeed in the boy's eyes.</p> + +<p>As Jack mused over memories of other days, his anxiety to know what +was wrong at Brindisi grew moment by moment, and the flying express +seemed to crawl, so great was his impatience to be in London, where he +expected to get further news from Mr. Buxton. But he was destined to +learn something long before he saw Mr. Buxton. The express screamed +into an important junction and pulled up for five minutes. Three +fellow-passengers got out, and left Jack to himself. A boy came along +the platform shouting, "London Pay-pers," and Jack bought a <i>Daily +Telegraph</i>.</p> + +<p>He turned to the football news, and was reading it, when the train +pulled out and shot forward once more towards London. But the accounts +of his beloved sport failed to interest him, and he turned the paper +over listlessly, idly scanning one big sheet after another. Suddenly +the word imprinted on his brain caught his eye. "Brindisi"—here was +some scrap of news from Brindisi.</p> + +<p>What was it? Jack folded the paper, and then a second name seemed to +leap at him from the sheet. His own name! Haydon, Brindisi. What now? +His eyes darted over the paragraph, and he drew a long, gasping +breath. This, then, was the explanation of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> the cablegram. Over and +over again Jack read the paragraph, striving to grasp what it all +meant, striving to seize the inner meaning. The paragraph was short +and to the point. It ran:—</p> + +<p class="center">"STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE.</p> + +<p class="center">"FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.</p> + +<p class="sig">"<span class="smcap">Brindisi</span>, <i>Tuesday</i>.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">"There is much stir here over the mysterious disappearance of Mr. +Thomas Haydon, the famous mining expert and engineer. He arrived here +on Sunday, and it was believed that he intended to travel to England +by the mail-train. He went for a walk on Sunday evening, but did not +return to his hotel, where his man and his baggage were awaiting him. +Since he left his hotel there has been no sign of him, and the +authorities are making a diligent search."</p> + +<p>His father had disappeared? How? Why? Jack could make nothing of it, +and he stared at the paper with pale face and perplexed eyes. It was +so contrary to his every idea of his father, this extraordinary +disappearance. Thomas Haydon was the last man in the world to set +tongues wagging and to give anxiety to friends by such a trick. There +was something very strange at the back of this, and Jack struck the +paper with his open hand. "Foul Play!" he murmured to himself, and +then, for he was alone in the carriage, he said it aloud, "Foul Play!"</p> + +<p>Jack glanced at his watch. The train was due at St. Pancras in an +hour. How slowly that hour dragged! Now that he knew this momentous +piece of news, Jack burned more fiercely than ever to be in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> the midst +of affairs and doing something to clear up this strange mystery which +had gathered about his father's name. At last, with a thrill of joy, +he heard the engine give its warning shriek as it ran into the big +station. He had brought nothing but a Gladstone bag with him, and he +had it in his hand, and the door of the carriage open, before the +train drew up. He made a leap at the first hansom, and shouted, +"Lincoln's Inn. Drive fast," and away he rattled into London streets.</p> + +<p>There was a good cob in the shafts, and little time was lost on the +way. Jack paid the man double fare for the excellent speed he had +made, then bounded upstairs to the landing upon which Mr. Buxton's +chambers opened. In answer to his knock, a tall, thin man with a long +beard came to the door, and Jack gave a cry of joy. "You are at home, +then, Mr. Buxton. How glad I am! It has been my one terror that you +might be away in the country."</p> + +<p>"No, Jack, I'm here," said Mr. Buxton, shaking hands. "I've been +expecting you every knock I've heard. I suppose you've seen the +papers."</p> + +<p>"Yes," cried Jack, "I saw the <i>Daily Telegraph.</i> Are there any further +particulars in the others?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mr. Buxton, leading the way into his sitting-room. "The +<i>Telegraph</i> has as much as anyone."</p> + +<p>"Have you heard anything? Do you know anything?" cried Jack eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing but what I've seen in the papers," replied the other. "I'm +altogether at sea. I can't fathom in the least what it all means. What +have you had?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing but this cablegram," said the lad, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> handed it over. Mr. +Buxton read it aloud slowly, and nodded. "From Risley," he said. "Of +course he wants to get you on the spot at once."</p> + +<p>"I shall start without any delay," said Jack. "Isn't there a +boat-train to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Buxton, glancing at a clock on the mantelpiece, "but +there's plenty of time for that. Sit down and talk it over, and +besides, you must have something to eat."</p> + +<p>He rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to set out a +meal in the adjoining apartment: he gave Jack a chair beside the fire, +and took one opposite to him and began to fill a pipe.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Buxton," said Jack earnestly, "there's something out of the +common in this. My father has met with foul play. Before I know +anything else I feel sure of that."</p> + +<p>Mr. Buxton struck a match and puffed out several clouds of smoke. Then +he tossed the match into the fire, and nodded through the tobacco +clouds. "I agree with you, Jack," he said. "This is the queerest thing +I ever came across in my life. I've known Tom Haydon, boy and man, +this forty-five years, and he's as straight as a gun-barrel. If they +expected him back at that hotel, if Risley expected him back, then he +meant to come back. And if he didn't get back, it was because he was +interfered with. I'd stake a hand on that."</p> + +<p>Jack nodded with glistening eyes. "And I'm going to see why he didn't +come back," said the lad.</p> + +<p>"I'd come with you if I could," said Mr. Buxton, "but at present I can +no more leave London than the Monument can. I'm as fast by the leg, +held by press<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> of work, as a bear tethered to a stump. How do you +stand for funds?"</p> + +<p>"I've only got a sovereign or two in my pocket," said Jack. "I was +depending on you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "of course you were. I made time an hour +or so ago to run over your father's accounts. There's plenty to draw +on." He went over to his desk and ran his fingers through a bundle of +papers. "Here it is," he remarked. "At the present moment your father +is worth the respectable sum of forty-seven thousand two hundred and +nineteen pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence; so he certainly +hasn't run away from his creditors."</p> + +<p>Jack nodded. "I'll start straight for Brindisi to-night, Mr. Buxton. I +can't lose a minute till I get on to the spot and talk with Buck +Risley."</p> + +<p>Mr. Buxton nodded. "I quite understand your feelings, Jack," he +replied. "I've wondered whether the matter might not have a very +simple explanation after all. One thing struck me. Has your father +ever said anything about his health to you? You know he's been a great +deal in India and Burmah. It's a very easy thing to get a touch of the +sun, and that will often cause a man to lose the sense of his identity +and get lost for a time."</p> + +<p>Jack shook his head. "I've never heard him mention such a thing," he +said. "He's always been perfectly fit whenever I've seen him."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "and whenever I've seen him, too. He has +a wonderful constitution. But, you know, the possibility crossed my +mind, and I mentioned it."</p> + +<p>At this moment the servant announced that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> meal was ready, and +Jack did his best to eat something. It was a very poor best, however, +for he was too anxious to be on his way to be able to eat, and he was +relieved when Mr. Buxton said it was time to start and sent the +servant for a cab.</p> + +<p>On their way to Charing Cross they did not talk much: conjecture was a +pretty useless thing, and, in their present state of utter lack of +information, conjecture was the only thing possible.</p> + +<p>The bustle of getting a ticket and finding a seat occupied most of the +ten minutes they had to spare before the train started, and, as the +swift express glided out, Mr. Buxton waved his hat to Jack leaning +through the window, and cried, "Good luck!"</p> + +<p>Of Jack's swift scurry across the Channel and over the Continent it is +not necessary to enter into details. He made the journey with the +utmost speed, and chafed at every delay. At last the train ran into +the station of Brindisi, and Jack hung half out of the window, his +eyes searching the crowd for Risley, to whom he had telegraphed his +time of arrival.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Buck," sang out Jack, as a middle-sized, stiff-built man of +five and thirty ran up to his carriage door.</p> + +<p>"Glad to see you, Jack," said Buck Risley, as they shook hands. "Very +glad to see you."</p> + +<p>"Any news?" snapped Jack.</p> + +<p>"Not a word," replied Buck gravely, "not a word. Is this your bag?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack sombrely, for he was very disappointed. He had been +hoping to hear that something had been found out, or that his father +had returned.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>Buck took Jack's gladstone, called a carriage, and gave the name of +the hotel. He did not speak till they were rattling along the streets +of Brindisi.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack, this beats the band," he said. "I can't make a guess +what's happened to the Professor."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon and Buck Risley had first met in a "wild-cat" mining camp +in Dakota. <i>The Lone Wolf Clarion</i> had introduced the English engineer +to the local community as Professor Haydon, and Mr. Haydon had been +the Professor ever since to his part-comrade, part-servant.</p> + +<p>"Tell me all about it," said Jack, and Buck began his story. It was +soon finished, for there was very little to tell. They had been four +months in Burmah, and Mr. Haydon and Buck had gone up to Mandalay, and +then on to the Mogok country. At Mogok Buck had been seized with a +sharp touch of fever, and had been compelled to remain in that famous +mining town while Mr. Haydon went up country, accompanied only by a +few natives who had been with him in other journeys. He came back +after an absence of five weeks to Mogok, found Buck better, and +announced that they would return to England at once. They had packed +and started forthwith, and returned by the usual route.</p> + +<p>"Did my father seem quite himself, just as usual in every way, Buck?" +asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"No," said Buck thoughtfully. "He didn't quite. There was somethin' on +the Professor's mind, I'm sure o' that."</p> + +<p>Jack put forward Mr. Buxton's suggestion, but Buck waved it aside.</p> + +<p>"Touch o' the sun," said he. "Oh, no, nothin' like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> that. The +Professor was as fit as he always was, right as a bull-frog in a +swamp. No, it was a sort of anxiousness there was about him. He was +that careful that you might almost call him fidgetty."</p> + +<p>"Fidgetty!" said Jack in surprise, as he remembered the perfectly +equable manner of his widely-travelled father.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's as good a word as any I can jump on at short notice," +replied Buck. "He seemed as keen on getting back to London as some o' +these globetrotters who have got sick o' foreign parts."</p> + +<p>"That was rather strange," commented Jack. "You've been with my father +twelve years now, Buck. Did you ever see him like it before?"</p> + +<p>"Never in my knowledge of him," said Buck, shaking his head. "As a +general rule the Professor was as calm an' easy campin' in a jungle as +another man in a front seat at a circus. It was all one to the +Professor, let things come how they might. But this time he seemed as +if his only idea was to get back. Not that he said much about it. The +most I ever heard him say was, 'Well, Buck, I don't care how soon I +get into Lane & Baumann's office,' an' he only said that once when he +was fretted at losing a day by missing a boat at Rangoon."</p> + +<p>At this moment the carriage drew up at the door of the hotel. They had +scarcely entered the door when the hotel clerk came forward with a +cablegram. It was from Messrs Lane & Baumann, asking if anything was +yet known of Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"If he was anxious to see them, they are just as anxious to see him," +said Buck, handing the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>form to Jack. "Every day they wire, an' +sometimes twice a day, to know if I've got hold of any news."</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd been to see them before I left London," said Jack. "I +might have got some useful information from them. What do you believe +has happened to my father?"</p> + +<p>"I dunno what to think," said Risley, "except that some o' these +Dagoes got him in a corner and went for his pocket-book. He'd got +plenty of money with him."</p> + +<p>"But if he'd been attacked by thieves," argued Jack, "the police would +have found something out before this. He could not have been hidden +away from them."</p> + +<p>Buck shook his head. "Some o' these Dagoes are very sly and deep," he +replied. "I've heard queer stories about 'em at times. They say there +are brigands around."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Jack, "in Sicily and in some of the wilder parts of +Calabria, but not in Brindisi, Buck, not in this big port."</p> + +<p>"Well, I give it up," said Buck, "but there's a queer twist at the +bottom of it somewhere. The Professor ain't the sort o' man to worry +us by goin' into hiding somewhere, and lyin' low."</p> + +<p>"Of course he isn't," said Jack. "My father was prevented from +returning to the hotel, that's clear enough; and we've got to find +how."</p> + +<p>"Say, I'm your man, Jack," returned Buck. "I shan't feel easy till +I've had a glimpse o' the Professor with his old, quiet smile on him. +We'll hunt every hole there is."</p> + +<p>For two days Jack and Buck hunted every hole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> about Brindisi, and, +stimulated by the promise of handsome rewards, the police, too, did +their utmost, but all was in vain; the missing man had disappeared as +though the earth had opened and swallowed him. Absolutely the only +thing out of the ordinary that the police could discover was that a +fisherman's skiff was missing one night, and was found the next +morning a couple of miles down the coast, floating idly about. But the +painter was drifting astern, and it might easily have happened that it +had been carelessly fastened, and the rope had slipped from the +mooring ring and allowed the skiff to drift away.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the second day Jack announced his decision. +"Buck," said he, "I'm going back to London. I want to see Lane & +Baumann. It's quite possible that some information may be gleaned from +them which would give us a basis to go to work upon."</p> + +<p>"It's no good stopping here," said Risley. "When shall we start?"</p> + +<p>"To-night," said Jack, and, being near the station, they turned in to +look up the time of the fast express. Jack glanced along the platform, +and soon found what he sought, one of Cook's interpreters. "I want to +ask some questions of the booking-clerk," he said to the man, slipping +several <i>lire</i> into his hand, "you might come and interpret for me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the man at once, and followed the tall young +Englishman to the office. In three minutes Jack had learned what he +wished as to the shortest route and fastest trains; then he and Risley +set out to return to the hotel. Suddenly Jack remembered another +point, and crying, "Half-a-minute,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> Buck," he rushed back to the +office. He thrust open a swing door and saw that the interpreter was +still there, and was now in conversation with a smaller man. Jack +stepped forward, and the smaller man looked up and gave a short, quick +cry of alarm. For a second Jack stood with widely-opened eyes and +parted lips, an image of wild surprise. Then darting forward at full +speed, he seized the second man by the throat, and clutched him as a +lion clutches his prey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3>THE BIG RUBY.</h3> + + +<p>Jack had known the fellow at once, had recognised him instantly as the +small, dark man who had stood in front of him upon Rushmere Heath and +demanded that he should produce his father's letter. An instant +conviction had darted into Jack's mind that these things were +connected, and that this man knew something of his father's +disappearance.</p> + +<p>"I've got you this time," cried Jack, and was upon him in a second. +But a most astonishing thing happened. The small, slight man offered +no resistance to Jack's fierce rush, instead, he seemed to give way +before it as a reed gives way before the wind. Then he bent slightly +and laid one small, sinewy hand on Jack's knee, and, in some +mysterious fashion or another, the lad felt that his hold was torn +away, and that he was flying through the air over the little man's +head. All in a heap Jack landed on the dusty floor. As he fell, he +caught a glimpse of Buck's head thrust through the swinging door as he +followed his young leader, and saw the look of surprise on Buck's +face.</p> + +<p>"Seize him!" roared Jack, and Buck darted forward as the dark stranger +shot through another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> door and vanished into a crowd which swarmed on +to the platform from a train which had just drawn up. Jack gathered +himself together, and sprang to his feet, and rushed after his +companion. He soon found Buck, who was hurrying through the groups, +looking about on every hand, and they searched together, but searched +in vain; the mysterious stranger had gone to earth safely amid the +ample cover provided by the mass of bustling passengers. At last they +pulled up and looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"No go," said Jack, "he's lost in the crowd. He may be far enough away +by now."</p> + +<p>Buck's look of wonder and surprise was striking to behold.</p> + +<p>"See here, Jack," he said, laying his hand on his companion's arm. +"How in thunder do you come to know Saya Chone, and jump on him at +sight like a hawk droppin' on a chicken?"</p> + +<p>"You know him, Buck?" cried Jack. "You know his name?"</p> + +<p>"Know him all right," replied Buck. "But what under the sun is he +doing this distance from home? What brings Saya Chone in Brindisi? The +last time I set eyes on him he was coming into Mogok with a little bag +of rubies to sell to U Saw, the chap they call the Ruby King."</p> + +<p>"He comes from Burmah, where you have been?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, nodding his head. "He's a half-caste. Says +his father was a British officer, and prides himself on talking Number +One English."</p> + +<p>"He talked English as easily as we do," said Jack, "but with an odd +click of the tongue."</p> + +<p>"That's the native strain in him," returned Buck.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> "But where did you +run up against him and hear his English?"</p> + +<p>Jack told his story quickly, and Risley listened with a knitted brow +of attention.</p> + +<p>"Say, there's business at the back o' this," murmured Buck, "but where +it fits in beats me at the moment. We don't know enough, Jack, to be +sure which way we're moving."</p> + +<p>"We do not, Buck, you are quite right," replied the lad, "and we'll +make a bee-line for London and see the firm for whom father was +working."</p> + +<p>"Let's go and see what tar-brush was talking to the interpreter +about," suggested Buck, and they went at once and found the man, who +had returned to his post on the platform. The interpreter readily told +them that the half-caste had offered him a liberal sum in order to +learn what Jack was doing, and what route he intended to follow on +leaving Brindisi, but the man declared that he had made no answer, +had, indeed, been unable to reply to the questions before Jack was on +the scene and making his rush.</p> + +<p>"Is it worth while to stop here and put the police on the search for +this fellow, I wonder?" said Jack, as he and his companion returned to +the hotel.</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," returned Buck. "There are such numbers of foreigners of +all kinds passing through the port that the police can't keep track of +them all. Besides, it would take time, and if there's some queer game +in the wind, we've lost a good deal now. If you could learn, Jack, how +matters stand between the Professor and the firm that sent him out to +Burmah, it might give you a line to go on. At present we're snuffin' +the wind and pickin' up no scent."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You're right, Buck, we'll get the baggage together at once."</p> + +<p>Again Jack rushed across Italy, France, and the Channel, never pausing +for one instant on the way. It was a little before noon on a Thursday +morning when he saw London again, and, at the terminus, he parted with +Buck.</p> + +<p>The latter went with the baggage to Lincoln's Inn to report to Mr. +Buxton, while Jack, too anxious to lose another moment, jumped into a +cab and drove straight to the offices of Messrs Lane & Baumann in Old +Broad Street. He sent his name in, and was shown at once into a large +room where Mr. Lane, the senior partner, sat at his desk.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Mr. Haydon," said he, "you have, I hope, come to give us some +news about your father."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately I have not," replied Jack. "I have been in Brindisi +making every inquiry possible, but I have been able to gather no +information whatever as to his whereabouts. I have come here in hopes +that you may give me some idea of what his arrangements were with you, +and from that I might plan a course of action."</p> + +<p>"I think my partner had better join us," said Mr. Lane, taking up a +speaking-tube. For a few moments nothing was said. The business man +went on with the letter he was writing, and Jack looked about him. The +office was large and splendidly fitted up. Jack knew nothing of Lane & +Baumann, but it was plain on every hand that it was a large and +wealthy firm. Mr. Lane himself was an elderly gentleman, +irreproachably dressed, and the picture of an important man in the +City.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>The door opened and the other partner came in. Jack saw that Mr. +Baumann was much younger, a fat, heavy German with clean-shaven face +and big, round spectacles, through which little, thick-lidded eyes +peered.</p> + +<p>"Has he brought some news?" asked Baumann quickly. "What does he say?" +His accent at once betrayed him, though his English was excellent.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Lane quietly, "he has brought no news. He comes to +learn of us."</p> + +<p>"To learn of us," said Baumann slowly; "and what is it you wish to +learn?" he demanded of Jack.</p> + +<p>The latter eyed the German keenly. At the first word he detected an +enemy. Mr. Lane had been gravely polite and non-committal in his +manner. This man showed hostility at once.</p> + +<p>"I wish to learn anything that will aid me in discovering the reason +for the mysterious disappearance of my father," replied Jack, firmly.</p> + +<p>"Mysterious disappearance," repeated the German, with a sneering +stress upon the words. "<i>Ach Gott!</i> it is no mystery to me when a man +with such a gombanion as that disappears." He was becoming excited, +and his German accent began to thicken.</p> + +<p>"Companion," repeated Jack, "I do not understand you. My father had no +companion except Buck Risley, his man, who has now returned to London +with me."</p> + +<p>"Had he not, indeed?" said Baumann. "But he had a very close +gombanion, one who might easily lead him astray. <i>Himmel</i>, what was it +not worth? I think about it night and day."</p> + +<p>"Gently, Baumann, gently," said Mr. Lane. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> are mystifying Mr. +Haydon, and I shall explain to him what you mean. He clearly does not +understand you, and I do not think it is right to keep him in the +dark. Mr. Haydon, do you know why your father went to Burmah for us?"</p> + +<p>"I understood that he was going to survey some concession you had +gained," replied Jack.</p> + +<p>"My goncession," cried Baumann. "I went over there and saw the place, +and I said to myself, <i>Himmel</i>, here is the for rubies, yes, fine +rubies, and I got all rights to dig there."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lane quieted his excited partner and turned once more to Jack.</p> + +<p>"Exactly," he said; "your father went to survey a concession for us. +My partner had been over the ground, and had returned convinced that +there was a fine field for ruby-mining. We sent your father out to +look carefully over the ground on our behalf, and a short time ago we +received some very startling news from him. He cabled to us that in a +fissure of the rock, where, as everyone knows, the finest rubies are +found, he had made a most marvellous find. He had come across a ruby +of priceless quality, and, as his work was done, he intended to return +at once, bringing the ruby with him in order to place it himself in +our hands."</p> + +<p>"And now he has mysteriously disappeared," sneered Baumann. His +meaning was very plain, and Jack leapt to his feet with pale face and +shining eyes.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" he cried. "Do you dare to hint that the ruby is the cause of my +father's disappearance?"</p> + +<p>The German smiled, and Jack's anger grew.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible!" he cried. "My father is the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> soul of uprightness +and honour. And do you think he would be tempted by a mere stone, +whatever its value? He has handled rubies a hundred and a hundred +times."</p> + +<p>"Ay," snarled the German, "but not such a ruby as this. What did he +say himself? What was in his cablegram? 'The finest ruby by far that I +have ever seen or handled!' He says that. He, Haydon, the first living +expert on rubies, the man who knows everything of every big specimen +in existence. <i>Himmel, Himmel</i>, what a stone was that! And what time +are we losing! I would set every police of the world on his track. And +we do no nothing, nothing!"</p> + +<p>"Gently, Baumann, gently, you know very well that I do not agree with +you," said Mr. Lane.</p> + +<p>Jack turned eagerly to the senior partner. He felt that the whining +German was below both his anger and contempt.</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Jack earnestly, "if my father had in his charge a stone so +immensely precious, I fear he has met with foul play."</p> + +<p>"Who knew of it?" said Mr. Lane. "Had he mentioned anything about it +to his man?"</p> + +<p>"No, he had not," said Jack, and narrated at once what he had heard +from Buck Risley.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mr. Lane, nodding, "it was the possession of the great +jewel which made him uneasy."</p> + +<p>"Who can say what it was worth?" broke in Baumann fiercely. "A big +ruby of perfect colour and without flaw, remember, he said its like +did not exist, is of all stones the most precious. Diamonds, poof! +This ruby was worth a score of great diamonds."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And if my father had with him so wonderful a stone," urged Jack on +Mr. Lane, "is it not almost certain that someone has learned of its +existence? and again I say that he has met with foul play."</p> + +<p>"But who should know of it?" said Mr. Lane. "It is most unlikely that +he should mention it to anyone; and you say, moreover, that his own +companion knew nothing of it."</p> + +<p>"But," cried Jack, and thought this point was a clincher, "he cabled +home to you about it, and word of it got abroad, perhaps, from the +telegraph office."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lane shook his head. "He cabled to us in cipher," he said; "a +cipher which he had composed himself and wrote down for us before he +started. The paper has been safely locked up in our strong-room, and +it was the only copy in the world, for he told us that, for himself, +he should carry the cipher in his memory."</p> + +<p>This was puzzling and baffling, and Jack was silent. In a moment he +put forward another point.</p> + +<p>"But we are not sure the ruby has disappeared with my father," he +said; "it may be packed away in his baggage."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lane shook his head once more. "No," he said, "that is very +unlikely. Your father would be certain to carry a thing so small and +so valuable on his person. He would never part with it night or day."</p> + +<p>Again there was a short interval in which nothing was said. Into this +silence suddenly broke the grumbling roar of Baumann's great voice. +The German had been brooding over the disappearance of the great stone +until he was beside himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"<i>Ach Gott</i>," he cried furiously to Mr. Lane. "You are foolish. You +still believe in the man and trust him. Me, I do not, I tell you +plainly he is a thief. He is to-day perhaps in Amsterdam, cutting that +noble and splendid stone into many smaller ones, and each of them +still a fortune. Yes, he is a thief!"</p> + +<p>"You liar!" roared Jack. "My father is not a thief. How dare you take +such words on your dirty lips in respect of such a man!"</p> + +<p>He had bounded to his feet and clenched his fists. Mr. Lane sprang +between them.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. Haydon," said the elder man, "you must keep the peace. +Baumann is speaking very wildly. I do not agree with him. I know your +father too well."</p> + +<p>Respect for Mr. Lane held Jack back, and nothing else. He would dearly +have liked to plant his fist on the German's foaming mouth, but he +commanded himself with an immense effort, and tried to speak calmly.</p> + +<p>"The man is mad to say such things," said Jack with trembling lips. +"Why, the whole facts of the case are against any such monstrous idea. +If my father had wished to steal the stone, would he have cabled to +you full particulars and started home? What would have been easier +than to pocket it at once, and say nothing?"</p> + +<p>"He was not a thief at first," vociferated the German. "He was honest +when he cabled. But the jewel, the great, big, beautiful jewel itself +corrupted him. He looked at it, and looked at it, till the love of it +filled his heart and he could not part with it. <i>Himmel</i>, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> have felt +it all. I know what happened as well as if I had been at his side all +the voyage."</p> + +<p>"Look here, you foul slanderer," cried Jack. "I'll prove you a liar +out and out. Listen to me. I'll find my father if he still remains in +existence, and I'll prove that you wrong him by your unjust +suspicions." The lad turned to Mr. Lane with flushed face and shining +eyes. "I thank you, sir," he said, "for the trust you still retain in +my father. I will do my very utmost to prove to you that it was well +placed. I cannot promise you anything save that I will do all that +lies in my power to trace your great ruby and discover my father's +fate at the same time."</p> + +<p>Jack could say no more. He held out his hand and Mr. Lane shook it, +and the tall English lad strode from the office.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3>BUCK SEES LIGHT.</h3> + + +<p>Jack walked rapidly through the city, and, free from the presence of +Baumann and his vile insinuations, began to cool rapidly and survey +the situation with a steadier eye.</p> + +<p>"This needs talking over," he said to himself. "Here's a big new +development." He hailed a cab and was driven to Lincoln's Inn. He +found Mr. Buxton's sitting-room littered with the baggage they had +brought home, and Mr. Buxton himself in close confab with Buck Risley.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Jack," said the elder man, rising to shake hands with him; +"how have you been getting on with Lane and Baumann? You look +excited."</p> + +<p>"Rather, Mr. Buxton," said Jack. "I have been learning a great deal." +He struck into his story at once, and the two men listened with great +interest.</p> + +<p>"He had an immense ruby of incalculable value in his possession," said +Mr. Buxton slowly, when Jack had finished. "I say, this changes the +whole situation. I'm afraid, Jack, something very serious has happened +to your father."</p> + +<p>"Then that's what was on the Professor's mind," cried Buck. "I knew +very well there was some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>thing. It was big enough to make even him +feel uneasy."</p> + +<p>"It's an odd thing he didn't mention it to you, Risley," said Mr. +Buxton. "I've always understood that you were privy to all his +business movements."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Mr. Buxton," said Risley cheerfully. "You've got +that quite straight. In a general way the Professor hid nothing from +me. But this time he did hide it about the big stone, and I'm goin' to +show you how right, just as usual, the Professor was. You must +remember," went on Buck, "that when he picked me up at Mogok on the +way home, he found only a dim and distant shadder o' the party now +talkin' to you. I'd been on my back for weeks with fever, and was as +weak and nervous as a kitten. I've picked up wonderful on the voyage +home. Well, if he'd told me o' such a thing as he'd certainly got at +that moment in his belt, it would ha' rattled me to pieces. I should +have been certain to give the show away in my anxiety for fear anybody +should get to know about it, and do him a mischief. So he said nothing +at all. But it puts everything in a new light, everything."</p> + +<p>"Buck!" cried Jack. "What about that fellow who stopped me on Rushmere +Heath and then turned up in Brindisi? Can he have something to do with +it?"</p> + +<p>"Now you're talking, Jack," said Risley, nodding at the young man. +"'Twas all runnin' through my mind. It all hangs together, as straight +as a gun."</p> + +<p>Buck knitted his brows in deep thought, and stared into the fire. Mr. +Buxton was about to speak, but Buck held up his hand for silence, and +the quiet<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> remained unbroken till the American slapped his knee with a +crack like a pistol-shot, looked round on them, and nodded briskly.</p> + +<p>"I've worked it out," said Buck. "The Professor's been kidnapped, and +I'll lay all I'm worth I can spot the parties who have boned him."</p> + +<p>"Kidnapped!" The cry burst in irrepressible surprise and excitement +from the other two.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Risley. "Just listen to me. That half-caste Saya +Chone comes from up-country somewhere in the direction the Professor +headed for after leaving Mogok. That's the starting-point for the +whole business. He's mixed up in it from first to last, that's plain +enough, by his showing up at Rushmere and then followin' Jack to +Brindisi as he must have done. What brought him trackin' us all this +way if he didn't know about the big ruby and was in with the gang +that's carried off the Professor?"</p> + +<p>"But why are you so sure that they have carried Tom Haydon off, +Risley?" asked Mr. Buxton. "Perhaps they—" Mr. Buxton paused, unable +to put into words the terrible thought which filled his mind.</p> + +<p>"Say it right out, sir," said Buck encouragingly. "You can say it out, +for I don't believe it's the least bit true. You meant, suppose +they've murdered the Professor for the ruby?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Buxton nodded, and Jack went white about the lips.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's all right," said Buck cheerfully, "they ain't done that, +anyway. First thing, if so we'd ha' found the Professor, for all they +wanted was the stone; they'd no use in the world for his body. But +there's a lot more in it than that. They want the Professor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> himself. +It's a dead sure thing that where that big stone came from there's a +lot more, and they intend to make him show them the place."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mr. Buxton, "there's a good deal in that, Risley. I hadn't +thought of that."</p> + +<p>"Then, Buck," cried Jack, "you think that my father has been seized +and is being carried back to Burmah?"</p> + +<p>"I'm as sure of it as I am that we are in this room," said Buck +solemnly.</p> + +<p>Jack drew a long breath of immense relief. To feel that his father +might be alive, and possibly could be rescued, was to bring a bright +gleam of hope into the darkness of this strange affair.</p> + +<p>"How have they carried him away?" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"By sea," replied Buck. "Couldn't be done by land, nohow. But you can +get a quiet road by sea easy enough. I wonder how much that boat that +disappeared from the harbour had to do with it. They might have nailed +him, pulled him out in it to a vessel waiting off the harbour, and +then sent it adrift when they'd done with it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Buxton had filled his pipe and was smoking thoughtfully. Now he +took the pipe out of his mouth, and spoke.</p> + +<p>"I can see another thing which, in the light now thrown upon the +affair, seems very possible," said he. "How many letters did you +receive from your father, Jack, when he was on his way home?"</p> + +<p>"Only one, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "The one he sent me from Cairo +was the first I had had from him for a long time."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it possible," went on Mr. Buxton, "that those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> who were +following him up knew of that letter being sent, and were anxious to +read it, hoping that he would describe where he had been and what he +had been doing? Then, even if they failed to secure him and the big +stone, they would know the spot where he had discovered the +ruby-mine."</p> + +<p>"Say, Mr. Buxton, you've hit the bull's eye," remarked Buck. "That's +about the square-toed truth."</p> + +<p>"And that's why they threw the letter away when they had read it," +cried Jack. "There was no hint of any such thing in it."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a few moments, while all three pondered over the +strange events which had taken place. It was broken by Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Buck," he said, "I suppose there is no chance of such a precious +thing being in the baggage after all."</p> + +<p>"Not it," replied Risley. "I packed every consarned thing with my own +hands. I had just enough strength for a job like that."</p> + +<p>"And you feel convinced, Risley, that Tom Haydon has been spirited off +back to Burmah by a gang who have learned of his wonderful find, and +mean to seize it for themselves?" said Mr. Buxton.</p> + +<p>"Dead sure of it, sir," replied Buck.</p> + +<p>Jack sprang to his feet and paced the room excitedly.</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go ourselves, Buck," he cried, "and run them to earth."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck calmly. "I'm on at once for a look into what's +happened to the Professor."</p> + +<p>"It will be a dangerous quest," said Mr. Buxton slowly; "a very +dangerous quest, among wild lands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> and savage peoples. I know that +much. Do you think the Government authority extends over the district +where the discovery was made, Risley?"</p> + +<p>"No, it don't," replied Buck. "They're all savage Kachins and Shans up +there, as ready for a scrap as any you ever met. It's all the +authorities can do to hold 'em off the settlements."</p> + +<p>"A dangerous quest indeed!" repeated Mr. Buxton.</p> + +<p>"But one that must be undertaken," cried Jack earnestly. "Would you +have me leave my father's fate a matter of uncertainty, Mr. Buxton? I +know very well it's a long journey on the chance of Buck being right +in his suspicions. But so many things point that way, and if Buck is +willing to guide me to the country where the search ought to be made, +I will gladly go."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm with you, of course, Jack," sang out Buck Risley. "We'll have +a look into things, anyhow, an' I know more than a bit of that +country. I've been three times up the river, an' made all sorts o' +little side-trips."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Buck," cried the lad. "I knew you'd be willing to help me. +We'll start as soon as possible. You'll find us plenty of funds, won't +you, Mr. Buxton?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Jack," said Mr. Buxton, "I'll find you all the money you +want for such a purpose."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3>THE SPY.</h3> + + +<p>Three days later, about four o'clock in the afternoon, Jack and Buck +walked into Lincoln's Inn, and knocked at Mr. Buxton's door. They had +been staying at a hotel near at hand, and nothing was said until Jack +had carefully closed the door of the inner sitting-room, where Mr. +Buxton was at work among his papers.</p> + +<p>"So you're off to-morrow?" said Mr. Buxton, laying down his pen.</p> + +<p>"No, to-night," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"What?" returned Mr. Buxton in surprise. "Have you got all your +luggage ready?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Buck. "We've got it with us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, your cab is outside?" he said.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," replied Buck, with a twinkle in his eye. "You see it all on +view."</p> + +<p>Mr. Buxton scratched his head. "Do you mean to say that you're going +to start for Burmah with an umbrella apiece?"</p> + +<p>"We do, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "We're going to slip off quietly. +Buck thinks we're being watched."</p> + +<p>"Watched!" cried Mr. Buxton. "By whom?"</p> + +<p>"Can't say that," said Buck. "But there's some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>one takin' a deep +interest in us I feel certain. I should venture to spec'late as the +ruby gang want to know what we're up to."</p> + +<p>"And you mean to start off for the other side of the world equipped +merely for a stroll through the Park?" cried Mr. Buxton.</p> + +<p>"Why not, sir?" asked Buck. "You've found us plenty of money, and we +can rig ourselves out whereever there are shops. Best for us, too, to +pull out on this business with as little show as we can make. If we +don't, we may find ourselves pulled up mighty soon and mighty sharp. I +tell you this is a deep an' cunning gang we've got to fight. An' +they've got a big pull of us. They know us and we know very little of +them. I can tell you there are wily birds east of Suez. They are up to +all the tricks, both of East and West."</p> + +<p>The two visitors did not stay five minutes with Mr. Buxton. They +wished their visit to have the air of a mere passing call, and when he +had shaken hands with them and wished them good luck, they left his +rooms, strolled into Chancery Lane, and went gently up towards Holborn +as if they had nothing to do but stare at the sights of the town like +country cousins.</p> + +<p>"Jack," said Buck softly, "let's pull up and look at this shop window, +the panes have just got the bulge I want."</p> + +<p>Jack, wondering a little what his companion meant, stopped, and they +stared into a print shop where photographs of eminent judges and +K.C.'s were set out in rows.</p> + +<p>"Say, this is bully," murmured Buck. "Move a bit on one side, Jack, so +that I can see the street behind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> us reflected in the glass. Now, come +on, I've seen all I want. Don't turn your own head or you'll spoil the +show."</p> + +<p>They walked on together, and Buck muttered in deep satisfaction: "I've +spotted the man following us; a stout chap with a double chin and a +look like a fat policeman out o' work. I reckon I've tumbled to this +game. I've seen him outside our hotel."</p> + +<p>"Is it one of the gang?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," replied his companion. "More likely to be one o' these +private detectives hired to watch us. Now we've got to throw pepper +into his eyes, an' then make a break for the station."</p> + +<p>Buck raised his hand and hailed a growler. They got in, Buck said +"Marble Arch," and away trotted the horse. Buck now set himself to +keep a watch out of the little window at the back of the cab, and soon +gave a chuckle of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"He's coming," he said, "he's in a hansom about fifty yards behind. +This makes it a dead cert that he's our man. It would be a bit too +much of a coincidence for him to be outside our hotel last night, +following us up Chancery Lane to-day, and now tracking us along Oxford +Street."</p> + +<p>"How will you drop him?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"As easy as tumbling off a log," replied Buck. "We'll use Connaught +Mansions. Do you remember its two entrances? We'll pop in at one and +out at the other."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed, and understood at once. His father had a flat at +Connaught Mansions, a huge block of flats near Lancaster Gate, which +served as Mr. Haydon's London home between his journeys. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> had +made no use of it during the few days they had been in town, +preferring a hotel near Mr. Buxton's rooms, but now it would be of +service to their plans.</p> + +<p>As they neared the Marble Arch, Buck gave the address to the driver. +He handed up a couple of half-crowns at the same time.</p> + +<p>"We may be detained at the place you're driving to," he remarked. +"Wait a quarter of an hour at the door, and then if we don't send any +message to you, you can go."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," said the cabby, and on rolled the growler, and soon +turned into the courtyard of Connaught Mansions, and pulled up at the +main entrance. Jack and his companion left the cab at once and went +into the lobby, where the porter came out of his office.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Mr. Risley, you are back again," said the porter. Then he +caught sight of Jack, whose face was very well known from frequent +visits to his father. The question which had plainly been on the +porter's lips was at once checked. He had been eager to talk to Buck +about the disappearance of Mr. Haydon, but Jack's presence put a +barrier upon that.</p> + +<p>The cloppety-clop of the feet of a passing cab horse now came in +through the open door of the vestibule. Jack glanced out and saw the +stout man passing in his cab. The spy seemed to be very busy reading a +paper, and the whole thing looked as innocent as could be.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll nip upstairs an' get what I want," said Buck to the +porter, and he and Jack rang for the lift, and were shot up to the +fifth floor. Upon this landing there was one projecting window, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +commanded the front of the great building, and the two comrades went +cautiously to it and peeped out.</p> + +<p>"There he is, there he is," whispered Jack.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," chuckled Buck.</p> + +<p>Far below them they saw their cabman sitting idly on his perch and +waiting for his quarter of an hour to pass. The Mansions looked on to +a square, a long narrow strip of gardens, filled with lofty bushes +rather than trees. The spy's cab had taken a sweep round these gardens +and was now drawing up on the other side, exactly opposite their cab. +As they looked they saw the stout man leave his cab and move to and +fro till he found a space through which he could look across the +gardens and watch the entrance to the great building. From their lofty +standpoint Jack and his companion had a splendid bird's-eye view of +everything.</p> + +<p>"Off we go now," said Jack. "For if our cabman makes a move he'll +become suspicious."</p> + +<p>"We've got ten minutes yet," murmured Buck; "but as you say, Jack, off +we go."</p> + +<p>They turned and crossed the landing swiftly, and ran down the stairs, +flight after flight. They did not wish to call attention to their +movements by ringing for the lift; besides, they were making for the +back of the place, where a smaller entrance opened on a quiet side +street. They gained this and were once more free to strike where they +wished, leaving the baffled spy to watch the main entrance in vain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3>IN RANGOON.</h3> + + +<p>"Now for a start in earnest," said Buck, as the two comrades hurried +swiftly through the quiet streets, moving westwards in order to put as +much ground as possible between themselves and the baffled spy. "I +propose, Jack, that we make for Harwich and cross over to the +Continent, avoiding the usual English routes and English steamers. We +want to get there as quietly as we can. It wouldn't be healthy to +arrive in Upper Burmah thumping a drum to let 'em know we were on +their track. They've got ways of their own of gettin' rid o' people +they want to see the last of."</p> + +<p>Jack nodded. "Then we must head for Liverpool Street," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Buck. "We're not far from Queen's Road Station. We'll hit +the Twopenny Tube and dodge back east, now."</p> + +<p>They went into the station and were just in time to jump into an +east-bound train, as the conductor was about to shut the gates of the +carriage.</p> + +<p>"Nobody followed us there anyway," remarked Buck. "We were the last to +board the train."</p> + +<p>They went right away to the Bank, plunged into the City, and threaded +the narrow streets and busy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> crowds in every direction, gradually +working their way towards Liverpool Street. They timed their arrival +there five minutes before a fast express pulled out, and were soon on +their way. As they rushed through the Essex flats Buck detailed his +plans, and Jack listened and agreed.</p> + +<p>"From Harwich we'll make for Hamburg," said Risley. "There we can buy +an outfit and take passage for Rangoon in a German boat which does not +call in England."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Our story now moves on to a point nearly five weeks later, when, as +evening fell, a big German steamer slowly moved up to a wide quay of +Rangoon, and took up her berth. Over her side leaned two figures we +know, one looking at the scene with eyes which noted the familiarity +of it all, the other drinking in every detail with eager interest and +curiosity.</p> + +<p>Jack was too absorbed in the scene to utter a word; the minarets of +the mosques, the vast spire of Shway Dagon, the famous pagoda, its +crest of gold glittering in the last rays of the sun; the crowd of +masts, the native boats, the swift little sampans darting hither and +thither, the quaint up-river craft, the Chinese junks—all was so new +and strange and wonderful that he could not gaze enough upon the +scene. And above all, he felt that this was the land whose wildest +recesses he must penetrate upon his quest, and his mind turned +strongly upon that.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Buck," he murmured to his companion, "that the sight of +all these strange new things makes the whole affair very visionary to +me?"</p> + +<p>"I think I tumble to what you mean," replied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> other. "I had a +touch of it myself when I first came to these queer parts. You feel as +if you were ramblin' about in a dream."</p> + +<p>"That's it, exactly," said Jack. "It seems impossible that this is +workaday life in which we have a definite task."</p> + +<p>"You'll soon shake that off," replied Buck; "the sight o' these places +makes every tenderfoot moon a bit; and we've got a straight enough job +before us. We'll have to rustle some before we've got the Professor +out o' the hands o' these people who want to jump his claim."</p> + +<p>"You feel certain my father is here, Buck?"</p> + +<p>"Three times as certain as when we started," replied Risley. "Mr. +Buxton's kept the search going, and found nothing. Very good. That +makes it all the surer the Professor is in front of us up this river;" +and Buck threw his hand northwards, pointing to the broad flood which +slipped past the quays of Rangoon to the sea.</p> + +<p>At different points of their voyage they had received cables from Mr. +Buxton giving the news of the search, which was going on in vain.</p> + +<p>The steamer took up her moorings, and the stream of landing passengers +began to flow swiftly to the quay. Jack and his companion stepped +ashore, each with a large kit-bag in hand. They had travelled light, +and all their luggage was with them. Buck held up a finger, and a +Chinese coolie darted up to them, his rickshaw running easily behind +him. The two bags were pitched into the light vehicle, and Buck bade +the man follow them by a gesture.</p> + +<p>"This way, Jack," said Risley, and led his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> companion up a broad +street, which, now that the dusk had fallen and the sea-breeze was +blowing, was filled with a strange and busy crowd.</p> + +<p>"Everybody turns out for an hour or two, now," remarked Buck. "It's +pleasant and fresh after the day. This is Mogul Street, about the +liveliest street in the city."</p> + +<p>Jack looked upon the crowd with wonder, the first Eastern crowd of +which he had ever made a part. The thronging pavements were a +kaleidoscope of the East—long-coated Persians; small, brown, +slant-eyed Japanese; big, yellow, slant-eyed Chinamen; a naked +Coringhi, his dark body shining in the lamp-light, and the rings in +his nose jingling together; Hindus of all ranks, from the stately +Brahmin to the coolie bearing loads or pulling a rickshaw; Burmese; +and, to Jack's pleasant surprise, three straight-stepping English +soldiers, swinging along with their little canes, their lively talk +sounding pleasantly familiar amid the babel of Eastern tongues.</p> + +<p>At a narrow opening Buck turned and left the main street. Fifty yards +along the side street he stopped the rickshaw and paid off the coolie, +each taking his own kit-bag. Next Buck plunged into a dusky, +ill-lighted alley, and Jack followed, wondering.</p> + +<p>"I'm making for a friend's house," murmured Buck, "an' I'm takin' a +shy road. We've got to keep our eyes skinned from now on."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the gang will be on the look-out for us in Rangoon, +Buck?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Likely enough," replied Risley. "No harm in takin' care, anyway."</p> + +<p>The two gained a narrow lane beyond the alley,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> followed it some +distance, then turned into a wider street. Here Buck paused before a +shop whose windows were closed, but rays of light were streaming +through chinks in the shutters. He tried the door and found that it +was not fastened.</p> + +<p>"Nip right in," said Risley, and the two entered briskly, and closed +the door behind them. Behind the counter stood a tall, elderly man +taking a rifle to pieces by the light of a brightly-burning lamp. He +was surrounded by weapons of all kinds, and a single glance told Jack +that he stood in a gunsmith's shop.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Buck," said the tall man calmly. "Slidin' in like a thief in +the night, eh? What's wrong, and who's your friend?"</p> + +<p>"This is the Professor's son, Mr. Jack Haydon," replied Buck, +answering the last question first, as he put down his bag and shook +hands with his acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"Pleased to know you, sir," said the gunsmith, offering his hand to +Jack in turn. "Me and your father have known each other a long time +and done a lot of business together. Perhaps you've heard him mention +me, Jim Dent?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "I've heard your name many a time."</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry for you, sir," said Dent. "This is a queer business +about the Professor. Knocked me all of a heap when I heard of it."</p> + +<p>"The news is about Rangoon, of course, Jim?" said Buck.</p> + +<p>"Came at once," replied Dent. "The Professor was known to so many +people here."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, between me and you, Jim," said Buck in a low voice, "that's +just what I've come to talk about. You know the ropes in this country +pretty well, and I want your advice."</p> + +<p>"Been in Burmah twenty-eight years, and spent a good deal of the time +shiftin' about here and there," remarked Jim Dent. "I know a thing or +two, as you may say. But come in; I should like to hear all about it."</p> + +<p>He secured the outer door, put out the lamp which lighted the shop, +and led the way to an inner room. Here another lamp was burning, and +all three sat down. Buck plunged into the story, and Dent listened +attentively, now and again putting a question.</p> + +<p>"They've got the Professor all right," said Dent at the conclusion of +Buck's narrative.</p> + +<p>"You, too, think so?" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir," returned Dent, nodding at him, "they're going to make +your father show 'em his find, there's no mistake about that. The +thing's been done before, but the men have been collared in this +country, I admit. I've never known anything so big and daring as this, +but still it's on the cards, and Buck has tumbled to the right +conclusion."</p> + +<p>"But how could they carry off my father with such secrecy?" asked +Jack. "It was impossible to book a passage back in any vessel. They +would have been found out at once."</p> + +<p>"That's right enough, sir," replied Dent. "They must have had a vessel +of their own, but that's a puzzling thing. Did you see any sign of +this Saya Chone on the voyage, Buck?"</p> + +<p>"Not a hair of him," replied Risley.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He and his pals might have been among the third-class passengers +after all," said the gunsmith. "You weren't looking out for them, but +it's pretty plain they were looking out for you. They must have been +fly to your posting that letter, and got an idea somehow or other of +the address. Well, this is a rum go. What's your next move, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>"Go straight up to Mogok," suggested Jack, "and strike into the +country where my father was exploring. Surely we can lay our hands +upon one or other of his native guides, and they will lead us to the +place. Then we can discover whether those people you suspect of +kidnapping him are anywhere in that neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>Dent nodded his head in agreement. "Well, sir," he said, "you'll have +to do something after that fashion. But you must go to work very +cautiously. The men you are after are at home there, and have a +hundred ways of finding out what you're up to, while you know no more +of them and their movements than you know which way a snake's slipping +through the jungle."</p> + +<p>"Would it be of any use to appeal to the authorities?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>The gunsmith shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Not a mite, sir, not a mite. In the first place, you're moving on +suspicion, and you can hardly expect the police to go tramping round +in wild and only partly explored jungle to find out if your suspicions +are correct. Then, again, if inquiries were started you would only +warn the parties you suspect, and they'd take good care your plans +came to nothing. For holding a man tight and keeping the place of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +hiding secret, this country is a marvel. I've known many a native +disappear in a very mysterious fashion and be never heard of again; +some enemy had disposed of him." The gunsmith fell silent and mused +for a few moments.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," said he, "the best thing to do now, and that is to +strike up to Mandalay. There might be a chance there to pick up a bit +of river news which would help you. I wonder whether old Moung San is +up in Mandalay yet. He started up river with his <i>hnau</i> weeks back, +and you know how they dawdle along, picking up every scrap of river +gossip."</p> + +<p>"Moung San!" cried Buck, "old Moung, why, he's the very man whose +<i>hnau</i> took the Professor up the river Chindwin, the last trip Mr. +Haydon made before he went up to Mogok. He'll give us a hand if he +can, I know."</p> + +<p>"He was in here, buying stuff off me to trade along the river," said +Dent, "and he ought to be somewhere about Mandalay by now."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll start in the morning by the first train," said Buck; "and +that reminds me, Jim, we shall want some guns; we've got nothing at +all at present, and we'll look over your stock."</p> + +<p>"Come in the shop," said Dent, and all three went back to the little +front room where weapons stood in racks about the wall.</p> + +<p>"These Mauser pistols are handy things," remarked Dent, as he turned +some of his stock on to the counter. "Clap the holster on 'em and they +make a very smart little rifle."</p> + +<p>"We'll have a couple," said Buck, "they're daisies. I've tried 'em. +Have you got a light rifle or two in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> stock, Jim? We don't want to +drag any weight through the jungle, as you know as well as most."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the Mannlicher?" said Dent, picking up one of +those handiest of shooting tools and passing it over to Jack. "No +weight, and as good a little rifle as a man wants to put to his +shoulder."</p> + +<p>"This is all right," said Jack, putting it up. "I've never tried it, +but I've heard about it. Makes pretty good shooting, I think."</p> + +<p>"Wonderful good, sir," said Dent. "You can't wish for better. And such +a handy little cartridge, too. That's a thing to consider on a march. +You can carry a much bigger number for the same weight of ordinary +cartridges."</p> + +<p>For half an hour or more Buck and Jack turned over Dent's stores, and +laid in a very complete stock of weapons and cartridges. As the +gunsmith talked, speaking of the wild jungle into which they must +wander, the wild people they would be likely to meet, and what they +would need to meet the chances of their journey, his eye fired and his +excitement grew. He poured forth a flood of information, of warning, +of directions, which showed how complete was his knowledge of the +wilds into which they were about to venture, how deep was his lore of +jungle-craft, and how great his passion for the life of the explorer +and adventurer. His flood of speech ended on a sigh.</p> + +<p>"Five years it is now," he said, "since I made what I call a real +trip, getting clean off the track and striking a line which you might +fancy no white man had ever struck before."</p> + +<p>Buck had been watching his old acquaintance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> keenly. Now he leaned +over and laid his hand on Dent's arm.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jim," he said, "you're achin' in every bone o' your body +for a real good trip again. Come with us."</p> + +<p>The invitation was like a spark thrown upon gunpowder. The gunsmith +struck the counter with his open hand till the weapons danced again.</p> + +<p>"By George, I will!" he cried, "I'll come fast enough. It's the sort +o' trip I'd choose out of a thousand."</p> + +<p>Jack saw what a splendid recruit offered here, and he hastened to +second Buck.</p> + +<p>"If you could, indeed, spare time to accompany us, Mr. Dent," he said, +"we shall be delighted to have your company and assistance."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said Dent, "I'll give you a month. I can manage, I know, +to get the business looked after by a friend as long as that. And +within a month, if we go the right way to work, we ought to get a good +idea as to whether the Professor's in the hands of that gang or not."</p> + +<p>"And if your business suffers at all, Jim, you need never fear you'll +be at a loss in the end," said Buck. "There's plenty of money for +everything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right," returned Dent. "Didn't you say you're offering +a reward of £500 for finding the Professor?"</p> + +<p>"That's so," replied Risley.</p> + +<p>"Very good," said Dent. "Suppose I hit on him first and pick that up. +That'll clear my expenses, and a bit over bar the fun o' the trip."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "we're paying all expenses, of course."</p> + +<p>"Better an' better still," chuckled the gunsmith. "I get all the fun +and the chance of £500 thrown in, and the lot for nothing. You can +count in Jim Dent on this game." And so the matter was settled.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3>UP THE RIVER.</h3> + + +<p>It was on a Tuesday evening that Risley and Jack entered Dent's shop +in Rangoon: late on the Thursday afternoon the three comrades stepped +out of the train at Mandalay.</p> + +<p>"I know a little place down by the river where we can stay quietly," +said Dent, and they took a carriage and drove down to the banks of the +broad Irrawaddy. Here, at a native rest-house in a riverside village, +they set down their baggage and made a hearty meal in a room whose +window overlooked the noble stream with its crowd of craft.</p> + +<p>Before they ate, Dent had an interview with the master of the house, a +short, stout Burman in silken kilt and headgear of flaming scarlet, +and their business was put in hand at once. The Burman sent a native +boatman off to see if Moung San had reached Mandalay.</p> + +<p>The meal was scarcely ended before the light sampan was back with good +news. Moung San had been in Mandalay the last two days, and now lay at +his accustomed anchorage.</p> + +<p>"That's capital," said Dent. "We'll give old Moung a look up before +the evening's much older."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Half an hour later all three embarked upon the sampan whose owner had +found out the anchorage of Moung San, and the tiny craft was thrust +into the river and pulled across the flowing stream. Jack looked with +much interest on the pretty, picturesque little craft with its bow and +stern curving upwards, and on its boatman, a strong Shan clad in wide +trousers and a great flapping hat, who stood up to his couple of oars +and sent the light skiff along at a good speed. A pull of a mile or +more brought them to the <i>hnau</i>, a big native boat moored near the +farther shore of the wide stream. The sampan was directed towards the +lofty and splendidly-carved prow of the <i>hnau</i> and brought to rest.</p> + +<p>Now there looked over the side a dark-faced old Burman, whose face +broke into smiles at sight of his old acquaintances.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Moung San," cried Dent. "We've come to pay you a visit."</p> + +<p>"Very glad, very glad," replied the Burman. "Come up, come up."</p> + +<p>They climbed at once to the deck of the <i>hnau</i>, where Moung San shook +hands with them very heartily. When he heard Jack's name he smiled and +showed all his teeth, stained black with betel-chewing.</p> + +<p>"Me know your father," he said, and shook Jack's hand again. "Very +good man, very good man."</p> + +<p>Amidships there was a large cabin, roofed with plaited cane, built up +on the <i>hnau</i>. Moung San invited them to enter it, and all four went +in and sat down.</p> + +<p>"Now, Moung San," began Jim Dent "You listen to me. You know the +ruby-mines well, don't you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Moung San. "Do much trade with the miners for many +years."</p> + +<p>"Do you know a man named Saya Chone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the trader. "Know him. Don't like him."</p> + +<p>"Who is he with now?"</p> + +<p>"With U Saw, the man they call the Ruby King."</p> + +<p>"U Saw," murmured Dent reflectively. "He's jumped into notice since I +was up here last. What sort of character has U Saw, Moung San?"</p> + +<p>The Burman lowered his voice and looked uneasily round to see if any +of his crew were within earshot.</p> + +<p>"Very dangerous man," he said, shaking his head, "if he hears of one +of the hill-miners finding good ruby, that man sure to lose it, +perhaps lose his head same time. U Saw has many Kachins who follow +him, and every Kachin carry strong, sharp <i>dah</i> (native sword)."</p> + +<p>"Have the police been on to him, Moung San?" asked Buck.</p> + +<p>"The police!" Moung San laughed disdainfully. "What do the police know +about the hills and the jungle, and what goes on there? But we know. +The word goes from Kachin to Shan, and from Shan to Burman, over the +country, up and down the river. We know."</p> + +<p>"Where does U Saw sell his rubies?" asked Dent.</p> + +<p>"In China," replied the Burman. "Takes them along the great road to +China from Burmah over the mountains. Sells them there for big, big +money. Very rich and very strong is U Saw."</p> + +<p>Then, with scarcely a pause, Moung San came out with a piece of news +that made his hearers jump.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When I am at Prome two weeks ago, the 'fire-boat' of U Saw pass me, +and go up the river."</p> + +<p>"Fire-boat!" cried Jim Dent. "U Saw possesses a steamer. How big, +Moung San?"</p> + +<p>Moung San went into details. He compared the "fire-boat" with the size +of his <i>hnau</i>, he compared it with a river-steamer which now went +puffing past, he described it with the greatest minuteness, for he had +lain beside it at Bhamo for three days on the trip before last.</p> + +<p>"Say," murmured Buck, looking round on his deeply-interested +companions, "this beats the band. I didn't know U Saw had a steam +yacht of about three hundred tons, for that's what Moung San's talk +comes to. Say, Jim, my son, this clears things up a bit."</p> + +<p>"It does that," said Dent. He turned to Jack.</p> + +<p>"You see, sir," he remarked, "that Buck's guess hit the mark pretty +straight. I'd stake my shop that the party we want was on that yacht."</p> + +<p>Jack nodded, with bright eyes. "It must be so," he said, but Buck was +again in conversation with the Burman.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where the 'fire-boat' had been?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"There was a word that U Saw had been a long cruise in the islands," +replied Moung San.</p> + +<p>"Been a long cruise in the islands, had he?" said Dent, in a meaning +tone. There was silence while the three white men made swift +calculations mentally.</p> + +<p>"If the yacht is a good sea-boat," said Jack, "they would just about +have had the right time to do it, supposing they came up the river two +weeks back."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> He meant the voyage from the Mediterranean, and the +others nodded.</p> + +<p>The old Burman looked from one to the other gravely. There was +something he did not understand behind this, and it was plain that he +was about to shape a question.</p> + +<p>Buck whispered swiftly to Jack, then spoke:</p> + +<p>"Well, Moung San, we must be going. But the son of your old patron +wished to see you and to give you a little present because you have +served his father."</p> + +<p>Jack smiled and passed over twenty rupees. Moung San's mouth was at +once filled with thanks instead of questions, and an awkward moment +passed safely.</p> + +<p>"I could see the old fellow was going to ask questions," remarked Jim +Dent, when they were once more in the sampan, and the big Shan was +pulling strongly across the stream. "It was a lucky stroke to stop his +mouth with the rupees."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "it's quite clear he knows nothing about my father's +disappearance, or he would have said something. So it was just as well +to leave him in ignorance, and escape a lot of talk. You never know +where the simplest question may lead you to."</p> + +<p>"You don't," agreed Dent. "He may wonder why we want to know about the +Ruby King, but as long as he's in the dark about things, he'll put it +down to mere curiosity."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE ATTACK ON THE SAMPAN.</h3> + + +<p>Jack nodded and looked out across the wide, shadowy waste of waters +which surrounded them. The night had fallen and there was no moon, but +the sky was full of the glorious stars of the East, and the great +silent river spread itself abroad in the bright starshine till its low +distant banks were lost to sight, and the sampan seemed to be crossing +a vast lake. Far away up the stream a myriad twinkling lights showed +where the shipping lay thickly, and now a huge cargo boat came down +stream, its vast bulk looming high above the smooth flood.</p> + +<p>Somewhere on the shore a mandoline tinkled, the faint distant notes +coming sweetly to them across the water. Jack dropped his hand into +the stream and found it warm to the fingers. Then he felt that the +river was full of something floating on its surface, which brushed his +fingers, and circled about his wrist.</p> + +<p>"What's this in the water?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>Buck dropped his hand down.</p> + +<p>"Paddy-husks, the husk of rice," he replied. "There are rice-mills on +the banks up above, and they pitch the husks into the stream. When the +mills are busy, the husks cover the river."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is a strong current," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Ay, and a very dangerous one," remarked Dent "There's no mercy in +this river. It'll sweep you away like the under-tow of a strong tide, +and suck you down to feed the crocodiles, if it gets the chance."</p> + +<p>For a few moments there was silence, and Jack, who was seated with his +face to his companions, watched the big cargo-boat now passing them, +but a good distance away. Suddenly he sharpened the glance of his keen +eyes and looked more intently. A tiny dark patch shot from the shadow +of the great vessel and held its way straight towards them.</p> + +<p>"There's a boat just come from behind that big ship, and it's making +straight for us," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"That's queer," said Dent sharply, turning his head to look. "It must +have come down stream in shelter of the cargo-boat. I've been keeping +a watch on the river round us." He said a few words in the native +tongue to the big Shan, and the latter pulled much faster and altered +his course a little.</p> + +<p>"If they're only making for the shore they'll go straight on," said +Jim Dent. "If they're after us, they'll change their course."</p> + +<p>"They row fast," said Jack.</p> + +<p>Jim spoke to the Shan once more, and a few sentences passed between +them.</p> + +<p>"It's one of those long creek skiffs, pulled by six men," announced +Jim. "He knows by the shape of it on the water and the sound of the +oars."</p> + +<p>"Think they're after us, Jim?" asked Buck in a low voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't know, Buck," replied Dent. "But I wish we were ashore. This +isn't a country to take any chances in."</p> + +<p>All three watched the dark, long shape behind them, and the Shan +pulled with all his might.</p> + +<p>"It's after us." Jim Dent's low, fierce tones broke into the tense +silence, and Buck gave a growl of anger.</p> + +<p>"What's their game?" he muttered.</p> + +<p>"Run us down, there's no doubt of it," replied Dent. "That skiff is +built of stiff teak planks, with a nose as sharp and hard as an iron +spike. If they once hit this light sampan they'll cut it in two and +scupper us."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," said Buck, "and drop an oar on the head of a man who tries +to swim."</p> + +<p>The long narrow row-boat was now heading for them as straight as an +arrow. There could be no doubt of the rowers' intent. They meant to +run down the slight sampan and hurl its occupants into the deadly +current below. Driven by six powerful oarsmen, the skiff was coming on +at tremendous speed, and the shore was still a dim and distant line.</p> + +<p>Jim Dent spoke again quickly to the Shan, and the latter made a swift +reply and bent to his oars with all his might. He understood their +danger better than any one, supposing that his light vessel was run +down, and he beat the water with long powerful strokes which drove the +tiny craft forward with great power. Jim Dent had begun to rummage in +the stern, and soon drew out a broad-bladed steering paddle. He dipped +this into the water and added<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> a strong dexterous stroke to the +efforts of the boatman; now the sampan began to fly.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there anything for us, Jim?" cried Jack. "Must we sit idle?"</p> + +<p>"There's not another thing to pull with in the boat," said Dent. "I'll +lay in with all the strength I've got with this paddle. We'll take +turns at it."</p> + +<p>Now commenced a stern, fierce race for life. The two men in the sampan +fought with set brows and clenched teeth to gain the far-off shore and +save the lives of themselves and their comrades. The six rowers in the +long skiff lashed the water furiously with their oars in order to +overtake and ram the slight vessel they pursued. One, two, three +hundred yards were covered. Jack's heart sank. The skiff had gained +terribly. Manned by six powerful oarsmen, she was cutting down the +distance between them with frightful rapidity. In the sampan the Shan +was still pulling with undiminished energy, but Jim Dent was beginning +to pant. Buck seized the paddle from his grip and took a turn. But the +skiff continued to come up hand over hand.</p> + +<p>"She'll get us long before we reach the shore," murmured Dent as he +marked the relative distances, and he spoke in the native tongue with +the Shan, who only answered with a grunt or two which had a sound of +acquiescence.</p> + +<p>"Give me the paddle, Buck," said Dent.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Jack, "it's my turn." Every muscle in his body was +tingling to put its strength against the smooth current and the weight +of the sampan.</p> + +<p>"We're going to try a little trick," said Dent, and Jack perforce had +to sit still. He glanced down the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> river and saw a light low on the +water, as if a boat was coming towards them. He wondered whether it +meant chance of help, but in any case, it was far off, and the enemy +were now terribly near, and his attention was drawn again to their +position of immense peril.</p> + +<p>Dent and the boatman were now pulling easily, and the long skiff +darted up to them faster and faster still. Jack watched their pursuers +with a fascinated eye. There was not the faintest sound made, save for +the regular plash of the rising and falling oars. They were so near +that he could see the naked backs of the oarsmen glisten as they swung +their bodies to and fro in the starshine. Nearer, nearer, came the +long darting skiff.</p> + +<p>Jack held his breath. The sharp nose was within half a dozen feet of +the stern of the flying sampan, for Dent and the boatman were once +more pulling with all their might. For the first time a sound was +heard from the pursuing boat. A single word rang out from the +steersman, and the rowers bent to one last tremendous effort to hurl +their stout skiff upon the fragile sampan. But at that very instant +Jim Dent dipped his paddle deep on the left side, the Shan made a +corresponding movement with his oars, and the light vessel spun round +on her heel and darted away from the impending stroke.</p> + +<p>So close were the two boats when this skilful manœuvre was executed +that the dripping bow oar of the pursuers was flourished almost in +Jack's face as the sampan flew round. He seized it, but did not +attempt to snatch it from the oarsman's clutch. He had no time for +that, but he made splendid use<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> of the chance afforded him. He gave it +a tremendous push, and released it. The rower, caught by surprise, was +flung over the opposite gunwale, and the skiff was nearly upset. As +the sampan darted away on her new course, the skiff was left +floundering on the water.</p> + +<p>"Good for you," chuckled Dent, who had seen the swift action and the +confusion it caused; "that's given us twenty yards," and now he +allowed Jack to seize the paddle. Kneeling on one knee in the bottom +of the sampan, Jack put all his strength into the strokes of the broad +paddle. He had paddled a canoe often enough at home on the river which +ran near the school, and his powerful young arms backed up the +boatman's efforts to such purpose that the sampan travelled as it had +never done before. Behind him he heard the fierce swish of oars, and +knew that the skiff was once more in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, without a hint of warning, the end came. Jack was just +beginning to thrust the paddle down for a strong, deep stroke when the +sampan struck something. The shock was so great that Jack was flung on +his face. As he sprang up again he heard Buck cry, "She's hit a +floating log." The sampan was uninjured. She had struck the obstacle +with her tough keel-piece, and had been turned aside at right angles. +The Shan had been flung down too, but was up in an instant and +gathering his oars. But this loss of a moment gave the pursuing skiff +her chance. Driven by twelve brawny arms, held straight as a dart, her +sharp beak of stout, hard teak crashed into the light gunwale of the +sampan, hit her broad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>side, and cut the little vessel down to the +water's edge.</p> + +<p>Scarcely recovered from the first shock, the second hurled Jack +headlong. He felt the sampan turn turtle under him, and in another +second he was shot into the dark, fierce current, and felt the waters +close over his head.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3>A CLOSE CALL.</h3> + + +<p>Jack did not rise at once. As he sank, the words of Buck flashed into +his mind, and he dived and swam swiftly down stream. When he could +stay under no longer, he came very slowly to the surface and put out +his face. He drew a deep breath and looked eagerly about for the +enemy, dreading to see a heavy oar poised against the sky to beat a +swimmer under. But there was nothing close at hand, and he trod water +and raised his head very carefully to look round.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the splash of an oar falling upon the water came to his ears. +He looked behind him and saw the dark mass of the skiff thirty yards +away. One of the oarsmen was standing up and striking at some object +in the water. A pang went through Jack's heart as he realised that one +of his companions must be there, struggling for his life, and being +brutally beaten under. Then he saw the frightful danger in which he +stood himself. At any moment the skiff might shoot towards him. He +turned and was about to strike away when a dark object appeared within +a few yards of him down stream.</p> + +<p>It looked like a head, and Jack struck out for it. He swam in silence, +and within half a dozen strokes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> had a man by the hair. He turned the +face up to the starlight and saw that it was Jim Dent, and that the +gunsmith appeared to be unconscious. Taking a firmer grip of Jim's +hair, Jack struck out down stream and swam as fast as he could towards +the approaching light, which was now much bigger and brighter. He had +turned on his side to swim, and looked back now and again as he rose +to his stroke. To his horror he saw the long, dark line which marked +the skiff begin to move swiftly after him. It was difficult to swim in +silence and support Jim. His splashes had marked them out to the +murderers, and they were hastening to beat him and his helpless +companion under before help could arrive.</p> + +<p>Jack marked the approaching light and lashed out more fiercely than +ever. Unencumbered by Jim Dent, he would have had ten times as good a +chance of escaping from the human tigers who pursued him, but of +abandoning Jim, the gallant lad had never thought for a moment. Like a +snake darting over the water, the skiff was upon them, and a figure in +the bow raised an oar to strike at Jack's head. Lifting himself high +out of the water with a tremendous stroke, Jack yelled, "Help! help!" +at the top of his voice. The oar fell, but the man had been flurried +by that sudden wild cry at his feet, and it missed its mark. Again he +raised it and struck. Jack had turned on his back, and as the oar +fell, he raised his hand, met the stroke, turned it aside, gripped the +blade, and hung on desperately. The figure gave a muttered cry and +strove to draw the oar back.</p> + +<p>But now a warning murmur arose among his companions. The light was +coming on at great speed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> Jack's cry had been heard, and the vessel +was rushing swiftly up to the place. The men in the skiff knew well +now what vessel it was, and their only thought was of instant flight. +The oar was abandoned, the skiff was turned round, and away it darted +into the gloom which overhung the mid-stream. A moment later, a police +launch, with its brightly-burning lamp, and two Sikh policemen aboard, +shot up to the spot where Jack clung to the oar and to his comrade.</p> + +<p>In an instant the two were drawn into the vessel and Jack was telling +his story.</p> + +<p>"There are two others of us in the river," he said, and he raised his +voice and shouted, "Buck! Buck!"</p> + +<p>"Hello!" came a cry from some distance, and Jack's heart thrilled with +relief and delight.</p> + +<p>The launch was headed in the direction whence the reply came, and soon +Buck's head appeared in the ring of light cast upon the water by the +bright lamp. He was drawn into the launch, and then the little +steamer, circling to and fro, scoured the river to find the Shan +boatman. While this was being done, with one policeman keeping a watch +for the missing man, the second policeman, Risley, and Jack were hard +at work on Jim Dent, trying to bring him back to consciousness.</p> + +<p>"Say, this is great," suddenly snapped Buck. "I can feel old Jim's +heart beginning to thump. He'll do, he'll do."</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven," breathed Jack, who had been terrified at Dent's white +face and clenched teeth, and thought hope was gone. "He'll come round +then, you think, Buck?"</p> + +<p>"He'll come all right," said Buck. "Keep on rubbing him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll take you ashore," said the first policeman; "there's no sign of +your boatman. That was the man they were beating under, there is no +doubt. Do you know anything of the men who attacked you?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all," replied Buck. "We have no idea who they were."</p> + +<p>"River-thieves," said the second policeman, "as hard to catch as a +monkey in the jungle. They work by night always. If we hadn't come up, +your bodies, stripped to the skin, would have been thrown up on the +river bank to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The police launch put them ashore near the rest-house where they were +staying, and Jim was now sufficiently recovered to be able to walk.</p> + +<p>"It was a close call that time," he said. "Who held me up? The only +thing I remember is hitting my head a terrific crack against the prow +of the sampan as I went over. I knew nothing after that till I sat up +on the deck of the police-boat."</p> + +<p>"Jack had got hold of you, good and all right, so the policeman told +me," said Buck. "Where he found you I don't know."</p> + +<p>Jack was compelled perforce to tell his story, and Jim Dent expressed +his deep gratitude.</p> + +<p>"By George, sir," he concluded, "I should have been a supper for an +alligator to-night if you hadn't stuck to me. Those murdering rogues +would have beaten me under easy enough, even if I hadn't been drowned +before giving them the trouble. I've got to thank you for my life."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'd have done the same for me, Jim," said Jack. "We're bound to +stick together."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this moment Buck, who had gone forward, gave a loud cry of pleasure +and surprise. Jack and Dent hurried after him, and entered the door of +the rest-house. Here they saw Buck slapping the Shan boatman on the +shoulder. The man, like themselves, was dripping from the river, and +was telling his story to the Burman landlord. The latter acted as +interpreter, and they learned how the Shan, as much at home in the +river as out of it, had dodged the blows of the oar, and dived and +swum so far that their assailants had believed him sunk for ever, and +had followed up Jack and Jim. Meanwhile the Shan had swum quietly +ashore and walked up to the rest-house. His only trouble now was the +loss of his sampan, and his grief was soon turned to joy when he +received a sufficient sum of rupees to buy another and leave him +something in pocket.</p> + +<p>"River-thieves," was the comment of the landlord on the story. "They +are very daring sometimes. Without doubt they heard you speak English, +and hoped to make a fine booty by drowning and stripping you." He +bustled off to get them a supper, and Buck looked at his companions.</p> + +<p>"I dunno as I put much faith in this river-thief theory," he remarked. +"It's handy and natural, an' all these people jump at it, of course, +but I don't think there was much river-thieves about that lot."</p> + +<p>"Nor me, Buck," rejoined Dent. "I'd be willing to lay a trifle that +some friends of U Saw had a finger in that little pie. It would have +been a nice clean sweep of us, and as safe a way of being rid of us as +could easily be found."</p> + +<p>"After this I'm going to wear a gun," remarked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> Buck. "I fancy it +would have been rather useful if you could have pumped a few bits of +lead into that boat as it came swinging into us."</p> + +<p>"Very useful, Buck," returned Jack, "but after all, this afternoon we +were in a train where it would have seemed as out of place to wear a +pistol as if you were going from the Mansion House to Westminster."</p> + +<p>"Yes, things change mighty quick in this country," said Buck, "and +you've got to be ready to change with 'em."</p> + +<p>"By the way," said Jack, "those fellows who attacked us seemed to have +nothing to shoot with."</p> + +<p>"Best for them not," remarked Dent. "They've got their own way of +going to work, and a good one too. Their chief aim is to work in +silence. Suppose they'd cracked off gun or pistol at us. A sound like +that travels a long way over water, and draws a lot of attention. You +see what a sharp watch the river-police keep. Instead of one launch on +a regular patrol, there would have been three or four shooting up to +see what the row was about."</p> + +<p>They stripped off their wet clothes, gave them to the Burman landlord +to dry, and put on fresh garments from their baggage. Jim Dent +unstrapped the ammunition case, and each took a revolver, carefully +loaded it, and put it in a pocket hidden by the tunic.</p> + +<p>"We don't want to walk about with holsters strapped round us just +yet," said Buck, "and at the same time we might want to do some +shooting at any minute. My opinion is that the gang is watching us all +the time."</p> + +<p>"So I think," said Jack. "How can we drop them,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> I wonder, so that we +can make a start on our expedition without being ambushed as soon as +we strike into the jungle?"</p> + +<p>"It's going to be mighty dangerous to go into the Mogok country and +follow up the Professor's trail straight from the beginning," said +Buck. "We shall be spotted at once, and, as Jack says, an ambush will +be laid for us as soon as we hit the jungle and leave the last +policeman behind."</p> + +<p>Jim Dent scratched his jaw thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"They're a trifle too handy at layin' a trap for you," he remarked. +"Let's have a squint at the map. We ain't bound to follow just the +only track which would give U Saw and his men the chance to scupper us +without givin' us a chance to lay one or two of 'em out."</p> + +<p>The map was spread on a table, and all three bent over it.</p> + +<p>"See, now," said Jim, "everybody knows the road to Mogok. You go up +the river by steamer to Thabeit-Kyim, and then you've got sixty miles +of road across the hills to the ruby-mines."</p> + +<p>"And the road about as quiet as Piccadilly on a fine afternoon in +June," remarked Buck. "There are mule-trains and bullock-carts, an' +men walkin' an' men ridin'. You can no more keep yourself hidden on +that road than you can if you walked down the main street of +Mandalay."</p> + +<p>"Can't we take the place in flank?" asked Jack. "Drop somehow on my +father's line without giving them such warning as they would receive +by seeing us about Mogok?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the bother is," said Jim, "we don't know<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> the Professor's trail. +We must pick up one of his guides. Buck, here, can lay his hand on one +of the people who accompanied your father easily enough, but he's got +to be in Mogok to do it."</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit," said Buck. "Not so fast, Jim, my son. I see a glimpse o' +daylight. What's this place farther up the river, Kyan Nyat. That's +where the man came from who was the Professor's head man on his last +trip, the chap who engaged the coolies and looked after everything. He +was about as useful as they make 'em, the Professor said when he got +back. His name's Me Dain, and he told me he was going back to his +native village. He was tired of Mogok."</p> + +<p>"We'll look him up then, Buck," said Jack. "If we can get hold of him, +he could pilot us across country."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Jim. "Straight from the river. Very good, now we know +what we're after. The sailing orders are Kyan Nyat."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3>THE DACOITS.</h3> + + +<p>Two days later a swift river steamer dropped three travellers and +their belongings at the riverside village, and a couple of coolies +carried the baggage to a rest-house on the crest of a slope above the +wide stream.</p> + +<p>"Me Dain," said the landlord of the rest-house, a huge, fat Chetti, +with shaven head and scantily-clothed body. "Oh, yes, sahibs, he lives +here. He has returned from the ruby-mines with much pay, and has built +himself a fine, new house. I will send a messenger for him at once." +Within half an hour Me Dain appeared, a middle-sized, powerfully-built +Burman, with a broad, flattish, good-humoured face, marked by high +cheekbones. At sight of Buck, a merry face lighted up with the widest +of smiles, and he rushed forward to greet him.</p> + +<p>"Well, Me Dain," said Buck. "How are you getting on now?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty good, yes, pretty good," replied Me Dain, who had picked up a +fair amount of English on his travels. "And you, and the Sahib +Haydon?"</p> + +<p>"This is the sahib's son," said Buck, pointing to Jack, and the Burman +bent very politely.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am very glad to know you, Me Dain," said Jack. "My father has +spoken very well of you."</p> + +<p>"The Sahib was always kind to the poorest and worst of his servants," +replied the Burman. "I, Me Dain, was always glad to be of use to so +kind a master."</p> + +<p>"Come aside with me, Me Dain," said Buck, and the whole party moved +out of earshot of the inquisitive Chetti, hanging about to hear what +passed between the sahibs and his neighbour.</p> + +<p>In two minutes Me Dain agreed to go with them. They had no difficulty +whatever in enlisting him. Despite his monied leisure and his new +house, Me Dain was already bored by the quiet life of his native +village, where nothing happened save that a river-steamer selling +goods called once a week. He was already longing for the trail and the +camp fire, and closed without delay on the good offer Jack made him to +act as guide to the region where Mr. Haydon had been surveying Lane & +Baumann's concession.</p> + +<p>"When we start?" asked Me Dain.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning," said Jack, and the Burman grinned.</p> + +<p>"Then we be very busy at once," he replied, and their preparations for +the march were commenced forthwith.</p> + +<p>"Can't we manage without coolies?" said Jack, and Buck nodded.</p> + +<p>"Best plan," said Jim Dent. "Just the four of us, and a couple of +ponies to carry the traps." And so it was decided.</p> + +<p>The dawn of the next day saw them afoot and leaving the rest-house. +Their baggage was strapped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> on a couple of Burmese ponies, strong, +shapely little beasts, not more than twelve hands high, hardy as wild +boars, nimble as cats.</p> + +<p>Me Dain marched ahead with the ponies, and the three comrades walked +behind. The Burman followed a country road which soon took them +through tall palm groves out of sight of the river, and then began to +climb upwards. They made a march of four hours, when a halt was called +on a lofty ridge, where they sat down in a little clearing to eat and +rest.</p> + +<p>"That's the country we've got to push through," said Jim Dent, and +pointed ahead.</p> + +<p>Jack gazed eagerly on the magnificent scene which filled the vast +outlook before him. Peak upon peak, spur upon spur, rose a vast array +of wild mountains running to the north-west, till a range of great +summits closed in the horizon.</p> + +<p>"See that big mountain shining red over there, the one with twin +peaks?" continued Jim.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "I see it plainly."</p> + +<p>"That's near upon seventy miles from here," returned Jim, "and lies in +the ruby country. That's the finest ground in the whole world for the +ruby hunter," and he swung his hand in the direction of the vast sweep +of wild hill country into which they were about to plunge.</p> + +<p>For three days their march was quite uneventful. By day Me Dain led +them along secret ways, sometimes mule tracks, sometimes hidden +country roads, sometimes through trackless jungle where he steered a +course as straight as a ship at sea. Then, towards evening on the +third day, he rejoiced them by describing a village where he intended +to spend the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> night, and at the thought of fresh warm milk, eggs, +chickens, fruit, and such like provisions to be obtained there, the +four travellers made swinging headway.</p> + +<p>Presently Me Dain pointed forward and said, "Here we are," and they +saw the slender spire of a pagoda dart above the low trees ahead. A +few steps again carried them from the forest path they were following +to a narrow track deeply printed with the hoof-marks of cattle.</p> + +<p>"Here's the village highway," said Buck, and the Burman looked back +and grinned and nodded.</p> + +<p>The prospect of a night in a village with an exchange of gossip, a +thing so dear to the Burman heart, put speed into his heels. He +trotted forward, and the baggage ponies broke into a trot also. Jack, +eager to see every new sight on the march through this strange and +wonderful land, ran after him, and the two others came leisurely +behind. Me Dain vanished round a bend in the path, and, almost as he +did so, gave a wild cry.</p> + +<p>Jack bounded forward and gave a gasp of astonishment at the +extraordinary sight before him. Four little men, clothed in blue, had +leapt upon Me Dain from the bushes which lined the way. The powerful +Burman was fighting desperately, and the ponies had run on ahead. But +the four assailants were too much for him. They beset him on every +side, clutching him, grappling with him like four wolves pulling down +a deer. But even as Jack came into sight, the strangers had mastered +Me Dain, and in a second he was dragged to the ground. With incredible +speed and quickness they flung loops of rope around ankles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> and +wrists, ran them taut, and made the Burman a prisoner. Then two of +them dropped on Me Dain's legs and arms, and the third seized his hair +and dragged his head forward. The fourth leapt a pace back as nimbly +as a panther, and swung up a short, broad, heavy sword.</p> + +<p>It had all taken place so quickly that Jack had barely jerked his +Mauser pistol from his holster when all was ready for the decapitation +of their guide. But as the gleaming blade flashed above the head of +the little man in blue, Jack laid the muzzle true for his ribs and +pulled the trigger. The heavy bullet tore its way through the +headsman's body, and with a wild cry he pitched forward on the +captive's prostrate form. His three companions vanished into the +jungle beside them as Jack ran forward. He did not dare to fire at +them, for he might have struck Me Dain. Not one of them rose, but +darted away along the ground like four-footed creatures, and just as +nimbly. Jack whipped out his knife and slashed the bonds across; the +Burman at once leapt to his feet. As he did so, the other two ran up, +pistol in hand.</p> + +<p>"An attack!" cried Buck. "What's this game? Why, it's a Kachin. You +dropped him, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "he was going to lop Me Dain's head off with this +sword."</p> + +<p>Jim picked the blade up and looked at it carefully.</p> + +<p>"A Kachin <i>dah</i> (native sword)," he said. "Did you see any more of +them about, Jack?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there were four; three of them have cut into the jungle."</p> + +<p>"Come on, sahibs," cried Me Dain, who was very little disturbed by his +queer experience, "this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> dangerous place to stop. Perhaps they come +back with <i>jingals</i> (native guns)."</p> + +<p>"What do you make of it, Me Dain?" said Buck.</p> + +<p>"Dacoits, sahib, dacoits; let us hurry. That man is dead," pointing to +his would-be executioner, "but plenty more in the forest." He seized +the <i>dah</i> as a weapon for himself, and all four hurried after the +ponies, who had come to a stand fifty yards farther along the narrow +way.</p> + +<p>"Queer business, dacoits so near a village," muttered Jim. "Let's see +what the headman has got to say about it."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3>BELEAGUERED.</h3> + + +<p>But they found no headman to tell them anything. The forest clearing, +where the village had stood, was a scene of destruction. Their eyes +fell upon ruined houses and burned huts, with here and there a figure +lying about. They paused beside the first which lay in their way. It +was the body of a big, heavy man, a Chetti, as they saw at once by his +build, scored with the most terrible slashes.</p> + +<p>"That's the work of a <i>dah</i>," said Buck. "This village has been raided +by dacoits, and, by thunder, they're not far off."</p> + +<p>Everyone looked round uneasily. The forest lay calm and silent in the +evening sunshine all about the clearing, and no sign of a blue-clothed +figure was to be seen on its edge, yet all felt that the dacoits were +near, and that great danger hung over them. Jack had heard many times +of the Kachin dacoits, the terrible mountain banditti who descend at +times from their hills to plunder and slay, and now he was face to +face with them.</p> + +<p>"See how it was," said Jim. "This village was raided at daybreak this +morning. Not a body has been torn by a wild animal, and the beasts +would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> have been busy enough to-night. Then some of 'em were left +lurking about, and they spied Me Dain coming, didn't see us behind, +and thought he was coming to the village alone. Of course they slipped +out of the bushes and nabbed him, thinking to whiff off his head and +turn the ponies' packs out at their own leisure. But Jack upset their +little plan, and Me Dain's head stops in the right spot."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, <i>phaya</i> (my lord), many thanks," said Me Dain, bending +low before Jack. "Your servant thanks you for his life."</p> + +<p>Crack! There was a dull roar as of someone firing a very heavy +duck-gun from the forest, and a ball whistled by their heads.</p> + +<p>"A <i>jingal</i>!" cried Buck. "We've got to hustle round and find shelter. +The dacoits are on us."</p> + +<p>"The pagoda, sahibs," cried Me Dain. "It is the only place of stone in +the village. Let us hasten there."</p> + +<p>He gathered up the leading-reins of the ponies—which had been easily +caught—and hurried towards the spire. The others ran swiftly after +him, their steps hastened by the roar of a second shot and the whistle +of a second heavy ball.</p> + +<p>In a couple of minutes they had reached the pagoda and leaped on the +platform between the columns which supported the bulb-like roof +crowned by its tapering spire. In the centre of the platform was a +shrine. Jack glanced quickly round.</p> + +<p>"This won't do," he said, "not enough cover here, supposing the +dacoits attack us. What's that place?"</p> + +<p>He pointed to a new, strongly-built house of stone a short distance +from the pagoda.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>Me Dain looked at it in surprise. "It has been built since I was here +last," he cried.</p> + +<p>"Looks just the thing for us," said Jack. "Come on," and the whole +party hurried across to the building, whose door stood half open.</p> + +<p>"It is a small monastery," cried Me Dain, as they approached, "some +rich man has been winning merit since I was last this way. Stay a +moment, sahibs; I will enter and see that all is safe." He flung the +leading-reins to Buck and darted forward. In a few moments he +reappeared, and cried out, "There is no one here but a wounded +villager, sahibs. Come on, we shall be safe from the dacoits' guns in +this new, strong house."</p> + +<p>The party entered through a door formed of strong teak slabs, and Me +Dain closed it behind them. They now found themselves in a large, wide +apartment, formed of the whole ground floor of the building, from +which wooden stairs led to upper rooms.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the stairs was huddled a fine-looking old man, whose +rich silken kilt and jacket of delicate muslin showed that he was a +person of consequence. He had received a severe cut from a <i>dah</i> on +the left shoulder, and while Me Dain skilfully bound up the wound, he +talked with the old man and learned the story of the affair.</p> + +<p>It proved to be the outcome of a blood-feud, one of those savage +vendettas so common among the hill-tribes of Burmah. A band of Kachin +dacoits had raided near the village some six months before, and three +of the dacoits had been cut off and killed by the villagers. Now, in +revenge, a strong troop of the savage mountain banditti had fallen +upon the village,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> burning, slaying, plundering without mercy. The old +man had fled for refuge to the monastery, his own monastery, for he +had built it to house a party of Burmese monks.</p> + +<p>"I am Kyaung-Taga Pah, 'Builder of a Monastery Pah,'" he declared +proudly, and Me Dain bowed before him in much respect.</p> + +<p>It is the great ambition of a wealthy Burman to show his piety by +building a pagoda or a monastery, and when he has done so, he is +always saluted by his fellows as "Builder of a Monastery," or "Builder +of a Pagoda," titles held in very high regard. This was the meaning of +Me Dain's phrase about some rich man winning merit, for it is +considered that such good works meet with the deep approval of the +gods.</p> + +<p>When "The Builder of a Monastery," Pah, had finished his story, Buck +inquired where the monks were, for, as a rule, such holy men are safe +even in blood-feuds. The old Burman replied that they were absent at +present. There was a great festival at a large village three days' +journey away, and the monks had gone to attend it.</p> + +<p>Jim had stayed at the door, keeping watch and ward.</p> + +<p>"We're in for a little blood-feud, too," he remarked. "They're dottin' +about pretty lively at the edge of the jungle."</p> + +<p>Jack ran across to him and saw a large number of little figures in +blue flitting through the trees; now and again he caught a flash of +steel as some naked <i>dah</i> glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. +Buck had come too, and was looking over his comrade's shoulders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Say, we shall have to flip our guns a bit before we drive those +blood-thirsty little ferrets away," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they'll do their level best to cut our throats," agreed Jim. +"They're like a nest of hornets. Touch one and you've touched the +lot."</p> + +<p>"Hullo, they're bringing something forward," cried Jack. "It looks +like a clumsy gun on a stand."</p> + +<p>"That's a <i>jingal</i>," said Jim. "They're laying it for the door. We'll +get out of the way. It's a clumsy weapon and a clumsy ball, but if it +hits you, you get all you want an' a little bit over. I remember in +'85"—for Jim had once been a British redcoat and had fought in the +Burmese war—"we were carrying a stockade with a rush, and a chum o' +mine got a <i>jingal</i>-ball and went down. He must have been a dead man +when he dropped, for we found afterwards that the ball had fairly +ripped the inside out of the poor chap."</p> + +<p>He closed the door as he finished speaking, and a heavy bar was placed +in position across the stout planks. From one of the small, slit-like +windows they watched the movements of the dacoits. The <i>jingal</i>, a big +muzzle-loader on a stand of iron forks, was touched off and a heavy +shot crashed into the door.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Jim. "That's a heavier shot than I thought. That bit +of iron weighed nearer half a pound than anything."</p> + +<p>"It's cut into the door pretty badly," cried Jack, who had run forward +to look, and found a long streak of white in the plank which had been +struck. "We shall have to stop that or the door will be down."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, "an' those little tigers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> away to the left o' +the <i>jingal</i> are massing for a rush as soon as the gunners have worked +the door loose."</p> + +<p>"You're right, Buck," said Jack, who had returned to his window. "Look +here," he went on, "there are three windows facing that patch of +jungle where the dacoits are clustered. We'll take a window apiece. +I'll give the word, and we'll empty our magazines into them as fast as +we can pull the trigger."</p> + +<p>"Good plan," cried Buck. "It will show 'em we're well armed and an +awkward lot to tackle, even if we don't scare 'em off."</p> + +<p>"There ain't much scare about them, worse luck," said Jim, "but we'll +pepper 'em a bit an' see what happens anyhow."</p> + +<p>Each of them had unslung his Mannlicher and held it in hand since the +moment of the first alarm, and now they opened the magazine and saw +that all was in perfect order. Then they threw the deadly little +rifles into the embrasures formed by the window slits, and all was +ready for the word.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" cried Jack, and the swift trill of rifle-cracks rang out on +the soft evening silence. As swiftly as they could press finger on +trigger, the three comrades emptied their magazines completely into +the fringe of forest three hundred yards away. This storm of tiny, +whirling slips of lead struck among the dacoits at point blank range, +and, by the screams and yells of the banditti, did much execution. The +watchers distinctly saw three or four fall, but these were swiftly +dragged among the trees by their comrades, and for a moment not a +single dacoit was to be seen. Then, just inside the shelter of the +trees, five figures were observed very busy placing a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> new <i>jingal</i> in +position. At a glance the besieged saw that the gun was much larger +than the first, and would throw a heavier ball.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to pick off those fellows at work with the new gun," +said Jack. "Perhaps that will terrify them into flight."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," said Jim, but there was not much hope in his voice. "The +worst of these little chaps is that they never know when they're +beaten. They'll give their lives to get yours, as cheerfully as +possible."</p> + +<p>"And they don't set any high value on their lives, either," chimed in +Buck. "Whoever's runnin' the show over there, he'll spend his men's +blood like water for the chance o' catchin' us and puttin' us to death +as slowly as he can make the time spin out."</p> + +<p>"Slowly? Killing us slowly, Buck?" said Jack. "What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Torture," replied Buck, and the one dreadful word was answer enough.</p> + +<p>Crack! It was Jim's Mannlicher which spoke, but the bullet missed its +aim. The dacoits at work about the big <i>jingal</i> had artfully placed +the weapon so that its mouth pointed from between two close-growing +teak saplings, and the trees formed a safe cover for the gunners.</p> + +<p>"I thought I could pick one of 'em off that time," remarked Jim, "but +I believe I only hit a tree after all."</p> + +<p>At this instant a figure was seen for a moment behind the long gun. A +dacoit stepped into view, crouched down, and carefully trained the +piece. There was a second crack, and the freebooter dropped under the +<i>jingal</i> and never moved. Jack had fired and sent a Mannlicher bullet +through the dacoit's brain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I say, you can shoot a bit," cried Jim Dent admiringly, and Buck +chuckled.</p> + +<p>"I guess he can, Jim. He put on a very pretty string o' bull's-eyes at +Bisley, shootin' in the competition for public schools. The Professor +grinned all over his face when he read how Jack headed the list with a +highest possible."</p> + +<p>Buck's speech was cut short by a loud roar from the <i>jingal</i>. The +fallen dacoit had trained it perfectly before he dropped, and a +comrade now touched off the piece. At the next moment a terrific crash +rang through the building. The heavy missile had lighted full on the +point where the door was secured by the stout bar, had smashed its way +through door and bar and hurled the door open. As the portal flew +back, there was a tremendous yell from the edge of the jungle. Then a +cloud of blue figures burst into sight. With gleaming <i>dahs</i> +flourished on high, or long-barrelled muskets thrown forward ready to +fire, the blood-thirsty little men of the mountains rushed upon their +prey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3>A FIGHT FOR LIFE.</h3> + + +<p>Jack ran forward to the door and tried to thrust it into place again. +It swung to, for its hinges were uninjured, and as he closed it, Me +Dain was beside him with a short, thick plank he had brought from the +other side of the room. The plank was placed diagonally against the +door, its head caught under a cross-bar piece of the framework, and, +for the moment, the open gap was filled up. The rifles in the hands of +Jim and Buck had been going steadily from the moment the Kachins flew +out of their cover, and Jack now poked the muzzle of his weapon +through a broken plank, and fired swiftly and steadily into the mass +of assailants racing directly towards him. The whole thing happened so +quickly that the dacoits had not crossed more than one half of the +space intervening between monastery and jungle when Jack opened fire.</p> + +<p>The withering storm of bullets poured from the three magazines had no +more effect in checking the dacoit rush than if the bullets had been +drops of rain. The men actually struck dropped, of course, but their +comrades were not in the least terrified by their fall. The short, +broad, powerful figures rushed on as undauntedly as ever, their dark, +wild faces full of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> savage light of battle, their rough, deep +voices uniting in a terrible yell of rage and of fierce lust for +vengeance. A shower of bullets from their muzzle loaders pattered on +the door or whistled in through the windows.</p> + +<p>Buck gave a grunt of pain as a bullet cut him across a shoulder; Jim +and Jack were untouched. The Kachins did not stay to reload, and in +another moment their dark faces and blue forms were massed in the +doorway, and the door rang under the tremendous blows delivered upon +it by their <i>dahs</i>, weapons so broad and heavy as to be sword and axe +in one. The windows, luckily, were too narrow for them to swarm +through, and when Jim and Buck could no longer rake the flying crowd, +they ran to the door to help their young leader. This was the moment +when the Mauser pistol proved itself an invaluable weapon. Quicker and +handier in the narrow space than a rifle, it poured its stream of +heavy bullets into the assailants in an almost unbroken stream, as the +defenders slipped clip after clip, each containing ten cartridges, +into the magazine.</p> + +<p>Fanatically brave as were the desperate Kachins, this was a punishment +too severe for mortal flesh and blood to endure. Of a sudden they +broke and fled, leaving a heap of dead and wounded about the door, and +a trail of fallen men to mark the track they had followed.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt, Buck?" cried Jack, drawing a long breath. Fiercely as +they had been pressed, he had not forgotten Risley's grunt of pain.</p> + +<p>"Snicked my shoulder, that's all," replied Buck.</p> + +<p>Jim looked at the wound and nodded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A snick it is, Buck," he agreed, "and a lucky thing for you. A bit +lower, and it would have smashed the bone."</p> + +<p>"We'll wash the wound and tie it up," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Later on, later on," murmured Buck. "We've got no time to spare at +present. What's the little move next with these boys in blue."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they will attack us again?" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, "they're a tough crew, I can tell you. We've +got a lot more to do before we chill 'em cold."</p> + +<p>"That's true," said Dent. "After they smell blood there's no more +holdin' them than you can hold a tiger."</p> + +<p>"We've punished them terribly already," said Jack.</p> + +<p>It was his first battle, and in true English fashion he had fought his +hardest for his own life and the lives of his comrades. Now he looked +with a troubled eye on the fallen, and sighed.</p> + +<p>Jim Dent nodded at him with a friendly smile. "I know just how you +feel, Jack," he said. "But the thing is pure necessity. If you hadn't +shot that chap back in the path there, he'd have had Me Dain's head +off as sure as sin, and after you shot him, the rest followed as +straight as a string."</p> + +<p>"True, Jim," said Jack, "the whole thing lies at their door."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," murmured Buck, "you'd better get your Bisley bull's-eye +trick on that <i>jingal</i> again. They're goin' to try another shot or +two."</p> + +<p>Jack ran to the window, and as he did so, the <i>jingal</i> roared, and +crash came the heavy shot into the door.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> It struck a weak place, +burst through, and rolled across the floor. In another moment Buck had +picked it up and brought it forward.</p> + +<p>"Say, boys," murmured Risley, "no wonder this <i>jingal</i> makes the poor +old door crack. Look here!" He displayed a ball of iron, nearly the +size of a cricket ball.</p> + +<p>"By George! What a smasher!" said Dent. "The door's bound to go if +they can get two or three of those straight on it."</p> + +<p>Jack glanced at the heavy shot, then turned to the window to watch for +the gunners in order to check them in working their destructive piece.</p> + +<p>"I can't see them," he said. "There's no sign of them at all."</p> + +<p>Jim and Buck joined him at once.</p> + +<p>"There's the bunch of trees they were at work among," said Dent. "They +must have drawn the <i>jingal</i> farther back into the jungle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but if they can shoot at us we ought to be able to see them," +said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," murmured Buck. "Where's the little old cannon gone to?"</p> + +<p>In another moment all three gave a cry of surprise. The mystery was +made clear before their eyes. A sudden puff of smoke burst from a +tangle of vines and creepers twenty yards to the left of the <i>jingals</i> +former position, and a second ball crashed into the door, shook every +plank in it, and ripped a great piece out where it struck. The dacoits +had swiftly cut down and lashed a number of saplings across a couple +of trees to form a cover for their gun. Over the slight barricade they +had thrown a great tangle of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> creeping plants, and the whole concealed +and protected them in a wonderful fashion.</p> + +<p>"They know how to play their own game," said Jack, as he searched the +spot with a few bullets. "They're hidden all right."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck. "They're up to all the tricks of the jungle. +I don't see how we're going to stop 'em gettin' the door down now. +It's pure luck firin' into that tangle."</p> + +<p>Within the next half hour Buck's fears were verified. Shot after shot +was launched from the heavy <i>jingal</i>, and at the short range the +gunners found the door an easy mark, and pounded it again and again +until it was utterly shattered, and the opening into their stronghold +was left defenceless. Nor could the besieged make the gap good with +any other barrier. Between the firing of the heavy balls a steady +fusillade of musketry was poured into the doorway, and no one dared to +show himself there.</p> + +<p>The three comrades stood each at a narrow window, each with his +weapons charged, and his mind sternly resolved to make the banditti +pay a heavy price for his life.</p> + +<p>"They'll come again soon," muttered Jim Dent. "We must pump lead into +'em like mad as they cross the open, then hold the doorway as long as +we can."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed Jack. "We must not let them get in if there's any way of +keeping them out. Once they surround us, their <i>dahs</i> will finish the +struggle in a few strokes."</p> + +<p>"Say, I fancy I see a bunch of 'em just beyond the <i>jingal</i>," said +Buck. He fired, but there was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> sign that his bullet had taken +effect. "They're gone again," he continued in a tone of +disappointment.</p> + +<p>There was now silence while each watched the fringe of the jungle with +the utmost vigilance. Minute after minute passed, and not a sign +appeared of the terrible little dacoits. The <i>jingal</i> was fired no +more, the musketry had dropped, and the stillness remained perfectly +unbroken. Anyone less experienced in jungle warfare than Jim Dent +would have concluded that the fierce Kachins for once had had their +fill of fighting, and had retired towards their fastnesses among the +hills. But he bade his comrades stand close and be ready.</p> + +<p>"There is some trick in the wind," he said. "What it is we shall see +before long if we keep our eyes open."</p> + +<p>Suddenly into this silence came the sound of heavy blows on the planks +over their heads. These planks formed the ceiling of the lower room +and the floor of the upper. The noise in this unexpected direction +made them jump, and then Buck roared, "Who's aloft?"</p> + +<p>The head of Me Dain was now shown at the head of the flight of steps +leading to the next story.</p> + +<p>"Me up here," said the Burman. "Me got a job." He held in his hand the +heavy <i>dah</i> which had so nearly been driven through his own neck, and +he now returned to his task without making any further explanation. +Buck moved as if to investigate into the Burman's doings, but at this +moment Jack gave a cry of surprise, and he turned hastily back to his +window.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you see, Jack?" said Dent quickly. "Are they coming?"</p> + +<p>"Something's coming," cried Jack, and pointed. "Look straight opposite +to us," he went on. "It seems as if a piece of the jungle were moving +upon us."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3>A CUNNING TRICK.</h3> + + +<p>Jim and Buck followed the direction of his outstretched finger, and +then gasped in surprise. As Jack said, it seemed as if a patch of +jungle had begun to move. A mass of tangled greenery was edging +steadily forward from the sharp line where the forest ended, and was +making its way very slowly across the open towards them. For a moment +the whole thing looked horribly uncanny, then at the next instant the +explanation flashed upon them.</p> + +<p>"Say, that's a deep game," cried Buck. "We're in for a hard streak o' +weather, boys. They're coming on in shelter of a movin' barricade."</p> + +<p>So they were. The cunning little men in blue had set their savage +hearts on the blood of the white men, and were sparing no effort to +compass the destruction of their enemies. But the terrible hail of +bullets from those steady rifles was a thing they must avoid, or the +attacking party would be wiped out before the shattered door was +reached. So they were coming on under cover. The thing was simply +enough contrived. They had cut down young palms and saplings and +lashed them together with tough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> creepers. Thus they had formed a +little palisade six feet high and fifteen feet along. Into the joints +everywhere they had thrust great feathery bushes of the wild plum, +completely concealing every sign of themselves. Six of the sturdy +little highland caterans were strung along behind the palisade. To +their muscles of iron it was the simplest thing in the world to swing +the barricade forward a step at a time, and behind them crept a score +of their comrades with <i>dah</i> and musket ready for action.</p> + +<p>"They'll march right up to us if we can't stop them in some fashion," +cried Jack, and he fired his Mannlicher into the palisade. The others +followed his example, and for a few moments they searched the oncoming +mass of greenery with a close fire.</p> + +<p>"There's something behind those bushes of wild plum," said Jim Dent. +"Can't you hear the bullets striking into wood? They've formed a big +shield of logs, and are pushing it forward."</p> + +<p>Now that their advance was known, the Kachins gave up their silence. +The bearers began to shout to give each other the time and to make +their movements regular and swift. "Ai-ai-Ai!" they shouted. On the +last cry they all lifted and swung the barricade a step forward, +"Ai-ai-Ai!" On they came again, "Ai-ai-Ai!" Another swing of their +burden, and so they cut down the distance foot by foot, and the +blood-thirsty little men who crawled after them felt the edges of +their <i>dahs</i> and promised to dull the shine of the great blades in the +blood of the English sahibs who had shot so many of their friends.</p> + +<p>In the building, Jack and his comrades were at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> their wits' end to +know what to do in order to check this deadly advance.</p> + +<p>"They're standing us off easily enough," cried Jack. "At the rate +they're coming, they'll be up to the door in a quarter of an hour, and +then they'll swarm straight in on us. These bullets are too light to +check them." Suddenly he turned on Dent, his bright eyes flashing. +"Jim, Jim!" he cried, "what are we thinking of? Didn't you pack a +heavy big-game rifle among the baggage?"</p> + +<p>Jim Dent leapt as if he had been shot.</p> + +<p>"Of course I did," he roared. "I put it in on chance of being useful +if we had trouble with tigers or a rogue elephant." He darted across +to the baggage ponies, who had been tethered in a far corner of the +large room, and swiftly cut a case loose. He unstrapped it and drew +out an eight-bore rifle, a big powerful weapon. In a corner of the +case was a package of the cartridges which fitted the rifle. Jim +caught up the packet and ran back to his window.</p> + +<p>"The very thing," he breathed in the utmost excitement, "and I stood +here like a dummy and never remembered it was with us till you thought +of it, Jack. Unless they've got some very stiff stuff in yonder +palisade, I'll send a bullet through it as if it was only paper. I've +tried this gun with nickel-covered bullets such as these, and sent the +bullet through eight one-inch teak planks and five inches of wet +sawdust."</p> + +<p>"That ought to be good enough," cried Buck. "Pipe the lead into 'em, +Jim, and me and Jack will watch for any you drive out of cover if your +bullet goes through."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If," snorted Jim, as he threw open the breech and slipped in the big +cartridge, "I'll show you."</p> + +<p>He threw the elephant gun forward and fired at the centre of the +palisade. There was an instant scream. The immensely powerful weapon +had driven the bullet straight through the centre of a palm log, +through the body of the dacoit behind, and wounded one of the party +following up.</p> + +<p>Jim whipped open the breech, and the empty shell flew out, for the +rifle was an ejector. His practised hands had another cartridge in and +the breech closed in an instant. He fired again and then again, aiming +each time at a different spot in the palisade. There was a roar of +anger from the hidden Kachins, a roar answered by an exultant shout +from the besieged.</p> + +<p>"Pipe it into 'em, Jim," roared Buck. "You're gettin' home every shot. +Hark at 'em squealin'."</p> + +<p>The barricade had now come to a standstill, and it trembled all over +every time that it was struck by the heavy bullet travelling at +terrific speed at so short a range.</p> + +<p>"Fire low, Jim," cried Jack, "they have stopped and are crouching at +the foot of the palisade, I know."</p> + +<p>Jim fired low, and his shot was answered by a fresh outburst of yells +of pain and rage. Suddenly the palisade began to waver, then it slowly +fell over, as a stream of blue-clothed figures darted from its +insufficient shelter. The dacoits did not make either for the door of +the hut nor for the jungle they had left. The pagoda was the nearest +cover to them, and they raced for it with all their speed, the +quick-firing Mannlichers scourging them with a whistling shower of +lead as they flew. When the last Kachin who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> could run had disappeared +behind the building, the comrades checked their fire and looked at +each other with joyful eyes. Jim slapped the breech of the eight-bore +exultantly.</p> + +<p>"It sent every bullet through their shield like a cannon!" he cried. +"Lucky I put it in; they'd have got up to the door all right if it +hadn't stopped 'em."</p> + +<p>"They would, indeed, Jim," replied Jack, "and it would have been all +over with us then."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," agreed Buck. "We should ha' hit the long trail in short +order."</p> + +<p>"What's the next move?" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"Hard to say," replied Jim. "We can do nothing but watch 'em."</p> + +<p>Watch them they did. The three comrades kept a steady look-out, but +the sun went down, and the swift dark of the tropics fell over jungle +and clearing, and the dacoits had given no further sign of their +presence. The approach of night filled the besieged with the greatest +uneasiness. There was no moon to light the early hours of the +darkness, and in the deep gloom the dacoits could creep upon them +unseen and swarm over them by sheer force of numbers. But just as dusk +fell, Me Dain began to drag down a number of planks and posts from +aloft. This was the fruit of his hacking away with the heavy <i>dah</i>. He +had cut loose enough timber to make a very useful barrier at the open +doorway, and he and Jim made the strongest barricade they could while +the others kept watch.</p> + +<p>When night fell they kept their places, every ear strained to catch +the faintest sound. They had only to watch one side of the ground +floor where they stood. Three of the walls were solid and very +strongly built;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> the fourth was pierced by the windows and the door, +and here they had taken their stand from the first.</p> + +<p>About two hours after dark, Me Dain came to the head of the stairs +leading to the next floor. He had been stationed there to move from +one to the other of the upper windows and keep strict watch all round.</p> + +<p>"Come here now," said Me Dain.</p> + +<p>"I'll go," murmured Jack, and he groped his way across the floor to +the foot of the wooden steps. Up he went, and found the Burman waiting +for him at the top.</p> + +<p>"Me think some men this way," muttered Me Dain, and took Jack's +shoulder to lead him through the darkness of the unlighted passage +above.</p> + +<p>"Which way?" whispered Jack eagerly, clutching his rifle. "Are they +creeping on us from the back, Me Dain?"</p> + +<p>"Me think so," replied the Burman, and led Jack to a long, narrow room +at the back of the monastery, a room lighted by a large window. Coming +from the blackness of the passages, Jack saw the window clearly, a +grey patch in the gloom of the walls. He ran across to it and looked +out. The window was high above the ground, twenty feet at least, and +looked upon a tangle of low bushes which ran almost to the wall of the +building.</p> + +<p>"Men in the bushes. Me hear them," said Me Dain.</p> + +<p>Jack nodded, and watched intently. The window was a mere hole in the +wall, closed, when necessary, by a shutter. At present the shutter was +fastened back, and Jack could hear every sound that was made below.</p> + +<p>Presently his ears caught a rustling among the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> bushes, and he threw +his rifle forward. Then he returned it to the hollow of his arm. He +would wait and see what were the plans of the freebooters now ambushed +below. At this moment he found Me Dain's lips at his ear.</p> + +<p>"They make ladder and come up here," breathed the Burman.</p> + +<p>Jack nodded. That was the idea that had already struck him. Well, it +would be easy enough from above to sweep the ladder with a swift rifle +fire and drive the dacoits back into their hiding-place.</p> + +<p>Then another idea struck him, and he turned it over and over. To drive +them back. Yes, that was all right. But it would still leave him and +his comrades prisoners with the Kachins in hiding about the monastery +and thirsting for their blood. Would it be possible to win a chance of +escape out of this? It seemed to him there was a chance, just a bare +chance, and he resolved to seize it. He drew Me Dain back into the +shadows, and whispered softly, "How many doors lead into this room?"</p> + +<p>"One," answered the Burman, who had thoroughly explored the monastery +before the dusk fell.</p> + +<p>"Can you fasten it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, very easy. Big lock, strong lock, and key in it."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jack. "Now you keep watch on, the men below. I'll be +back soon."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3>JACK'S PLAN.</h3> + + +<p>He hurried to the ground floor, and in a dozen swift words laid his +plan before his friends.</p> + +<p>"Frightful risky!" said Jim, "Frightful risky! I don't say there's +nothing in it, but a big risk."</p> + +<p>"We stand in fearful danger now, Jim," said Jack. "I know it's only a +chance, but we've got to do something, or these fellows will wipe us +out for a certainty."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, "and there is a chance in Jack's idea. I'll +carry it out."</p> + +<p>"No, Buck," said Jack firmly, "I can't agree to that. Both of you came +into this thing to oblige and to help me, and it would be a cowardly +trick on my part to put the risky work on your shoulders. I'll try +it."</p> + +<p>"Let's toss up," suggested Jim, "or draw straws. I'm willing to take +my chance."</p> + +<p>"I know you are, Jim," said Jack, "but I insist on having a shot at it +myself. If they catch me, it may leave a chance for you two to get +clear away. I know it's a mere toss-up whether the plan comes off or +not, but we must try something."</p> + +<p>Jack left his Mannlicher with Buck and slipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> away up the stairs +once more. He regained the window where Me Dain was watching, and +found that the Burman had nothing to relate save that much rustling +had been heard. Within five minutes again Jack saw the very thing he +had been awaiting. A dark, thin shape rose from the bushes and began +slowly to creep up the wall. It was a ladder which the dacoits were +raising to the window below which they stood, a ladder formed of a +couple of bamboo stems with rungs of creepers.</p> + +<p>Now came the time for action, and Jack drew the Burman back into the +passage and locked the door himself; luckily the big key turned +quietly and easily. Down to the lower floor hurried Jack and crossed +to his friends.</p> + +<p>"They have raised the ladder just as I expected," he said. "Now I'm +off."</p> + +<p>"Good luck, Jack, good luck," breathed Jim and Buck earnestly, as Jack +dropped on hands and knees at the door and glided out at a hole which +they had prepared for him by moving a portion of the barricade. When +he found himself in the open, Jack paused for a moment and listened +with all his ears. But he could not catch the slightest sound of +either voice or movement on this side, and he glided on like a snake, +keeping his body very low and pressing closely against the dark wall.</p> + +<p>He gained the corner of the building just beyond the door, and +cautiously put his head round. Again he listened and looked. All was +quiet, and once more he slipped on. Near the next angle was a patch of +low-growing bushes. He worked his way into these with the utmost care, +and raised his head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> slowly until he could peer through the upper +shoots. He now commanded the rear of the building, and his heart gave +a great thump of excitement and satisfaction as he saw the sight which +he had been hoping for. He saw the swaying line of the ladder clear +against the sky, and mounting it, rung by rung, a line of climbing +figures. The dacoits were swarming nimbly up to the quiet room, from +which they expected to fall like thunderbolts upon their unsuspecting +enemies below.</p> + +<p>Jack now began to work his way towards the foot of the ladder. He went +very slowly and with the utmost care. At last he paused. The bushes +which had helped the banditti to approach the back of the monastery +unobserved had helped him too, and he was now within ten yards of the +foot of the ladder. He raised himself to one knee and looked intently +over the ground. The last of the climbing dacoits was vanishing +through the window, high above his head, and one stood motionless +below. He, clearly, had been left on guard to keep the foot of the +ladder. Now Jack heard plainly a shuffling and creaking and straining +above. The Kachins were trying to force the door which he had locked +against them.</p> + +<p>"Lucky it's a strong door," thought Jack. "It'll keep them busy for a +few minutes. How shall I dispose of this fellow?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the crash and uproar of heavy blows rang out from the room +above. The dacoits had given up trying to force the door quietly, and +were beating it down. This noise gave Jack a chance of a thousand to +carry out his plan. He had slung his rifle over his shoulder. He now +unslung it quickly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> clubbed it, and bounded forward. The dacoit at +the foot of the ladder was staring upwards, intent on the doings of +his comrades, when Jack landed without a sound scarce a yard behind +him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_2" id="Pic_2"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_003.jpg" width="450" height="638" alt="THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY." title="THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY.</span> +</div> + +<p>Down came the butt of the rifle with a terrific swing, fair and square +across the skull of the dacoit, who crumpled under the blow and +dropped without a groan. Jack jumped at the ladder, seized it, dragged +it from the window, and flung it among the bushes. The dacoits were +trapped. Then he turned and darted away. He gave a glance at the +window as he ran. As far as he could see, his plan had met with +wonderful success. Not a figure showed at the dark square above; every +man seemed to be taking part in the furious assault on the door.</p> + +<p>Now Jack ran for his life. Would the dacoits beat the door down and be +upon them before he could give the word? He flew back to the front and +called in a low, quick tone, "Come on! Come on! I've cleared the +ladder away, and they're trapped above."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll be off before they've got the door down," said Jim softly. +"Forward, boys!"</p> + +<p>A little procession now streamed swiftly through the doorway and +hurried across the open space which led to the friendly jungle, where +they hoped to find shelter and hiding.</p> + +<p>Me Dain went first leading a pony, Buck followed with a second pony, +Jim and Jack brought up the rear, their rifles ready for any pursuers +who might hit on their trail.</p> + + + +<p>They were on the edge of the forest when a confused uproar of voices +told them that the dacoits had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>swarmed down the stairs and were in +the stronghold they had so luckily deserted. But even as the shouts of +the Kachins rang in their ears, the sounds were dulled, for Me Dain +plunged into a narrow path running through a thicket of bamboos, and +they left the clearing behind them.</p> + +<p>"Will they follow us?" whispered Jack to his companion.</p> + +<p>"It would be sheer luck if they hit on our track now," replied Dent in +the same soft tones. "Me Dain is leading us by a path that it isn't +likely these fellows know. Coming from a distance, they would only +know the chief road through the village, and they are almost certain +to divide and strike along that in both directions, thinking we have +fled towards the next village."</p> + +<p>"Where is the old Burman whom we found in the monastery?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Dead, poor old chap," replied Jim. "He'd lost too much blood before +Me Dain tried to patch him up."</p> + +<p>"What savage fellows these dacoits are!" murmured Jack.</p> + +<p>"A merciless crew," returned Dent. "Any of our poor fellows who +dropped into their hands in the Burmese war were cut up in most +frightful fashion, and in cold blood, too. But we made them pay for it +now and again, when we got in amongst them with the bayonets."</p> + +<p>No more was said, and they tramped on in silence, with their ears laid +back to catch the faintest sounds of pursuit. But no sign of danger +was to be caught. Now and again they halted, and listened intently.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +The jungle was perfectly silent save for its own noises, chief among +which was the sullen, deep roar of a tiger calling to its mate.</p> + +<p>"That's a tiger calling," said Dent to Jack.</p> + +<p>"I thought so," replied Jack; "it sounds like the Zoo, but how queer +to think that fellow is not behind bars, but roaming free through the +forest."</p> + +<p>"Say," remarked Buck over his shoulder, "I hope that 'Tiger, tiger, +burning bright' isn't a man-eater. If he is, he'll have a soft snap +with us, marching along this narrow path through thick cover."</p> + +<p>"By George, he's coming!" cried Jim, in a tone of sudden alarm. "Let's +bunch together, boys. If he doesn't get one of us, he may get a pony, +and that wouldn't suit our game at all." The tiger had again raised +his voice, but not in a roar so much as a fierce, grumbling snarl, and +the sound was much nearer.</p> + +<p>"Quick, quick!" cried Me Dain, from the head of the procession, and +the whole party hurried forward. Suddenly the trees above their heads +parted, and they saw the stars. The little band had reached an open +space in the jungle, and they gathered in the midst of this space and +closely surrounded the ponies.</p> + +<p>"Put your hand on this little beast's shoulder," said Dent to Jack.</p> + +<p>Jack laid his hand on the shoulder of the pony next to him, and found +that it was trembling violently and running with sweat.</p> + +<p>"I rather fancy it knows all about that noise, and what's making it," +went on Dent. "They understand when trouble's in the wind as well as +anybody."</p> + +<p>"It must be in a terrible fright," said Jack. "Do you think the tiger +will attack us, Jim?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It isn't at all unlikely," replied Dent. "What do you say, Buck?"</p> + +<p>"If he doesn't want one of us, he wants a pony," replied Buck, "so it +comes to just the same. We'll have to pipe him full o' lead, I +shouldn't wonder."</p> + +<p>"This is a bad place for tigers," broke in Me Dain. "Very bad place. +Three Chinamen killed here four months ago."</p> + +<p>"How was that, Me Dain?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Nobody know," returned the Burman. "Three diggers going up to the +hills to look for rubies. Make camp on little creek not a mile from +here. Somebody pass the camp next day and see one man dead. Then they +look, and see pieces of the other men in the jungle. Me forgot that, +running from Kachins."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Me Dain," said Jim Dent. "Don't worry about that. A 'bad' +tiger is a very awkward brute to run up against, but a bunch of +Kachins is a more desperate case still. Hallo, he's pretty close. Hold +the ponies tight, Me Dain. They're ready to bolt."</p> + +<p>The little creatures were now frantic with fear, and the Burman had +all his work cut out to keep them in hand.</p> + +<p>"Look there! Look there!" cried Jack. "What's that straight in front +of us?" He had been staring hard into the blackness of the jungle, and +now, all of a sudden, two bright green flames seemed to start up in +the gloom.</p> + +<p>"That's a tiger just stepped from behind a tree," murmured Jim. "Stand +steady, boys, and don't let anybody loose off in any too much hurry."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There's another, and another," said Jack.</p> + +<p>In swift succession two fresh pairs of gleaming eyes were seen. Me +Dain gave a groan of terror.</p> + +<p>"Old tiger and two little ones," he said in a low voice. He was much +more terrified of tigers than of dacoits.</p> + +<p>"Say, he's got it quite straight," said Buck. "It's a tigress and a +pair of cubs. The eyes of the last couple are nearer the ground."</p> + +<p>It was so dark in the jungle which surrounded them that no sign of the +bodies of the savage creatures could be seen, only the eyes, which +burned upon them with a fierce, steady gaze.</p> + +<p>"It's a family party," said Jim. "Where's the old man tiger? It was +his call we heard, certainly."</p> + +<p>At this moment the tigress gave tongue. She let out a horrible whining +snarl, full of ferocity and threat. In an instant her call was +answered. Somewhere near at hand in the jungle arose a terrible sound +which seemed to fill the air and shake the earth, a sound which made +the blood run cold. It was the horrible coughing roar of a charging +tiger.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes," said Jim in a low voice, and Jack clutched his rifle +tightly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE JUNGLE.</h3> + + +<p>A moment later, and a fresh pair of burning eyes was added to the +group in the jungle.</p> + +<p>"Shout, shout, or he spring," cried Me Dain.</p> + +<p>The whole party shouted at the top of their voices. This sudden uproar +checked the tiger; the most ferocious brute hesitates to leap upon +people who are making a great noise. Then a sudden flame spurted up, +and they saw the whole scene plainly. This was the doing of Buck. He +had been hastily gathering great handfuls of dried grass and piling +them together. He struck a match and tossed it into the heap. The +withered grass caught at once, and a great red flare leapt out and +lighted the scene. For the first time they saw the tigers clearly, an +immense male tiger, his smaller mate, and two large cubs. The tigress +and the cubs were retreating a little, and the male was crouching as +if for a spring, his tail lashing his flanks, but the sudden flaring +up of the fire checked him, and for the moment he did not leap.</p> + +<p>That moment's hesitation saved them, so quickly and well was it used +by Jack. He had his rifle already at his shoulder. As the flame sprang +up, his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> quick eye brought the sights to bear on the huge, round head +of the crouching tiger. He touched the trigger, and the rifle spoke. +The great tiger gave one convulsive shudder, but did not move. There +was a general thrill of terror among the party. Had Jack missed, or +only grazed him? If it was so, he would spring at once, and his mate +would follow.</p> + +<p>The flame leapt and fell. The grass had burned out. With frenzied +haste Jim and Buck tore fresh handfuls to feed the fire. Every second +they expected the tigers to rush on them through the darkness. But no +charge came, and once more the red flame ran through the dried grass +and leaped into the air. As it did so, they gave a cry of +astonishment. There crouched the tiger, just as before, save that his +tail no longer swept to and fro. His head was laid low, his paws were +drawn under him just as if he were about to rise in the air and +descend upon them like a living thunderbolt, but he made no movement, +uttered no sound. Suddenly Jim Dent broke the wondering silence.</p> + +<p>"By George," said he in a low voice, "what a shot! What a shot! Jack, +that's a dead tiger."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so, Jim?" said Jack, joyfully. "Have I killed him?"</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, "that's a brain shot. He never moved after +the bullet hit him. Now for the others. Where's the lone, lorn widdy +and the poor orphans. Jack, they'll rip holes into you for robbing +them of a kind father."</p> + +<p>Buck was still speaking when the tigress returned and rushed up to her +mate. She seemed to suspect something, and she bent over the huge, +prostrate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> figure and snuffed at it eagerly. Then she gave a +blood-curdling growl and retreated slowly towards the cubs, which came +bounding to her side, whining impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Those cubs are very hungry," said Buck.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jim quietly. "What's her next move? Will she scent danger +and clear off with the young ones, or is she in so great a need of +food for herself and them that she will attack us?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly Me Dain began to shout, "Shoot, sahibs, shoot! She is coming! +She is coming!" His experienced eye had told him that the tigress was +about to charge, and another instant showed that he had given no false +alarm. Maddened by the scent of the pack animals, and by the whining +of her famished cubs, the tigress turned short and came at them with +two tremendous leaps! The second carried her full into the light of +the fire, and as she touched the ground, all three rifles cracked, and +three bullets were driven home into her shining, striped body.</p> + +<p>Again she rose to her leap, her eyes blazing madly, her mouth opened +to its fullest extent, showing her huge fangs, and the repeaters +crackled as a rapid fire was poured into her in hopes of checking her +rush, for a wounded tigress is the most savage and dangerous beast in +the jungle. The last volley carried the day. Each fired into the open +mouth, and each hit his mark. The bullets, travelling at terrific +speed, cut their way through flesh, sinew, brain, and bone, and almost +tore the head of the tigress to pieces. She dropped across the fire +and lay there without moving, her coat singeing in the embers.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" Jim blew out a long breath. "I thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> she was in among us +that time. And if she had been, we should have known about it. There's +a fore-arm for you." As he spoke, he touched the short, thick leg +where the muscle bulged in huge rolls under the loose skin.</p> + +<p>"And look at her claws," said Jack, bending with much interest to +examine the dreadful creature now lying so still. "A stroke of those +would mean mischief."</p> + +<p>"I saw a tiger once rush out of cover and give a beater a stroke in +passing," said Jim. "I remember I thought the brute had only patted +the man. I wasn't fifty yards away, and I'm perfectly sure the beast +didn't put any particular force into the blow. But the man dropped, +and when we ran up to him, we found five of his ribs torn clean out of +his body. He died from loss of blood almost at once."</p> + +<p>Buck twisted a bunch of dried reeds into a rude torch and lighted it. +"Let's have a look at the boss," he said, and they crossed to the +great tiger, still crouching as if about to spring. There was no mark +of injury on him save a small patch of blood between his eyes.</p> + +<p>"That's where you hit him, Jack," said Buck. He bent down and felt +among the fur. "I can feel the hole in the skull," he said, "but those +Mannlicher bullets are so small, there's scarcely anything to be +seen."</p> + +<p>"That bullet took him through the brain and then went down the spine," +said Jim. "Must have done, to have settled him so completely. You see +he never moved after he was hit."</p> + +<p>Jack took the torch from Buck's hand and looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> proudly over the +magnificent proportions of his first tiger. The gleaming, satiny skin, +the bright bars of black and yellow, showed that the animal was in +splendid condition, and at the height of his powers.</p> + +<p>"Isn't he a splendid fellow?" murmured Jack. "I should just about like +to have his skin."</p> + +<p>"Sahibs," came a voice behind them, "let us go. Perhaps the Kachins +hear the guns."</p> + +<p>"The dacoits!" cried Jack. "Upon my word, I'd forgotten all about +them! By Jove, it's a matter of saving our own skins without worrying +about the tiger's. We'd better be on the move."</p> + +<p>"I'd clean forgotten 'em myself," said Jim, and Buck chimed in with, +"So had I."</p> + +<p>"They're pretty awkward parties to forget," went on Jack.</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Buck. "If they hit our trail, we'll see trouble +yet."</p> + +<p>No more time was spent over the dangerous brutes which had threatened +to bar their way. They were left lying where they had fallen, and the +little party of fugitives turned once more to their flight, and pushed +rapidly through the jungle.</p> + +<p>An hour later the moon came up, and soon after that they reached a +wide, naked stretch of rocky hill-side. This was very hard travelling, +but they welcomed it, as it was country where they would leave very +few traces to guide pursuers. On and on they pushed, until dim grey +streaks in the east told them that the dawn was near at hand. They +climbed a steep slope, and were just on its crown when the morning +broke, and the sun shot up into a sky without a cloud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good place here to make camp," remarked Me Dain, and all agreed +heartily with the remark.</p> + +<p>"I reckon this is your first night march," said Jim to Jack, +smilingly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack. "It isn't bad fun either." His tall, powerful, young +figure was as upright as a dart, his eye bright, his cheek fresh; he +could have gone on all day again.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jim Dent, "I don't mind saying I'm ready for a rest," and +he dropped on the grass beside the fire which Me Dain had already +begun to build.</p> + +<p>Buck got out the provisions, and they ate from their store of native +bread and dried beef, and washed it down with plenty of tea.</p> + +<p>"The country looks empty," said Jack, glancing over the wide stretch +they had traversed, "but for all that we had better keep our eyes +open, perhaps."</p> + +<p>"We had," said Jim. "Those Kachins will follow us hot-foot when once +the light comes and they get our track for certain. I should say we'd +better stop here a few hours and then push on again till we've got +clean out of this country-side."</p> + +<p>"Very well," returned Jack. "We'll set a guard. Best to run no risks. +I'll take first watch."</p> + +<p>The last watch fell to Me Dain, and Jack awoke just as Buck roused the +Burman and lay down himself for another nap before continuing the +march. Jack, who was lying in a patch of thick grass, and wrapped in a +blanket, watched the sturdy figure of the Burman as Me Dain paced +lightly to and fro, looking out keenly on every hand. Then Jack dozed +off himself for half an hour, and woke again. He glanced round and saw +that Me Dain was sitting on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> a rock with his back towards the +sleepers. The first glance aroused Jack's suspicions. The Burman's +head was sunk between his shoulders. Next moment suspicion became +certainty. A gentle snore reached Jack's ears, and he knew that Me +Dain was sleeping at his post.</p> + +<p>Up sprang Jack at once, and crossed to the sleeping man. He was about +to shake the drowsy watchman by the shoulder, when he paused and +looked intently at the slope below. What were those creeping figures +among the rocks down there? A second later he knew them, and aroused +his sleeping companions by a low, fierce cry.</p> + +<p>"Up, up! Buck! Jim! Get your rifles at once. The dacoits are on us!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE BRIDGE AND THE FORD.</h3> + + +<p>The two men were on their feet at once.</p> + +<p>"Dacoits! Dacoits!" growled Jim, dashing the sleep from his eyes and +gripping his weapon. "How in thunder do they come on us so soon? Have +we overslept?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Buck, glancing at his watch. "We're inside our time. They +must have picked up our trail quicker than we thought, and followed a +lot faster than we travelled with the ponies."</p> + +<p>By this time Jack had taken cover behind a boulder, and was drawing a +bead on the first of the oncoming figures. Up the hill-side was +streaming a broken line of crouching little men in blue, following, +with the skill of born trackers, the signs of the fugitives' march. +Jack's finger pressed on the trigger, and the leader dropped. At once +the men in blue seemed to disappear as if the earth had swallowed +them. They vanished behind rock, or bush, or tuft of grass, and the +hill-side was empty save for the fallen figure. At this instant Buck +and Jim crept to Jack's shoulder.</p> + +<p>"How do they come to be so near to us as that?" cried Buck in +surprise. "In two minutes again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> they'd have been in the camp slicing +us up as we lay."</p> + +<p>"Me Dain was asleep," said Jack briefly. "I happened to wake up and +hear him snore. So I nipped up and took a look round and dropped my +eye on the dacoits making straight for us."</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Jack," replied Buck. "That's saved all our lives, for a +certainty."</p> + +<p>A groan of misery behind them drew their attention. They glanced over +their shoulders and saw Me Dain seated on his rock, a picture of +shame. He had been awakened by Jack's call and the crack of his rifle, +but sat still, unable to face the men whose lives he had risked by +giving way to his desire for more slumber.</p> + +<p>"Me Dain, you fat, brown-faced villain of the world," cried Buck. +"What d'ye mean by letting the dacoits nearly get us?"</p> + +<p>"Me sorry, me very sorry, sahibs," cried the Burman. "The sleep just +catch me. Me very sorry."</p> + +<p>"You'd better be sorry," returned Buck. "I've a good mind to boot you +till your nose turns grey. If it hadn't been for Jack, the king-pin o' +this outfit, we should all have hit the long trail this morning."</p> + +<p>"We'd better give those chaps down there a volley," said Jack. "See +how the tufts of grass shake as they creep on us."</p> + +<p>"You're right," said Jim. "They're trying to get within range. At +present they can't reach us with their muzzle-loaders, but we can +pepper them easy enough."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> + +<p>Firing steadily but swiftly, the three comrades raked every patch of +cover with a stream of Mannlicher bullets. This checked the advance; +no more signs of movement were seen.</p> + +<p>The voice of the Burman was now heard behind them.</p> + +<p>"Sahibs," he said, "let us go on. Two miles more we reach a deep +river, and break the bridge. No Kachins follow then."</p> + +<p>"Sounds like a chance for us," remarked Jim. "Get the ponies, Me Dain, +and cut along ahead. We'll follow in a minute."</p> + +<p>The Burman at once slipped the hobbles from the ponies, whose packs +had not been removed, and led them quickly away. From the head of the +slope the path crossed a kind of tableland, and they could easily keep +their guide in sight for a long distance.</p> + +<p>"Now to search the places where these fellows below are in hiding," +cried Jack. "That will hold them back from following us till we get a +good start."</p> + +<p>"That's it," returned Jim. "Just what I was thinking of."</p> + +<p>Each man spent a couple of magazine loads in firing into every spot +where a Kachin had been seen to move or to go to cover. Then they drew +back out of sight, leapt to their feet, and ran at full speed after Me +Dain, who was hurrying the ponies along in the distance.</p> + +<p>"After that bit o' shootin' they'll wait a while before they push on +to the top of the slope and find we're gone," said Jim as they ran. +"And that will give us a good start to cross the river."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<p>Within a mile they caught up the Burman. Jack looked back as they ran +up to the ponies, but the top of the slope was now out of sight, and +he could not discover whether the Kachins had swarmed up to it or not.</p> + +<p>The fugitives were now following a well-worn path, clearly that used +by the people of the country-side to gain the bridge over the stream +in front.</p> + +<p>Jack was now leading the way, while Buck and Jim formed a rearguard +behind the ponies. Looking ahead, Jack saw that the path began to +descend very rapidly and fell out of sight. He ran forward and found +himself on the lip of a ravine with steep sides. At the foot of the +ravine flowed the river, and Jack gave a shout of joy when he saw how +near they were to the stream which promised safety.</p> + +<p>Then the sound of swift, heavy blows came to his ears, and he looked +in the direction whence they proceeded. His call of joy was checked in +an instant. What were those three figures in blue doing down there? In +a second he saw what it meant, and he dropped on one knee and clapped +his Mannlicher to his shoulder with a cry of anger. The dacoits had +been more cunning than they suspected. The pursuers knew also of the +bridge, and at this very instant three powerful Kachins were hacking +away with their keen, heavy <i>dahs</i>, cutting the bridge down.</p> + +<p>The three men in blue were so intent on their work that they never +once glanced upwards. They were slashing fiercely at the nearer end of +the bridge, and were about two hundred and fifty yards away. A +rifle-bullet would reach them more quickly than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> anything, and Jack +drew a careful bead on the nearest worker and fired. His bullet went +through the arm which had just swung up the heavy blade for a fresh +stroke at the frail bridge, and the <i>dah</i> dropped into the water, +while the dacoit's yell of pain came clearly to the ears of the party +now gathered on the edge of the ravine.</p> + +<p>"Gosh!" cried Buck. "They're ahead of us."</p> + +<p>"So they are," snapped Jim. "They're cutting down the bridge and +penning us in. Drop 'em, boys, drop 'em quick, or it's all over with +us."</p> + +<p>At the next instant a swift shower of the tiny slips of lead was +pelting on to the bridge head where the two dacoits still hacked away, +striking harder and faster now that the rifles cracked on the lip of +the ravine. One dropped into the river with a splash, the other leapt +into cover of the big tree to which the bridge was swung, and was safe +from the darting bullets. But his gleaming <i>dah</i> still flashed into +sight now and again as he hewed fiercely at the bridge.</p> + +<p>Jack at once bounded out, and, followed by his companions, raced madly +for the place. The bridge was but a slight affair, a native structure +formed of a couple of long bamboo poles with cross pieces lashed into +place by native cordage.</p> + +<p>The lower slope of the ravine was covered with tall bushes of wild +plum, and, as Jack ran through these, he lost sight, for a few +moments, of the bridge and the busy dacoit. He burst through them with +a straight, open run before him of seventy yards to the bridge head. +His heart beat thick and fast as he flew across the open. The blows of +the <i>dah</i> had ceased. Had the bridge gone or not? A little<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> clump of +water-grasses on the bank hid the bridge from him, but the silence was +terribly ominous. He thought he saw a blue kilt disappearing among the +trees, but he did not stay to intercept it. He shot up to the edge of +the stream, and saw a horrible space of blank water between bank and +bank. The bridge was swinging slowly towards the other side. Held fast +there, the current was thrusting the slight structure across the +stream. The dacoits had succeeded in their plan.</p> + +<p>Jack stood still and looked round for their enemies. There was no sign +of a Kachin to be seen. One had dropped into the river, and the +current had certainly carried him away; the others had escaped into +the jungle which grew thickly within a short distance of the bridge +head.</p> + +<p>"By Jingo!" cried Jim Dent blankly, as he ran up. "The bridge has +gone. We're in a pretty fix."</p> + +<p>"Gone," echoed Buck. "They've cut us off after all. Boys, we're in a +tight place."</p> + +<p>"Bridge gone!" cried Me Dain. "Bridge gone! What shall we do? Sahibs, +oh, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>Jack looked from one to the other in some surprise at hearing this +outburst of deep anxiety.</p> + +<p>"It isn't very wide," he cried. "Why on earth can't we swim over? That +would be simple enough."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," said Jim Dent. "Easy enough if we were sure of getting to +the other side, but we're not. All these rivers swarm with alligators, +big, savage brutes that would pull a man under as easy as if he were a +dog."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack's looks were now as blank as the others. This put a very +different face on crossing the river, and he gazed on the dark, swift +stream with horror. In those gloomy depths lurked huge, dreadful +reptiles whose vast jaws would drag a swimmer down to a frightful +death.</p> + +<p>"It's not a short journey across this creek, d'ye see," said Buck. +"The stream's so fast that a swimmer would be swept down full a +hundred yards in crossing from bank to bank, and in that time it would +give an alligator plenty of chance to lay hold of him."</p> + +<p>"We can't cross here, sahibs," put in Me Dain. "Stream too swift, too +strong. The bridge is here because the river at this place is very +narrow, but about a mile down there is a ford."</p> + +<p>"We'd better light out for it without losing any more time then," +cried Buck. "We might see an ugly row of Kachins any minute now along +the brink of the gully behind us."</p> + +<p>"True for you, Buck," said Jack. "Lead us at once to the ford, Me +Dain."</p> + +<p>The Burman turned and hurried down the banks of the stream, and the +others followed. In a moment they were lost to sight among the tall +bushes which were dotted about the bank. When the sound of their +footsteps had completely died away, two figures slipped from the edge +of the jungle and approached the spot where the fugitives had stood. +The newcomers were a couple of dacoits, one the man who had been +wounded by Jack's first shot. The short, broad, powerful figures stood +for a moment in close conversation, then the wounded man started to +climb the bank of the ravine. The second dacoit plunged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> into the +bushes, and followed easily the track left by four men and two ponies. +It was his task to track the intruders down: his comrade was +despatched to find the rest of the band and lead them to enjoy the +revenge for which the blood-thirsty dacoits lusted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>A FRIGHTFUL PERIL.</h3> + + +<p>Meanwhile the fugitives, unconscious that a sleuth-hound was on their +track, hurried forward and came to a point where the river spread out +broadly over sandy flats.</p> + +<p>"This is the ford," cried Me Dain.</p> + +<p>"Why was it given up?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Because it was too dangerous, sahib," replied the Burman. "Many men, +many women have been seized by alligators at this ford. So the +villagers made a bridge at the narrow place higher up."</p> + +<p>"Well, we shall have to face it," said Jack. "How deep is it in the +middle?"</p> + +<p>"To the waist when the water is low," replied Me Dain.</p> + +<p>"H'm, that's awkward," remarked Jim Dent, "for the water certainly +isn't low to-day. There's been rain among the hills. You can tell by +the colour. It may mean swimming in the middle."</p> + +<p>"I'll try it first," cried Jack, "and I'll sing out to you how I find +it. Here goes!" He was about to spring into the river, when Jim Dent +called to him to stop.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Jim. "That won't do, Jack. We<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> might lose you that way, +and we should prefer a good deal to lose a pony."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," said Buck, as Jim looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Now," went on Dent, "here's our best plan. We'll go in in a bunch +with a pony each side of the party. Then, if some of these ugly brutes +come up to see who's crossing their river, they're more likely to grab +a pony, and if we lose them, why we must."</p> + +<p>"It will be a frightful loss," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"It lies between that and being scuppered ourselves," said Dent.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, Jim, of course," cried Jack. "Your plan is the best."</p> + +<p>It was carried out at once. The four men went into the ford in a +bunch, with a pony up stream and a pony down stream. Jack was leading +the up-stream pony, Buck the down-stream animal, while Jim and the +Burman were between them. The crossing was a broad one, near upon a +hundred yards, for the river had spread out on a sandy flat, and they +were thirty or forty yards into the stream before they were more than +thigh-deep. Then the water suddenly deepened a full twelve inches, and +they were up to their waists. The stream, even on the flat here, was +fairly swift, and they could only wade forward slowly.</p> + +<p>"Slow job this," remarked Buck. "Water's tougher stuff than you think +to get through. I feel as if I was wading through treacle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, doesn't it clog your movements," agreed Jack, "but I should +think we're a good half-way over."</p> + +<p>"Deep part got to come yet, sahib," said Me Dain. "We have come +through easy part of ford."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_3" id="Pic_3"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_004.jpg" width="450" height="667" alt="THE DANGER AT THE FORD." title="THE DANGER AT THE FORD." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE DANGER AT THE FORD.</span> +</div> + +<p>Just at this moment Jim's voice broke in; his tones were low and +fiercely earnest.</p> + +<p>"Push ahead, boys," he said. "Do your best. Strike it faster, +everybody."</p> + +<p>"What is it, Jim?" The question broke from Jack's lips, but a glance +up stream answered it before Jim could speak in reply. A hundred yards +above the ford a small sand-bank rose above the water. On this bank +lay, to all appearance, three logs washed thither by the current. But +now, oh horror, Jack saw these logs move and raise themselves. They +were huge alligators sunning themselves and waiting for prey. It was +clear that the vast saurians had noted the movement on the surface of +the river. One by one they slid down the sand and vanished into the +stream.</p> + +<p>"They are coming, sahibs, they are coming!" cried Me Dain, and his +brown face was hideously ashen with terror.</p> + +<p>"Strike it faster, everybody," growled Jim, and the party pushed +forward at their utmost speed through the stream.</p> + +<p>"Gosh!" panted Buck. "It's getting deeper and deeper. That's dead +against us."</p> + +<p>"Let us go back, sahibs," cried Me Dain, beside himself in terror of +the awful reptiles now coming down stream upon them with frightful +rapidity. "Let us go back. Better to face dacoits than alligators."</p> + +<p>"Easy does it, Me Dain," said Jack. "Peg along and do your best. It's +facing death either way. Let's have a go at the other bank."</p> + + + +<p>"That's the way to talk, Jack," said Jim, through <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>the teeth set in +his white, grim face. "We've got to go through with it now. And hark, +listen to that!"</p> + +<p>There was the crack of a musket on the shore behind them, and a ball +whistled over their heads and splashed into the water before them. +Jack glanced back and saw a blue-clothed figure on the river bank.</p> + +<p>"They're coming," he said. "One of them's trying to pot us now. +Impossible to turn back."</p> + +<p>"Gosh! it's deepening again," growled Buck.</p> + +<p>So it was. The stream ran nearly shoulder deep, and the other bank was +still a good forty yards away. Jack pushed on as fast as he could, +urging the pony forward. His breath came fast, and his heart thumped +like a trip-hammer. The situation was inconceivably desperate. +Somewhere through the hidden depths of the rushing stream, three +monstrous and frightful reptiles, fearfully dangerous and terrible +creatures in their own element, were darting swiftly towards them, and +behind them the dacoits now lined the shore and prevented return into +shallower waters which might promise safety from the huge saurians.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the pony which Jack led gave a great leap, and pawed the +water madly with its fore-feet, and uttered a loud snort of agonised +terror. Jack held him tight and looked over his withers. Nor could the +brave lad keep back a cry of alarm at the frightful thing he saw +there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE COMBAT IN THE RIVER.</h3> + + +<p>The river, though swift, was not muddy, and through the clear brown +water he saw plainly the vast open jaws of a huge alligator rising in +the stream, and about to seize the pony by the neck. In another second +the great saurian would have seized its prey, but the pony swerved +aside, and the huge snout shot out of the water, and the jaws, missing +their prey, clashed together with a sharp snap. At the next moment +they were opened, as the alligator drew back a little for a fresh +assault.</p> + +<p>Jack had been marching with his Mannlicher held on top of the pony's +pack, and his Mauser pistol held up in the other hand, hoping to keep +the weapons dry. Now he seized the opportunity of pouring a stream of +heavy Mauser bullets into the open jaws.</p> + +<p>So swiftly did he press the trigger that he drove five shots in before +the alligator once more snapped its jaws close. The great saurian was +badly wounded, and in its rage and agony began to lash the water +furiously with its huge tail, while blood and foam poured out at its +jaws and nostrils. The deadly, ripping, soft-nosed bullets, which +would have glanced off its hide of mail, had torn their way down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> its +throat and through the soft parts of the body with fearful destructive +power, inflicting mortal wounds. At sound of the pistol shots so close +to its ear, the pony leapt forward more frantically still, and the +huge dying brute was left floundering in the water.</p> + +<p>"One done for," roared Jim in delight. "Peg away, boys. We may come +safe yet."</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Buck let out a yell of +alarm.</p> + +<p>"Say," cried Buck, "there's one here. He's got hold of the pony."</p> + +<p>Buck's words were drowned by the loud shrill squeal of affright from +the pony, whose off-hind leg had been seized by the second of the vast +brutes to attack the party.</p> + +<p>"Here's another," shouted Jack, and he and Jim, who had been also +holding his pistol above the stream, fired rapidly. The third +alligator was sailing straight upon them down stream, floating on the +surface, his evil, unwinking eyes fixed full on the pony which he was +about to attack. Jim planted a lucky shot in one of the wicked-looking +eyes and knocked it clean out of its socket. Jack plainly saw the +bleeding hole before the alligator threw up his huge tail, slapped the +water with a crack like thunder, and dived.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Buck was engaged in a terrible struggle with the +alligator which had seized the pony. He held the bridle of the unlucky +beast, and assisted it as much as possible in the strong fight it made +for its life. So desperately did the powerful little animal struggle +with its terrible foe that it actually gained a dozen yards or more, +dragging the huge reptile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> along the river-bed. But the immensely +powerful jaws, fanged with strong, sharp teeth, never loosed their +grip.</p> + +<p>Jim now turned to Buck's assistance. At that instant the alligator +rolled in the water, showing its softer underside. It rose towards the +surface, yet never easing its grip, and lashed the river into foam +with its powerful tail as it tugged backwards with tremendous force, +aiming to pull the pony into the deeper water. For a moment Jim saw +its underside near the surface, the four horrible legs armed with huge +claws striking out savagely in the water.</p> + +<p>He thrust his rifle into the stream, pressing the muzzle against the +saurian's body. Luckily the magazine still remained above water, and +he fired several shots in swift succession into the vast brute, the +water boiling and swirling as the gases of the discharge came to the +surface in huge bubbles. One of these shots must have reached a vital +part; the alligator gave a final convulsive shudder, its jaws ground +savagely together, then they gaped wide, and the pony was free.</p> + +<p>Jack was pushing on swiftly with the pony under his charge. That was +his business, and he hurried forward, feeling joyfully that the water +was growing shallower with every step. His shoulders were out, and now +the pony's withers began to rise. Suddenly a horrid dark snout was +thrust up in front of him. It was the wounded alligator, which had +returned to the assault.</p> + +<p>Before Jack could fire the saurian dived, and Jack saw the huge dark +form dart at him under water. He felt his legs swept from under him +at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> the next instant, and down he went. He had not been seized, he had +simply been knocked from his foothold by the rush of the great brute, +and he landed full on the alligator's back. He felt plainly with his +hand its rough scaly covering like knobs of horn. He had kept his eyes +open, and saw clearly the horrid brute below him, and the dark forms +of his companions at hand.</p> + +<p>He dropped his pistol, whipped out a great hunting-knife from his +belt, and drove it time and again into the underside of the big +reptile. Then he struck out for the surface and came up gasping for +breath. He swam a dozen swift strokes before he dared to drop his feet +again and find the easy depth which the whole party had now reached. +He saw that the Burman was leading ashore the pony he had been torn +away from, and that Buck and Jim were doing their utmost to keep the +second pony on its legs. Suddenly the bottom began to rise swiftly, +and the whole party, fearfully exhausted, but very luckily unhurt, +staggered ashore and threw themselves down on the warm sand.</p> + +<p>"You all right, Jack?" snapped Buck. "I thought I saw you go under."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "the brute that Jim knocked an eye out of attacked +me and fetched me off my legs. But I dug a knife into him and got +away. How are you two?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we've come through with a sound skin," replied Jim. "But that was +a near shave. And look what we've missed." He pointed to the water, +where, thirty yards out, half-a-dozen huge ridged backs were now to be +seen cruising to and fro.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By Jove!" said Jack, "it's a fresh lot turned up just as we got out."</p> + +<p>Everyone shuddered as they thought what their fate would have been if +the alligators, attracted to the scene by the scent of prey, had +arrived a few moments earlier.</p> + +<p>"Where are the dacoits?" said Jack, looking across to the other bank. +"They've all cleared out, except a couple who seem posted to watch +us."</p> + +<p>"So they have," rejoined Buck. "What's their little game?"</p> + +<p>"I wonder if there's another bridge handy," remarked Jack. "Where's +the next bridge, Me Dain?"</p> + +<p>"A long way down the river, sahib, but there is a village about four +miles off."</p> + +<p>"Then they've gone there to borrow a boat, I'll wager a trifle on +that," cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"Right for you, Jack," said Dent. "We'd better be on the move. But +what can we do with this pony?"</p> + +<p>The poor beast, which the alligator had mauled, had managed to get +ashore and that was all. Its leg was frightfully torn.</p> + +<p>"This pony 'll never hit the trail again," remarked Buck, after he had +examined it carefully. "We shall have to carry its pack partly between +us and partly on the other pony."</p> + +<p>"Poor little brute," said Jack. "It's suffering fearfully. Look at its +eyes!"</p> + +<p>"We can do nothing for it, I'm afraid," remarked Jim.</p> + +<p>"No," said Buck, "but if we don't hump round a bit, somebody'll do +something for us."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>This hint of the danger in which they still stood from the +blood-thirsty and revengeful dacoits quickened their movements, and +the wounded pony was stripped in a few moments. The other pony was +quite unhurt, and a good share of the baggage was added to its load +for the present; the remainder was swung up on the shoulders of the +four members of the party.</p> + +<p>Jack, Jim, and the Burman now marched swiftly up the river bank +towards the road which ran from the broken bridge. Buck stayed behind +for a moment. Soon his companions heard the crack of the pistol which +put an end to the sufferings of the wounded pony, then heard Buck's +footsteps as he hastened to rejoin them.</p> + +<p>"What a lucky thing you packed the ammunition in water-tight tins, +Jim," remarked Jack, as they pushed at full speed along the bank.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jim, "I've been in this country a time or two afore. It +wasn't wetter in that river than it is in the jungle at times when a +storm catches you."</p> + +<p>"I've lost my Mauser pistol," said Jack. "It had to go when that brute +knocked my legs from under me. I had to drop it to whip my knife out. +Luckily I've got my rifle all right. That was on the sling."</p> + +<p>"We've got another Mauser in the outfit," said Jim. "I slipped a couple +of spare ones in. We'll turn it out at the next stopping-place."</p> + +<p>No more was said, and they pushed on swiftly along the river bank. The +day was fearfully hot and the road rough. Jim Dent began to puff and +blow under his burden.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Say," grunted Buck, "this is a tough job running away under loads +from dacoits who'll scour after us like coyotes as soon as they hit +our bank of the river."</p> + +<p>"It is," panted Jim. "Me Dain, how far is it to the next village which +is strong enough to make us safe against the Kachins?"</p> + +<p>The Burman shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Soon the road leaves the river," he said. "Then it goes through +jungle. But it passes only little villages, very little."</p> + +<p>"A jungle road, and no chance of a haven," said Jack. "This sounds +precious awkward. It strikes me our only chance will be to pick a +strong position, or as strong a one as we can find, and wait for them. +They'll certainly run us down pretty soon at the pace we're travelling +now."</p> + +<p>"And we can't go any faster," said Buck, "without we leave our traps, +and then we should be up a tree for want of them, even if we escaped +from the dacoits in the end."</p> + +<p>"I'm getting beat, and that's a fact," murmured Jim Dent. "I had a +sharp touch of fever about three months ago, and it's not gone so +clean out of my bones as I thought."</p> + +<p>"I'll carry your pack, Jim," cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"In addition to your own?" said Dent. "Not likely. I'll peg along a +bit farther before I agree to that."</p> + +<p>At that moment the path ran into a grove of tall bamboos clustered +along the bank. The grove was of no great width, and they emerged from +it to see a little camp pitched on a sand-bank beside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> the stream. A +fire was burning, and a pot of rice simmering over the flame. Watching +the rice, sat, or rather squatted, a couple of Shan boatmen, and their +boat was moored to a tree at the water's edge.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" cried Jack, "these chaps have got a big boat here. Can't we +get them to run us and our stuff up the river?"</p> + +<p>"By George!" said Jim Dent, "there's something in that."</p> + +<p>"Ask them, Me Dain," called Jack. "Tell them we'll pay them well if +they'll carry us up the river."</p> + +<p>The Burman ran forward at once and began to talk quickly to the +big-hatted boatmen. In two moments everything was settled. The men +were poling their boat back up the stream after selling a load of +tobacco in a down-river village, and were glad to serve travellers who +would pay them well. The baggage was stripped from the pony, and +hastily swung into the empty boat.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do with the pony?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Turn him loose into the jungle," said Buck. "He's got heaps of sense, +they all have. Before night he'll hit on some village, and then he'll +soon find a master. A stray pony comes in very useful to anybody."</p> + +<p>This was done. Me Dain led the pony a short distance from the river +bank and loosed it, and gave it a cut with a switch. The little +creature threw up its heels joyfully to find itself free, then +cantered off among the trees, and they saw it no more.</p> + +<p>By this time the Shans had swallowed their rice, and were ready to +seize their poles. All sprang aboard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> the Shans and Me Dain grasped +the boating-poles, and the craft was soon being driven steadily up +stream. For some time Jack watched the boatmen with deep interest. +They drove their craft along just as a punt is propelled in England. +Each man handled a long stout pole, and, where the water was shallow +enough, he set the bottom of his pole in the gravelly bed and urged +the boat forward. Where the water was too deep the craft was turned +inshore, and the polers thrust the ends of their staves against the +bank or against tree trunks lining the water's edge. Jack saw that +quite deep holes had been made in many of the trunks where boatman +after boatman had gained the purchase which sent his craft spinning up +stream.</p> + +<p>"Well, Jim," said Jack, "this is a bit easier anyhow."</p> + +<p>"It is," sighed Dent, wiping the streaming sweat from his brow. "I was +pretty near caving in, and that's a fact."</p> + +<p>"We'll drop the dacoits for a sure thing," said Buck. "They'll stop to +hunt all about the place where they lose our trail, and then they'll +follow up the pony for a dead cert."</p> + +<p>"True for you, Buck," replied Jim Dent. "We left no marks at all to +show them where we got into the boat."</p> + +<p>They had embarked secretly by pushing the boat up to a big stone, and +moving carefully in order to leave no trace.</p> + +<p>"Where does the road turn off from the river bank, Me Dain?" asked +Jack.</p> + +<p>"We have passed it already, sahib," replied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> Burman. "It is solid +jungle on both banks now, with no path at all The dacoits cannot +follow except along the river itself."</p> + +<p>"Then we've dropped 'em," said Jim Dent decisively. "We shall never +see 'em again."</p> + +<p>And Jim's words proved to be right. They had at last eluded the +pursuit of the blood-thirsty little Kachins.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL.</h3> + + +<p>For three days the strong arms of Me Dain and the two Shan boatmen +drove the river boat up the stream, and every day's journey brought +them nearer to the mountains where the rubies were found, and among +whose recesses they believed that Jack's father was a close prisoner +in the hands of men who coveted rubies above all things.</p> + +<p>Jack said very little to his companions about the object of their +journey, but his own thoughts were full of it at every waking moment. +Since he had discovered that U Saw, the Ruby King, had a steam yacht, +and that it had returned and gone up river shortly before their own +arrival, he had felt no doubt whatever in his own mind as to his +father's fate. He knew that the great ruby expert was on that yacht a +close captive, and that he had been carried by secret ways, through +the jungle and over the hills, to the place where U Saw was +all-powerful, and would do his utmost to wrest from Thomas Haydon the +knowledge which the latter certainly possessed of a great ruby-mine.</p> + +<p>Very good. They, too, would push into the Ruby King's country, and do +their utmost to foil his plans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> and snatch his prisoner from his +clutch. Hour after hour Jack thought over the situation, while his eye +rested almost carelessly on the lovely scenes of hill-side and jungle, +past which their boat was driven.</p> + +<p>At the end of the first day they left the main current of the river, +and poled eastwards by a network of creeks leading to the village from +which their boatmen came. For the most part the water-way was very +solitary. Here and there they passed a village, but, as a rule, no +life, save that of wild animals, was to be seen. Monkeys chattered in +the trees over their heads, panthers and deer came down to the stream +to drink, tigers roared in sullen fashion in the jungle, and once, a +troop of wild elephants crossed a ford before them in stately line.</p> + +<p>With the evening of the third day the boatmen reached their native +village, and the travellers stepped ashore. A new hut, built of reeds +and cane, was set apart at once for their use, and, after supper, they +talked over their future movements before turning in.</p> + +<p>"How do we stand now as regards striking the course my father followed +from Mogok?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>Jim Dent, who knew the country well, cross-examined Me Dain for a few +moments.</p> + +<p>"We ought to hit it to-morrow afternoon," he said. "We've come a long +way on the right road by dropping on these boatmen. We're just handy +to the foot-hills, and the Professor skirted 'em, according to what Me +Dain says."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Jack. "Then we'll roll into our blankets, and be off +by daybreak."</p> + +<p>Jack was so eager to start on the real trail, and so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> excited by its +nearness, that he slept but little. He was up an hour before the dawn, +and had got the fire burning when his companions awoke. Buck sat up, +and rubbed his eyes, and sniffed the smoke.</p> + +<p>"Keen on a start, Jack?" he murmured.</p> + +<p>"I am, Buck," replied the tall lad. "Haven't you told me a score of +times how the news of travellers in a country runs with marvellous +swiftness through the jungle, from village to village? Well, I want to +be ahead of the news. It might make Saya Chone and U Saw suspicious. +They knew very well we were in Mandalay. I don't want them to learn +too soon that we're at their very doors."</p> + +<p>Jim Dent nodded. He, too, had wakened, and had been listening to Jack.</p> + +<p>"Me Dain," said Jack, "go to the headman, and tell him we want a +couple of good ponies to carry the packs once more. Bring them here +for us to see, and then we'll pay the owners."</p> + +<p>Within half an hour they had the pick of a score of capital little +beasts. They looked them over carefully, chose the couple which seemed +best suited to their needs, paid for them, and set to work to pack the +traps on them. Within an hour after sunrise they were on the march.</p> + +<p>For several miles they followed a well-worn road running due north +from the village. This was to conceal their true line of march from +the knowledge of the curious villagers. But when they were well away +from the place, and safe from all prying eyes, they swung to the east +and marched straight through open country for the foot-hills, plainly +in view a score of miles away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>The sun was low and they had made a good day's journey, when Me Dain +halted on a little ridge, overlooking a sloping green valley with a +brook tinkling down its centre. Jack was beside him.</p> + +<p>"There, sahib, there," said the Burman. "We have reached now the path +which the sahib, your father, followed. We made our camp, one night, +under those trees."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a group of noble teak trees growing beside the little +brook, and Jack strode forward, and was soon standing on the spot +where his father had camped a month or two before. He had scarcely +reached the place when he received proof positive that Me Dain was +right. Something glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. It was an +empty tin tossed carelessly into a clump of wild-fig bushes. Jack +picked it up with a cry of recognition.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said; "the Burman's hit the trail all right. Here's +one of the governor's empty tobacco tins. He's never smoked anything +else in my knowledge of him."</p> + +<p>Jack held in his hand an empty tin which bore the name of a brand of +Carolina tobacco. Though little known out of America, the tobacco was +an immense favourite with Mr.. Haydon, who carried an ample supply of +it with him wherever he went.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," chuckled Buck. "That's one o' the Professor's tins. +Well, we'll follow him up."</p> + +<p>They camped that night under the teak trees, and with the first light +of the next morning, began to follow up the track which Mr.. Haydon +had taken some time before, the track which led into the wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +hill-country, where U Saw, the Ruby King, was all-powerful.</p> + +<p>They now moved with the utmost caution. When they saw a caravan of +cattle, laden with salt, marching along a hill road they were about to +cross, they hid from it in the jungle. When they saw afar off the +spire of a pagoda peeping over the trees, and knew they were near a +village, they sent Me Dain ahead to make inquiries, and find whether +the villagers were familiar with the name of U Saw. And so for three +days they worked cautiously along the track running up into the hills +where Thomas Haydon had found the immense ruby of priceless value.</p> + +<p>On the fourth morning they were just breaking camp, when, to their +surprise, a troop of gaily dressed villagers passed them, and called +out a cheerful greeting to Me Dain. The Burman went forward to talk to +them, while Jack, Jim, and Buck went on with their packing, and tried +to look unconcerned.</p> + +<p>They were in reality vexed that they had been seen. But the bunch of +walking figures had descended the ravine in which they were camped so +suddenly and unexpectedly, that there was no time to get out of the +way.</p> + +<p>"Where under the sun have these people turned up from, in so lonely a +part of the hills?" said Jack to Buck. "Why, we haven't seen a village +since yesterday morning."</p> + +<p>"I dunno," replied Buck. "This beats the band. They seem to have +dropped from the sky."</p> + +<p>When Me Dain came back to them, the explanation was simple enough. +Four hours' march ahead was a large village, where every three years a +great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> religious festival was held. To this festival the whole +country-side gathered, and the band of villagers, now pushing ahead +and almost out of sight at the foot of the ravine, had already come +three days' journey to attend the feast.</p> + +<p>The Burman reported that the villagers had been filled with curiosity +at the sight of three white travellers in this out-of-the-way region, +and had overwhelmed him with questions about them.</p> + +<p>"What did you tell them, Me Dain?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Said you were crossing the hills to strike up to the great road from +Bhamo," replied the Burman. "Sahibs, we must go to that village now, +and pass through it openly."</p> + +<p>"But won't that make our presence known throughout the whole +district?" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"Not half so much as if we don't show up," said Jim Dent "D'ye see, +Jack, it's uncommon, but not impossible, for travellers to strike +across the hills this way. Now, if we pass through this village in an +open sort of fashion, it won't make a tenth of the talk as if we were +to slip off and never be seen again. Then there'd be such a chatter in +the country-side as we don't want to start."</p> + +<p>"I see what you mean, Jim," returned Jack. "We must hope that we can +get through the place quietly."</p> + +<p>But Jack's hopes proved utterly vain. Half a mile outside the village +they were met by a dozen of the leading inhabitants, each wearing a +fine new silk <i>putsoe</i>, and with a <i>gaung baung</i> of gorgeous colour on +his head. The strangers were politely bidden to take up their +residence in the house of the headman,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> and to be present at the great +feast which was that night to open the week of religious festival. It +was impossible to refuse these attentions, and the little group of +travellers, whose keenest wish was to pass unnoticed, entered the +place under the stare of many hundreds of eyes.</p> + +<p>A large room was set at their disposal in the house of the headman, +and here they talked together.</p> + +<p>"It's vexing, but it can't be helped," said Jack. "We must slip off +again in the morning. After all, this fandango, you say, will last a +week. At that rate, we shall get a big start of the people assembled +here, and shall outrun the country gossip far enough."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3>THE DANCING GIRL.</h3> + + +<p>After the dusk had fallen, the travellers were conducted by the +headman himself, a white-headed old fellow, who showed them the utmost +respect, to the spot where the festival was to be opened with a play +and a performance of dancing girls.</p> + +<p>Jack was fascinated with the wonderful sight now presented to his +view. He, alone, among the party, had never seen such a spectacle +before, and he looked on with the deepest interest. He was seated on a +heap of cushions, before a wide open space surrounded by thickets of +low trees and tall bushes. On the branches of these were hung +innumerable coloured lamps, which lighted the scene with a soft, +bright radiance.</p> + +<p>In the centre of the space were ranged sixty dancing girls, in ten +rows of six in a row, and each dancer stood at an equal distance from +her next neighbour on either hand. Each girl was dressed in beautiful +silks of the most glowing, or the most delicate shades. Her short +embroidered jacket, her tightly folded skirt, were of the brightest +and newest, and her hair was decked with beautiful flowers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<p>The dance began, and the graceful swaying movements, to which the +clink of the bangles worn in rows on every arm kept time, were full of +fascination and charm. All round the open space the villagers from far +and near were gathered, and this mass of spectators in strange garbs, +but everything of the freshest and gayest, formed a striking setting +for the scene.</p> + +<p>When the dance was over, the headman, through Me Dain, begged them to +inspect the pagoda and the offerings which had been brought to it by +the faithful. They went and saw a very quaint and beautiful structure, +its columns inlaid with mosaics and coloured glass which glittered +with a thousand glancing rays in the lights of the myriads of lamps. +Chief among the offerings at the shrine were huge packets of +gold-leaf, for the religious Burman loves to decorate his favourite +pagoda with sheets of gold-leaf, till it glistens in the sun like a +palace of gold.</p> + +<p>Among the offerings ranged on the steps of the pagoda was a native +painting, a quaint piece of work which drew Jack's attention at once. +He bent down to look at it, while his companions rambled on with Me +Dain and the headman.</p> + +<p>As Jack straightened himself again, he felt a light touch on his arm, +and looked round. Beside him stood a dancing girl, wrapped in a +close-fitting robe of yellow silk, and a scarf of muslin so wound +about her head that he could not see her face.</p> + +<p>Jack stared for a moment in surprise, wondering what the girl could +want with him, then he gave a great start as she began to speak. She +used the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> softest, gentlest whisper, but her voice came easily to his +ears, and, marvellous to relate, she spoke in perfect English.</p> + +<p>"I know what you seek," she said, "and I can help you."</p> + +<p>Jack's surprise was so great that, for a moment, he could not answer, +and the veiled figure went on:</p> + +<p>"Would you not like to know where the object of your search is?"</p> + +<p>"How do you know that I seek someone?" said Jack in wonder.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know," murmured the dancing girl with a soft, light laugh. "I +will go a little further. Would you not like to know where your +father, Thomas Haydon, is imprisoned, and what is happening to him?"</p> + +<p>For a moment the whole glittering scene of lamps and gaiety went round +before Jack's eyes. Then he pulled himself up steady once more. This +savoured of the utterly marvellous, that a dancing girl in this +village which he had never seen before, should glide up to him and +tell him the innermost secret of his heart, the purpose of his quest.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and how did you come to know such things?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the girl lightly, "in this strange land we can do many +strange things. But I cannot talk to you long. Do you wish, I ask you +once more, to gain tidings of your father?"</p> + +<p>"There is nothing I wish for more upon earth," returned Jack +earnestly, for it was idle to pretend that the girl was wrong, and try +to hide his secret.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> It was known only too clearly to this strange +creature in the yellow robe, with a score of silver bangles tinkling +on her arm. Jack turned his head towards his companions who had +strolled on, and were now a dozen yards away, and half hidden by a +group of villagers standing before the shrine.</p> + +<p>"No," said the girl, laying her hand on Jack's arm, "no, you must not +call to them. I do not wish to talk to your Burman guide. It would +place me in great danger if it became known that I had warned you. If +you do not listen to me, and alone, I shall vanish into the crowd, and +you will never see me again, or learn that which you long to know."</p> + +<p>The girl's hint that she stood in danger by warning him, at once +checked the call on Jack's lips. He looked at her keenly, but could +only see a pair of lustrous eyes flashing through the folds of +delicate muslin, her features he could not make out at all. His brain +was in a whirl. Here seemed a most extraordinary, a most wonderful +chance to gain news of his father, but at the same time his reason +bade him be careful.</p> + +<p>Suppose he were to seize the girl and declare that she must tell him +at once what she knew? But Jack's feelings revolted at such conduct. +Suppose she should come into danger by his doing so, by his making +public the fact that she was warning him? No, he could not do that. +Besides, they were but a few strangers amid a great concourse of +natives. Such an action might give great offence, and place, not only +himself, but his friends in a position of the utmost peril.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span></p> + +<p>These thoughts went through Jack's head in a flash. The girl at his +side gave another light laugh.</p> + +<p>"You can find out all you want in so simple a fashion," she murmured. +"Turn your head to the right, and near a patch of acacia bushes you +will see a monk with his begging-bowl. Cross over to him, and drop a +piece of money into the bowl. At the same moment you can take out of +it the letter which your father has sent to you by his hands. I would +fetch it for you, but he will not give it up to anyone but you."</p> + +<p>This became more and more bewildering, but at the same time, Jack saw +that this matter was very simply settled. He looked away to the right, +and saw the monk plainly enough, a Buddhist monk in yellow robe, his +begging dish of bronze held out before him. The man stood upright and +motionless, not thirty yards away.</p> + +<p>Jack turned on his heel and strode straight across towards the monk, +resolved to see at any rate what was in the dish. The dancing girl +followed him with graceful, swaying step.</p> + +<p>At the instant that Jack moved towards the monk a fresh band of +revellers came out of a path leading from the acacia bushes and +crossed towards the steps of the pagoda. From among them a tall, thin +man dressed in white robes stepped out and moved with long, soft +strides after the young Englishman. His companions lingered and stared +idly about them.</p> + +<p>As Jack approached the monk, he saw the latter raise his head and +glance at him meaningly. Then,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> with a slight movement of the hand, +the monk pointed to the bottom of his bowl. Jack had taken a rupee +from his pocket and stretched out his hand to drop it into the bowl. +As he did so he glanced eagerly into the bronze vessel. A folded piece +of white paper lay in the bottom of it. Jack dropped his coin and +stretched out his hand to seize the paper. But he never touched it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_4" id="Pic_4"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_005.jpg" width="450" height="644" alt="THE DANCING GIRL" title="THE DANCING GIRL" /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE DANCING GIRL</span> +</div> + +<p>With horrible swiftness and suddenness, someone clutched him from +behind. Once more he felt his throat in the frightful strangling grip +which had seized him on Rushmere Heath, in far-away England. He tried +to shout, but his half-choked voice was drowned in the sudden burst of +song which rose from the band of gaily dressed figures which now +swarmed around him. He tried to struggle, to throw off the fearful +grip which held him, but now the dancing girl sprang to him and +pressed against his face a cloth she had drawn from beneath her yellow +robe. Almost at once the powerful drug with which the cloth was +saturated took effect. Jack's head dropped forward, and the dancing +girl nodded to the strangler to loose his frightful clutch.</p> + +<p>At that moment Buck looked round and missed his young companion.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jack got to?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Jim. "He was looking at a picture just along +there, the last time I saw him."</p> + + + +<p>"I don't see him anywhere about," said Buck, in an uneasy voice, and +he walked rapidly back. He came to the picture, stopped in front of +it, and looked eagerly round for Jack. He saw the band <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>of singers a +short distance away, but took no notice of them. He had seen scores of +such bands during the evening. Little did he dream that, under cover +of those harmless looking revellers, the body of his young comrade was +being dragged among the acacia bushes by the monk and the dancing +girl.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3>JACK FINDS HIMSELF IN BAD HANDS.</h3> + + +<p>When Jack came to himself again, he felt faint and sick, and his head +ached dully. This was the effect of the powerful drug which had been +used to overcome him, but for the rest he was unhurt and quite +himself. He found at once that he was securely bound hand and foot. +His ankles were fastened together by a short cord, his hands were tied +behind him, and a rope ran round the middle of his body and tethered +him securely to a strong post. But he was not gagged, and his eyes +were free.</p> + +<p>He looked eagerly around the place in which he found himself. It was a +native hut, built of canes and reeds, woven upon a framework formed of +saplings and stronger trees. The floor was of earth, and he could see +the whole of the bare, empty room, for in one corner a lamp stood on +the floor, and gave sufficient light to show him every nook in the +place. Somewhere, not far away, there was a hoarse roar of water, as +if a river leapt over falls near at hand.</p> + +<p>Jack raised his voice and shouted. He could not move, but his throat +was free. Twice or thrice he shouted the names of his companions. The +only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> answer to his call was a light mocking laugh outside the door, +which swung half open straight before him. Then a figure appeared in +the doorway, a figure in a tight yellow robe and short embroidered +jacket, the dancing girl who had ensnared him. But even as he opened +his mouth eagerly to speak to her, he was silenced. The figure was +drawing aside the muslin veil from its head. As the soft shimmering +folds of the delicate wrapper slipped away, Jack's heart leaped within +him. He knew that face. This was no dancing girl. It was the +half-caste in disguise. It was Saya Chone, the man who had stopped him +on Rushmere Heath, the man who had slipped out of his clutch at +Brindisi.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the half-caste, squatting down in front of Jack, "I have no +need to ask if you know me. I see recognition in your astonished face. +Well, does it now surprise you that a dancing girl should know so much +of your business up in these hills?"</p> + +<p>"So it was you, you rascal, was it?" said Jack, drawing a deep breath. +"You, all the time."</p> + +<p>"I, all the time," chuckled the half-caste, clicking consonants +between his teeth.</p> + +<p>"If you'd have spoken out, I should have known you," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Ah, possibly," said Saya Chone; "but then for my purpose the soft +voice, the gentle whisper, was the only thing."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by this, and what do you want with me?" demanded +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Orders, orders, I am acting under orders," murmured the half-caste, +waving his brown hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> in the air. "And I do not want you at all. It +is merely my business to hand you over to my patron U Saw. It is he +who wants you, not I."</p> + +<p>"And what does he want me for?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Ah," murmured Saya Chone, "that I shall not tell you now. It is not +good for the servants of U Saw to interfere too much in their master's +business. Well, I must prepare for the march."</p> + +<p>He clapped his hands, and a tall, thin man in white robes came in. +Saya Chone said a few words to the newcomer, and the latter sat down +and fixed his dark, menacing eyes on Jack.</p> + +<p>"This is a Malay, who is entirely devoted to U Saw's service," said +the half-caste, with an evil grin. "He is a very useful man, for he is +absolutely the cleverest hand with the strangling noose that I have +ever known. I believe he could strangle a child in its mother's arms +and she would know nothing about it. You have already had a slight +taste of his skill on two occasions. Once on that heath in your queer, +cold England, and again to-night. But as he was under strict orders on +both occasions not to take your life, he spared you the last touch of +his art, that sharp, neat twist which breaks his victim's spinal +column as if he was snapping a bit of dry stick."</p> + +<p>Saya Chone turned to go, but paused at the door and looked over his +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"I heard you shouting as I came in," he said. "If you have a fancy for +that amusement, pray shout as much as you like. But I ought to warn +you that it is a pure waste of breath. We have carried you nearly a +couple of miles into the jungle,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> and fifty times the uproar you could +make would be quite useless to attract attention."</p> + +<p>He left the hut, and Jack sat back against the post to think over his +desperate situation. He had fallen into the hands of the very people +that he and his comrades were trying to circumvent. How they had +discovered their line of march, and been enabled to lay this clever +trap for him, he could not imagine. But one thing he saw clearly, that +U Saw's arm was very long in this country, and that his net for +information was spread abroad very widely and very successfully.</p> + +<p>He looked across at the Strangler, and found the dark bright eyes of +the Malay fixed intently upon him. Jack had been thinking to test the +strength of the knots and the cords which bound him, but in the +presence of this keen watchman it was useless, and he bent down his +eyes in thought once more.</p> + +<p>"I am to be carried to U Saw," he thought. "Then my father must be +there already. At any rate I shall see him, I hope, and find out what +has happened to him, and how he has been treated."</p> + +<p>Several hours now passed in complete silence. Jack's bonds chafed him +miserably, but he could do nothing to relieve himself, and the Malay +watched him with fierce alertness at every moment. Then the ricketty +door was jerked open again, and Saya Chone came in.</p> + +<p>"It is the dark hour before the dawn," he laughed jeeringly. "A +capital time to slip away while all the revellers are sleeping, and +the forest paths are empty. Your conveyance awaits you, my lord."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<p>He said two words to the Strangler, and drew a revolver from beneath +his jacket. He had thrown aside his disguise as a dancing girl, and +now appeared in the rich tartan silk kilt, the jacket, and turban-like +head-dress of a prosperous Burman.</p> + +<p>"Get up," he said curtly to Jack, while the Strangler unfastened the +rope which bound the captive's feet and also that which bound his body +to the post.</p> + +<p>Jack got up, and Saya Chone motioned to him to go outside, and Jack +went, with the Malay and the half-caste in close attendance. +Resistance was impossible. His hands were still bound behind his back, +and the half-caste held a big, blue "Smith and Wesson" within two +inches of his ear.</p> + +<p>In front of the hut loomed up a huge beast looking monstrous in the +light of a couple of lanterns held by attendants. It was an elephant, +and a ladder was placed against the open howdah fixed on its back; the +great beast was swinging trunk and tail impatiently, and its driver +was already seated behind the huge head.</p> + +<p>"Up with you," said Saya Chone. Jack glanced round, and saw nothing +but dark, fierce, inimical faces all about him.</p> + +<p>"No chance in the world at present," he thought, and began slowly to +climb the ladder. It was very awkward work with no hand free, but the +Strangler stretched out a long arm, supported him to the top rung, +then thrust him violently forward, so that Jack rolled into the +howdah. It was the simplest form of this kind of carriage, and was +exactly like a huge open basket of strong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> wicker-work fastened on the +elephant's back. Before Jack could recover himself from his fall, the +Malay and two other men bounded into the howdah, and flung themselves +on the prisoner. In a trice they had strapped his ankles together +again. Then they swung him into a sitting posture, and lashed his arms +firmly to the back of the howdah.</p> + +<p>Next they descended, another figure leapt up, and the ladder was taken +away. The newcomer gave an order, and the elephant driver spoke to his +huge beast in a low voice. The elephant at once swung forward, and in +a moment the hut and its lanterns were left behind, and they were +moving through the darkness of the jungle.</p> + +<p>Jack had known by the voice that it was the half-caste who was his +companion in the howdah, but he said nothing, and Saya Chone, too, was +silent. Soon the half-caste lighted a huge Burmese cheroot, and in the +light, almost the flare, of this immense cigar, nine or ten inches +long and an inch thick, Jack saw now and again his beardless brown +face, his big, shining, evil eyes.</p> + +<p>When the dawn came and Jack could look about him, they were traversing +a narrow path through jungle so thick that the sky could scarcely be +seen overhead.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Saya Chone, breaking the silence at last, "you may look +round, my lord, but you will never be able to keep in mind the details +of the route. I shall take you into the hills by paths so hidden in +the jungle or along ravines so deep that to track you will be +impossible."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack was silent for a moment. Then he spoke. "Shall I see my father?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>Saya Chone laughed. "You will see what U Saw wills that you shall +see," he said mockingly. "I am U Saw's humble servant, and can say no +more."</p> + +<p>Jack made no reply. He was sorry he had spoken, but the question had +slipped out on the impulse of the moment.</p> + +<p>All that day they travelled on, and at night they camped in a hollow +among the rocks at the foot of a tall cliff. Jack was not ill-treated, +and plenty of food was given to him, but the keenest watch was kept +upon his every movement, and escape was a thing altogether beyond his +reach. His captors were six in number, including the man who drove the +elephant. The driver and Saya Chone were Jack's companions on the +great beast, and when they were on the move the captive was always +lashed tightly to the framework of the howdah. The other four, the +Malay and three companions, rode the strong, nimble ponies of the +country. The baggage of the party was conveyed on a pack-pony, and +they travelled at a good speed.</p> + +<p>On the second morning, Saya Chone sat on the edge of the howdah, +purring at his huge cheroot, while the Strangler and a companion +lashed Jack into position. The half-caste had been superintending the +operation with his revolver at Jack's ear, until the knots were tight, +and our hero could not move.</p> + +<p>"This is a very good idea, indeed," he murmured, "this carrying of a +prisoner in a howdah on a pad-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>elephant. I had an idea it would be a +success, but it is better than I thought. It is a neat, little, +portable prison. It is far better than tying the feet of an active +young man under a pony's barrel. The young man may dig his heels in +and gallop off after all. But tied up in a howdah he is quite safe."</p> + +<p>Jack paid no attention whatever to the half-caste's sneers and jeers: +he had resolved to take his gruel without whining, and he bore +everything in stoical silence.</p> + +<p>Two hours' march brought them to a clearing in the jungle, and the +road ran between small paddy-fields. This meant that a native village +was near at hand, and Jack looked out for the slight huts of reed and +cane in which the villagers lived. To his surprise he saw nothing. And +not to his surprise alone. He could not understand the words used by +his companions, but he saw plainly that they were puzzled about +something. Then the cries of wonder broke out loudly as they passed a +grove of bamboos and came upon a scene of extraordinary destruction. +The native village had been built in shelter of the bamboos, only a +little place, a cluster of fifteen or twenty huts. But every house lay +in ruins as if the place had been knocked about the villagers' ears +with a huge flail. Near at hand a man lay dead, his body horribly +crushed and battered. No sign of life was to be observed about the +place.</p> + +<p>But while the travellers stared in wonder on the havoc which had been +made, they were suddenly attacked by the author of it, and knew that +their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> own lives were in deadly peril. There was a terrific crashing +among the bamboos, and then a huge, dark object was seen to be +bursting a way through the tall stems. All but Jack knew at once what +it meant; he was enlightened in an instant.</p> + +<p>"A 'rogue' elephant! A 'rogue' elephant!" cried Saya Chone, and the +driver urged the pad-elephant forward with voice and spear.</p> + +<p>Then Jack understood. His father had told him many times how that a +big, savage male will often leave a herd of wild elephants, take up a +solitary life in the jungle, and become a "rogue." There is no more +terrible beast to be met with. His enormous size and strength, his +terrible ferocity, make him the king of the jungle. He attacks all he +meets, and tramples every foe under his huge feet.</p> + +<p>This "rogue" had evidently been attracted to the clearing by the +paddy-fields, where the elephant loves to feed. Then, irritated +probably by some attempt of the natives to drive him away, he had +attacked their village and swept it out of existence. Now he was +charging savagely upon the newcomers.</p> + +<p>He came at them across the open with terrific speed. Jack had not the +faintest idea that so ponderous a beast could move at such a pace, and +he stared with fascinated eyes at the extraordinary sight. The "rogue" +was an immense tusker, a big, wild, savage-looking brute, who charged +with up-lifted trunk, and now trumpeted with so tremendous a note that +the jungle and the hill-sides rang with the hoarse thunder. His course +was laid straight for the men in front, two of the attendants on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +ponies. The Malay, the remaining attendant, and the pack-pony were +behind the pad-elephant.</p> + +<p>The ponies, obedient to their riders, had at first bounded forward, +but when that frightful trumpeting broke out, and they saw the huge +tusker thundering upon them, they were seized with such fear that they +stopped and stood still, trembling in every limb. Before their riders +could urge them on, the immense brute was upon them. One of the +riders, a bold fellow, stood up in the stirrups, and struck at the +"rogue" with his <i>dah</i>. But he might as well have struck with a straw. +The monster literally swept the two ponies down in his stride, +trampling them under foot in his frightful charge. The man who had +used his heavy sword to so little effect, went down with his pony. The +second man had leapt from his saddle, and he ran at full speed for a +teak tree, intending to swarm up its trunk.</p> + +<p>His flying figure caught the eye of the "rogue" just as he was about +to turn and trample on those he had hurled to the ground. Now the +savage brute strode on, and it was seen how swift was his great +lumbering stride. He caught the man up, long before the fugitive was +anywhere near the tree, and hurled him to the ground with a stroke of +his tusk. Then he pulled up and deliberately knelt down on the unlucky +wretch, who screamed horribly as his life was crushed out of him by +the tremendous weight of the gigantic beast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE TWO ELEPHANTS.</h3> + + +<p>All this passed directly below Jack's horrified eyes. The pad-elephant +was so frightened at the advent of this savage specimen of his own +species, that he had turned stupid and made no attempt to obey his +driver's orders. Instead, he turned and backed slowly from the place, +keeping his head towards the "rogue." Thus Jack saw the ferocious +brute swiftly crush the life out of the man upon whom he knelt, then +leap up and rush back to the spot where the two ponies and the rider +who had used the <i>dah</i> were still lying on the ground.</p> + +<p>The ponies had both been trodden on in that terrific charge, and the +man, untouched by the elephant, had been flung three or four yards, +and lay half-stunned by his fall. As he scrambled to his feet the +"rogue" was upon him. With a scream of rage the maddened brute bent +down his huge head and delivered a sweeping stroke with his tusk. The +great sharp spear of ivory struck the man in the back and was driven +clean through the body. The elephant raised his head and swung the man +high above the ground. Jack shuddered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> as he saw the writhing figure +impaled on that huge tusk.</p> + +<p>For a moment the elephant held his victim aloft as if in triumph, then +with a swing of his head he hurled the man far away, and looked round +for fresh victims. At the next moment the earth shook under his tread +as he thundered down upon the pad-elephant and the burden it bore.</p> + +<p>"Cut me loose!" roared Jack to the half-caste. "What chance have I +got, tied to this howdah?"</p> + +<p>But Saya Chone, ashen with fear, clung to the edge of the car, and had +eyes and ears for nothing save for the great beast charging full upon +them. Jack hurled himself to and fro, trying to slacken a little the +bonds which held him a prisoner under such fearful circumstances. If +the pad-elephant would only make a fight of it, there would be a +chance for its riders to slip down and escape, but how could Jack help +himself?</p> + +<p>As the "rogue" made his last few sweeping strides upon them, the +pad-elephant seemed to pluck up the courage of desperation. He was a +fine, big, powerful fellow, though not equal in size to his wild +enemy, and now he took a step or two forward, threw out his huge +forehead, and met his enemy in full career.</p> + +<p>The crash as the two huge beasts charged into each other was +tremendous. The pad-elephant was driven back half a dozen yards, but +he kept his feet. Then the two immense creatures, head braced to head +and tusks locked in tusks, began a steady trial of strength, each +striving to force the other back.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now Saya Chone plucked out his heavy revolver, and, leaning over the +edge of the howdah, began to fire swiftly into the head and body of +the savage "rogue." But though the bullets cut deeply into the flesh, +and the blood spouted freely, the big brute troubled nothing about +that. As far as reaching any vital part went, the revolver might have +been a pop-gun, and the wild elephant gave himself up entirely to the +struggle with his tame brother.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes it was seen that he was carrying the day. The +pad-elephant, with deep grunts of anger and fear, began to give way +before the fierce strength and impetuosity of his terrible opponent. +Jack looked round and saw that they were alone; the Malay and the +fourth attendant had fled from the place.</p> + +<p>Then, at the next moment, the elephant under them gave up the fight. +He suddenly backed off, turned, and lumbered across the clearing in +full flight. The "rogue" threw up his trunk, and trumpeted a roar of +victory, then dashed after the pad-elephant in savage pursuit. He was +much swifter, and soon came up on the flank where Jack, by turning his +head, had him in full view. Jack saw the small, fierce eyes burning +with fury, and then the head was bent and the great forehead was +driven against the flying enemy. The shock was such that the +pad-elephant was driven to its knees, the driver was hurled over its +head, and Saya Chone flung headlong out of the car. Jack alone +remained in the howdah, held fast by his bonds.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>Again the "rogue" elephant charged his enemy, and now the latter was +flung over on to its side, and the rim of the howdah brushed the +ground. Jack looked up in despair. The vast bulk of the infuriated +elephant hung right over him as the "rogue" prepared to trample upon +the foe whom he had hurled to the ground. In vain did Jack dash +himself to and fro in his bonds; he was fastened only too securely, +and he knew that the least stroke of the foot now raised above his +head would crush him as surely as a steam-hammer would crush a nut. At +the next second Jack saw a gleaming white tusk dart down towards him +as the "rogue" bent his head and struck.</p> + +<p>The tusk went through the howdah within six inches of Jack's leg, and +was buried deep in the back of the pad-elephant Then the "rogue," as +he withdrew the dripping spear of ivory, caught sight of something and +turned his wicked little eyes on it. He saw the driver and Saya Chone +at some little distance running for their lives, and his fickle fancy +turned to the thoughts of making short work of them before he finished +with his tame brother.</p> + +<p>Away he went in pursuit of this new object, and the pad-elephant +scrambled to its feet, and stood for a few moments as if bewildered +and uncertain what to do. During these few moments Jack saw the driver +caught and felled to earth by the huge beast before whose savage might +all stood helpless. Saya Chone had far outrun his companion, and the +half-caste disappeared among the trees as the "rogue" began to trample +upon the driver, whose frightful screams were silenced as both breath +and life itself were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> swiftly crushed out of the body, so soon made +pulp under those huge round feet.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the pad-elephant wheeled about with big clumsy movements, and +was off at a good round lumbering trot in the opposite direction. He +had seen quite enough of this savage brother of the jungle, and had no +wish for further punishment. But the "rogue" had no intention of +letting him go so easily. Leaving the driver, the wild elephant dashed +after the tame one at full speed.</p> + +<p>And now began a most extraordinary race. The pad-elephant darted +straight into the jungle and took the country as it came, straight +before him, thinking of nothing but escape. He dashed through groves +of bamboos and saplings, cutting his way clean through; he raced +grunting and puffing up hill-side and down ravines; he dodged through +the big trees with an agility and swiftness most wonderful in so heavy +and clumsy a beast, and all the time his enemy hung upon his rear, +sometimes near enough to gore his flank, sometimes out-distanced for a +little as the tame beast, frenzied with fear and pain, put out an +extraordinary burst of speed. And in the howdah, fast bound still to +the tough wicker-work, was Jack, the only spectator of this marvellous +chase through the jungle, and one with an immense stake in it.</p> + +<p>When the "rogue" came up, Jack's heart beat thick with anxiety. If the +creature that bore him was once more knocked down, then he knew that +it would be all over with him. He would certainly be crushed like a +fly in the terrific struggle which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> would follow. When the +pad-elephant got away, Jack breathed a little more freely, until he +heard his enemy's ponderous steps once again thundering up.</p> + +<p>Mile after mile, through jungle or over open plain, this marvellous +chase went on, and still the pad-elephant raced snorting for his life, +still the furious "rogue" pounded at his heels in hot pursuit.</p> + +<p>Jack was nearly shaken to pieces. He braced his feet against the side +of the howdah, and propped himself firmly against a corner of the huge +basket in which he rode. More than once the curling trunk of the +pursuer was raised above his head, but, as is well known, the wild +elephant hesitated to attack a rider on the tame one's back. For three +full hours the furious monarch of the jungle drove the pad-elephant +before him, a ride Jack never forgot to the end of his days. Then they +came out on a wide grassy plain by a river, where a large herd of wild +elephants was standing knee-deep in the stream, solemnly spouting +water over their backs.</p> + +<p>On rushed the pad-elephant, now panting and almost ready to fall from +exhaustion, towards his fellows. But the "rogue," a hater of his kind, +pulled up, trumpeted a few shrill notes of defiance, turned, and +trotted back into the jungle.</p> + +<p>The pad-elephant now stood still, trembling from head to foot with his +tremendous exertions. The herd of wild elephants, more than twenty in +number, left the river and came towards the beast which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>bore the +howdah and Jack. They marched up in slow and stately fashion, without +any sign of anger, but apparently full of curiosity as to this +newcomer and his strange equipment.</p> + +<p>At the next moment Jack found himself in a most extraordinary +position, his elephant being surrounded by the wild herd, whose trunks +ran here and there over their tame brother like so many hands being +stretched out to examine him. One big bull put his trunk into the +howdah and ran it over Jack, who remained perfectly still, knowing +that an incautious movement might arouse the animal's anger. But these +creatures seemed as mild and gentle as the "rogue" had been ferocious. +Before long their curiosity was satisfied, and they strolled away to +crop the young bamboo shoots.</p> + +<p>At last Jack breathed a little more freely. His wild ride had been a +terrible business for him. A hundred and a hundred times had his heart +come into his mouth when the great beast that bore him had plunged +through groves where it seemed that over-hanging boughs must sweep +howdah and rider from the elephant's back. But he had come through all +these dangers safely, and now the "rogue" had gone back to the jungle +and the pad-elephant was at peace.</p> + +<p>Presently Jack underwent an odd experience. His elephant walked down +to the river and took a long drink. Jack envied the lucky brute; he, +too, was parched with thirst. But in another moment he had water +enough and to spare, for the elephant, filling his trunk with water, +began to cool himself by spouting it over his body, and in a very +short time Jack was drenched to the skin.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's refreshing, at any rate," thought Jack, as he shut his eyes +against a fresh deluge of yellow water. "I wish to goodness I could +only work myself free. I've got clear away from Saya Chone and the +Strangler, and that's something to the good."</p> + +<p>He began again to work himself about in his bonds, but he was soon +obliged to desist. He was already stiff, and he soon became very sore +as he struggled with his fastenings, which seemed to be eating into +his very flesh.</p> + +<p>"It's no go," he said half-aloud. "I cannot shake myself loose," and +he fell back into his corner.</p> + +<p>His elephant now came out of the river, and looked around eagerly for +food. The herd of wild ones was already deep in a large bamboo +thicket, and the tame one went at once after them and began to crop +and munch the bamboo shoots. The wild elephants, feeding as they went, +plunged farther and farther into a region of wild jungle, far from any +habitations of men, and the tame one steadily followed them, bearing +on his back the young Englishman, a prisoner, and forced to accompany +the elephant wherever he might go.</p> + +<p>"I've heard," thought Jack, "that these tame ones will often break +away and join wild herds. I'm in a pretty desperate fix if I've got to +remain lashed in this howdah while this brute rambles far and wide +with this troop of companions he has hit upon."</p> + +<p>He looked around on every side, but saw nothing that could give him +the slightest cause for hope. With every step he was being carried +deeper and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> deeper into the recesses of the jungle where no hunter +dare venture, where the elephant, the tiger, and the leopard rule as +undisputed masters. His plight was terrible. Who would free him, who +could free him of the bonds which held him in subjection to so cruel a +fate?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE PANTHAY WOOD-CUTTERS.</h3> + + +<p>It was within an hour or two of dark, and Jack, faint with hunger and +the strange and exhausting experience through which he had gone that +day, was hanging listlessly in his bonds. The elephants had gathered +in an open stretch at the foot of a deep ravine, and all was very +quiet. The pad-elephant stood with his trunk gently swinging, his huge +ears slowly flapping; he had eaten and drunk, and now he was taking a +rest.</p> + +<p>Suddenly into the silence of the narrow valley there fell the sound of +blows. Thud—thud—thud. A pause. Thud—thud—thud, again and again. +Jack started and listened eagerly. There was a ring about the sound +which told him what it was.</p> + +<p>"It's the sound of an axe on a tree," cried Jack to himself, and he +knew that other human beings were in the neighbourhood. He collected +all his breath and gave a loud shout. Again and again he shouted. The +noise on the hill-side far above was now stilled, and once more Jack +roared at the top of his voice.</p> + +<p>At the next moment his outcries were drowned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> in the wild trumpeting +of the elephants. The human notes had disturbed them, and they +trumpeted shrilly and moved uneasily away from the neighbourhood of +the pad-elephant. Then the wild herd set off at a trot, went a mile or +more up the ravine, and came to a halt near another feeding-place, a +clump of young bamboos. The tame elephant with its burden had followed +steadily, and now Jack shouted no more. He feared lest his cries +should disturb the herd so much that the wild creatures should take +flight, and run a great distance. If they did so, the pad-elephant +would be sure to follow them, and thus very possibly carry Jack +completely out of reach of the human beings, whoever they were, that +he had heard at work among the trees high up on the bank of the +ravine.</p> + +<p>So now Jack was silent, but he looked about eagerly on every hand for +some sign of human life. If the people had heard his cries, surely +they would come to see who called for help in such a place. His +elephant was now quietly feeding with the rest, and the last rays of +the sun were shining through a gap in the hills straight into the +hollow where the elephants were gathered.</p> + +<p>Looking eagerly back on the track the herd had followed, Jack saw +something moving in the wild plum-bushes about three hundred yards +away. He looked closer and saw that it was a man, a native. His heart +leaped for joy. Whether friends or enemies, perhaps he was about to be +loosed from his dreadful position. Now he saw a second man, and the +two dark figures, both naked save for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> waist-cloth, crept slowly +towards him under cover of the bushes.</p> + +<p>They were a couple of Panthay wood-cutters, felling teak trees on the +edge of the ravine. At present the ravine was dry, but in the rainy +season an ample flood of water roared along the hollow, a flood which +would carry the teak logs down to the big river below. They had heard +Jack's cries, and, wondering at the strange sound, had followed up in +rear of the flying elephants.</p> + +<p>Their surprise was immense when they saw a white sahib in the howdah +on the elephant's back. But in this part of the country, where white +men very rarely came, a white face was regarded with the deepest +reverence, and the simple, harmless Panthays at once set about the +task of relieving the sahib who seemed unable to rise in his carriage. +One of them disappeared at once into the jungle, one remained in the +bushes.</p> + +<p>Jack saw that they were engaged upon some plan, and hoping that it +meant his deliverance, he remained silent, and watched eagerly for +what was about to happen.</p> + +<p>Within ten minutes he saw one of the woodmen swarming up a tree some +distance ahead, a tree growing beside the well-trodden path which wild +beasts had made along the foot of the ravine. Then his companion +showed himself among the bushes below and uttered a peculiar cry. The +wild elephants stopped feeding at once. Always sensitive to the +presence of man, which means danger, they gathered uneasily in a +group. Then, following the lead of an immense bull, the patriarch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> of +the herd, they lumbered along the path up the ravine and away from the +wood-cutter who had shown himself.</p> + +<p>Jack saw, to his immense relief and delight, that his elephant would +pass directly below the branch where the second Panthay was now +perched. As the pad-elephant jogged up, closing the file of the +retreating herd, the native, swinging himself from the bough, dropped +with the greatest ease and certainty into the howdah.</p> + +<p>For a moment the Panthay, a short, strong, powerful man, looked upon +Jack and his bonds with great surprise. Then he thrust forward the +head of his axe, which he had carried with him all the time, and laid +the keen edge against the cords which bound Jack to the howdah. In a +trice Jack was free. He flung his arms up thankfully, but dropped them +again with a groan. They were so stiff that all movement was painful.</p> + +<p>He thanked the Panthay again and again, and patted his bare, smooth +shoulder, and the native grinned and bowed before him. Then the +wood-cutter pointed to the ground, and Jack nodded. He saw that the +man wished him to drop from the howdah and leave the elephant. Jack +was perfectly willing. It was plain that the pad-elephant meant to +stick to his new friends and follow them wherever they roved.</p> + +<p>The Panthay slipped down the right flank of the elephant and dropped +to his feet like a cat. Jack was wretchedly stiff, but he also climbed +over the side of the carriage which had been his prison, and let +himself slide over the elephant's tail.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shall stand the least chance of being trodden on that way," thought +Jack. He dropped to the ground all right, for the pad-elephant took +not the least notice of their movements. But as for keeping his feet, +that was impossible. He rolled to the earth, for his ankles were even +more numbed than his wrists.</p> + +<p>At this instant the second Panthay ran up. The natives seemed to +understand at once what was wrong, for both began to rub Jack's ankles +and wrists briskly. Jack had to set his teeth to keep back a cry of +pain. After the long numbing confinement, it was pure agony when the +blood began to move freely once more, but he grinned and bore it, and +soon began to feel better for the treatment.</p> + +<p>When he could stand up and walk a little, the Panthays beckoned to him +to accompany them, and they went down the ravine, following the track +used by the wild inhabitants of the place. The dusk was falling over +the jungle when they reached the camp of the Panthays, a deep cave in +the side of the ravine, where a few simple cooking-pots and a small +store of rice furnished all the woodmen needed.</p> + +<p>By signs Jack was invited to sit down on a big heap of dried grass at +the side of the cave, and one of the men swiftly built a fire and put +on a pot of rice to cook. Soon the simple meal was ready. The +cooking-pot was swung from the fire, and the rice was flavoured with +salt and other condiments; each of the latter articles was contained +in a small neat cylinder of bamboo, and packed away again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> when done +with in the basket which was the only baggage of the teak-cutters.</p> + +<p>Jack was as hungry as a wolf, and he ate heartily of the food which +his new friends offered to him. They were extremely respectful, called +him <i>phaya</i>, my lord, the only word of their speech which he could +make out, and did not touch a single grain of rice until he had +finished.</p> + +<p>While they ate, Jack rested on the soft, dried grass, and went through +his pockets to see where he stood. Somewhat to his surprise, Jack +found that his captors had relieved him of nothing save his weapons. +His money-belt round his waist, the contents of his pockets, his +watch, everything had been left untouched.</p> + +<p>"No," thought Jack, "I don't know what their game was, but it was a +lot bigger thing than just collaring what I had about me. However, +it's lucky my money's left. It's bound to be useful even in the +jungle. If I can only get these fellows to lead me to a village, I can +find a guide to put me on the road towards joining Buck and Jim +again."</p> + +<p>The thought of Buck and Jim turned Jack's thoughts towards them, and +their surprise and consternation when they found that he was missing.</p> + +<p>"What will they do, I wonder," thought Jack. "They'll never in the +world be able to discover what's become of me. I must try and hit a +line back towards them as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>His eyes now turned on the Panthays, busily devouring the last of +their rice.</p> + +<p>"How can I talk to these chaps?" thought Jack. "I'll give them a tip. +They've done me a first-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>rate good turn. Perhaps they'll be willing to +do more if they see there's something to be got by it."</p> + +<p>He drew a handful of rupees from his belt, and gave them five each. +The woodmen stared in astonishment at so much wealth, fingering the +big silver coins with childlike wonder and delight. Then they bent +before Jack, and made him at least a score of deep obeisances, and +poured forth floods of thanks. Jack did not understand their words, +but their movements told all they wished to convey.</p> + +<p>Each tucked his new-gained riches in his waist-cloth, and then they +busied themselves in making Jack comfortable for the night. He was +soon satisfied. He was far too tired to be very critical of his +sleeping quarters. As a matter of fact, they were excellent. The cave +was dry and warm, and the Panthays made up for him a big heap of soft +dried grass.</p> + +<p>The thought of sleep made Jack's eyes drop to of themselves. In a +couple of minutes after he stretched himself on the couch of grass, he +was deep in slumber.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>AN UNWELCOME MEETING.</h3> + + +<p>When he awoke the next morning the pot of rice was once more bubbling +over the fire, and one of the natives was squatted near by, feeding +the fire with dry chips; the second man was not to be seen. The +Panthay feeding the fire looked up with a cheerful grin when he heard +Jack move, and pointed to the cooking-pot, as if to assure him that +breakfast would soon be ready.</p> + +<p>Jack stretched himself and yawned. After his long sleep he felt like a +giant refreshed. He wondered what time it was, and glanced at his +watch. But his watch had stopped, he had forgotten to wind it up. The +sun, however, showed him, by its height, that the morning was well +advanced.</p> + +<p>"I've slept off my weariness with a vengeance," murmured Jack to +himself. "It must be nine or ten o'clock by the look of the sun."</p> + +<p>At this moment the native by the fire uttered a cry which was answered +from without. The second Panthay ran up at that moment, panting as if +he had travelled fast and far. He bore upon his shoulders a basket +from which he took a couple<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> of chickens, half a dozen plantains, and +a fresh supply of rice.</p> + +<p>"Then there's a village somewhere in the neighbourhood," thought Jack. +"But it may be ten or a dozen miles off. This fellow looks as if he +had had a long run for the stuff. I suppose it is in my honour."</p> + +<p>The two men prepared one of the chickens in a trice. They stripped off +the feathers, cut up the fowl, and broiled the pieces over the fire on +little skewers of hard wood. In a short time an excellent breakfast of +broiled chicken, rice, and plantain was set before him, and Jack +devoured it with the utmost relish. Then he set himself to work by +means of signs to make them understand that he wished them to lead him +to the village from which the Panthay had fetched the supplies.</p> + +<p>In the end they understood him, and put their axes in a corner of the +cave. By motions of their heads and hands they gave him to understand +that they would lay by work for the day, and become his guides. Jack +patted them on the back, and gave them another couple of rupees apiece +to strengthen them in this excellent resolution.</p> + +<p>When he had finished his meal, Jack sat down again on the heap of +grass to await the pleasure of his companions. The second man had not +eaten, but he soon despatched his portion of rice, and then they were +ready for the road.</p> + +<p>They left the cave, and the two Panthays led the way down the ravine, +retracing the line the elephants had taken in coming into this part of +the country.</p> + +<p>"That's good," thought Jack. "We're striking on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> the road back at +once. I wish I knew the name of the village where the festival was +held, but I'm pretty certain to find someone in the place these chaps +come from who can tell me. People were marching to the feast from a +much greater distance away than this can be."</p> + +<p>Their progress was slow, for the day was one of scorching heat. The +naked Panthays slipped through the jungle as easily as the monkeys +skipped through the trees, but Jack could not move at any speed. As +the sun approached high noon a halt was called in shade of a thicket +on a little ridge, where the air was fresher than in the dark, +steaming hollows. Here they stayed for three hours, and Jack, after he +had eaten the meal the Panthays prepared, dozed in the shade.</p> + +<p>When he saw his guides gathering their baggage and packing it into the +big basket which one carried slung over his shoulders, Jack sprang to +his feet, stretched himself, and strolled forward half a dozen yards. +They had halted beside a narrow path which crossed the ridge, and he +wished to see toward what kind of country below the path led.</p> + +<p>The bushes thinned, and he saw that a vast plain was opening out +before him. But he did not leave the cover of the edge of the thicket. +Something moving below caught his eye, and he parted the tall shoots +of a bush before him, and peeped through the huge trails of pink and +crimson convolvuli which festooned the branches of the low trees. +Straight before him the path ran down a steep slope and then wound +over a broad plain, showing itself here and there in the gaps between +patches of bamboo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> and acacias and palms. It was among a clump of +palms at some distance that Jack had caught sight of a moving object, +and he now looked eagerly to see it come into view again.</p> + +<p>It was not that he feared any particular evil at the moment, but in +his present desperate circumstances, utterly stranded in these wilds +among savage hill-tribes, he knew not at any moment when a savage +enemy might appear. He knew well that he had been lucky in falling in +with these quiet wood-cutters, and he hoped that such luck would stay +with him for a little till he could rejoin his friends.</p> + +<p>The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when he saw that it was +vain, and that at this very moment he stood in the utmost danger from +his worst and deadliest foes. The moving objects he had seen came in +sight once more, a couple of naked fellows in turban and waist-cloth. +Jack knew them for Panthays, like the men who were now behind him +making ready for the march. Then, at the next second, he saw two +brilliant spots of colour, and knew that the Panthays were not alone. +A little cavalcade of six riders, mounted on ponies, followed the two +naked men on foot. The whole of the tiny procession passed over a +little clearing, and was lost again in a clump of bamboos.</p> + +<p>Jack's heart beat fast and he drew a deep breath. Who were these men +the Panthays were leading towards him? He remembered two of his +enemies yesterday, and the two leading riders brought them to mind +again. Saya Chone had worn a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> head-dress of brilliant flaming scarlet, +the Strangler a turban of bright yellow.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_5" id="Pic_5"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_006.jpg" width="450" height="648" alt="A SUDDEN ALARM." title="A SUDDEN ALARM." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">A SUDDEN ALARM.</span> +</div> + +<p>Again the little procession filed into sight, out of the bamboos. +Scarlet and yellow the head-dresses of the first couple of mounted men +flashed vivid into the burning radiance of the sunlight. The riders +were too far off for Jack to make out their faces, but he did not need +that; he felt in his bones that his terrible enemies were upon him +once more, and he turned to fly. It was plain enough, too, how they +had hit upon his whereabouts. They had followed up the tracks of the +flying elephants, and inquired in every village round-about. Then the +Panthay, returning to his home for food, had spoken of the sahib they +had found among the hills, and had put the pursuers on Jack's trail.</p> + +<p>As Jack turned he heard a grunt of surprise. One of the Panthays had +stepped forward and caught sight of the approaching cavalcade. Jack +sprang upon him, seized his naked shoulder, and drew him back into +shelter of the thicket. The two men looked at him in wonder. Our hero +had nothing but signs with which to communicate to these men the +danger in which he stood. He chose three effective movements. He +pointed to the oncoming strangers, he pointed to himself; finally he +seized the <i>dah</i> which one carried swinging in a thong over his +shoulders, and made a motion as of passing the keen weapon across his +throat.</p> + +<p>By their looks of intelligence he saw that the Panthays had fully +grasped his meaning. They spoke swiftly to each other for a few +moments.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack awaited the upshot in keenest anxiety. If these men did not stand +by him he was indeed lost. Then, to his immense relief, the elder man, +he who had dropped into the howdah and had taken the lead from the +first, stepped forward, raised Jack's hand, and kissed it. Then he +pointed to the depth of the jungle. Jack nodded and patted him on the +shoulder. The younger Panthay swung the basket on his back, and away +glided the three, leaving the path, and striking off directly among +the trees.</p> + +<p>In two minutes they were out of sight of their camping-place, and as +the advancing party was not yet at the foot of the slope, Jack never +doubted but that the half-caste would be thrown off the scent, and +would pass on towards the ravine where the wood-cutters were known to +be at work. But he had made one mistake, the error of supposing that +the two Panthays in front of the horsemen were the first of the party. +They were not. A single tracker had led the way some distance ahead, +and him Jack had missed among the thickets and groves which hid the +path here and there. So that, as the three fugitives disappeared among +the thicker growth of jungle, a dark figure gained the crown of the +slope, and with swift and noiseless tread approached their +camping-place.</p> + +<p>The quick eye of the Panthay at once caught sight of the retreating +men, above all of the sahib, so easily to be known by his dress, and +the tracker drew back instantly into the bushes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE.</h3> + + +<p>In the meanwhile Jack and his companions hurried forward, quite +unconscious that they had been spied upon. The elder Panthay led the +way through the jungle, and within a mile they came to the edge of a +steep descent. Down this they climbed with much difficulty, swinging +themselves by creepers and holding on to the boles of saplings until +they gained the foot of a deep ravine.</p> + +<p>The Panthay paused and pointed with a laugh. Jack nodded cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"By George!" he murmured to himself, "we shan't be hard up for a +hiding-place here."</p> + +<p>The wall of the farther side of the ravine was honey-combed with black +holes, looking for all the world as if a colony of gigantic +sand-martins had built their nests in the place. Jack knew that these +were the mouths of caves, and he ran swiftly after the Panthays as +they hurried for a hole which was within easy reach of the ground.</p> + +<p>A small fig tree grew below the mouth of the cave. Jack slipped his +foot into the crutch where a bough struck away from the parent stem, +swung himself up, and tumbled into the hollow, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> was an irregular +circle about nine feet across. The Panthays at once followed him, and +all three pushed over the broken floor within, towards the shelter of +the cave.</p> + +<p>Inside, the place hollowed and widened out. Thirty feet back from the +entrance it was dusky, and here Jack seated himself on a huge fragment +of rock which had fallen from the roof. He was very glad of a rest and +of a chance to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, as it was terribly +punishing for a European to have to hurry on foot through the +frightful heat of so scorching a day.</p> + +<p>The elder Panthay had followed Jack to the back of the cave, and was +now squatting on his haunches in front of the English lad. The younger +native had remained nearer the entrance, and, placing himself behind +another big fallen boulder, was keeping watch through the mouth of the +cave.</p> + +<p>The Panthay who had accompanied Jack now entered upon a series of +gestures so clear and striking that Jack understood them as if he +spoke. The signs were to the effect that they should stay in the cave +till darkness had fallen, and then they would resume the journey.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, when Jack was lying at full length on the rock, +lazily staring into the gloomy heights above him, a sudden, low, sharp +cry broke into the stillness. The cry had been uttered by the watcher +at the mouth of the cave, and now he said a few quick words. The elder +Panthay leapt to his feet and shot down the cave with the glide of a +panther. Jack sprang from his rock and followed.</p> + +<p>The English lad had known at once that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> cry meant danger, so deep +an anxiety had lain in the low troubled note. As he crept up to the +boulder behind which the two Panthays crouched, he saw that the peril +which threatened him a short time ago still hung over his head. +Looking through the hole, they commanded a full view of the upper edge +of the opposite side of the ravine. Gathered aloft there, in full +sight, was a bunch of figures, and, in the front of the group, the +scarlet and yellow turbans still blazed.</p> + +<p>Jack knew at once that danger was closer than ever. By some means Saya +Chone and the Strangler knew that he and his guides had turned aside +from the ordinary track, and had followed on their new trail.</p> + +<p>Now their pursuers began to climb down the steep side of the ravine, +led by a Panthay tracker. In a moment Jack saw that the man was +following the path they had followed. His quick eye was marking the +displaced stones and torn creepers, and he was leading Saya Chone and +the Strangler straight upon their prey.</p> + +<p>Jack looked swiftly round the cave in which they stood. Did it offer +any securer hiding-place than the part in which they were? To leave it +was impossible! They could only step out in full sight of the +advancing band of enemies. He looked at the Panthays and saw that they +could render him no help. They were trembling like leaves with terror. +He caught a name on the elder Panthay's lips, and knew it.</p> + +<p>"Saya Chone," the man was murmuring. "Saya Chone."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh," thought Jack, "this fellow recognises the half-caste and fears +the vengeance of a powerful enemy. Then we can't be far now from the +country where the Ruby King rules the roost. But the point for the +moment is, how to dodge Mr. Saya Chone."</p> + +<p>He beckoned to the Panthays to follow him, and all three retreated to +the depths of the cave. The elder Panthay ran ahead, waving his hand +to Jack to follow.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" thought Jack, "looks as if this chap knew of a spot to hide +in," and he hurried forward. At the lower end of the cave the roof +dipped sharply down, and the sides closed in, forming a tunnel about +six feet high and five feet wide. This tunnel was three or four yards +long, and then it opened out again into a second cave of fair size. +The second cave was dimly lighted from a rift in the rock, forty feet +above their heads. In two minutes Jack had made the circuit of it, and +knew that, except for the fact that it was an inner cave, it offered +them no refuge. The walls were smooth and unclimbable, and there was +no break in them except at the point where the tunnel ran in.</p> + +<p>Jack returned from his swift search and peered down the tunnel. From +the cool darkness he looked out and saw a ring of brilliant light, the +mouth of the outer cave. Suddenly a head shot into the patch of +blinding sunlight without. The head was covered with a yellow turban, +and Jack saw the Strangler slowly draw himself up and stand in the +mouth of the cave. The big Malay did not rush forward. Instead, he +stood gazing curiously about, and then Jack understood. He and his +companions<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> had left no track on the smooth hard rocks which paved the +bottom of the ravine, and their enemies were not certain in which cave +they lay; each cave was being searched in turn.</p> + +<p>"Oh," thought Jack, "what would I not give for my handy little +Mannlicher, and a good pocketful of cartridges. I could hold an army +at bay in this narrow tunnel. But they stripped me of every weapon, +even to my knife."</p> + +<p>At this instant there flashed across his mind the thought of the <i>dah</i> +carried by the younger Panthay. He turned and found the man at his +shoulder. Jack seized the thong by which the man bore the weapon, and +lifted it over the Panthay's head. The native made no resistance, but +gave up the sword at once.</p> + +<p>Jack drew the weapon from its sheath and looked at it carefully in the +dim light. He saw at once by the bright gleam that it was in excellent +order, and well polished. He tried the edge with his thumb; it was as +keen as a razor. He stepped back two or three paces to give himself +room to swing the blade, and flourished it about his head in order to +find out its swing and play. These, too, were perfect. So well +balanced were the huge, broad blade and heavy handle, that the great +sword swung easily about Jack's head in his powerful young hands.</p> + +<p>"By George!" thought he, "I'll make it warm for these rogues before +I've done with them. If I can't give it 'em hot in this narrow tunnel +with this good bit of steel, I'm a Dutchman."</p> + +<p>He stepped forward and peered once more down the tunnel. He started. +Saya Chone was climbing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> up, and after him came three or four figures +in blue kilts. Jack had seen such before, and knew them for tough, +wiry, hard-bitten little Kachins, small men, but immensely muscular +and powerful. Behind him he heard a sound as of a withered leaf +blowing along the floor. He turned his head and saw the two Panthays +fleeing to the uttermost part of the cave. They trembled before these +terrible enemies.</p> + +<p>At this moment the Panthay tracker climbed into the cave. He spoke for +a few moments to Saya Chone, pointing to the tunnel where Jack stood, +but where in the darkness no one could see him. Saya Chone nodded, and +the whole party moved forward until they were within a couple of yards +of the mouth of the tunnel. Now Saya Chone began to speak.</p> + +<p>"Haydon," he called in a loud voice. "Come out at once. The game is +up. We know you are within there. You have left a score of signs in +the outer cave to show whither you have retreated. Come out, I tell +you."</p> + +<p>He ceased, and stood as if awaiting a reply, but Jack made no answer. +He meant to give his enemies no idea of the point where he had +stationed himself. Again the half-caste's voice rang out.</p> + +<p>"I will give you one minute again to come out," he called, "and then, +if you do not appear, I shall send in those who will fetch you out +more roughly than you will like."</p> + +<p>Jack made no answer, but went down on one knee to give himself plenty +of room to strike overhead in the combat which was now near at hand.</p> + +<p>The minute passed, and Saya Chone called out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> some orders to the +savage little men in blue, who were now hovering about the mouth of +the tunnel as if burning to rush in to the assault. Upon the orders +being given, three Kachins started forward.</p> + +<p>Jack saw them clearly against the bright light outside, and his heart +swelled with rage and fierce anger. Not because each man held in his +hand his broad and glittering <i>dah</i>. Oh, no. That was all in the game, +and Jack was willing to give and take in the struggle between man and +man, out-numbered as he was. But each man had now drawn out a coil of +fine rope and slung it about his left arm. Jack saw that shameful +bonds were being prepared once more for his free limbs, and his heart +burned with fury.</p> + +<p>"I'll die fighting before they shall tie me up again," breathed Jack +to himself, and he clutched still more tightly the heavy <i>dah</i>. Then +he drew a short, sharp breath, and held himself ready, every nerve +strung up to its highest tension, every muscle braced and ready for +action.</p> + +<p>The Kachins were coming. Already their figures darkened the mouth of +the tunnel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM.</h3> + + +<p>We must now return to Buck and Jim, whom we left in great perplexity +at the village festival, wondering what had become of their young +leader.</p> + +<p>At the moment that Jack was dragged into the bushes by the Buddhist +monk, who was not really a monk at all, but one of Saya Chone's +followers in disguise, and the dancing girl, who was Saya Chone +himself, Buck was within a dozen yards of them, looking all about for +Jack. But he saw nothing of his young master, because a group of +people, also in Saya Chone's pay, covered the movements by which Jack +was drugged and carried off by his enemies.</p> + +<p>"Thunder and mud," growled Buck. "Where's Jack got to? I left him here +not five minutes ago, laughing over this picture."</p> + +<p>At this moment Dent came up.</p> + +<p>"Where's Jack?" said he quickly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, and that's the square-toed truth," replied Buck. +"P'raps he's rambled off in a different direction."</p> + +<p>The two comrades began to move swiftly about in search of their young +leader. They kept together,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> for, with their knowledge of the country, +they felt uneasy at once, and were not willing to separate, lest each +might not find the other again. They found Me Dain, and set him to +hunt in every direction. They found the headman, and he seemed +bewildered at the idea that Jack had disappeared. He gave, or seemed +to give, them every assistance possible in their search, but within an +hour the two comrades were looking at each other very blankly. Jack +had gone. There was no sign of him from end to end of the village, but +how or where he had gone was a completely impenetrable mystery.</p> + +<p>Buck and Jim and the Burman gathered in the hut which had been +assigned to them, and held a council of war.</p> + +<p>"Say," muttered Buck uneasily, "this beats the band. What's come to +Jack?"</p> + +<p>Jim Dent shook his head, and made no reply for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well, Buck," he said at last, "there's one thing quite certain; he +hasn't gone on his own account."</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," replied Buck.</p> + +<p>"And if he's been nabbed in some mysterious fashion or another, we're +pretty certain who's got hold of him," pursued Jim, and Buck nodded +with a blank face.</p> + +<p>At the next instant Jim's suspicions were confirmed by the Burman.</p> + +<p>"Well," grunted Me Dain, "U Saw got both now, for sure, both young +master and old master."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What makes you think that, Me Dain?" cried Buck. "Have you seen or +heard anything?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, nothing," replied the Burman, waving his hand. "But what +else can be? They catch him and take him off. Oh yes, sure to be."</p> + +<p>"After all, it would only be in line with plenty of things we've heard +of, Buck," remarked Jim Dent, and again Buck had to give a sorrowful +nod.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Buck, in a decided voice, "s'pose we put it at that. In +some fashion or other he's been kidnapped by the people who kidnapped +his father. Let it go at that. Then, next thing is, what are we going +to do?"</p> + +<p>"I'll bet I know what you're going to do, Buck, my son," said Jim +Dent, with a dry chuckle. "You'll follow on a bit and see what's +happened to father and son, or I'm making a big mistake."</p> + +<p>"You're quite right, Jim," said Buck Risley. "I don't hold with +backin' down on a pardner, and I'm goin' along to see what's happened +to the Professor and Jack just as far as I can crawl."</p> + +<p>"And I'm with you, old man," said Jim quietly. "I owe Jack my life, +too. One good turn deserves another."</p> + +<p>"And me, sahibs, and me," said Me Dain quickly. "The young sahib save +my life also when the dacoit thought to chop off my head. I go with +you everywhere to help the two sahibs."</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Me Dain, you're a good sort," cried Buck, and he +thrust his hand out to the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>Burman. Me Dain, highly delighted to +receive the white man's sign of friendship, shook hands very solemnly +with both Buck and Jim, and they formed at once a confraternity of +three to hunt up U Saw's quarters, and see where he held the +prisoners, whom they now firmly believed to be in his grasp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNEL.</h3> + + +<p>We must now return to Jack, whom we left crouching at the end of the +tunnel which led to the outer cave, and awaiting the onslaught of +three powerful Kachins.</p> + +<p>As the natives drew step by step along the tunnel towards Jack, he +balanced the great broadsword he held by both hands, and poised it +ready to strike at the foremost. Though he was greatly out-numbered, +yet he held one advantage. The forms of his enemies were clear against +the sunlight which poured into the mouth of the outer cave. He could +see every movement they made, but they could not see him. The inner +cave was very dimly lighted, and, coming from the bright light +without, his enemies could not mark that Jack was waiting for them.</p> + +<p>A second advantage he enjoyed was that they did not know that he was +armed. They knew that they had stripped him of every weapon when he +was first seized, and now they did not dream that he had secured a +<i>dah</i> for himself, and was thoroughly resolved to make the deadliest +use of it before he would submit to capture.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>On crept the Kachins in the boldest fashion, urged forward not merely +by their native bravery, but convinced that they had before them the +simplest of tasks, the seizing of an unarmed lad who would surrender +at sight of their weapons.</p> + +<p>At the next moment they were terribly undeceived. Fetching a sweeping +blow, Jack cut down the leading Kachin with a terrific stroke. The +edge of the keen, heavy blade fell at the point where neck and +shoulder meet, and the doomed man was nearly cut in two. He dropped +with a single groan, and the two men behind caught him by the feet and +dragged him swiftly back.</p> + +<p>Jack drew a deep breath, regained his heavy weapon, and poised it +anew. But for the moment he was left in peace. The group in the outer +cave had gathered about the fallen man. They uttered loud cries of +surprise when they saw the deep and dreadful wound he had received +with such terrible force from the dah. "<i>Dah! dah!</i>" Jack heard the +name of the native sword pass from lip to lip, and knew that they had +recognised by what weapon that frightful slicing blow was delivered.</p> + +<p>But in another moment he recognised how grim and fell were these +people who were his foes. As coolly as though it were but a dog that +Jack had slain with that tremendous blow, the Strangler lifted the +dead Kachin and tossed him carelessly aside. Saya Chone said a sharp +word, and a fresh man stepped forward, drawing his <i>dah</i> with a grin +as he was ordered to join his companions in a fresh assault. Jack knew +these little men in blue kilts to be brave to desperation, utterly +careless of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> life, either their own or another's, and he braced +himself once more for the struggle.</p> + +<p>But this time the Kachins came on in different order, and in a +different fashion. A sudden flare of yellow light filled the tunnel, +and Jack saw that two men marched ahead, each with his <i>dah</i> ready to +strike, and that behind them the third man held a flaming torch. He +saw at once how cunning was the trick. The glare would flash over the +assailant's shoulders straight into his eyes, confusing him, while +they would be lighted perfectly to the attack.</p> + +<p>In a second Jack had devised a plan of meeting this danger. He dropped +his <i>dah</i> over his left arm, bent and seized a huge pebble from the +floor. He poised the stone for an instant, then flung it with great +power. At this short range he struck the mark to a hair, and his mark +was the grinning face of the Kachin who carried the torch, and +rejoiced that his friends would now make short work of the fierce +young Feringhee who had hidden in the cave.</p> + +<p>The dark face of the native was wrinkled with a savage smile, and all +his gums were on view when the heavy stone struck into his open mouth +with a crash of splintering teeth. The first pebble was followed by a +second, which took him between the eyes. Stunned and blinded, he +reeled back and dropped the torch. His comrades, bereft of their +guiding light, upon which they had counted so much, hesitated for a +moment and hung upon the next step. There was no hesitation with Jack. +Things stood at too desperate a pass with him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> that he should let +things hang in the wind. No sooner did he see the Kachin with the +torch reel back and drop the firebrand, than he swung his weapon on +high and darted at the two men who had halted in the tunnel. As he did +so he let out a mighty shout. Shout and blow fell together on the +hesitating Kachins. Both thrust their <i>dahs</i> forward to parry the +unseen assault.</p> + +<p>Jack's weapon fell with a ringing clash of steel across the <i>dah</i> of +the leading man, beat it down, went on, and bit deeply into the +Kachin's skull. The latter reeled against his companion and clutched +him. For a second they swayed, then both men fell heavily together to +the ground.</p> + +<p>Lying helpless as they were at his feet, it was a mere matter of a +couple of blows for him to utterly destroy both, and so lessen the +number of his enemies. But Jack could not strike fallen men. He +returned to his own end of the tunnel, and allowed them to creep back +to the outer cave, the wounded man crawling slowly after his friends.</p> + +<p>This second repulse seemed to put Saya Chone and the Strangler beside +themselves with fury. They screamed invective and insult against Jack, +and threatened him with the most frightful penalties when he should +fall into their hands. Both had a perfect command of some of the worst +language in English that Jack had ever heard, but he took it all for +what it was worth, clutched his faithful broadsword tighter still, and +waited to see what their next attempt would be. He still cherished a +hope of escape. He had crippled pretty well half of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> attacking +force, and if he could but hold them off till darkness came, there +might be an opportunity of escape in the moonless night.</p> + +<p>"There were only four Kachins with them," thought Jack, "and the +natives they have picked up from the neighbouring village may be +dismissed as fighting men, if they are anything like the chaps who are +somewhere behind me here. The half-caste and the Malay seem to keep +out of the scrimmages. If I only have a bit more luck, I can chew them +up enough perhaps to make them sheer off and leave me alone."</p> + +<p>As far as appearances went, they were leaving him alone now. But Jack +knew that appearances are too often deceitful. The outer cave looked +perfectly empty. Neither sign nor sound of human presence was given. +Saya Chone and the Strangler had gone away, leaping down from the +mouth of the outer cave to the ravine. But Jack was certain that the +unwounded Kachins were still lurking in the cave out of his sight, and +he had no intention whatever of creeping out and engaging in a +hand-to-hand struggle with the iron-limbed little mountaineers. Fully +half an hour passed in this profound silence. Jack kept the sharpest +look-out, but could catch no sign to show that his lair was still +watched.</p> + +<p>"If they can wait," thought Jack, "so can I. I'll not stir an inch +from my cover, however silent they may be."</p> + +<p>At that instant he caught a sharp, low cry of surprise behind him. He +whirled round swiftly, for in his intentness he had actually forgotten +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> two Panthays, his fellow-prisoners. With a gasp of relief, Jack +found that it was the elder Panthay who had called out. The two men +had been crouching in a corner of the inner cave, and had given no +sign of their presence while Jack struggled with his foes. Now one was +calling out, and both were pointing upwards.</p> + +<p>Jack took a step back from the mouth of the tunnel and looked aloft. +The rift in the rock forty feet above, which lighted the cave, was +obscured and darkened. In a moment he saw that the gap was filled with +a human body, and that a Panthay was peering down upon them.</p> + +<p>"What's this game?" thought Jack. "They've climbed up to that hole, +but unless I obligingly stand under it, and let them drop a stone on +my head, I don't see what they get by it."</p> + +<p>Little did the heroic lad dream of the fearful use to which his +enemies meant to put the rift in the rock high above him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE RUSE OF SAYA CHONE.</h3> + + +<p>In a moment the native drew back, and Jack jumped to cover as he saw a +dark object come whirling through the rift and fall straight into the +cave. But the thing flung in was harmless enough in appearance, a mere +bundle of dried grass bound loosely with a shred of creeper. Then, +thick and fast, bundle after bundle was hurled into the cave, dried +reeds, more grass, big loose splinters of pine, fat with resin, +withered brushwood, and the like.</p> + +<p>Down they came, thicker and faster, until a great pile of this rubbish +was heaped on the floor of the cave. Jack was staring wonderingly at +this novel method of attack by flinging rubbish apparently at large, +when once more the Panthay above thrust his head through the rift and +spoke a few words, his voice ringing down hollow into the depths where +the three prisoners stood. Jack did not understand what was said, but +he saw that the effect on his companions was most extraordinary.</p> + +<p>They sprang to their feet, and, braving all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> terrors of Saya +Chone, whose name had appeared so dreadful to them, they darted for +the tunnel, brushed swiftly by Jack, and were gone. The English lad +watched them eagerly. He saw them fly down the outer cave, leap wildly +into the ravine, and disappear. A minute later he saw them cross his +field of view as they climbed the opposite bank. They were going like +the wind, and there seemed not the slightest attempt made to stop +them, nor was the faintest sound of pursuit to be heard.</p> + +<p>"All the same," murmured Jack to himself, "I don't think I shall +follow you, my nimble friends. It's pretty certain you've been allowed +to go in peace in the hopes of drawing me out as well. I hardly fancy +I should be permitted to pass so quietly. Well, I'm thankful the poor +beggars have got away in safety. But what scared them so frightfully? +They went like rabbits bolting from a hole when the ferrets have been +put in. There seems nothing very terrifying about this heap of +rubbish."</p> + +<p>But was there not? was there not? Ten seconds later Jack was ready to +take his words back, and acknowledge that heap of rubbish to be a very +terrible and awful weapon in the hands of his enemies. Something +flashed above him, and he glanced up to see a flaming torch hurled +through the rift. It did not, however, fall into the heap of light +inflammable materials awaiting it. It struck against a projecting +point of rock, was turned aside, and fell almost at Jack's feet. He +stamped the flame out swiftly with his boot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> + +<p>But his breath came fast and short, and his brave face paled as he saw +the frightful cunning of this master-trick. He had luckily quenched +one torch, but he could not be sure of quenching the next and the +next. One of them had but to fall into the mass of reeds, canes, dry +grass, and withered brushwood, to cause a swift, fierce flame to run +through the whole mass.</p> + +<p>This, then, it was which the Panthays had learned from their fellow +who looked down from the rift. The Englishman was to be roasted out, +and they were warned of the fearful fate about to befall him. Before +this vision of horrors they had fled, the greater fear conquering the +less.</p> + +<p>Jack stood looking up at the rift with blanched face, and teeth set +like a steel-trap. His heart gave another jerk within him. A second +torch flashed through the rift. But this time the torch whirled +flaming through the air, and fell at the mouth of the tunnel, within a +yard of Jack's foot. He stamped it out. A second torch followed, +almost in the same place. He stamped this out too. He looked eagerly +to see where the next would fall.</p> + +<p>It seemed extraordinary fortune that not one of them should fall in +the midst of the waiting heap. Then he heard a low, evil, chuckling +laugh from someone beside the rift, and he understood. Saya Chone was +there, playing with him, as a cat plays with a mouse. The half-caste +was tossing torches within Jack's reach, simply to torture him with +the idea of what would happen when one of the flaming splinters of +pine fell into the heap of tinder awaiting it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> + +<p>Five minutes of perfect silence passed, and not another torch fell. To +Jack the time seemed like five years rather. He cast swift alternate +glances at the rift above and through the tunnel, where he felt that +enemies waited and watched for the opportunity the fire might give +them.</p> + +<p>And now a great flare appeared in the rift. A huge bundle of reeds, +blazing fiercely, was thrust in, and dropped. His enemies meant now to +fire the pile and bring the play to an end. The flaming mass rolled +slowly down the steep face of the cliff within, and Jack was torn in a +fierce dilemma as to what was the best course for him to follow. +Should he leave the mouth of the tunnel and try to beat out the flames +with the broad blade of his <i>dah</i>, or should he not?</p> + +<p>But if he left the tunnel, then he would give up the key of the +situation, and be swiftly surrounded. If he did not, the roasting +flame and the masses of billowing smoke would render the inner cave +untenable. Yet, before the bundle of reeds had rolled down to the mass +below, the question had been settled for him.</p> + +<p>A second and a third faggot, each blazing fiercely, and each directed +towards a fresh part of the heap, were flung through the rift.</p> + +<p>"I can't stop all three," thought Jack. "The pile must burn."</p> + +<p>Within a few seconds it was burning in very truth; the fire ran +through the heap of light combustibles with magical power and +swiftness. Scarce had the first bunch of burning reeds fallen, than a +vast scorching flame was leaping up and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> roaring towards the rift, +while a powerful current of air was drawn through the tunnel and +fanned Jack's face.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" thought Jack; "they reckoned without the draught, I +fancy. It looks as if I shall be no worse off than before. It's very +hot, certainly, but with this rush of air through the tunnel I can +manage all right."</p> + +<p>But he soon found that his enemies had not made any miscalculation. +For five minutes the air rushed fiercely past Jack, fanning the +tremendous flame which leapt from the blazing pile and carrying it +upwards to the rift, then it began to slacken, and the flame, instead +of roaring upwards to a point, began to sink, and spread its wide red +wings abroad in the cave, fluttering from one side to the other.</p> + +<p>Jack looked upwards with a sinking heart: <i>the rift was closed</i>. It +had been left open till a terrific fire had burned up, and now it was +blocked, and the whole of the heat and the smoke was pent up in the +cave; and Jack was pent up, too, in this roasting inferno.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE TORTURE BY FIRE.</h3> + + +<p>For some time Jack was but little troubled with the smoke. It billowed +up and up, and rolled in huge clouds about the lofty roof. But +gradually the cave filled, and Jack saw that with every moment the +smoke came lower and lower, threatening to fill the cave from the +floor to roof and choke the life out of him. A cloud whirled about him +and was gone again. But it left Jack coughing and half-choked, so +pungent and keen was the whiff which he had drawn into his lungs.</p> + +<p>Thicker and thicker rose the clouds of smoke as the fire burned, for, +cunningly intermingled with the dried tinder of the canes and reeds, +his enemies had flung great bunches of fresh-cut boughs. The green +wood of the latter, roasting and spluttering with sap in the midst of +the roaring fire, threw out vast rolling clouds of choking smoke.</p> + +<p>The freshest air was still at the mouth of the tunnel, and here Jack +crouched, his head as low as possible, for he knew that the last fresh +air would be found nearest to the floor. He was resolved not to go +out. His stubborn British blood was aflame at the thought of being +placed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> afresh in bonds, and he was ready to face the fiery torture +within rather than creep out and give his enemies the joy of knowing +that he was beaten, and of seeing him surrender.</p> + +<p>Hope, too, was not yet dead in his heart. The heap of blazing +brushwood was at some distance from him, for the rift was at the other +side of the cave. If he could but set his teeth and endure this agony +of fire until the heap had burned out, he would not be forced from his +post.</p> + +<p>But at that instant the fire reached several great faggots of green +palm branches, and fresh clouds of aromatic smoke rolled out still +thicker and faster than before. A swirl of the air currents within the +cave sent a thick billowing mass full on the spot where Jack crouched. +The brave lad felt that he was choking, that his senses were deserting +him, as he drew, involuntarily, the pungent, biting smoke into his +lungs.</p> + +<p>He flung himself on his face, coughed out the smoke he had swallowed, +and caught one refreshing gasp of sweet air blowing up the tunnel. +Then the fresh air was driven back by the huge billow of smoke, and +the heavy clouds settled about Jack. He could not have moved now had +he wished. He was the prey of the thick suffocating smoke, and a swift +merciful unconsciousness fell upon him and put an end to the agonies +he had so nobly endured.</p> + +<p>When Jack came to himself again, the first thing he knew was that he +had failed to keep himself out of the clutch of his enemies. When he +opened his bleared and smarting eyes and looked round,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> he saw the +dark face of Saya Chone straight before him. The half-caste said +nothing, only grinned in evil joy, and Jack closed his eyes again with +a groan of despair. He felt that he was once more in bonds, though +they were not so close and galling as before. He was dripping wet, and +his eyes pained him cruelly.</p> + +<p>He lay still for a few instants, then pulled himself together, jerked +himself into a sitting position, and looked round boldly, determined +to put the best face possible on the situation, and not give the +half-caste the joy of gloating over an enemy who acknowledged himself +beaten.</p> + +<p>He found he was in the outer cave, and through the tunnel he could see +plainly the glow of the fire still blazing in the inner recess. But no +smoke came this way. Clearly the rift had been opened, and the fire +was pulling up towards the natural vent. Jack looked round and saw +that he was in the midst of a pool of water; he supposed that it had +been flung upon him to bring him to.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Saya Chone at last, "are you not going to thank me for +saving the life you seemed obstinately bent upon throwing away? If I +had not been able to order a couple of fellows, as careless of their +lives as you of yours, to go into the smoke and drag you out, it would +have been all over with you by now."</p> + +<p>Jack made no answer. He did not so much as trouble to look at Saya +Chone. He ignored him entirely, and glanced down at the fetters which +confined his limbs. He found that his ankles were bound together with +light and slender links<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> of steel, a steel ring encircling each ankle, +and similar fetters bound his wrists. At first glance it seemed as if +these light bonds might easily be broken, but Jack gave up that idea +very soon. He saw that they were the work of a very cunning and +skilful craftsman, highly wrought and beautifully tempered, slight in +appearance, but immensely strong.</p> + +<p>A head now came in sight outside. It was the Strangler, and he called +out a few words to Saya Chone. The half-caste had been sitting with +his hand in the breast of his jacket. He now drew it out and showed +that the butt of a heavy revolver had been in his clasp. He pointed +the weapon at Jack's heart.</p> + +<p>"I must beg of you to get up, my lord," he said, in tones of sneering +deference. "Your conveyance awaits you outside the cave."</p> + +<p>When he saw that Jack hesitated to obey, he gave a shrill whistle. A +couple of Kachins at once sprang up at the mouth of the cave. Sooner +than be handled by these evil little ruffians, Jack now got up and +shuffled slowly down the cave, his fetters allowing him to move about +ten inches at a stride. But this, however, did not save him from their +hands. At the mouth of the cave the two Kachins and the Malay seized +upon him and swung him down to the bed of the ravine. Here a strong +pony was waiting, and when Jack's ankles had been freed, he was tossed +astride and the reins put in his hands.</p> + +<p>The half-caste followed him at every step with the revolver, nor did +he put the weapon away until<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> the Strangler had once more locked the +fetters which bound Jack's ankles together. This he did with a small +key, and, as the links of steel were brought under the pony's barrel +from one foot of the prisoner to the other, Jack was securely tethered +to the animal.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<h3>THE STRONGHOLD OF THE RUBY KING.</h3> + + +<p>As soon as Jack was mounted, Saya Chone and the Malay also got to +their saddles, and the party moved off down the ravine. Save for his +fetters, Jack rode as usual, but the two Kachins, one on either side, +held his pony by stout thongs of raw hide, fastened in the bridle. At +his heels trotted the two leaders, and Jack knew that both were well +armed.</p> + +<p>On the journey that followed it is not necessary to dwell, for it was +quite uneventful. They travelled steadily till dusk, when they halted +in a small village where Jack was assigned a hut, and a strict watch +was kept over him at every moment. The next morning the journey was +resumed at earliest dawn, and now they held their way for mile after +mile through wild, gloomy passes between lofty mountains, where no +sign of human life or cultivated fields was to be seen. Hour after +hour they pushed on through this deserted hill country, until, late in +the afternoon, they topped a stony ridge, and Jack gave a sharp +exclamation of surprise.</p> + +<p>Below him the ground fell away steeply to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> small and fertile valley +with a river running down its midst, and fields of paddy and plantain +lining the course of the stream. Groves of palmyra, and teak, and +palms were dotted about the scene, and in the midst of the valley rose +a tall house of stone. Instinctively Jack felt that they had reached +their journey's end, and that before him was the goal he had set +himself to win, the stronghold of U Saw, the Ruby King. But how +different was his approach from that he had hoped to make! Instead of +advancing upon it in company of his trusty friends, he was marching in +as a prisoner, fettered hand and foot.</p> + +<p>Jack fixed his eyes eagerly on the great house below as another idea +sprang to his mind. Was his father there? Had his quest been in vain, +and was Thomas Haydon far away from this lonely valley set among the +wild hills? But Jack believed that his father was there; everything +seemed to point to it. Well, he would soon know, one way or the other.</p> + +<p>The path now ran through a native village, whose slender huts of reed +and cane bordered both sides of the narrow way. The people ran to +their doors to gaze upon the passers-by, and Jack knew them for +Kachins. He recognised the short, dark, sturdy forms of the men. +Beside the latter, women in embroidered kilts, with big, queer +head-dresses, and brown, naked, nimble children, came to look upon the +sahib who rode into their valley, the captive of their lord and +master, U Saw.</p> + +<p>The village was passed and a grove of palms <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>was entered. Beyond the +palms the land ran smooth and open to the front of the great strong +house of stone which U Saw had built to keep himself and his treasures +safe.</p> + +<p>The cavalcade halted before a strong gate formed of huge bars and +beams of teak, and in another moment half of the gate was flung open +by a pair of blue-kilted Kachins. Jack's pony was led inside, and the +English lad now found himself in a large courtyard beside the house. +The walls of the courtyard were formed of great logs of teak, and +round them ran rows of thatched huts built against the palisade. +These, as Jack learned afterwards, were used as the lodgings of the +strong body of retainers whom U Saw kept about his person, his +bodyguard.</p> + +<p>Only one small door opened upon the courtyard from the house, and +towards this Jack's pony was led. The Malay unlocked the fetters which +bound Jack's feet, and he was hauled roughly to the ground.</p> + +<p>"March in," said Saya Chone, and pointed to the small, narrow, dark +doorway. Jack went in, staring hard into the dark before him, and +wondering what fate would befall him in this great, lonely house to +which he had been led in so strange a fashion, and through such wild +adventures. He found himself in a small, dusky hall, lighted only by +one tiny window, and that heavily barred with iron. The door was now +closed and bolted behind him, and he was taken up a narrow flight of +tortuous stairs. Then he was conducted along a maze of narrow +passages, being led now and again through doors which Saya Chone +unlocked and carefully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> locked again after them. The stone walls, the +iron bars which covered every opening, the narrow passages, the locked +doors, all told of the caution of U Saw, he who trusted no one, and +suspected all.</p> + +<p>At last they arrived before a narrow door, heavily banded with iron, +and fastened by a huge bar of teak. Before it squatted a little man in +blue, with a big naked <i>dah</i> across his knees. Saya Chone spoke to him +and it sounded like a password, for the man sprang to his feet and +stepped aside. The great bar of teak was drawn from its staples, and +the door was opened. The Malay thrust Jack into the room, and the door +was at once closed and barred behind him.</p> + +<p>Jack now found himself in a bare stone cell, lighted only by one small +window eight feet or more from the ground. There was nothing in the +place save a small bench in one corner, and he sat down on this and +awaited the next movement of his captors. For full three hours he sat +there, and had begun to wonder whether they had forgotten him, when +the door was suddenly opened and the Strangler appeared, attended by a +couple of the bodyguard. The Malay beckoned to Jack to come forward, +and the latter went.</p> + +<p>He was now led into a large room, where a tall, stout man sat on a +heap of rich cushions, and Jack knew by the deference paid to him that +the latter was U Saw, the Ruby King. The room was lighted by a couple +of large lamps, for the dusk had fallen, and the English lad was led +into the bright light and placed before the Ruby King.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> + +<p>The latter looked steadily at Jack, and Jack returned the stare with +interest. The Ruby King had a huge, gross face, thick-lipped and +evil-eyed. He was dressed splendidly in a rich embroidered jacket of +pink silk, a silken kilt striped in red and white, and a huge pink +<i>gaung-baung</i> on his head; in the front of his head-dress blazed a +magnificent ruby.</p> + +<p>He looked long and keenly at Jack, and the latter thought that U Saw +was going to speak to him, but the Ruby King said nothing, and at last +waved his hand. Upon this Jack was led aside by the Malay and made to +sit down upon a large, heavy chair near the right-hand wall. All this +was done in perfect silence, and for some minutes Jack sat there +waiting, while U Saw seemed to forget his presence, and rested upon +the pile of cushions with head bent as if in deep thought.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Strangler, who had been moving to and fro, disappeared +behind Jack's chair. Jack was about to turn his head to keep an eye on +his enemy's movements, when he felt a soft silken band slipped swiftly +over his head and tightened about his shoulders. At the same instant a +couple of attendants flung themselves upon him and held him down +tightly in the chair.</p> + +<p>Jack tried to throw them off and wrench himself free, but his hands +had never been unfettered, and he was easily mastered. In a trice he +found himself securely lashed to the heavy chair, and then felt +another broad band of silk drawn over his mouth. Coolly and +methodically the Strangler gagged him in so skilful a fashion that he +could not utter a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> sound, though he was able to breathe quite easily. +When both bonds and gag were secure he was released from the grip of +the men who had held him down, and the attendants and the Malay +stepped aside.</p> + +<p>The next movement puzzled Jack beyond measure. A muslin curtain, +running on a light bamboo rod, was drawn before him, thus cutting him +off from the main body of the apartment. With the exception that he +had been firmly seized and held down while the Strangler bound him, +Jack had not been roughly treated, and he was quite free to turn his +head from side to side and mark all that went on.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the Ruby King raised his hand. As if in response to +the signal an attendant struck one deep booming rolling note on a +great gong. Jack looked eagerly to see what would follow. And that +which did follow held him spell-bound with amazement and wonder.</p> + +<p>A door opened and Saya Chone came in. Jack recognised him at once, for +the delicate filmy veil of muslin which hung just before him was so +slight in texture that he could see through it easily and make out all +that went on in the light of the lamps. But the part of the room where +he was a prisoner was unlighted, and the veil served to hide him +sufficiently from anyone standing in the brighter part of the place. +Saya Chone came forward and conversed with U Saw for a few moments, +then a second note was struck upon the resounding gong.</p> + +<p>Again the door opened, and a couple of Kachins<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> came in, leading a man +between them, a tall, thin man with grey hair and pale face. Jack's +heart leapt within him, and he felt suffocating under his gag. Yes, +there was his father, there he was. They had been right in their +suspicions all the time. Thomas Haydon had been carried off by the men +who served the Ruby King.</p> + +<p>Jack's heart swelled within him at sight of that well-known form and +face, and he strained every muscle against his bonds. But he had been +secured too strongly, and his efforts were utterly in vain. He could +only stare and stare at the old familiar figure, and long for the +moment when his gag should be loosed and he could acquaint his father +with his presence. He wondered whether his father would see him +through the curtain, but he felt sure at the next moment that it was +impossible. He was seated in a dusky corner, and his father stood full +in the light of the lamps.</p> + +<p>What an end was this to his quest! He had set out to find his father. +He had found him: they stood within a few yards of each other. But he +had found him a prisoner in cruel and merciless hands which now also +held Jack captive. What an end to all his fine dreams of rescuing his +father! What a mockery of his hopes! As these thoughts thronged +through Jack's mind, Saya Chone began to speak. Jack was at once all +attention to the words of the half-caste.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Haydon," began the latter, "you have now had several days +to know whether you are more inclined to be reasonable. You have only, +you know, to write down on a scrap of paper the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> bearings of the place +where you found the big ruby, and then you are free to go where you +please."</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, then Mr. Haydon replied. How the +well-known tones thrilled Jack through and through as they fell on his +ear!</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said Thomas Haydon, in a tone of quiet but bitter scorn. "I +have only to give up the interests which were confided to my hands, to +prove myself a traitor to those who trusted me, and then you say I may +go. I take leave to doubt the latter statement. In any case, I shall +certainly not do as you wish."</p> + +<p>"You still refuse to disclose the secret of the ruby-mine you found?"</p> + +<p>"I do."</p> + +<p>"It would be better, I think, for you to reconsider that decision," +said the half-caste, in his cold, cruel voice. "There are ways, you +know, of making people speak, however obstinate they may be."</p> + +<p>"You refer to torture, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon, in as cool a +tone as though he were speaking on the most indifferent subject. +"Well, I do not wish to boast, but I hardly think you will get +anything out of me that way."</p> + +<p>"Why, there I am inclined to agree with you," said the half-caste, in +his silkiest tones. "That is to say, so far as applying torture to +yourself personally is concerned. You are a stubborn Englishman, and +that means you will cheerfully die before you give in; is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"Then, if you think it useless to deal with me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> in such fashion, why +enter upon talk of it?" demanded Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the half-caste, "such a thing may be useful yet. If you +were careless about torture applied to yourself, you might see it in +another light when brought to bear on someone to whom you were +attached?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon gave a scornful laugh. "And where will you find such a +person in this den of thieves?" he asked, drily.</p> + +<p>Upon this reply, Saya Chone and U Saw burst into a great shout of +mocking laughter. They rolled to and fro in their mirth, and the room +rang again with their hideous merriment. Mr. Haydon looked from one to +the other, his brow knitted in puzzled wonder.</p> + +<p>But behind the curtain Jack's heart had sunk very low indeed, and a +light of terror had come into his eyes. Now he saw at a flash why the +half-caste had carried him off, and pursued him so closely and +fiercely, yet without doing him the least harm. It had puzzled Jack a +score of times why Saya Chone had not killed him, and so put an end to +any further trouble, but now he saw the whole plan only too clearly.</p> + +<p>By this time the Ruby King knew the character of Thomas Haydon, and +had learned that neither threats nor force had power to sway him from +his duty in order to save himself. But what if his only son, his boy +Jack, was exposed to a like danger: would that not break down his iron +resolution?</p> + +<p>The terror which had come into Jack's eyes was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> not for himself, not +for an instant. But he saw at once what the arch-rogues meant to do, +to put pressure upon his father through him. And Jack felt sick at +heart to think that he had won the thing he had longed for, that he +had gained his father's side, and yet he came only as an added +difficulty to a cruel situation.</p> + +<p>"You have a son, I think, Mr. Haydon?" began Saya Chone again, in his +purring tones.</p> + +<p>"How do you know that?" replied Thomas Haydon.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we know many things," replied the half-caste lightly. "We have +even heard of your only son, Jack Haydon."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon made no reply.</p> + +<p>"You would, I suppose, be very unwilling to see any harm happen to +him?"</p> + +<p>"Thank God!" cried Thomas Haydon fervently, "that, at any rate, is far +beyond your power. He is safe at home in England."</p> + +<p>Again the mocking laughter burst out in redoubled volume until the +rafters rang again. The Ruby King and Saya Chone enjoyed their mirth +to the full, then the half-caste sprang to his feet, and pointed with +glittering eyes and laughing face to the soft white muslin veil.</p> + +<p>"Look there! Thomas Haydon," he cried, "look there!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<h3>FATHER AND SON.</h3> + + +<p>Mr. Haydon turned his calm, steady eyes on the filmy curtain, but he +could see nothing. Then, as he gazed quietly at it, U Saw raised his +hand, and a deep booming note resounded from the gong. The full, +musical trembling of the note still rang through the room when an +unseen hand drew back the curtain, and the light of the lamps fell +full upon Jack.</p> + +<p>Thomas Haydon stood for a moment with the wild, distraught look of one +who sees a sight altogether beyond belief or reason, then he made to +spring forward. But he was chained to the Kachins who stood upon +either side of him, and two more leapt forward from their posts by the +wall to check his movements. And again the mocking laughter of his +enemies filled the room.</p> + +<p>But Thomas Haydon had neither eyes nor ears for them. He could only +stare and stare upon his son as if he found it impossible to believe +the evidence of his own sight. At last he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Jack!" he said in a tone of wonder beyond all wonder, "Jack, is it +you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack could not reply, for the gag effectually checked his utterance, +but he nodded, and his eyes spoke for him.</p> + +<p>"My son here," murmured Thomas Haydon again, and a bitter groan broke +from him. He could not restrain it; this last stroke was utterly +beyond all human endurance. When his son had been mentioned by his +unscrupulous enemy, his thoughts had flown thousands and thousands of +miles, far away from the hot, glaring East, with its mysteries and +dangers, to the cool, quiet English meadows amid which lay Rushmere +School, where his only son, as he believed, worked and played in +safety.</p> + +<p>And all the time Jack was within a few yards of him, hidden, a +prisoner, behind the muslin curtain. How he had got there, how he had +fallen into the terrible hands of U Saw, were the most insoluble of +mysteries to the elder man, and he could only stare at his son with a +white and ghastly face, for he knew only too well the character of the +men in whose power they both lay.</p> + +<p>The jeering voice of the half-caste broke out on a high note of +derision. "And is there no one among this den of thieves for whom you +care, Mr. Haydon?" he cried. "If there is not, what an unnatural +parent you must be!"</p> + +<p>A deep guttural chuckle from U Saw echoed this speech. The Ruby King +said never a word from first to last. He sat on his cushions as one +enjoying the play. His gross face was filled with an evil joy, his +small dark cunning eyes twinkled for ever with laughter at the scene +which was enacted before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> him, but he maintained, except for his +laughter, a perfect silence, and there was something terribly uncanny +and threatening about this.</p> + +<p>"Where has he come from?" asked Thomas Haydon, in a low and troubled +voice. Yes, it was Jack, bound there; he was compelled to believe his +own eyes at last. It was not an hallucination; it was a piece of +dreadful fact, and in it the elder man saw his difficulties trebled +upon the spot.</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that, he will have plenty of opportunity to tell you +himself in a short time," smiled the half-caste. "We shall shut you up +together to talk things over. In the meantime, another piece of work +demands U Saw's attention."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand and the Kachins led Thomas Haydon aside and placed +him against the farther wall. There was a shuffle of feet at the door, +and three or four natives from the village brought in a man whose +hands were bound behind his back. They were followed by at least a +score more of men and women, and for the next half hour there was a +fearful babel of tongues. As far as Jack could gather it seemed a sort +of trial, and the Ruby King acted as judge.</p> + +<p>The latter uttered never a word, all the questioning being done by +Saya Chone; but at last he opened his mouth and pronounced a verdict. +It was received with cries of joy by some, and howls of grief by one +or two women. Now the bodyguard drove the whole crowd, save the +prisoner, out of the apartment.</p> + +<p>When the uproar of the noisy horde had died<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> away in the narrow +passages, Saya Chone waved to the guards to bring Mr. Haydon forward.</p> + +<p>"Look at this man, Thomas Haydon," said the half-caste in a low, hard +voice, pointing, as he spoke, to the native; "he has killed a +neighbour; he is a murderer. Very good. U Saw has sentenced him to +death. Now I tell you that if you do not give us the information we +want, you have as surely sentenced your son to death as U Saw has +sentenced this man."</p> + +<p>He said no more: there was a far more dreadful threat in his quiet, +cool words than any violence could have shown. He waved his hand once +again, and Mr. Haydon was led away by the guards.</p> + +<p>When he had disappeared, Saya Chone turned to Jack.</p> + +<p>"You have heard what was said," he murmured. "Do not be so foolish as +to think it was spoken as a mere threat. Base all that you do or say +on that statement as a fact. There is no hope for you unless you get +your father to do as we wish."</p> + +<p>He turned away, and the Strangler at once released Jack from the chair +and removed the gag from his mouth. Next Jack was led away by a couple +of guards and conducted once more through a labyrinth of narrow, +winding passages until they halted before a door, where the Malay +unlocked and took off Jack's fetters. The door was opened, and he was +thrust into the room, his limbs once more his own.</p> + +<p>The room in which Jack now found himself was lighted by a small lamp, +and, as he entered, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> figure sprang up from a low bench. "Father!" +cried Jack, and at the next moment their hands were clasped together.</p> + +<p>"Jack, Jack," said Mr. Haydon, in a low voice which he strove to keep +steady; "where, where have you come from, and how do you come to be +here?"</p> + +<p>Jack at once plunged into his story. They sat down together on the +bench, and now Mr. Haydon learned the whole history of Jack's +adventures.</p> + +<p>"Your quest, Jack, was well and bravely undertaken," he said, when his +son had finished the story, "but these powerful and cunning rogues +have been one too many for us up to the present."</p> + +<p>"But how were you seized, father?" cried Jack, and Mr. Haydon related +his story in turn. It was short and soon told. He had gone for a walk +along the shore near Brindisi, when, in a lonely spot, he had been +attacked from behind and felled by a severe blow on the skull. This, +however, did not entirely reduce him to unconsciousness, for he had a +distinct recollection of inhaling the smell of some powerful drug +before he became insensible to everything about him.</p> + +<p>He had awakened to consciousness to find himself in a cabin of U Saw's +steam yacht, and here he had been kept the closest of prisoners on the +voyage back to Burmah and up the river. He had been put ashore by +night on some deserted part of the river bank, and then carried, by +unfrequented ways, through the jungle and across the hills to U Saw's +stronghold. In the latter place he had been kept in strict +confinement, and urged by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> threats to disclose the ruby-mine he had +discovered. Hitherto his enemies had not proceeded to torture, though +he had been daily expecting it.</p> + +<p>"And now they threaten me through you, Jack," concluded his father in +an anxious voice Jack laughed, a quiet, steady, confident laugh.</p> + +<p>"They will threaten in vain, father," he said. "We shan't give way an +inch. What do you think that half-caste said to me last thing before I +was brought here to you?" He related the speech Saya Chone had made to +him, and Mr. Haydon gave an uneasy movement of the shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "they hope that you will plead with me, Jack, to give +up the secret of the ruby-mine in order to save the pair of us."</p> + +<p>"Not likely, father," returned Jack at once. "Whatever they do to me, +mind you are not to give way on my account. We'll keep a stiff upper +lip and win through this yet."</p> + +<p>His bold, brave words cheered Mr. Haydon, and the latter eyed his +straight, strong lad with pride. But at the same time the look of deep +anxiety never left his face. He had met his enemies boldly enough face +to face with them alone, but to have Jack in their clutches too was a +terrible thing.</p> + +<p>"At any rate," burst out Jack, "it's awfully jolly to be in here with +you, and be able to talk things over. I hardly expected such luck as +this."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon made no reply, only smiled. He saw plainly enough why they +had been allowed to share the same cell. His enemies knew that the +more he talked with his frank, brave boy, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> looked into those +bright, courageous eyes, the less would he be inclined to let ill come +to Jack, the more powerful would be their hold upon him.</p> + +<p>"And was the ruby that you found such a very fine one?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"It was a most wonderful stone, Jack," replied his father. "I have +never seen one like it. Unfortunately a couple of natives, old +ruby-miners, were with me when I found it, and of course I could not +keep their tongues quiet."</p> + +<p>"These fellows went to a tremendous lot of trouble, the rascals, to +follow you up and get possession of it," remarked Jack.</p> + +<p>"They were well repaid, my boy," returned his father. "The stone is +worth a large fortune, and the greed of a man like U Saw for a +precious stone is beyond your understanding, for you do not know the +tribe."</p> + +<p>"And the mine, was that rich?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Very rich," said his father, "but it is best for us not to speak of +these matters, Jack. Walls have ears with a vengeance in these +places."</p> + +<p>Their talk now turned to the channel of their own doings while they +had been separated. For nearly twenty-four hours father and son stayed +together, and were as cheerful as the dark fate hanging over them +allowed. Then towards sunset of the day after Jack's arrival at U +Saw's stronghold, the door of the cell was opened, and the Strangler +appeared at the head of a strong guard.</p> + +<p>By signs he ordered the two prisoners to follow him. As they stepped +forward, they were placed in single file, and the guard closed round +them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> Jack and his father were now led into the courtyard, where they +saw that a larger procession was awaiting them. At the head of the +latter was placed the villager who had killed his neighbour. His hands +were bound behind his back, a loop of cord was thrown about his neck, +and he was in charge of a couple of the Kachin bodyguard.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father were placed behind this prisoner, and were now +allowed to walk side by side.</p> + +<p>At the next moment the Ruby King and Saya Chone rode forward, and took +their places at the head of the procession. They moved on, walking +their ponies quietly, and the line of men on foot at once marched +after them.</p> + +<p>Neither Jack nor Mr. Haydon was bound. They were entirely free except +for the Kachins who marched on either side and kept a wary eye on +their movements.</p> + +<p>"After all," thought Jack sadly to himself. "What need is there to +bind us? Suppose I broke loose now and ran? Even if I got away from +these fellows, where could I go to? The whole valley is a prison just +as sure as the stone walls we have left behind for the moment."</p> + +<p>But scarce two minutes had passed before Jack had burst from the guard +and was running at his fleetest. It happened in this way. They filed +out of the courtyard and along a broad, ill-kept, dusty road passing +the village.</p> + +<p>Near the first houses of the village, a woman sprang out of the crowd +which was waiting to see the procession pass. She rushed forward, an +infant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> in her arms, and flung herself on the ground before the ponies +ridden by the Ruby King and the half-caste. Holding the infant out at +the fullest reach of her arms, she lay in their path, and poured out a +string of loud, supplicating cries. Jack knew not a word she said, but +he understood very well that the wife and child of the doomed man were +before him.</p> + +<p>He looked to see the riders pause upon witnessing this spectacle of +wretched despair. Then, with a start of horror, he saw that they were +intending, in cold-blooded fashion, to trample mother and child +beneath the hoofs of the animals which bore them. The woman had +stretched herself out so that her body was in front of the +half-caste's pony, her infant in front of that of the Ruby King. Saya +Chone's pony was more merciful than the flinty-hearted wretch who +bestrode it. It started back, reared, shied, refused absolutely to +step forward upon the unhappy woman. The Ruby King uttered a brutal +laugh, and urged his own animal on.</p> + +<p>The latter beast went forward willingly, and was within a stride of +placing its fore feet on the little brown, naked body, when Jack gave +a sharp cry of horror and darted forward. Several of the bodyguard +sprang after him, but they might as well have leapt after a deer. Jack +raced forward, flew between the ponies, and caught the child from the +ground. At the same instant three or four of the villagers ran to the +spot, lifted the woman, and dragged her away. One of them took the +child from Jack and put it in her arms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_6" id="Pic_6"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_007.jpg" width="450" height="621" alt="THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD." title="THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD.</span> +</div> + +<p>Now the guards came up, seized Jack, and hustled him back to his place +in the procession.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Jack," said his father quietly. "You were just in the nick +of time. Another second and U Saw's pony would have trampled the life +out of the poor little mite."</p> + +<p>"Really, he would have done it," breathed Jack incredulously. "Even +after cutting in and picking it up, I can hardly believe it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he'd have done it, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon drily. "You +will find out, Jack, that these people hold human life very cheaply, +and human suffering cheaper still."</p> + +<p>The Ruby King and the half-caste had taken no notice of Jack's action +save to laugh derisively, and now the procession moved forward once +more. They went about a couple of miles, and halted on the edge of a +steep descent which ran down to a broad swamp. It wanted now about +half an hour to sunset. At the foot of the descent, on the edge of the +swamp, a cross had been raised. Jack's blood ran cold within him. What +awful sight were they now to see? Were these monsters about to crucify +the condemned man?</p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<h3>THE HORROR IN THE SWAMP.</h3> + + +<p>He breathed more freely when he saw that the men who led the villager +forward had coils of rope in their hands and nothing else. In a trice +the man was bound to the cross, his arms at full length, his body +firmly lashed to the upright.</p> + +<p>The half-caste now beckoned to Jack.</p> + +<p>"Come down the slope," said Saya Chone. "I want you to look at this +man now. You will see him again in the morning. Perhaps you will find +it useful to note the difference."</p> + +<p>Jack was led down the descent and brought face to face with the +native. The English lad saw at once that the man bound to the cross +was stupefied with an extremity of terror. His brown skin was a +frightful ashen shade, his eyes were wide, distended with horror, and +fixed on the swamp, his mouth open, his jaw hanging limp.</p> + +<p>"You will see him again in the morning," repeated the half-caste; "and +you will see, I assure you, another kind of man."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, "after you have practised your brutal devilries on +him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, no, oh no," laughed Saya Chone in his soft, cunning tones. "We +shall do no more to him. His whole punishment consists in remaining +here in bonds from sunset to sunrise. Then we shall loose the ropes, +and he will be free."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack, who thought now that he saw daylight, "with every +vein full of the fever and malaria that haunt this swamp."</p> + +<p>"Fever," laughed Saya Chone, "this fellow is absolutely safe against +fever. You could no more give him jungle fever than you could make him +ten feet high. A night here would give you a fever that would kill you +in ten days, never him."</p> + +<p>Jack was puzzled once more, and said nothing. He resolved to ask his +father what it all meant.</p> + +<p>But he soon found that this chance was not to be afforded him. He was +led back up the rise, and placed at some distance from the spot where +his father stood. He saw his father taken down the slope and +confronted with the condemned native, then brought back. At once the +procession was reformed. Jack was placed at the head, his father at +the rear, and they were not allowed to exchange a word.</p> + +<p>Jack's heart sank a little. Did this mean that they were to be +separated? It did. When the great house was once more gained, Jack was +shut up by himself in a room which he had not seen before, and there +he spent the night.</p> + +<p>The sun had been up a couple of hours next morning before Jack heard +the sound of any movement outside his cell. Then there was a rattle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +of creaking bolts and the door was flung open. Saya Chone stood in the +doorway with the usual band of blue-kilted and well-armed Kachins.</p> + +<p>He did not speak, only beckoned with his hand, his malicious eyes lit +up with their usual evil grin. Nor did he speak throughout the +subsequent journey when Jack was led over the track he had followed +the night before. Jack looked round for his father, but no sign of Mr. +Haydon was to be seen. The half-caste ambled ahead on a pony, Jack and +four of U Saw's retainers followed behind, and that was the whole of +the party.</p> + +<p>As they approached the edge of the declivity which ran down towards +the swamp, the sound of a loud, measured voice came through the air.</p> + +<p>Saya Chone started, touched his pony with his heel, and cantered +forward. Then he dropped back to his former pace as they cleared a +patch of bamboo and saw the origin of the sound. On the edge of the +slope stood a man dressed something like a monk. His head was close +shaven, and he carried a large yellow parasol through which the +sunlight poured, and made his polished skull shine like gold. He +carried a large basket on a pole slung over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Jack had seen such a figure before, and Buck had told him all about +it. It was a <i>pothoodaw</i>, a man who, without belonging to the order of +regular monks, still leads a life of prayer and pious works. The holy +man had paused on the edge of the slope to recite his prayers, moved +doubtless thereto by the sight of the condemned man below. Now, as the +little procession arrived, he swung up his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> basket and moved away +without a glance at them.</p> + +<p>Nor, save for Jack, was a glance cast at him. A <i>pothoodaw</i> is a +familiar sight in every corner of the country, and his wanderings from +place to place take him to every nook, however desert or solitary.</p> + +<p>Jack, too, soon had eyes for something beside the holy man. They +reached the edge of the slope. Saya Chone turned with a grin and spoke +to one of the Kachins. The latter at once whipped off his turban, +unrolled it and folded it over Jack's eyes, and so the latter was led +down the slope.</p> + +<p>"Now you can look," said a mocking voice, and the turban was whipped +aside.</p> + +<p>Jack gave a cry of horror. He could not help it. He had meant to +restrain all signs of feeling, but this was too much. He had been +placed so that he stood almost breast to breast with the most dreadful +and grisly horror that the mind of man could conceive. He looked upon +the horrible, dry, shrivelled mummy of something which had been a man. +The shape of the villager hung there in the bonds, but it was a mere +framework of bones, upon which hung wrinkled brown folds of shrivelled +skin. The haunting terror of the vision was beyond all description.</p> + +<p>Jack tried to speak, to ask what had done this fearful thing. But his +dried tongue refused its office; it clung to the roof of his mouth.</p> + +<p>The half-caste at his shoulder now broke into a chuckling laugh.</p> + +<p>"He looks pretty, does he not?" said Saya Chone. "And you see nothing +has happened but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> what I said. He has been tied here all night." He +was silent for a few moments in order to let the awful sight sink +deeply into Jack's mind, then he went on. "You are puzzled. I can see +it in your face. What has happened to him? I will tell you. You now +see what a man looks like when <i>every single drop of blood has been +sucked out of his body</i>."</p> + +<p>The half-caste paused a little, then laughed gaily. "It is having a +better effect on you than I should have hoped for, my young friend. +You look sick with horror. But even through your disgust I see a +glimmer of wonder as to the manner in which it is done. Simply enough, +I assure you. This swamp is famous throughout the valley for the +immense size and virulence of the mosquitoes which breed in it. With +the fall of dusk they pour from its recesses in vast swarms, and +fasten on man or beast or any creature into whose skin they may drive +their stings, and from whose body they may suck its blood. Here has +been a feast royal for them."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand towards the dry, rattling, shrivelled remnants of +humanity, fastened to the cross, and Jack understood the awful, the +sickening cruelty of this exquisite torture.</p> + +<p>"It is a slow death, but terribly sure," went on the half-caste. "As +one gorged horde drop off, be certain that a thousand hungry swarms +hover round, eager to fill the empty places, and taste also of the +feast. Think of it to-day, think of it well."</p> + +<p>He waved his hand and the Kachins marched away up the hill, leading +Jack with them. The road back to the great house was taken in +silence,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> and Jack was thrust once more into his solitary cell. There +he spent the whole day alone, not seeing even those who thrust his +dish of meat and rice through a small trap in the door.</p> + +<p>The afternoon had worn far on, and he was sitting on his bench deep in +thought. He had striven to keep out of his mind the spectacle he had +seen that morning, but the impression it had produced upon him was one +of such terrible power that it was before his eyes at every moment. +What did it threaten to them, to his father and himself? His mind +recoiled before the idea.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, without a sound, the door of his cell swung back, and there +was a swift rush of naked feet on the floor. Four of the guard were +upon Jack before he could lift a finger, and at the next moment his +hands were bound behind him, and his ankles fastened together with a +rope which permitted him to walk with fair ease, but gave him no +freedom to do aught beside take short steps. Within five minutes again +he was in a procession such as he had walked in the night before.</p> + +<p>In front once more rode Saya Chone and the Ruby King. The latter rode +on a fine white pony, and was attended by a couple of retainers, one +of whom held a huge scarlet umbrella above U Saw's head, and the other +carried his betel-box of solid silver. Jack turned his head, and saw +at first no sign of his father, but when they had gone about half a +mile, he looked back and saw his father's tall figure, conspicuous +among the short, sturdy Kachins who guarded him, among a group now +setting out from the gate.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span></p> + +<p>This order of the march was kept until they reached the edge of the +slope. Down this Jack was hurried, and now saw a sight which filled +him with the gloomiest of fears. The villager still hung in his bonds, +and two yards in front of the cross to which he was bound stood two +similar crosses, each surrounded with a framework of strong cane.</p> + +<p>Jack stiffened himself for a struggle against the horrible fate which +menaced him, but his struggles were all in vain. His enemies, small +perhaps, but many, and with muscles of iron, had him strung up to the +cross in a trice, and here he was gagged, after he had been bound +securely.</p> + +<p>In a few moments he saw his father bound in like fashion, and then, to +his surprise, he saw a couple of men swiftly and thoroughly cover the +framework of cane around each cross with strong mosquito-netting.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" thought Jack. "Are they only putting us here to +terrify us? The mosquitoes cannot get at us through this netting." But +at the next moment he learned that this was but a trick to prolong +their agony, and cause them to endure an extremity of mental suffering +which the villager had never known. Saya Chone, as ever, was the +spokesman of his master's will.</p> + +<p>"You will be safe under these nettings until these cords are pulled," +he said. Jack and Mr. Haydon looked to the ground whither the +half-caste pointed. There they saw a couple of stout cords, one +fastened at the corner of each mosquito-net.</p> + +<p>"A sharp tug at the cord will displace the nets,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> went on Saya Chone. +"But you will have a chance to save your skins before that is done. In +any case, the first cord will not be pulled until an hour after +sunset. Then," went on the half-caste, addressing himself to Mr. +Haydon, "this is the cord which will be pulled," and he pointed to the +cord fastened to Jack's net. Mr. Haydon ground his teeth. "If you +don't want it pulled," purred Saya Chone softly, "you know what you +have to do, a few words, nothing more. An hour later the other cord +will be pulled, and you will be left for the night. On the other hand, +if you wish for release, you have only to shout that you will tell us, +and a dozen men will rush down with torches and smoking green boughs +to beat aside the mosquitoes, and bring you out in safety. I myself +shall remain under shelter and within earshot."</p> + +<p>Without another word he turned and marched up the slope. The +attendants had already retired, and within a few moments the edge of +the swamp was empty save for the prisoners and the dead villager.</p> + +<p>Jack closed his eyes. He and his father were so placed that straight +before them, almost at arm's length, was the horrible, shrivelled +figure which was so dreadful a pledge of the terrible powers which +lurked within the dismal swamp behind them.</p> + +<p>Jack now heard his father begin to speak. "I see you are gagged, +Jack," said Mr. Haydon. "It is a compliment to your staunchness, my +poor boy, if nothing else. Had they fancied there was the least chance +of your showing the white feather,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> they would have left you your +powers of speech, that you might beg for release. This is a frightful +position. I have been expecting some cunning device, but this is awful +beyond what I could have dreamed of."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE POTHOODAW.</h3> + + +<p>Jack could make no answer. Mr. Haydon now remained silent, and his +brow was knitted in deep thought as he turned their cruel situation +over and over, yet saw no hope of release for his son save in +betraying the secrets of those who employed him, secrets he was in +honour bound not to disclose.</p> + +<p>The sun sank swiftly. Before it had disappeared Jack saw swarms of the +dreaded mosquitoes begin to thicken in the air, like flights of gnats +on a summer evening in England. The swift tropic dark swept over swamp +and hill-side, and almost at once the framework which covered each of +the captives was literally hidden with the vast masses of the venomous +insects, which knew that a fresh prey awaited them within.</p> + +<p>It did not need sight to tell the prisoners that an incalculable +number of their tiny but deadly enemies awaited the moment when the +nets would be drawn aside, the sense of hearing told them only too +clearly. The air was filled with a steady hum caused by the beating of +myriads upon myriads of tiny wings.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack shuddered. He had already been bitten severely by mosquitoes when +they had invaded a camp in their dozens and scores, and he had been +free to defend himself, but what hideous torture would lie in that +moment when they would be exposed to the onslaught of these +innumerable swarms, and be unable to move a finger to disturb them at +their dreadful feast upon the life-blood of their victims.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father had spent half an hour in silence, when a yellow +glow brightened over the swamp, and presently the moon came up and +cast a strong light over the scene. Now Jack saw the mosquitoes. They +hovered in vast clouds around and above the netting, they hung in huge +festoons from every fold, from every corner, from every point of +vantage where foothold could be gained. It had seemed incredible to +him at first that such tiny creatures could drain the body of a man of +every drop of blood, but now that eye and ear together assured him of +the vast number of their swarming myriads, he wondered no longer.</p> + +<p>He was still staring at them when there was a flare on the edge of the +slope above. He glanced up and saw a couple of men in the moonlight. +They bore burning green branches, and waved them to and fro to keep +off the clouds of mosquitoes which danced about them. From the midst +of the smoke came a voice. "In ten minutes more the first hour will +have gone and the first cord will be pulled."</p> + +<p>It was the voice of Saya Chone, and he added<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> no word to that brief +message. He and his attendant withdrew, and the prisoners were left in +silence to stare at the horrible death which now hung with terrible +nearness over the head of Jack.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon gave a deep groan.</p> + +<p>"This is too dreadful, Jack," he said, in a low, shaking voice. "I see +they mean it. There can be no possible doubt of that now." Then +suddenly the note of his voice changed. It became tense, vibrating, +eager. "What's that?" he said, and again, "What's that?" and fell +silent.</p> + +<p>Jack turned his head and saw what his father meant. Twenty yards to +their right a large patch of reeds grew on the edge of the swamp. From +the reeds the figure of a man was slowly creeping towards them. +Swathed from head to foot in folds of thick white linen, to defend +himself from the bites of the venomous mosquitoes, the man was working +his way inch by inch along the ground.</p> + +<p>Jack watched the stranger's progress with deep and burning interest. +Surely he came as a friend! The bitterest enemy could not come to make +their situation worse than it was at present.</p> + +<p>With a last swift wriggle the creeping figure was at the foot of the +net which shrouded Jack. The latter looked down and saw that the man +was literally covered from head to foot with masses of the swarming +insects. Then, with wonderful dexterity, the newcomer jerked aside the +insects which were massed upon him, raised the lower edge of the net, +and shot with a swift, sinuous movement inside.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> + +<p>As he sprang to his feet, his linen wrapper fell aside, and, to his +great astonishment, Jack saw the bald shaven head of the <i>pothoodaw</i> +flash up into the moonlight. Then the holy man smiled, and Jack knew +the cheerful grin. His heart leapt for joy. It was Me Dain, the Burman +guide. Out gleamed a keen knife, half-a-dozen rapid cuts were +delivered, and Jack's bonds, gag and all, hung in shreds about him. +Jack caught a fervent, grateful whisper from the neighbouring +framework.</p> + +<p>"Thank God! a friend, a friend!" Mr. Haydon breathed in a tone of +intense relief.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" breathed Me Dain in Jack's ear, and was gone. The Burman +wrapped himself again in his linen shield, wormed his way across to +the framework where Mr. Haydon was a captive, and cut him free in an +instant.</p> + +<p>"Me Dain!" Jack caught the whisper from his father, and knew that the +latter had recognised his old guide. A few whispered words passed +between the Burman and Mr. Haydon, then the latter whispered across to +his son: "Wrap your coat round your head, Jack, to keep these venomous +little brutes off as much as possible, then follow us."</p> + +<p>Jack whipped off his Norfolk tunic and folded it about his head, +leaving himself a peep-hole to watch the guide. He did as he saw them +do. He dropped to the ground, wriggled under the net, then sprang to +his feet and hurried beside his father, following Me Dain, who led the +way back to the patch of reeds whence he had crept. Skirting the reeds +he raced at full speed along the edge of the swamp,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> keeping at the +foot of the slope which ran down to the marsh, but heading away from +the spot where Saya Chone and his attendant Kachins were posted.</p> + +<p>The torture of that journey through the swamp was a thing which Jack +never forgot. The mosquitoes worked their way into every crevice of +the tunic he had folded about his head. They crept into his hair, down +his neck, and swarmed over his face through the breathing hole he was +compelled to leave open in front of it. The pain of their sting was +such that he had to set his teeth to keep back a growl of malediction +upon their evil fangs. Every venomous little wretch seemed to carry a +red-hot needle which it thrust joyfully into the soft flesh wherever +it happened to alight.</p> + +<p>At last, after three hundred yards of silent scurry through this +pestilential tract, they struck hard ground, and went at full speed up +the hill-side for open country and purer air. Still following Me Dain, +who pushed on as fast as he could go, Jack and his father plunged into +a bamboo groove, and followed a narrow path. This brought them in a +few minutes to a small clearing, where the Burman paused, and all were +glad of an opportunity to draw breath, and knock off the mosquitoes +which still clung to them.</p> + +<p>Jack sprang forward and seized the guide by the hand.</p> + +<p>"Me Dain," he cried, "wherever have you sprung from to lend us a hand +in this fashion, just in the nick of time?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," said Mr. Haydon, "just at the moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> of our hardest trial +and greatest danger. Me Dain, old fellow, we are enormously indebted +to you."</p> + +<p>Father and son shook hands with the Burman and thanked him over and +over again, and Me Dain grinned all over his broad, pleasant face.</p> + +<p>"Better get on," he said, "Saya Chone not far away yet."</p> + +<p>These words recalled the fugitives to a sense of the great danger in +which they stood as long as U Saw's valley still held them, and they +hastened to follow Me Dain, who was now walking briskly forward. +Twenty minutes of swift and silent progress brought them to a native +hut in a little clearing.</p> + +<p>"Here you must stay for a time," said the Burman.</p> + +<p>"But will it be safe, Me Dain?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "Whoever lives +here must belong body and soul to U Saw. We shall be informed upon at +once."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the Burman emphatically, "not by this woman. She tell +nothing. She help you all she can. She is the wife of the man who was +killed in the swamp. The young sahib save her child. She never forget +that. Oh, no, I settle with her to-night. She keep you safe."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon said no more, and all three crept under cover of a patch of +plantains to the shelter of the broad eaves of the thatch of reeds +which covered the dwelling. Here they found that a hole had been made +in the cane walls, and they crept into the house, thus avoiding the +entrance by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> door, which faced another house at some little +distance away.</p> + +<p>Inside the place they found no one but the woman and her child. She +came forward and <i>shekoed</i> again and again, and Mr. Haydon, who had a +fair knowledge of the language of the country, spoke to her and +thanked her for the refuge which she offered to them.</p> + +<p>At one end of the cottage there was a rude loft of logs where the +little household had stored their stock of rice and other necessaries +when the time of harvest came. The loft was now partly empty, and at +its farther end there was plenty of room for two men to lie in hiding +behind a row of tall earthen jars in which the paddy was stored after +threshing.</p> + +<p>In this place of safety Me Dain bestowed them, assuring them that no +one ever went to the loft save the woman herself, and that he must be +off at once to show himself at the local monastery in his character of +<i>pothoodaw</i>, and so avert all suspicion that he had been concerned in +the escape.</p> + +<p>"The monks give me a room," said Me Dain. "I jump through the window, +and jump back. No one knows then that I leave it. Must be careful. U +Saw and Saya Chone, both bad men, very bad men."</p> + +<p>We must now return to that very bad man Saya Chone, who was also about +to be a very disappointed and furious one. On the stroke of the hour +he reappeared at the brink of the slope, just after the fugitives had +vanished round the patch of reeds. Had they not muffled their heads +they would have heard his call to Mr. Haydon. Had he not been thickly +surrounded by the smoke of the green<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> boughs which partly kept off the +clouds of venomous assailants, he would have seen that the frameworks +were empty in the moonlight. But such an idea as that his victims +could escape never for an instant came into his mind. The whole +neighbourhood was under the thumb of his brutal lord, and he knew that +no one would interfere to save a friend from U Saw's hand, much less a +pair of strangers and foreigners.</p> + +<p>Thrice he shouted his threats and warnings to the empty cages, and he +judged that the silence meant stubborn resolution not to be conquered. +Then, with his own hand, he pulled the cord which should have stripped +the net from Jack.</p> + +<p>"Now the father will give way," thought the half-caste, and strained +his ears to catch a sound of yielding from Thomas Haydon.</p> + +<p>When never a sound was heard, the half-caste played what he thought +would be his trump card. He ordered a Kachin to dart down, and cut the +gag loose from Jack's mouth. Saya Chone counted for certain that the +son's moans of agony would be too much for the father to stand, and +that the latter would give way. But in an instant the nimble blue-kilt +was back, his face full of a surprise beyond description.</p> + +<p>"The white men have gone," he gasped.</p> + +<p>"Gone!" screamed Saya Chone, and he rushed down the slope waving a +smoking bough about his head. A glance at the prisons told him that +the man's words were true, and for a second he stared in stupefied +amazement at the severed bonds before he rushed back up the slope. He +ran at full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> speed to the place where U Saw was placidly chewing betel +and waiting the upshot of the affair. The Ruby King was fearfully +incensed at the idea that anyone had dared to meddle with the +prisoners, and both he and the half-caste breathed the most furious +threats of torture and death against all concerned in the affair. That +they would re-capture Jack and his father they did not doubt for an +instant. The fugitives must be somewhere in the valley, and within an +hour they had a hundred men threading every path and searching every +corner of the vale.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<h3>THE HIDING-PLACE AND THE THIEF.</h3> + + +<p>Jack and his father spent the night safely stowed behind the great +earthen jars on the loft. Stretched out on a heap of soft, dried +grass, they slept and watched in turns, for it was not safe for both +to go to sleep at once.</p> + +<p>At break of day the woman brought them a meal, and they ate and drank, +and Jack gave her a few rupees. A couple of hours after dawn they +heard a movement below and saw a sight which they welcomed gladly. The +loft stood upon a dozen wooden supports raised six or seven feet from +the ground. It had no window, but, upon moving the dried grass aside, +they could peep through the chinks in the floor of logs. Peering +cautiously down, they saw a yellow umbrella, and presently that was +laid aside as the <i>pothoodaw</i> seated himself in shade of the loft and +began busily to recite his prayers.</p> + +<p>When these were ended he sat to all appearance absorbed in profound +meditation. But had anyone been near enough, they would have found +that a busy whispered conversation was going on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> between the +<i>pothoodaw</i> and those hidden in the loft above his head.</p> + +<p>For half an hour the holy man sat there, then went his way. But in +that time Jack and his father had learned much of deep interest to +them. Me Dain told them that Buck and Jim Dent were now camped in a +lonely place among the hills near upon twenty miles away, awaiting the +Burman's return. The latter had been sent in disguise to U Saw's +village to pick up what information he could, and had only just +arrived when Jack saw him on the edge of the slope above the swamp. He +told them he would stay in the neighbourhood and watch for a +favourable moment to make a start for the camp where their friends +awaited them.</p> + +<p>For two days the fugitives lay in hiding under the care of the native +woman and in perfect safety. They proved once more the truth of the +old adage that "the nearer to danger the nearer to safety." U Saw and +Saya Chone urged the pursuit with the most savage eagerness. They +searched every corner of the great swamp, every cane-brake, every +patch of forest, every nook, and every corner. They had a cordon of +sentinels drawn round the valley, patrolling day and night, so that no +one could slip through their hands. But it never occurred to them for +an instant to search a cottage lying almost beneath the walls of the +Ruby King's stronghold, a hut so slight that it seemed incapable of +concealing anything.</p> + +<p>Another piece of luck greatly befriended them.</p> + +<p>On the day that they were tied up at the edge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> of the swamp, one of U +Saw's retainers had been cruelly flogged for some misdemeanour. The +man had deserted the same night, and was never heard of again. The +idea at once got abroad that it was he who had released the prisoners +in order to spite the Ruby King, and had guided them out of the +country.</p> + +<p>Then, on the third night, the luck of the Haydons came to an end, and +their hiding-place was hit upon in a very odd fashion, a fashion which +could not have been foreseen or guarded against. It was about +midnight, and Jack had the watch, for one or other stood on guard all +the time. He sat with his back against a great post which ran from +ground to ridge-pole, and, without the least warning, he felt that it +was shaking very slightly.</p> + +<p>In an instant Jack was on the alert. He could not hear the faintest +sound, but the post still trembled, and Jack felt certain that +something or someone was climbing up it. In a few moments he was +certain of this, for he heard faint rustlings on the reed roof as if +someone was moving about. He stretched out his hand and shook his +father gently. Mr. Haydon woke at once. He made no sound, only shook +Jack's arm in return to let his son know that he was on the alert.</p> + +<p>The rustling on the roof grew a little louder. The thatch was being +torn aside, but so cautiously, so cleverly, that the two watching +below could only catch the sound by listening intently. Suddenly the +stars flashed upon them. A hole had already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> been made above them, and +in this hole they saw the head of a native against the sky.</p> + +<p>They remained perfectly still and silent, and watched the hole grow. +Silently, deftly, the midnight marauder plucked handful after handful +of the reed thatch away and enlarged the opening. Both of those below +who watched him, had grasped by this time what it all meant. This was +no man in the pay of U Saw, who suspected a hiding-place; it was just +a common thief, pure and simple, who had an eye to nothing save the +widow's paddy. Believing that she was alone and defenceless in the +house, he had come to plunder her loft.</p> + +<p>But, whatever his motive, the risk to the Haydons remained the same. +In another moment he would drop among them and infallibly discover +their presence. Then his outcries would arouse the village and their +capture would be certain.</p> + +<p>Very, very slowly the thief slipped his legs in at the hole, which was +now big enough to admit him, and began to slide downwards. As Jack +watched the rogue gently drop upon them, he felt for a second his +father's hand laid upon his throat, and he understood; the man was to +be seized and choked into silence; nothing else remained for them to +do.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch the rascal slipped down. So cunning was he that he made +less noise than a mouse moving among the dried grass, and, without +doubt, he thought that he was carrying out his raid finely, and would +make the widow's store of rice smart for it.</p> + +<p>The thief loosed his hold upon the rafter of the roof<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> by which he +hung, and his long, slender, naked body, bare but for his waist-cloth, +dropped as a great snake might drop between Jack and his father. Mr. +Haydon made one clutch, and closed his fingers in a tremendous +throttling grip about the rogue's neck. Jack caught him by the arms.</p> + +<p>A most extraordinary struggle followed. The fellow was like an eel, +and it proved a task of the greatest difficulty to hold him and keep +him from getting loose and raising a disturbance. He was like an eel +not only in his marvellous agility, his twists, his feints, his +wriggling, but in his actual bodily slipperiness. The cunning rascal +had smeared his naked body from head to foot with oil, so that, if +seized, he could the more easily wriggle out of the hands of his +captors.</p> + +<p>How clever a device this was Jack learned to his great surprise. The +arms he seized were whipped out of his clutch as if he was trying to +lay hold of quicksilver. He grabbed something which proved to be a +leg. A swift jerk, and his fingers slipped off the greasy limb. +Finally he settled the matter by throwing both arms round the slim, +bare waist, and closing upon the rogue with a bear's hug which drove +the breath out of the thief's body.</p> + +<p>Together they threw the man upon the dried grass, and Mr. Haydon, who +had made his hold good by locking his fingers about the fellow's +windpipe, now eased his grip a little so that the man could breathe.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a light flashed upon this scene of fierce but silent +struggle. The woman herself had been aroused from her couch in the +room below, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> lighted a small lamp, and climbed the rude steps to +the loft.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_7" id="Pic_7"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_008.jpg" width="450" height="680" alt="THE MIDNIGHT THIEF." title="THE MIDNIGHT THIEF." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE MIDNIGHT THIEF.</span> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Haydon turned his head, saw her, and snapped out a single word. +She set down her lamp, disappeared, and was back in an instant with a +long strip of cloth in her hand. Mr. Haydon took this, and soon +whipped a gag round the mouth of the intruder, while Jack held him +down. In response to another whispered request of Mr. Haydon's, the +woman fetched a length of cord, and in two minutes the thief was bound +hand and foot. Then father and son got up and stood looking down at +their captive, who stared sullenly up at them from his dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"If this isn't a confounded fix," murmured Mr. Haydon. "Why should +this thieving rogue choose us to drop in on, of all people?"</p> + +<p>"The unprotected house drew him, I expect," replied Jack.</p> + +<p>"Ah, true," returned his father. "I wonder, though, if he had any +accomplices."</p> + +<p>He turned and spoke to the woman, and she at once blew out the lamp.</p> + +<p>"The light in any case is dangerous as likely to attract attention," +whispered Mr. Haydon. "Now, listen."</p> + +<p>They listened intently for some time, but there was not the faintest +sound of any movement in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"I hope to goodness this rascal was working by himself," went on Mr. +Haydon, "and no one knew what he was about. We don't want a companion +peering in to see what has happened to him."</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What under the sun are we going to do with him, father?" whispered +Jack.</p> + +<p>"We must leave him tied up here and run for it," replied Mr. Haydon. +"I see nothing else that we can do."</p> + +<p>"Nor I," replied Jack; "and the sooner we march the better. We don't +know that there was not someone outside to help him carry off the +spoil, and the accomplice may have learned of our presence."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Jack," said his father.</p> + +<p>"But there is Me Dain, we must pick him up," pursued Jack. "Without +him we do not know where to strike. How can we get hold of him?"</p> + +<p>"The woman will be of service there," said his father. "She is our +only hope."</p> + +<p>He spoke with the native woman for a few moments, then gave a whistle +of satisfaction below his breath.</p> + +<p>"She knows where he is lodging, and thinks she can rouse him without +disturbing anyone else," whispered Mr. Haydon; "at any rate, she is +going to try."</p> + +<p>The woman shuffled down the steps, and was gone in an instant.</p> + +<p>"We may as well go down and be ready for a move," murmured Mr. Haydon, +"but we'll try this chap's knots first."</p> + +<p>They examined the bound thief, and made certain that he could not +easily shuffle out of his bonds, then they went down to the main room +of the hut and posted themselves near the door.</p> + +<p>The time they waited seemed never-ending. In<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> reality it was not more +than twenty minutes. But when they feared that every sound would see +an alarm raised upon them and their escape hopelessly cut off, every +minute seemed an hour.</p> + +<p>Jack had his eye at a huge crack in the door, and to his immense +relief he made out at last a couple of figures approaching the house +under the dim shade of the trees.</p> + +<p>"Here they are," he breathed. "She's brought it off all right. I can +make out Me Dain."</p> + +<p>Two seconds later the Burman shot into the hut with a stealthy, +noiseless glide.</p> + +<p>"Come on," he said. "Not stop at all. She tell me everything."</p> + +<p>Away they went at once, Me Dain leading the way, with Jack and his +father close behind. The Burman dodged round the corner of the hut, +and struck at once into a hard well-trodden path which was at once +swallowed up in the thick shade of a close-set grove of bamboos. It +was a path leading to a pagoda much frequented by the villagers, and +would show no sign by which they might be tracked on the morrow. Me +Dain had made himself familiar with the ins and outs of the place, and +he marched forward with a swift and assured step. Luckily, the hut +stood right on the outskirts of the village, and in a few moments they +were out of sight of any house, and when they turned aside from the +path to the pagoda they soon left behind all sign of human presence.</p> + +<p>As they crossed a little clearing, Jack thought he heard a soft +footfall in their rear. He turned, and saw, to his surprise, that the +native woman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> was a short distance behind them, with her child in her +arms.</p> + +<p>"Why," said Jack, "the woman of the hut is following us."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Me Dain. "She must come, sahib. If U Saw catch her, he +burn her alive for hiding you."</p> + +<p>"Likely enough, the unspeakable brute," murmured Mr. Haydon. "We must +put the poor woman in a place of safety, Me Dain. We owe her a great +deal."</p> + +<p>"She not want to stop in that place, anyhow, sahib," replied the +Burman. "She belong to a village over the hills. She want to go back, +now her husband is dead."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very good," said Mr. Haydon. "We'll put her right if we have the +chance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Jack. "She's been a good staunch friend to us, the +same as you, Me Dain."</p> + +<p>"Very true, Jack," said Mr. Haydon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE FLIGHT FROM THE VALLEY.</h3> + + +<p>They now went a couple of miles in silence, keeping a sharp look-out +on every hand. But they gained the foot of the hills which encircled +the valley without seeing or hearing anything which might promise +danger.</p> + +<p>With Me Dain still in the van, they climbed steadily up a steep slope +and over a rocky saddle between two peaks which lifted sharp points +against the starry sky.</p> + +<p>As they gained the saddle, Jack whispered sharply: "Stop, Me Dain, +what's this? I smell something."</p> + +<p>"Me too," said the Burman, snuffing cautiously. "There is a fire +somewhere ahead."</p> + +<p>"A fire," said Mr. Haydon. "We must take care. Who have lighted it, +and what are they doing in a lonely spot like this?"</p> + +<p>A dozen steps again and the questions were answered. They cleared a +little ridge and saw, two or three hundred yards ahead, a great +glowing patch of red where a big fire blazed up, and figures moved to +and fro about it.</p> + +<p>"A watch-fire," said Jack. "We'd better dodge back. Luckily they're up +wind."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> + +<p>The fugitives retreated until the fire was hidden from their view by a +great rock, then put their heads closely together to whisper to each +other.</p> + +<p>"Watchmen," said Me Dain; "they are watchmen keeping guard over the +path which runs out of the valley towards the hills."</p> + +<p>"Then those cunning villains have set a watch over every road," +murmured Mr. Haydon. "Do you know of any way to get out without +following a path, Me Dain, any way by which we can clamber over the +hills?"</p> + +<p>"No, sahib, I do not," replied the Burman; "but here is the woman who +has lived ten years in the valley. I will ask her."</p> + +<p>For a couple of minutes Me Dain and the native woman held a whispered +conversation, then the Burman breathed a deep sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>"She can take us out of the valley, sahibs. She can lead us by a way, +very rough and hard to follow, but very little used, where they would +not trouble to set a guard. But we cannot follow it in the darkness. +She will take us to the mouth of the pass, and there we must wait for +daylight."</p> + +<p>"Good, good," said Jack in a cheerful whisper, "we'll dodge these +fellows after all. What luck that the woman marched with us!"</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a fierce yelping and +snarling broke out not forty yards away, and the sound swiftly +approached them.</p> + +<p>"Confound it all, a dog, a dog!" growled Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>In another instant the animal was leaping and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> bounding within two or +three yards of them, snarling savagely, and then making the hill-side +ring with its piercing barks. It belonged to one of the guards, and +had been prowling about in search of food when it caught the scent of +the fugitives.</p> + +<p>"This way, this way, sahibs," cried Me Dain in low, eager tones. +"Quick, quick, the men sure to come to see why the dog make a noise."</p> + +<p>"Sure to, for a certainty," groaned Mr. Haydon. "Well, we must run for +it."</p> + +<p>Away they hurried as fast as the darkness would permit, and the +wretched cur hung on their heels, yelping and barking without pause, +and thus guiding the guards straight to their prey.</p> + +<p>"We must stop this brute's mouth or we are utterly done for," said +Jack. At that instant he stumbled over a large stone. He bent, picked +it up, and turned round. Four or five yards behind them, and plainly +to be marked by its eyes shining green in the darkness, was the dog, +which, by its mere power of drawing enemies upon them, was, at the +moment, the most terrible enemy of all.</p> + +<p>For a second Jack hung on his aim, the heavy stone poised high in his +right hand. Then he hurled it with all his force. Crash! He heard the +missile strike the brute with a heavy thud. The dog gave one last +frightful yelp of pain, then dropped and lay silent Whether the beast +was dead or only stunned Jack did not know, nor did he care. He knew +that he had silenced the miserable cur, and that was all he wished.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>Enough harm had been done already. A bunch of dancing lights now shot +into view, and he saw them borne swiftly on. The watchmen, carrying +torches, were running to the spot where the dog had given the alarm.</p> + +<p>Jack now caught up his friends with a few swift strides, and all the +party hurried on, the woman leading the way and guiding them.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Jack," murmured his father. "Well done, my lad. If you +hadn't put a stop to that brute's yelping, he'd have brought those +fellows on us as straight as they could run. Now they've got to look +for us in the dark, and that's a very different affair."</p> + +<p>"Do you think they'll pick up our trail from the spot where they find +the dog?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Mr. Haydon, "not easily. The ground is hard, and +running a line by torchlight is a very different thing from running it +by daylight. I hope to goodness we can make good headway before the +dawn, for with the first peep of day they'll be after us as fast as +they can lay foot to ground."</p> + +<p>At this moment both looked back and saw the plump of torches come to a +stand. The watchmen had reached the spot where Jack had struck down +the dog, and, through the silence of the night, the eager, excited +voices of the Kachins could plainly be heard as they debated hotly +about the dog's fate, and what it meant.</p> + +<p>Then the bunch of lights scattered and began to flicker here and +there. The guards were looking for the trail of those who had struck +down the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> dog. On and on ran the fugitives, and soon Jack saw that his +father had been right about the difficulties of tracking by +torchlight. The points of fire behind them became more and more +scattered, and not one came on or followed them. Then they turned the +shoulder of a hill, and all was darkness and silence once more.</p> + +<p>It wanted an hour of daylight when they came to the mouth of the pass +by which they were to escape through the ring of hills which encircled +the valley.</p> + +<p>"Must wait now," said Me Dain. "She say no man can go through the pass +unless he can see the way."</p> + +<p>"Are we to lose time, Me Dain?" said Jack. "Can't we creep on slowly +and make a little headway?"</p> + +<p>The Burman talked again to the woman, but she was most emphatic in +declaring that nothing could be done until the day broke; so they +crouched in silence under lee of a great boulder until the first faint +bars of light began to show in the east.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was possible to see a yard or so before them the march +began. The woman led the way, with her sleeping child in her arms, Me +Dain followed her closely, and Jack and his father brought up the +rear.</p> + +<p>They soon saw why daylight had been needed for the task of escaping +from the valley by this road. Their way lay through a narrow pass +which ran through a deep cleft of the mountains, a cleft which seemed +as though it had been carved out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> by a blow of a Titanic axe. There +was scarcely a yard of the narrow path upon which a step could be +taken smoothly and easily. For ages upon ages the forces of nature had +been tearing huge boulders and slices of rock from the frowning +heights above, and toppling them into this crevice between the +mountains. Thus the way was littered with huge stones, over which they +climbed, between which they threaded their way, down which they often +slid and scrambled as best they could.</p> + +<p>For some hours they toiled steadily along this wild, rocky gorge, then +a halt was called to rest and breathe. The native woman, a lithe, +nimble creature, was as little discomposed by the hard, rough march as +any of them, although she carried her child, nor would she allow +anyone to help her with her burden.</p> + +<p>Their breathing space was but short. They had halted on a ridge which +commanded a big stretch of the country they had crossed. Jack was +seated on the ground, with his back to the wall of rock behind them. +Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He looked steadily for a moment down +the pass, then he said quietly, "We are pursued."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon had stretched himself at full length on the ground to rest. +Hearing those words from his son, he leapt also to his feet and looked +eagerly in the direction to which Jack's outstretched finger was +pointed. Far away a patch of the pass lay in sunlight. For the most +part the narrow cleft through the hills lay in gloomy shadow of the +precipices which bordered it on either hand, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> the climbing sun +shot pencils of light here and there into the deep rift. Across one of +these sunny patches a line of tiny figures was streaming. Only for a +moment were they visible. They crossed the field of light, then +vanished into the huddle of rocks which littered the foot of the pass.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen," said Jack, as the last of them disappeared.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon whistled sharply and nodded.</p> + +<p>"We've travelled fast, Jack," said he, with a troubled brow, "but +these hard-bitten, wiry, little mountaineers have travelled faster. We +must put our best foot foremost. It will be fatal to be caught in this +narrow gully between the rocks. They will get round us and rush us +from all sides at once."</p> + +<p>"I thought we'd got a much better start than this," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"So did I," replied his father, "but it has turned out otherwise."</p> + +<p>Me Dain's words were short but to the point.</p> + +<p>"Kachins!" he cried. "Come on," and pushed ahead with the woman, who +was off like a deer at the first hint of danger.</p> + +<p>"How far to the end of the pass, Me Dain?" called Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"Not more than two miles, sahib," replied the Burman.</p> + +<p>"Good," said Jack, "if we can only clear the pass we may find some +means of throwing them off. In the pass they have us tight between the +walls."</p> + +<p>"That's it, Jack," returned his father, and then they hurried over the +wild broken track in silence.</p> + +<p>Half a mile farther on Jack pointed forward.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> "Hallo!" he said, +"here's another of those roads built along the precipice. I hope it +will be a bit sounder than the last."</p> + +<p>In another moment they arrived at a stretch of the path where the road +was carried in mid-air over a deep chasm in the bed of the pass. They +had already passed two such places, and at each point the road was +constructed in the same manner. Holes had been cut horizontally in the +sheer face of the precipice and huge beams driven into them. About six +feet of each beam was left projecting from the hole, and upon these +outstanding bars, smaller beams were laid parallel to the face of the +rock. The earth had been heaped on all, and the result was a narrow +road running along the cliff like a shelf.</p> + +<p>The last they had passed had been very rotten, and Me Dain had gone +through one hole up to his arm-pits. He had only been saved from a +fall into the yawning gulf below by the promptness of Jack, who had +flung himself on his knees and whipped his hands under the Burman's +arms, and held him up. Warned by this misadventure, they moved slowly +and carefully along the narrow track which now lay before them.</p> + +<p>"Take care, take care," said Mr. Haydon, "this road is worse than the +others. We must go in single file. These beams will not take any great +weight."</p> + +<p>They spread themselves out in a line, with a yard or more between each +person, and went gingerly forward.</p> + +<p>The truth was, that hundreds of years before,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> when some native ruler +had gone to immense trouble and labour to build these roads, the pass +had been an important highway. But a tremendous land-slide had blocked +a portion of the pass, and swept away a number of the wooden roads, +and the way had fallen into disuse. Since then the vast beams of teak +which formed the road-bed had been slowly crumbling into decay, and +many were very insecure.</p> + +<p>As Jack brought up the rear of the little procession, he kept his eyes +fixed on the road at his feet, and this for two reasons. One, to avoid +the rotten places, and the other, because to look around from a +roadway six feet wide into the yawning gulf which gaped beside him was +very dizzying.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he heard a scream from the native woman who guided them. He +looked ahead at once, but could not see her. The little procession was +now winding its way round an acute angle of the cliff about which the +road had bent sharply. The woman was out of sight; Me Dain was +disappearing. Mr. Haydon quickened his steps, and Jack hurried on too. +What had that scream meant? It had not been loud, but low and full of +awful terror. What lay beyond the angle?</p> + +<p>Jack turned the corner and saw, and his brown face blanched as he saw +the frightful corner into which circumstances had driven them. Ten +yards beyond the angle, the road ended abruptly, broken short off. +Whether the beams had given way and fallen into the chasm, or whether +an avalanche of rocks had beaten the road into ruins, they knew not, +nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> did it matter. What mattered was this, that fifty yards beyond +them the road had again joined the solid bed of the pass, and that now +along that fifty yards nothing was left save here and there a broken +stump of teak standing out from the face of the precipice. Nothing +without wings could pass over the wide space where the road had been +stripped from the cliff.</p> + +<p>For a moment no one could speak. They could only stare aghast at the +gulf beside and before them, at the little strip of road broken off +short and square at their feet. How were they to pass this frightful, +yawning abyss?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<h3>PENNED IN THE PASS.</h3> + + +<p>"What's to be done now, father," said Jack in a low, quick voice; "the +road's clean gone. We're trapped."</p> + +<p>Both stepped forward and looked over the edge of the sheer descent +where the road ended. A broad torrent foamed along fifty feet below. +The side of the precipice fell away to the stream as smooth as a wall. +It rose above them just as smooth. No way up or down. They saw that in +an instant.</p> + +<p>"Better go back and try another way," said Mr. Haydon. "Ask her, Me +Dain."</p> + +<p>A few swift words passed between the Burman and the native woman. Then +the guide shook his head soberly. There was no other way that she knew +of.</p> + +<p>Jack stepped back to the angle and peered carefully round it. "The +Kachins are coming," he said.</p> + +<p>The shelf-road had risen as it ran along the precipice, and from this +point he could see a long way down the pass. He saw the bunch of +pursuers sweep into sight and race up the pass. His father joined him +at once.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p> + +<p>"They would see us now if we went back," said Mr. Haydon. "What on +earth are we to do, Jack?"</p> + +<p>Jack knit his brows in perplexity, but made no answer. He could not +see what to answer. Behind them a band of savage and determined +enemies; before them a gulf over which none but a bird could pass.</p> + +<p>"We're in a frightful fix," he murmured at last.</p> + +<p>"Frightful," rejoined his father. "I give you my word that I see no +way out."</p> + +<p>"Nor I, father," said Jack. "It seems to me that all we can do is to +try to hold them off at this corner."</p> + +<p>"But how?" asked Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"The road's fearfully rotten just at the bend," said Jack. "I think we +could break it down pretty easily. It trembled and shook as I passed +over it."</p> + +<p>"I see," returned his father, "break the road down and keep them from +rushing us. But what of ourselves? How will it advantage us to be +isolated on a patch of road, stuck against the face of the cliff like +a swallow's nest against a wall?"</p> + +<p>"Frankly, I don't know, father," replied Jack. "I simply put that +forward as the only means I can see of gaining a slight respite. +Otherwise they will be among us and cut our throats in short order."</p> + +<p>"Or make us captives, which would be a long sight worse," said Mr. +Haydon. "Well, Jack, we'll give ourselves an hour or two longer to +look at the sun. Down goes the road!"</p> + +<p>The three men sprang to the task at once. First, with their hands, +they scraped away the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> earth, which was very thin on the face of many +of the beams. When this was removed, there was exposed to sight the +flooring of small beams laid lengthways across the big beams which +jutted from the rock. From this flooring each selected the soundest +stick he could find.</p> + +<p>Jack was lucky in dropping across a bit of teak in capital +preservation, a bar eight feet long, four inches square, and as hard +as iron. With this he began to batter at the rotten patch of roadway +where the angle of the cliff was turned, and a few strokes on the +rotten timbers served to tumble them headlong into the raging torrent +below. His father and Me Dain were hard at work beside him, and in a +very few minutes they had broken away the softest part of the road, +leaving a ragged gap fifteen feet wide, just at the turn.</p> + +<p>They made the last strokes at the outer side in the very face of their +enemies. When they withdrew to the shelter of the inner angle, the +racing Kachins were not a hundred yards away. In another moment the +fugitives heard their pursuers gather close at hand. The little men in +blue were now only a few yards away, clustered about the farther edge +of the gap, and chattering to each other in a very excited fashion.</p> + +<p>Me Dain listened intently. "They make a bridge," he whispered.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," returned Mr. Haydon. "Drop a few sticks across and come at +us."</p> + +<p>Jack gripped his stout bar of teak as a plan flashed into his mind. He +crept forward inch by inch until he was on the verge of the gap they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +had torn in the road. Yet all the time a friendly rib of rock at the +projecting angle of the precipice protected him from the long +iron-barrelled muzzle-loaders carried by U Saw's retainers.</p> + +<p>The expert hands of the Kachins made short work of tearing up a number +of small beams. Jack heard them dragging the timbers forward, and he +poised his bar. A beam was flung across, and a second almost at once +fell beside it. Out darted Jack's bar, and both were hurled into the +chasm.</p> + +<p>The Kachins gave a yell of anger, and threw the next beam across at +the outer angle, as far as possible from the face of the cliff. But +Jack could just reach it, and that, too, he thrust into space. Again +and again they tried to make for themselves a footbridge by which the +gap could be crossed, but every time Jack's ready bar foiled their +purpose completely. There was a still louder yell of anger from the +savage little men as the last beam they had torn up was hurled from +its place. Then for a few moments there was a respite. The fugitives +could hear them draw off to a short distance and hold a conference in +low murmurs. Jack now looked round at his companions. His father and +Me Dain were close behind him. The native woman, her child closely +clasped to her breast, was watching his every movement, her face +filled with mingled feelings of fear and hope.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Jack!" murmured his father. "You've been one too many for +them at that game."</p> + +<p>The Burman now crept forward, and thrust his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>head as far as he dared +round the angle. The voices of the Kachins had risen in eager debate, +and many of their words could be caught. Me Dain listened intently. In +a few moments he turned his head, and there was a very puzzled look on +his face.</p> + +<p>"They are—they are," he began, then stopped. Clearly his English +could not bear him out this time. He said a few words in Burmese to +Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"They are casting lots," said the latter to Jack.</p> + +<p>"What for, I wonder?" said Jack. "Seems a queer thing."</p> + +<p>"They're a queer little crew," returned his father. "As savage and +blood-thirsty as so many ferrets. We shall soon see."</p> + +<p>Within five minutes they did see, and the event proved how desperate +an enemy they had to deal with.</p> + +<p>Me Dain had retired, and Jack had once more taken up his place beside +the gap, his bar in his hands, and his ears strained to catch the +faintest sound made by those who beleaguered the little party.</p> + +<p>Lucky for them was it that he kept so close a watch. For there was a +sudden patter of feet beyond the gap, and then a figure with flying +kilt, and fierce, dark face flashed into sight. Upon this Kachin had +the lot fallen to leap the gap and lead an attack on the fugitives. +Had not Jack's bar been ready, the fiery mountaineer would have been +among them, with his gleaming <i>dah</i> poised for the stroke.</p> + +<p>But even as he landed, his splendid bound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> carrying him a couple of +feet over the edge, the heavy bar shot out and caught him a tremendous +butting blow, full in the chest. He reeled, staggered, and his <i>dah</i> +flew from his hands, as he made a frantic clutch at the bar. For a +second he struggled to make his foothold good on the brink of the +abyss, but failed. He dropped back and vanished into the gulf without +a sound.</p> + +<p>Jack recovered his bar, and waited with a stern, grim face for the +next attack. It was a life and death struggle now, and it was his duty +to guard the gap. Mr. Haydon caught up the <i>dah</i> which had flown from +the hand of the Kachin, and swung it with a deep guttural sound of +satisfaction. Me Dain had his great knife in his hand.</p> + +<p>For some time there was complete silence among their enemies. The +terrible fall of the man who had been chosen by lot to lead the way, +seemed to teach them a little caution. But it had not the smallest +effect in the direction of quelling their desire to come to close +quarters with the fugitives. The Kachin is utterly too careless of +human life, whether his own or another's, for that.</p> + +<p>Half an hour passed before a fresh assault was made. The minutes +dragged by with horrible slowness to those who awaited their fate on +the isolated patch of ledge.</p> + +<p>Then, with no more warning of their approach than the patter of naked +feet on the earthen path, a second assault was made in the same +fashion. Again a Kachin leapt into sight, but farther out, and so more +out of reach of the bar. His hands were empty, too, and as Jack +stepped forward and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> thrust at him, he clutched the end of the bar. +This he did just as he alighted, and, dropping on his feet as nimbly +as a cat, he strove to turn the bar aside. Swift upon his heels three +more Kachins came, clearing the gulf and landing in safety, while +their comrade and Jack struggled for mastery of the bar.</p> + +<p>Upon the instant the tiny ledge was filled with the fury of a +desperate combat. Mr. Haydon sprang out and cut down the second +Kachin, as he ran forward to strike at Jack with his heavy weapon. The +third attacked the Burman, and the fourth closed with Mr. Haydon, +their heavy swords clashing together as they slashed fiercely at each +other.</p> + +<p>Jack had no eyes for any but his own enemy. The Kachin, perched as he +was on the very brink of a horrible abyss, fought as coolly as +possible to master the bar and avoid the swift thrusts by which at +every second Jack threatened to drive him over the edge.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the Kachin gave way and dropped flat. Jack thought his enemy +was disposed of, but the shifty mountaineer had only fallen along the +lip of the gulf to dodge the powerful strokes delivered by the English +lad. With a swift movement the Kachin rolled under the bar, and then +was up like lightning and rushing on Jack, a long dagger, plucked from +his girdle, in his hand.</p> + +<p>Jack had no weapon but his fists, but with these he sprang to meet the +savage, blue-kilted figure. Taking advantage of his longer reach, he +let fly with his right fist. The Kachin was clearly no boxer, for +though he raised his left arm, Jack's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> fist went straight through the +feeble guard and landed full between his opponent's eyes. This shook +the Kachin so much that the vicious knife-thrust he launched went wide +of its mark, and at the next moment Jack closed with him and tried to +wrench the knife from his grasp.</p> + +<p>But though the Kachin was no boxer, he was a wrestler of uncommon +power and skill, and Jack felt the little man seize upon him with an +iron clutch. To and fro they swung on the horrible, dizzying edge, +each straining every nerve and muscle to free himself from his enemy's +clutch and fling his opponent into the torrent which roared and foamed +far below.</p> + +<p>Locked in this clinging embrace, they stumbled and fell headlong, +still bound together by that straining clutch. They were now actually +hanging with heads over the brink of the gulf, and the uproar of the +rushing waters below sounded loud in Jack's ears. Suddenly he felt +that they were both going over, slowly but steadily. The Kachin was no +longer trying to master his foe. So that his enemy went, he was +willing to fall with him. He was now driving his heels into the +roadway, and, with all the force of the iron muscles packed in his +compact body, was trying to force himself and Jack over the brink.</p> + +<p>Before Jack had mastered his meaning, the pair were head and shoulders +clear of the last beam, and the Kachin was working his way outwards +and downwards, inch by inch. Jack made a terrific effort and hurled +himself backwards. He gained a few of the lost inches, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> felt his +shoulders against the edge of the beam. Getting a purchase, he strove +to raise himself and fling the Kachin off. In vain. The arms were +closed around him in a powerful grip, the savage face within a few +inches of his own was working convulsively with hate and rage, and the +Kachin now was blind to everything save the desire of destroying the +white man.</p> + +<p>Another twist and turn in the desperate life-and-death wrestle, and +Jack's face was turned towards the opposite side of the gulf. But this +was only to show him that a new danger hung over him with fearful +menace. He looked straight down a gun-barrel. On the farther brink +knelt one of his enemies, a long-barrelled muzzle-loader in his hands. +He was leaning across with the evident purpose of firing a heavy iron +bullet into Jack's brain. Yet, though beset with death on every hand, +Jack struggled on gamely.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THEY MADE A ROPE.</h3> + + +<p>"He may miss," muttered the plucky English lad to himself. "Anyhow, +I'm not going to let this chap chuck me over here if I can help it."</p> + +<p>At this moment an unexpected diversion was made in his favour. The +native woman had crouched stolidly in rear of the combat, until she +saw the Kachin about to empty his weapon into his English foe. Now she +rose swiftly to her feet, a heavy stone in her right hand. Just as the +Kachin was crooking his finger on the trigger she hurled it with all +her force.</p> + +<p>It proved the luckiest of shots. The missile struck the stooping man +square on the top of his head and caused him to start violently. As he +did so the jet of smoke and flame spurted from the long barrel and the +bullet sped. But not in the direction he had intended. The muzzle of +the piece was jerked a foot aside, and the wrestler received the +charge full in his body. He gave a convulsive start, then his arm fell +limp, and Jack was free.</p> + +<p>Up he sprang, aflame to see what was happening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> with his father and Me +Dain. Long as his own struggle had seemed, it had only been a matter +of seconds, and Mr. Haydon and the fourth Kachin were still engaged in +fierce sword play. Me Dain and the third man had closed in savage +wrestle, and were trying to find each other's heart with their knives.</p> + +<p>Jack whipped up the bar with the speed of thought, and dropped it on +the head of the man with whom his father was engaged. Down went the +Kachin, stunned and helpless. But at that very instant a wild scream +went up from the two struggling figures close at hand. Jack turned his +head to see the last flutter of their garments. The rotten foothold +had given way beneath them, and, held fast in each other's clutch, +they had fallen headlong into the deeps below. Jack and his father +were about to leap forward to see the last of their faithful guide, +when a musket cracked and a bullet flew by their heads. They sprang +back into cover and looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"We have lost Me Dain!" cried Jack. "Brave fellow, he has gone, +fighting to the last."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon nodded gloomily. "It is a cruel, bad business for all of +us," he said.</p> + +<p>A profound silence now fell upon the little battlefield. The remaining +Kachins made no further attempt at an assault. Jack peered out very +cautiously to see what they were doing, and was surprised to see them +drawing off. His father joined him, and they watched the mountaineers +retire to the point where the shelf-road began. Here they squatted on +the ground, lighted their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> pipes, and calmly smoked, motionless as the +rocks around them.</p> + +<p>"There are two short," said Jack, after counting them.</p> + +<p>"Yes," returned his father, "they have been despatched for +reinforcements, and to give word that we have been discovered. Their +friends are on guard."</p> + +<p>At this moment the Kachin whom Jack had felled with the bar began to +move. Jack was upon him in a moment, whipping off his girdle, and +tying him hand and foot with stout strips of it. Mr. Haydon now began +to talk with the native woman. As a rule he had preferred to speak +with her through Me Dain, for her dialect contained many words +unfamiliar to him. But now Me Dain, their stout-hearted, faithful +guide, was gone, and it seemed as if no great interval could elapse +before their fate, too, would be settled.</p> + +<p>The woman had brought a small store of food with her. She ate, and +offered some to her companions. But they would not touch it, though +hunger was gnawing keenly at them.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon sat down with his back against the cliff, but Jack could +not keep still. He moved restlessly to and fro on their narrow patch, +and glanced into the depths on every side. Was there nothing to be +done? Must they wait idly here until their enemies were strong enough +to rush them in overwhelming force?</p> + +<p>Jack had gone to the farthest point of their refuge, and was lying at +full length with his head over the edge of the last beam. He was +staring into the wild foaming torrent, when an inequality in the face +of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> descending cliff caught his eye. He looked intently, and saw +that some fifteen feet above the river a narrow ledge ran horizontally +along the cliff. He followed the ledge with his eye. It ran down +towards the river, narrowed, and disappeared. He raised his head and +called his father. Mr. Haydon was by his side in a moment. Jack +pointed out the ledge.</p> + +<p>"If we could drop on to that," he said, "we might get away up the pass +after all."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid there's not much of a chance there," returned his father. +"The ledge shelves away to the river. But in any case, how are we +going to descend a precipice as smooth as glass? It's a good +five-and-thirty feet down to that point."</p> + +<p>Jack bit his lip in perplexity for a moment. Then his brow cleared, as +a sudden idea slipped into his mind.</p> + +<p>"We'll make a rope," he said. "There's stout stuff in these fellows' +kilts and jackets," and he pointed to the Kachins lying near at hand.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon slapped his son on the shoulder. "Good for you, Jack, my +boy!" he cried. "We'll have a try at it."</p> + +<p>He spoke a few words to the native woman, and she laid her child down +and sprang at once to help. She proved by far the deftest and +cleverest of the three at the task now to be performed. Jack and his +father quickly stripped off belt, jacket, girdle, and turban from the +fallen Kachins, and their clothes were tossed over to the woman. With +a small, sharp knife which she produced from the little basket in +which she had carried her food, she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> swiftly cut up kilts and jackets, +while the other two knotted together turbans and girdles. Half an +hour's hard work saw the heap of clothing converted into a stout, +well-knotted rope. Jack took a glance at the men on guard. They were +still seated at the end of the shelf-road, smoking calmly, and +confident that their prey could not escape them. Jack now tied a heavy +stone at the end of the rope and let it down. The stone slid along the +face of the precipice and rested on the ledge. Nine or ten feet of +their rope were still unpaid out.</p> + +<p>"Plenty long enough," said Jack, and they hauled the rope up quickly.</p> + +<p>The woman and her child were, of course, sent down first. With a broad +strip of the strong home-spun the child was bound on its mother's +breast, so that she might at least have one hand free to hold herself +steady as she was lowered. At the end of the rope they made a broad +loop, and this was drawn tight about her body. When all was ready, she +slipped over the edge of the abyss with all the coolness and bravery +of her race, and the strong hands began to lower her. Foot by foot she +slid down the face of the cliff, and at last those above felt the +strain upon their muscles suddenly relieved. The woman was safely on +the ledge.</p> + +<p>They now made the rope secure around the outer beam, which, luckily, +was fairly sound. The Kachin who was their prisoner was shouting and +yelling at the full pitch of his voice to warn his comrades that the +fugitives were escaping. His dark eyes snapped and glittered with +fury. He cared not what danger he brought upon himself if he could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> +but warn his friends. Jack and Mr. Haydon took no notice whatever of +the man's clamour. A hundred voices would have been drowned in the +hoarse roar of the torrent which thundered below.</p> + +<p>"I'll go down now, father," said Jack, "and hold the rope steady for +you." He slipped over the side and was gone. Hand below hand he swung +himself swiftly down the rope, and was on the ledge in a few moments. +He held the rope steady, and Mr. Haydon descended in safety.</p> + +<p>They left the rope where it hung, and crept forward along the narrow +ledge. Jack led the way, the woman came next, and Mr. Haydon brought +up the rear. There was very little room on the ledge, but it was sound +and smooth. It had clearly been made by the river eating away the +softer rock in times of flood. It descended gently towards the stream, +and within thirty yards it broke short off. The river was now not more +than five feet below, and Jack bent and looked into it. Then he swung +himself off the ledge, and dropped into the stream with a cry of +delight. It was clear and shallow, and he stood in it barely +knee-deep. He helped the woman down, his father sprang after them, and +they all waded on in a shallow backwater, where the furious torrent of +the main stream died away to an easy flow.</p> + +<p>Moving on in this manner, they gained the farther side of the ravine, +which had been spanned by the shelf-road. Here a vast mass of rock and +boulders lay piled along the cliff wall.</p> + +<p>"That's the landslip which carried away the road," said Mr. Haydon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack eyed it critically.</p> + +<p>"We can get up into the pass again by it," he said. "It'll be a rough +climb, but we can do it."</p> + +<p>Jack was right. They did it. It took them an hour's hard climbing, but +at last they stood at the point where the shelf-road had joined the +main path along the pass. Here they rested awhile, for the steep climb +under a burning sun had been very exhausting.</p> + +<p>Then Jack sprang to his feet "Come on," he cried cheerily. "We'll hit +on Buck and Jim's camp yet, and with them at our back we'll stand off +U Saw and his men easily enough."</p> + +<p>"I think I can strike towards it all right once we clear this path," +said his father. Mr. Haydon had had much talk with Me Dain about the +spot where he had left Buck and Jim, and he believed that he could +find the place.</p> + +<p>"Poor old Me Dain," said Jack, in a tone of bitter sorrow; "if we'd +only brought him up with us out of the fix there, it would have been +all right. He was a fine, brave chap."</p> + +<p>"He was," said Mr. Haydon; "it is a terrible loss to us that he has +gone."</p> + +<p>They pushed on in silence, thinking of the good, faithful Burman who +had fallen, close-grappled with his enemy, into the raging torrent. +From this sad reverie they were roused by the voice of the native +woman speaking to Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"She says that we shall soon be out in the open country," said he to +his son.</p> + +<p>"Good business!" replied Jack. "As long as we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> are between these walls +of rock, there seems a trap-like feeling about the affair."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later they crossed a low ridge, and at once the precipice +which had encompassed them opened out swiftly on either hand. Before +them lay a huge, cup-like hollow, filled with buildings.</p> + +<p>"A town!" gasped Jack. "We shall be seen!"</p> + +<p>"Deserted, my boy," said his father quietly. The more experienced eye +had at once seen the true nature of the place. Jack looked again, and +saw that all was silent, and that the buildings were empty shells. The +walls of the houses stood up along the streets, the vane of a pagoda +darted aloft and glittered in the sun, but no form moved along the +narrow ways, no face peered out upon them as they passed.</p> + +<p>Their way lay along what had been the main street of the city, and the +silence, which had been pleasant in the pass, became strange and +creepy here. It told of utter ruin, and seized upon the spirit of +those who passed with a sense of haunting desolation.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, into this eerie silence, there broke a sound which set every +heart leaping. It was the swift rattle of a pony's hoofs galloping +towards them. The sound had broken out sharply and near, for the main +street was paved, and the rider had burst on to it from the sandy +track beyond, where he had ridden in silence. They could not see the +rider, for the way bent sharply just before them, and their only +thought was to hide from this newcomer, for to be seen by anyone in +this country spelled danger.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> + +<p>Close at hand was a narrow alley, and into this they hurried. Just +inside the opening was an empty doorway, and they ran through it, and +paused inside a house which turned a blank wall to the street A huge +crack seamed this wall from top to bottom, and Jack, springing forward +softly, clapped his eye to it.</p> + +<p>The wall stood at an angle to the street, and the rider darted into +sight as Jack peered out. The latter turned and shot a single whisper +over his shoulder, "Danger," and all stood silent.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE DESERTED CITY.</h3> + + +<p>Jack had known the rider at once. It was the tall Malay, the +Strangler. He was mounted on a nimble pony, and flogging it to its +utmost speed. A few yards from the house the pony slipped on the +smooth stones and nearly came down. This, perforce, checked its +headlong career, and the Malay drew it in to a walk. Everyone held +their breath, and Jack watched the dark, sinister figure pace by, +wishing that his furious speed had not been interrupted.</p> + +<p>He was past, he was gone, and Jack breathed more freely. Then, oh, +unhappy turn of luck, the infant in its mother's arms stirred and gave +a feeble cry.</p> + +<p>The mother hushed it at once, and the fugitives looked at each other +aghast. Had that cry been heard? The answer came at once. They heard +the pony swiftly wheeled on the stones without. A second later it +dashed back the way it had come, the Malay flogging fiercely, reckless +of slips or stumbles.</p> + +<p>"It was U Saw's man, that big Malay," said Jack to his father. "What +shall we do?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We must push on and see what lies beyond the town," said Mr. Haydon. +"It is clear that he suspects something. All depends now on whether +our line into the open country is blocked."</p> + +<p>The little party swiftly sped up the farther part of the alley, and +worked their way through the town by the narrow lanes which threaded +the mass of buildings like runs in a rabbit warren. Through these +by-ways the native woman proved a sure guide, and soon, through a gap, +they saw the open, sandy waste which lay around the deserted town.</p> + +<p>From the last patch of cover they looked out cautiously and saw a +dismal sight. The town, as has been said, lay in a great cup-like +depression. On the rim of the farther rise, straight in their path, a +horseman sat motionless. Jack knew him again at once. It was the +Malay. He had drawn up his pony on the ridge above the town, and now +sat there, watching intently, a dark figure on the sky-line.</p> + +<p>"We are beset front and rear," groaned Mr. Haydon. "He is waiting for +companions, and watching to see which way we break cover."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon had hit upon the truth. At earliest dawn skilful trackers +had been set upon the trail of the fugitives at the point where Jack +had silenced the dog. Thence they had followed them to the mouth of +the pass, and had divined their number and the identity of those who +made up the party.</p> + +<p>U Saw and Saya Chone had been on the scene without loss of time. The +Ruby King ordered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> that a party of his men should march up the pass +and pursue the fugitives. He himself, with the half-caste, the +Strangler, and a score of other men, all well mounted, had galloped by +a long detour to gain the other end of the pass, in hopes of cutting +them off. It was a long journey which the mounted party had to make, +and they would have failed if Jack and his friends had been able to +keep steadily forward. But the long delay on the shelf-road had told +heavily against the fugitives, and now, as they suspected, fierce +enemies lay between them and the open country.</p> + +<p>As the Ruby King and his followers approached the place where the pass +ran out on to the plain, the Malay had been sent forward to gallop at +breakneck speed down the path the fugitives must follow, and report +any sign he could observe of their presence. He had heard the cry of +the child, and suspected at once their presence in the deserted city. +Now he sat watching the hollow and waiting for his companions.</p> + +<p>"Can we dodge back through the city, and slip out on the other side?" +said Jack anxiously. His father shook his head.</p> + +<p>"The lie of the ground is dead against that," said Mr. Haydon. "The +place is built in a cup. Leave it where you may, you must go up open +hill-side, and he will see us at once."</p> + +<p>"Then we must find a hiding-place among the ruins until nightfall," +said Jack.</p> + +<p>"That's all there is for it now," replied his father. "If we can keep +out of their hands until the dark, we can slip off and travel by the +stars."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span></p> + +<p>He told the native woman what had been decided upon, and she nodded. +She knew perfectly well what terrible fate awaited her and her child +if they fell alive into the merciless hands of U Saw. The little party +turned in search of a hiding-place, and their steps were quickened by +seeing the figures of half a dozen mounted men rise over the rim of +the ridge and join the Strangler.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the fugitives had lost all sight of the men without +the city; they were swallowed up in the maze of narrow lanes and +by-ways which had once been thronged by busy crowds of city folk, and +were now given up to the snake, the owl, and the wolf.</p> + +<p>Here and there they glided, looking on every hand for some secure +hiding-place, but found none; every house, every room seemed open to +the sun and the broad light of day.</p> + +<p>"Surely among so many houses we should hardly be found, if we lay +close in some of these open places," murmured Jack, but Mr. Haydon +shook his head.</p> + +<p>"They will split up, and every man will take a patch of the city for +himself," replied Mr. Haydon. "And they are adepts at a search of this +kind."</p> + +<p>"Hallo, what's that?" said Jack in a low voice. They paused and +listened, then looked at each other. The chase was afoot. They could +hear afar off the voices of men shouting to each other as they hunted +through the deserted city.</p> + +<p>"That sounds as if they were about the main street," said Mr. Haydon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sure to be there first," replied Jack. "They're searching the place +where the Malay heard the youngster cry."</p> + +<p>"Very true," said the father. "Let's strike towards the pagoda. It +lies away from the danger zone, and there may be a chance for us +there."</p> + +<p>As they hurried towards the tall shaft which shot high above the maze +of ruined houses, Mr. Haydon chatted coolly about its possibilities.</p> + +<p>"A pagoda, my boy, is often a solid piece of masonry, built above a +relic chamber. The latter is a large room of immense strength, and if +anything has stood in the place, that is the most likely. If it has +stood, and we can find the way in, we may be able to hide till +nightfall. In any case, we can make it an awkward job to attack us."</p> + +<p>Both father and son had brought a <i>dah</i> from the battle-ground, and at +close quarters no better lethal weapon can be found.</p> + +<p>They arrived before the pagoda, and Mr. Haydon, leaping on the first +platform, ran swiftly to and fro in search of the entrance. His wide +knowledge of such buildings guided him to the spot where it would most +likely be found, but, as it happened, the entrance was not difficult +to find. They saw a low doorway half-blocked by a huge fallen stone, +but with ample room left for them to creep in.</p> + +<p>"Here's the spot," said Mr. Haydon. "In we go. But," he hesitated for +a moment, "we don't know what may be inside. I'd give a trifle for a +torch."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We'll make one," said Jack. "There are heaps of dried sticks and +grass about, and I've got some matches."</p> + +<p>He put his hand into an inner pocket of his tunic, and pulled out a +waterproof metal box half full of vestas.</p> + +<p>"Good! good!" ejaculated Mr. Haydon. "I haven't had a match for a long +time, and I'd forgotten you might have a few."</p> + +<p>He caught up a bundle of dried grass, and Jack took up several sticks, +dry and tindery, ready to burst into flame as soon as a light was set +to them. All three now crawled through the low, half-blocked doorway. +As soon as they crept into the darkness, a strong, fetid, musty smell, +mingled with a horrible scent of decay, made the air pungent and +choking.</p> + +<p>"Some beasts or other here," murmured Mr. Haydon calmly. "Let's see if +they're dangerous."</p> + +<p>He struck a match and applied it to the great bundle of dried grass +which he had collected. The flame ran through it at once, and it +flared up strongly. Jack thrust a stick into the blaze, and they now +had ample light to see around them.</p> + +<p>They found themselves in a large, low room, whose floor was littered +with bones and the remains of animals dragged there for food. They +darted glances on every side to discover what kind of beast it was +whose lair they had entered. But for a moment they saw nothing. There +was a movement in a bed of dried reeds in one corner, and presently +they saw two pretty little creatures, having the appearance of big +cats, bound out and begin to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> yowl plaintively. At sight of them the +native woman gave a shrill scream of terror.</p> + +<p>"Tiger cubs!" snapped Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>He glanced quickly around the place, but there was no sign of any +other living creature there save the two cubs, which now began to +frisk about the light.</p> + +<p>"Lucky for us Mrs. Stripes isn't at home," said Jack, "or it would +have been a case of out of the frying-pan into the fire."</p> + +<p>"It would," agreed his father. "But it isn't long since she was here," +he added. "Here's a fresh kill."</p> + +<p>He pointed to a small buck lying almost at their feet. The blood was +still wet on the graceful creature's coat, and it was untorn save for +the rents made by the huge claws which had brought it down and dragged +it to the tiger's lair.</p> + +<p>"If this is the only place available," said Mr. Haydon quietly, "we +shall have to creep out again. It isn't healthy to ask a tigress to go +halves in her den when she's rearing a family."</p> + +<p>"We'll have a look round in any case," laughed Jack, and they crossed +swiftly to the other side of the place, holding their torches high, so +that a red, dancing light was cast before them.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" cried Jack, who was a little ahead. "What's this?" He +was standing at the foot of a narrow flight of stone steps which ran +upwards and was soon lost to sight in the thickness of the wall.</p> + +<p>"Up, up!" cried Mr. Haydon. "This is what I hoped for."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little party climbed the narrow, winding stairs as fast as they +could go. Round and round in the wall the steps twisted, and then they +saw a dim light ahead, and came out into a second room, as large as +the one below. A broken door of teak hung loosely at the narrow +opening which led into the room, and Mr. Haydon put his shoulder to it +at once.</p> + +<p>"Here's our refuge, Jack," he cried joyously.</p> + +<p>"Half a minute, father, before you clap that door to," said Jack. "I'm +frightfully hungry."</p> + +<p>"So am I, ready to drop," returned his father. "What of that?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to fetch that buck up, or a good piece of it," remarked +Jack. "It's a fresh kill, and quite sweet."</p> + +<p>"I'll come with you," said Mr. Haydon. "Food is priceless at present, +for we may well need all our strength."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Jack, "I don't want to brag, father, but I can leg it a +lot quicker than you if the old lady comes home suddenly."</p> + +<p>"Very likely," said his father. "I don't doubt that for an instant, +Jack, but I'll come all the same." They lighted a couple of fresh +torches and went quickly down the steps and across the room below. +They found the tiger cubs, drawn by the scent of blood, playing with +the new kill, trying to fix their baby fangs into it, and leaping to +and fro like a couple of kittens.</p> + +<p>"Clear off," said Jack, thrusting one of them aside with his foot, "we +want this."</p> + +<p>The buck was only a young one, not more than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> forty or fifty pounds' +weight, and Jack swung it up from the ground by its horns. As he drew +it away from them, both cubs gave a loud cry of complaint. Their cry +was answered upon the instant by a frightful roar, and turning their +heads, the two men saw a long, low, huge form gliding in at the +opening with lightning speed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET CHAMBER.</h3> + + +<p>"Shout, shout!" cried Mr. Haydon, and the two yelled at the top of +their voices and waved their torches as they ran for the steps. But +neither the noise nor the fire saved them. They owed their safety to +the cubs. These ran at once to their mother, and the fierce creature +stayed a moment to lick and fondle them and assure herself of their +safety.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father used the respite to full advantage. They tore up +the steps and hurled themselves into the room above. Mr. Haydon and +the woman pushed the broken door into place before the opening and +held it, fearing a rush from the great savage beast But the tigress +made no charge. They heard her prowling about the foot of the steps +below, and growling horribly, but she made no attempt to pursue them +farther, and presently her fierce notes of anger died away.</p> + +<p>"She has gone back to the cubs," said Mr. Haydon with a deep breath of +relief. "That was a close shave, Jack. If she'd come straight at us +instead<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> of staying beside them for an instant, it would have been all +up with us."</p> + +<p>"We could have had a chop at her with a <i>dah</i>," said Jack. Mr. Haydon +shook his head grimly.</p> + +<p>"Not good enough to tackle a charging tigress," he said. "Might as +well chop at a hurricane."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jack, "a miss is as good as a mile; and anyhow, we've +landed the buck."</p> + +<p>Jack had hung on to their quarry like grim death, and the buck now lay +on the floor at their feet. But before they satisfied their hunger, +they looked carefully around the place in which they found themselves. +Like the vault below, the room was large and low, and it was lighted +by a number of small apertures on two sides. They approached these +little holes, and found that none was of greater size than to admit of +a fist being thrust through them. Mr. Haydon looked carefully at them. +"These holes," said he, "are hidden among the ornaments and carving of +the exterior. The room below is in the base of the pagoda. This room +is built in the second of the three terraces known as Pichayas. Above +us the pagoda is solid right away to the vane."</p> + +<p>"We're in a queer fix now," said Jack. "Mrs. Stripes below is very +useful to keep out U Saw and his friends, but she'll keep us in as +well. It will be an awkward job to slide out after dark and take the +chance of blundering into her with claws and fangs ready for +business."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied his father, "it cuts both ways."</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't worry about it now," said Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> "Let's have something +to eat. Here's plenty of meat, but how shall we cook it?"</p> + +<p>It would have been easy to make a fire, for the remains of a couple of +large chests lay in one corner, but smoke curling from the holes would +betray their hiding-place.</p> + +<p>"We'll make some biltong, as I've done many and many a time in South +Africa," said Mr. Haydon. "In this sun the meat will parch very +quickly."</p> + +<p>He cut some long and very thin slices from the leg of the buck. Then +he thrust them through one of the holes which lay towards the sun, and +spread them on the flat stone outside. The stone was burning hot, so +hot that the hand could not be borne upon it, for the sun had been +beating there with immense power for many hours. Between the fiery sun +and the hot stone, the meat parched swiftly, and ere long they were +satisfying their ravenous hunger with the excellent venison. They +offered some to the native woman, but she preferred to eat from her +own stock of food.</p> + +<p>"I wonder why this city was deserted," said Jack, as he devoured his +venison.</p> + +<p>"War, pestilence, or famine," replied his father briefly. "I'll pump +this woman and see how the local tradition runs."</p> + +<p>He conversed with her for some time, then turned to his son.</p> + +<p>"I can begin as I used to begin stories when you were a nipper," said +Mr. Haydon. "Once upon a time there was a great king."</p> + +<p>"How long ago?" queried Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Goodness knows," said his father. "Time is a mere blur in these old +stories. A hundred, two hundred, five hundred years, all are one to a +people who keep no written records. Well, a great king ruled here over +a busy and wealthy people. He built this pagoda and was immensely +proud of it He delighted to deck it with gold and precious stones. She +says that once the whole of the exterior was covered with plates of +solid gold, and the <i>Hti</i>, the umbrella, that is the topmost stage of +the pagoda, was hung with thousands of golden and silver bells, and +decked with huge rubies and other precious stones. Most of these +didn't belong to him. For he had a habit of marching upon neighbouring +rulers and stripping their treasuries to brighten up his pagoda.</p> + +<p>"At last the usual thing happened. A better fighting man came along +and stripped him. He and his people fought well, but in the end they +were overcome and the whole city was put to the sword. The conqueror +had the plates of gold and a vast number of rubies, emeralds, and +diamonds. But many of the finest rubies slipped out of his grasp. The +priests fled and carried them off. Since that day the city has been a +desert. And so you have the legend."</p> + +<p>"Is it true, do you think?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Substantially true, without a doubt," replied his father. "The thing +has happened again and again. It might easily happen to-day in Burmah +itself, were it not for the British Raj. These local rulers were +forever cutting each other's throats."</p> + +<p>At this point the low murmur of his voice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> became mingled with a +louder noise without. The sound of busy Kachin tongues in full flow +came through the tiny apertures which lighted the room, and Jack and +his father sprang to their feet.</p> + +<p>"The enemy have arrived," murmured Jack, and his father nodded. They +stole swiftly across the room and peered through the little apertures +which lighted the place. No better spying-place could be needed. They +looked straight into the broad open space before the pagoda, and saw +their pursuers defiling from a narrow street. One man was mounted, and +they knew him at once for U Saw, the great ruby in his head-dress +glinting scarlet fire in the rays of the sun. At the tail of his horse +strode the Strangler, and a dozen busy little blue-kilted figures ran +hither and thither, chattering and calling to each other, and +searching eagerly for traces of the fugitives.</p> + +<p>A loud shout presently told the Haydons that something had been +discovered. Half a dozen Kachins began to yell together, and Mr. +Haydon listened intently.</p> + +<p>"They've found the hole," he murmured coolly. "What next?"</p> + +<p>"It's very lucky for us that Mrs. Stripes is at home and on guard," +said Jack. "We could hold them in the narrow stairs there with our +<i>dahs</i>, but she'll do the job much better."</p> + +<p>"Yes, for a time, without doubt," replied his father, shaking his +head. "But these chaps are splendid little shikarees, and fear nothing +that stands on four legs."</p> + +<p>They could not see the group of Kachins which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> had gathered before the +opening, but they saw the Ruby King wave his hand, and knew that the +blue-kilts had been ordered to explore. They listened breathlessly, +but, for some moments, all was silence. Then in the vault below there +broke out a frightful roar of anger, and mingled with it came yells +and outcries. The two watchers looked eagerly from their apertures, +and saw the Kachins recoiling in a disorderly body, carrying among +them a man whose legs dragged along the ground.</p> + +<p>"Looks as if she'd settled one of them," remarked Mr. Haydon. It was +soon apparent that the tigress had thinned by one the number of their +enemies. The man was laid down in the open space, and his fellows +gathered about him. But very soon they left the body lying where it +had been placed, and collected about the Ruby King in a chattering +crowd.</p> + +<p>"Clearly the man is dead," said Jack. "They do not attempt to do +anything for him."</p> + +<p>"I should say she smashed his skull in, by the look of things from +this distance," remarked his father. "See how the blood spreads in a +pool about his head!"</p> + +<p>Their eyes were fixed on the debating crowd, and they were wondering +what the next move of the Kachins would be, when they heard a low call +behind them. Both whirled round at once, and saw that it was their +companion who was attracting their attention. She was kneeling on the +floor, and they ran to her at once. She knelt beside a large stone +which was sunk three or four inches below its fellows and shook easily +under the touch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is strange," said Jack. "We dried our meat and ate our meal just +about here, and the stone was not out of its place then."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps our movements loosened it," replied his father. He spoke with +the native woman for a little, then turned to his son. "It sank a +moment back when she stepped on it," he said. "Just when she cried +out. She feared she was going to fall through the floor."</p> + +<p>Jack knelt down and pressed heavily on the stone. It slid away from +his hands, and, had he not grasped the edge of the hole quickly, he +would have rolled after it The stone vanished, and was heard to land +with a heavy ringing crash on stone below.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, I nearly went head first after it," said Jack. "It was as +loose as possible. Where does this lead to?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon knelt down and looked carefully around the sides of the +square hole left in the floor.</p> + +<p>"It's a secret entrance to some place or other," he said. "See, Jack, +the wooden bar on which this stone worked. It has rotted through, and +the stone held its place, as you may say, by clinging to the +neighbouring stones. But a slight weight was sufficient to start it +moving."</p> + +<p>"What's underneath, I wonder?" murmured Jack.</p> + +<p>"Some chamber built in the thickness of the floor between this room +and the vault below," replied his father.</p> + +<p>"We ought to have a look into this," remarked Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will," said his father; "but I hardly see how it will avail us. +There might be a chance to make it useful if we could get the stone +into place, but it is very heavy, and the machinery on which it worked +has rotted away."</p> + +<p>Jack took a half-burned torch, whose flare had been quenched upon +their regaining the room from the raid in which they had secured the +buck, and relighted it. He held it as far into the darkness as he +could, and the red light showed that a ladder, built of heavy beams of +teak, ran downwards from the edge of the hole. Mr. Haydon sniffed +cautiously. "The air doesn't smell bad," he remarked; "close and +musty, but no mephitic vapours. I think we'll go down."</p> + +<p>Jack swung himself over the lip of the hole, dropped his feet on the +stout ladder, and went down first, holding the torch before him, and +his father followed. They found themselves in a low room of fair size, +but not one-half as large as that above and below.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" said Jack, and pointed to the far corner, where +something gleamed white. They crossed to it, and stood before a knot +of skeletons. Nine they counted, each lying as the dead man had fallen +long, long ago. In the houses of the city, where roofs had fallen in, +where wild beasts had devoured the flesh, and where sun and rain and +wind had worked their will upon the bones, all trace of the citizens +of that long bygone day had utterly disappeared, but here, where the +secret chamber had protected their remains, the skeletons were +perfect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p> + +<p>"These are some of the men who fell in the sack of the city," said +Jack.</p> + +<p>His father bent and carefully examined them by the light of the torch.</p> + +<p>"I scarcely think so, Jack," he said. "The bones are perfect and bear +no sign of injury. It is more likely that they were priests of the +pagoda who took refuge here, and perhaps died of famine, not daring to +leave their hiding-place."</p> + +<p>Jack moved a little, and started. In his new position a ray of red +fire darted at him from one of the heaps of white bones. He stepped +forward, bent, and picked up the glittering object.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said to his father, "this is something in your line, +if I'm not very much mistaken."</p> + +<p>His father turned it over, rubbed the dirt off it, and held it up to +the light. It lay in his palm and winked in the light of the torch +with dancing gleams of deep scarlet fire.</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled Mr. Haydon, "a magnificent ruby, large, and of the +purest water. Where did you get it, my boy?"</p> + +<p>Jack pointed to the skeleton at his feet, among whose bones it had +lain.</p> + +<p>"Could this have been their secret treasure-room?" said Mr. Haydon, +looking round. "Yet it is very unlikely. It is too large, and hardly +in the place where they would have built it."</p> + +<p>At this moment they heard a murmur at their shoulders. The woman had +followed them, and they turned to see that she had picked up a couple +of rubies from among the bones of another skeleton, and was holding +them out to Mr. Haydon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span></p> + +<p>The great expert took them and examined them swiftly.</p> + +<p>"Finer than the one you found in point of size," he said to his son. +"As to purity, they are all of the highest quality. These three stones +in my palm represent a substantial fortune."</p> + +<p>Jack had never before seen such magnificent stones. He gazed in wonder +at the three gleaming splendours, and turned them over with his +finger.</p> + +<p>"They are true oriental rubies," said his father, "of the finest +colour and without flaw. Any one of them is ten times as valuable as a +diamond of the same weight."</p> + +<p>The native woman was turning over the bones of another skeleton. She +straightened herself, came forward, and dropped another noble ruby +into Mr. Haydon's hand.</p> + +<p>"Jack, Jack," cried the latter to his son, "don't you see what this +means, my boy? Here is proof positive of the truth of the legend."</p> + +<p>"I see," said Jack, "these are the monks who were said to have fled +with the pick of the rubies."</p> + +<p>"These are they without a doubt," said his father. "They disappeared, +and the conquerors believed that they had escaped, and so the story of +their flight was worked into the tradition. But they had hidden +themselves here, and here they died. The rubies were shared among +them, and concealed in their garments. The ants have made short work +of the robes long since, and the stones have fallen among the bones."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then among these skeletons lie the chief treasures of the ancient +city?" said Jack.</p> + +<p>"The thing is beyond all question," replied his father. "These +glorious stones bear ample witness."</p> + +<p>The intense interest of this marvellous find had almost driven the +thought of their enemies from their minds. But the recollection of +their deadly peril came back in full flood when a hoarse thunder broke +out beneath their feet in the lower vault.</p> + +<p>"The tigress!" cried Jack. "Is it a fresh assault?"</p> + +<p>Not another thought did they give to the gleaming treasures within +their grasp. Life was worth a mountain of rubies.</p> + +<p>They rushed at once to see what U Saw and his retainers were doing. +Mr. Haydon did not even pocket the rubies, such was his haste. He +tossed them aside among the mouldering bones, where they had lain for +so many generations, and flew after his son, who was already climbing +the ladder.</p> + +<p>They raced across the room, and now heard the savage roars of the +tigress pealing louder and louder up the narrow stairway. In the vault +below they heard shots and yells.</p> + +<p>"They have attacked her in her lair, there is no doubt of it," said +Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep anxiety. "They have without doubt flung +torches in to light the place up, and shot her as she stood before her +cubs, checking her charge with fire, noise, and spears. I have known a +band of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> them take as desperate a risk for the sake of a mere skin to +sell, so they would certainly take it to seize us."</p> + +<p>The growls of the tigress became more furious and deafening.</p> + +<p>"They are running out!" cried Jack. "They are flying before her."</p> + +<p>In the open space below, the Kachins were running swiftly from the +entrance to the vault. Some looked over their shoulders, as if fearing +pursuit.</p> + +<p>"Very possibly," said his father. "They are running for the moment, +but I fear they have done their work. See how joyous they look!"</p> + +<p>This was quite true. The dark faces of the little mountaineers were +bright with smiles, and their teeth flashed white as they grinned at +each other, and shouted as if in triumph.</p> + +<p>"Their muskets at close range are not to be despised," murmured Mr. +Haydon uneasily. "They fling a heavy ball, and drive it with great +smashing power. And again, the bullets may be poisoned. They often +are."</p> + +<p>The Kachins did not run far. They faced about, and three or four who +were armed with spears threw their weapons forward, ready to receive +the charge of the wounded creature. But no charge was made. Had the +tigress been alone, she would have rushed out, but the presence of her +cubs made a great difference. She stayed beside them, growling and +roaring with rage and pain until the very building shook.</p> + +<p>Half an hour passed, and the tigress was now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> making no more than a +low moan. Little by little her growling had died away. The Haydons +heard the sound diminish with uneasy hearts. They knew that the +strength of the great fierce beast was going with it, and that very +soon the Kachins would be at the foot of the stairs.</p> + +<p>They talked the situation over, and looked at it from every point of +view, but could see only one thing to do. That was to wait for the +enemy on the narrow winding steps, where but one could pass at a time, +and hold them at bay.</p> + +<p>Jack looked round. "Where's the woman?" he said, "she has not come +up."</p> + +<p>"No more she hasn't," said his father. They had been so deeply engaged +in watching every movement of their enemies that they had utterly +forgotten their companion. When Jack rushed up from the secret +chamber, he had thrust the flaring torch into her hand, in order that +she might follow at her leisure, but there was no sign of her in the +room behind them.</p> + +<p>Jack ran across to the spot where the square black hole yawned in the +floor.</p> + +<p>"It's all dark down here," he cried in surprise. "Has the torch gone +out? But why has she not come up?"</p> + +<p>Near at hand lay a large lock of dried grass, part of a bundle which +the woman herself had gathered and brought up on their first entrance.</p> + +<p>Jack caught it up, struck a match, and thrust the burning vesta into +it. In an instant the tuft of grass was ablaze, and he flung it into +the secret chamber. It dropped to the floor, and the flame<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> shot up +brightly, lighting the little room from corner to corner, from roof to +floor.</p> + +<p>"She's gone!" gasped Jack in utter amazement "She's gone!" Save for +the skeletons, the little room was completely empty. There was not the +faintest sign of the native woman. She had disappeared absolutely and +entirely.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XL" id="CHAPTER_XL"></a>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE ON THE STAIRS.</h3> + + +<p>Jack was about to spring down the ladder and see what had become of +their companion, when a low cry of warning burst from his father's +lips. The elder man had been watching the enemy, and now he called +out, "They are coming! they are coming!"</p> + +<p>Jack caught up his <i>dah</i> and ran at once for the stairs. The mystery +of the woman's disappearance must wait; the first thing to be done was +to keep the Kachins from their throats.</p> + +<p>He and his father had already settled upon the point which they would +occupy for defence. Halfway down the narrow winding flight there was a +small landing, about six feet long, with a sharp turn above and below. +Jack felt his way down to this in the darkness, then stood and +listened eagerly for any sounds of movement in the vault below. He +heard his father softly tiptoeing after him, and then all was silence, +save for the mournful cries of the tiger cubs trying to rouse their +dead dam.</p> + +<p>"They have not come in yet," whispered Jack to his father.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mr. Haydon, "but I saw seven of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> them start across the +open space, clearly bent on a fresh attack."</p> + +<p>At this moment a muffled sound of voices rang through the vault and +came up the narrow stairs. The Kachins were at the entrance. Then +there was silence for a short time. The next sound was a joyous yell, +which rang and re-echoed from wall to wall. The Kachins had discovered +the dead tigress. Then the vault resounded with voices as they ran to +and fro, searching every corner.</p> + +<p>The fugitives knew that the flight of steps running upwards must be +discovered at once, and Mr. Haydon gave a low murmur as they heard a +party of searchers gather at the foot of the stairs. Up to this moment +Jack and his father had stood in complete darkness, but now a faint +glimmer of light began to shine up from below, and they knew that the +flare of their pursuers' torches was being reflected along the winding +walls.</p> + +<p>The preparations of the savage little men in blue were quickly made, +and up they came. As Jack heard their feet shuffle swiftly up the +steps, and saw the shine of the torches become brighter and brighter, +he poised his heavy blade and prepared to launch a swinging blow. +Nearer, nearer came the light and the chattering voices, for they +talked as they came. Then a gleaming spear-head flashed round the bend +below. It was held by the leading Kachin, and the second man carried a +torch to light his comrade's way.</p> + +<p>Jack drew aside to the wall, and waited for the man's head to appear. +In an instant it came, and the dark face and glittering eyes of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> +mountaineer were filled with excitement as he saw the white men within +arm's length. He shortened his grasp of the spear to strike at Jack, +but the broad, gleaming <i>dah</i> fell at that very instant with +tremendous force.</p> + +<p>The Kachin whirled up the spear to guard his head, but the trenchant +blade, wielded by those powerful young arms, was not to be denied. It +shore clean through the stout shaft of the spear, it fell upon the +shoulder of the Kachin, and clove him to the spine. He pitched +backwards among those following, and the torch was dashed from its +bearer's hand. But it was caught as it fell, and another of the +dauntless little men sprang up to cross swords with the defender who +could strike so dreadful a blow.</p> + +<p>Again Jack launched a sweeping cut at his assailant, but this time his +blade was caught upon a blade of equal strength and temper, and the +iron muscles of the wiry Kachin turned the slashing stroke. He fetched +a swift return blow at Jack, and the latter avoided this by springing +a pace backwards as he recovered his own weapon.</p> + +<p>The little man followed with the leap of a cat, and gave a grunt of +satisfaction. This was his aim, to make ground, and Jack saw it in an +instant. It allowed another man to come round the turn and support the +assault with a long spear. The second Kachin was crouching low, and at +the next moment the shining head of a spear darted past the first +assailant and was directed at Jack's thigh. Jack avoided it by a +miracle. He did not see it, did not know the man had struck at him, +for he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> too busy cutting and parrying with the leader. But as the +spear-head was darted at him, he sprang aside to avoid the <i>dah</i>, and +so dodged both sword and spear.</p> + +<p>The Kachin with the spear had made his stroke so heartily, and with +such certainty of reaching his mark, that on missing his blow he +sprawled forward. Mr. Haydon bent down, gripped the strong shaft +behind the spear-head, and tore the weapon from the baffled Kachin's +grasp. Then, with a growl of satisfaction that he could take a share +in the fray, he reversed the long weapon, and swung its keen point +forward.</p> + +<p>The spear came to his hand at a most opportune moment. A third man was +creeping on hands and knees beside the wall, aiming to pass his +leader. He gripped a huge knife in his hand. In another instant he +would have seized Jack by the ankles and dragged him down, had not Mr. +Haydon driven the spear into him with such force that the head was +completely buried in his body. He dropped to the floor with a +frightful yell, and at that moment the leading Kachin gave way and +leapt back among his friends. Jack had half cut through the swordman's +right arm, and the latter could no longer wield the heavy <i>dah</i>.</p> + +<p>"Come back a few steps, Jack!" cried his father. "They are meeting us +on the flat, and that is to their advantage."</p> + +<p>Father and son darted up half a dozen steps from the landing, gained +the sharp turn above, then faced about again. But no Kachin was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span>following them. The little men chattered and yelled, argued and +disputed with each other, but did not advance. Finally, they retired +to the vault below, taking their fallen with them.</p> + +<p>"First round to us," breathed Jack. "How strange they brought no +muskets with them! My dread from first to last was of a bullet being +loosed into us."</p> + +<p>"I observed as they crossed towards the door that they carried only +spears and swords," said his father. "That is U Saw. He wishes to take +us alive, wounded, perhaps, but still alive. So he forbade shooting."</p> + +<p>"What next?" murmured Jack.</p> + +<p>"I wish we knew," replied his father, "then we might be prepared for +it." But no preparation within their power could have availed against +the cunning of the next assault. They had been watching and waiting +half an hour or more in the darkness, when again the red shine of fire +began to glow on the walls below them.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" muttered Mr. Haydon. "This light is far too strong for +torches." And now with the gleam of fire came gusts of heat sweeping +up to them, and clouds of thick pungent smoke. Half choked, and with +smarting eyes, they watched for the fire to appear. Presently they saw +it below them, and saw that a furnace of leaping flame was advancing +towards them, flame which filled the whole of the space, licking +walls, roof, and floor. They watched it with horrified eyes. It was +impossible to meet this subtle and dreadful enemy with spear or <i>dah</i>.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" cried Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A cunning trick, a cruelly cunning trick," replied his father. "They +are thrusting great burning bundles of dried reeds and grass before +them. The draught comes up the stairs and keeps the air cool and sweet +for them, while it drives suffocating smoke and heat upon us."</p> + +<p>Jack ground his teeth as he saw how perfectly the plan was calculated +to drive them out of the staircase into the open room above, where the +numbers of the Kachins could be used to deadly purpose.</p> + +<p>"The fire is flagging," gasped Jack.</p> + +<p>"For the moment, yes," said his father.</p> + +<p>The glowing mass of flames wavered and began to sink. Then they saw +how it was fed. A huge bundle of dried canes and reeds on the end of a +spear was thrust into the flickering glow, and at once took fire and +burned with the utmost fury. Fresh bundles were pushed forward beside +it, and these, too, flared up with a shrill crackle of snapping canes +and the roar of a fire fanned by a strong draught. Inch by inch the +flames moved forward, themselves a terrible enemy, and behind them +crept up and up a savage and merciless foe.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLI" id="CHAPTER_XLI"></a>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<h3>THE SECRET PASSAGE.</h3> + + +<p>Within that confined space, the heat became that of a fiery furnace, +the pungent smoke became overpowering.</p> + +<p>"We must get back or we shall be overcome," gasped Mr. Haydon, and +they climbed the steep steps of stone.</p> + +<p>"Who's here?" snapped Mr. Haydon, as they turned the last bend. Jack +looked under his father's arm.</p> + +<p>"It's the woman," he gasped, for the pungent smoke had almost stopped +his breath. "She's come back. Where has she been?"</p> + +<p>Now the woman's voice came to them calling earnestly, "Sahib, sahib, +sahib!" she cried.</p> + +<p>Jack and his father leapt into the room, where the wider space, though +dim with smoke, made the air taste wonderfully fresh and sweet after +the choking passage.</p> + +<p>The woman at once sprang at Mr. Haydon and seized his arm, talking +earnestly. As she spoke, the elder man's face lighted up with a great +hope.</p> + +<p>"Jack! Jack!" he cried. "Come on! come on! Here's a wonderful chance +turned up."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack asked no questions. He only followed as the other two hurried for +the hole which led to the secret chamber. The woman went swiftly down +the teak ladder, and the other two followed. At the foot of the ladder +a torch, freshly lighted, was thrust into a wide crack between two +stones, and stood there burning steadily. The woman caught it up and +led the way. They passed the heap of skeletons, and went to the far +corner, where a very low, small door stood open. It had been closed +when Jack looked into the chamber, and so he had been able to gain no +idea of the fashion in which the woman had left the place.</p> + +<p>The woman shot through the opening, and the light of her torch showed +that she had entered a low tunnel not more than four feet in height +and about the same in width.</p> + +<p>"Duck your head down and come on," said Mr. Haydon, and Jack brought +up the rear in the march along this tiny passage, where he had almost +to scramble on hands and knees.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" he called to his father, as the latter scrambled ahead +of him.</p> + +<p>"This," said Mr. Haydon, "explains the secret chamber. It is a passage +by which the priests could enter or leave the pagoda without the +knowledge of worshippers. The secret chamber was merely its ante-room, +as one may say."</p> + +<p>"How did the woman hit on it?" asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Looked round the place and saw the door and found it would open +easily. She crept along the passage till she saw daylight, then she +returned to give us the word."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good for her!" said Jack. "She's a first-rate sort. But I wonder how +long it will be before those little ferrets behind are after us. +They'll come along here in double-quick time."</p> + +<p>"We've got a fair start," replied his father. "They'll come up the +steps very slowly, having to push the fire before them."</p> + +<p>They had gone fifty or sixty yards along the tunnel, when the woman +looked over her shoulder and spoke to Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"We've got to be careful here," said the latter to Jack. "The roof is +sagging and hangs very low. We must go through one at a time."</p> + +<p>At this moment the woman threw herself on the floor and began to wind +her way along like a snake. By the light of her torch Jack saw that +the roof threatened at every second to fall in and block the passage. +One great stone hung half-released from the grip of its fellows, as if +about to topple headlong. The woman went through the tiny space in +safety, and then crouched down on the other side and threw the light +into the gap to show her companions the road.</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake, be careful how you come through, Jack!" breathed +his father. "Don't touch this huge stone for your life. It trembles +now, and there isn't thirty inches fairway."</p> + +<p>Very slowly and cautiously Mr. Haydon and then Jack wriggled along +flat to the ground until the dangerous spot was cleared.</p> + +<p>At last all were on the other side, and the woman began once more to +hurry forward. Mr. Haydon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> began to follow her, but Jack sang out, +"Half a moment!"</p> + +<p>"What for?" cried his father.</p> + +<p>"Can't we put a stopper on the pursuit here?" said Jack. "Seems to me +we can tumble these wobblers down, and block the route." He pointed to +the over-hanging stones.</p> + +<p>"Right, right!" called his father. "Where's my sense? I never thought +of it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon took the torch from the native woman and looked at the roof +above his head. "Mustn't fetch too much down," he remarked, "and pin +ourselves under the ruin."</p> + +<p>"There's no fear of that," replied his son. "Look at the roof over us. +It's as sound as a bell. The loose stones come from a flaw in the +masonry, not from general decay of the roof."</p> + +<p>"I believe you're right, my boy," said Mr. Haydon. "You hold the torch +and I'll have a try at it."</p> + +<p>Jack took the torch, and Mr. Haydon raised the spear which he had +brought with him. He thrust the head into a long crack above the great +stone, and bore with all his weight and strength on the extremity of +the long shaft. Luckily the latter was very stout and of a tough wood, +enabling him to bring a great stress on the big stone.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Jack, "it's going, it's going!"</p> + +<p>Both of them moved back, as the huge stone toppled swiftly to the +ground. It was followed in its fall by a dozen more, and in an instant +the path through the tunnel was blocked by a heap of ruins which rose +from floor to roof.</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said Jack, in a tone of deep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> satisfaction. "It +will take an hour or two to shift those whacking big stones. This +tunnel's a case of no thoroughfare at present."</p> + +<p>The torch was handed once more to the native woman, and on they went. +The next time she paused was to dash the head of the torch against the +wall of the tunnel and put out the light. As soon as the red flare had +been extinguished, they saw that the beams of day were pouring faintly +through branches and brushwood a little before them.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mr. Haydon, "that's why the air was fairly sweet in the +tunnel. There has been a draught through, more or less."</p> + +<p>Jack sprang forward, <i>dah</i> in hand, and began to slash at the network +of creepers and saplings which blocked the mouth of the tunnel. In a +few minutes he had cut a path out, and they crept cautiously forth and +looked round to see what place they had gained.</p> + +<p>They found themselves in the broad courtyard of a large, ruined house.</p> + +<p>"May have been a monastery," said Mr. Haydon. "Now for U Saw and his +men. Are we clear of them or not?"</p> + +<p>He moved cautiously forward to reconnoitre, Jack following him.</p> + +<p>"Where's the pagoda?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "That will give us our +bearings."</p> + +<p>"I see it through this doorway," said Jack, and pointed to a gap in +the wall. Mr. Haydon looked at the pagoda, and noted how it stood with +regard to the sun and their present position.</p> + +<p>"This is capital," he said. "We've come out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> on a side opposite to the +open space where U Saw is waiting for reports from his men. We can go +ahead in safety. He will have men on the watch all round the pagoda, +of course. But we've come clean under their feet, and risen to earth +amid the ruins behind them."</p> + +<p>"I should say our best plan now would be to try to get clear of the +city before they push a way through the tunnel," said Jack. "We've +certainly got a couple of hours before they find where we came out. +Then, very likely, they'll start a fresh search for us among the +ruined houses. That would give us a bit more pull in making a flit of +it."</p> + +<p>"We can't do better," said his father, and the latter spoke a few +words to the native woman, who would be by far the best guide to set +them on the line they wished to follow. Led by her, they threaded once +more the narrow by-ways and lanes tangled with creepers, and sometimes +so choked with growth that they had to turn back and choose another +way. At last they came to a broken gap in what had once been the city +wall, and from it they looked across the bare, bright, open plain.</p> + +<p>"There's no one to be seen," murmured Jack, "and if we can once get +over the rim of the hill, we shall be out of sight. What is it? Not +more than four hundred yards."</p> + +<p>They stayed for a few moments longer in shelter of the ruined wall, +and looked warily on either hand again and again. But there was not +the slightest token of danger to be seen or heard.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> The sun, now +sloping to the west, shone brilliantly upon the open space of stones +and sand, stones too small to hide a spy, and sand too bare of +brushwood to afford him an ambush.</p> + +<p>"There's a risk, of course, in venturing into the open," murmured +Jack. "But there's risk whichever way you take it. We may as well make +a dash for it as hang about in the ruins till someone drops on us or +on our tracks."</p> + +<p>"That's true," agreed his father.</p> + +<p>"Come on, then," said Jack in a low voice, and he led the rush across +the open.</p> + +<p>For the first hundred yards they ran breathlessly. How naked and bare +the land seemed around them after the friendly shelter of the narrow +lanes and alleys they had just left! Then, as they forged steadily +ahead, and the rim of the cup-shaped hollow came nearer at every +stride, hope awoke in their hearts and they strained forward, counting +on the moment when they would slip over the sky-line, and be lost to +sight of the broken walls and towers amid which their enemies sought +them.</p> + +<p>"See that big white stone," said Jack, who had to draw himself in to +an easy trot lest he should outrun his companions, "we have only got +to make that, and we're clean out of sight."</p> + +<p>Thirty yards from the white stone the woman tripped, stumbled, and +fell. Before they left the ruins Jack had wished to carry the child, +but she had refused.</p> + +<p>"Push ahead, father," called Jack. "I'll pick her up and bring her +on."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><a name="Pic_8" id="Pic_8"></a> +<img class="img1" src="images/image_009.jpg" width="450" height="674" alt="THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT." title="THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT." /><br /> + +<span class="caption">THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT.</span> +</div> + +<p>He sprang to the woman's side, and swung her to her feet by main +strength. He glanced back as he did so—he had looked back every few +yards as he ran. He gave a mutter of deep satisfaction, "All quiet!" +But the words on his lips came to a sudden end in a gasp of dismay and +horror. Round a far angle of the ruined wall four horsemen swept into +sight at a gentle trot.</p> + +<p>For a second Jack stared at them aghast He knew at once what it was. +Their enemies had foreseen the possibility of such a bolt from cover +as they were now making, and a patrol was on guard about the deserted +city.</p> + +<p>Jack hurried the woman forward, hoping against hope that no eye would +be raised to catch sight of the knot of fugitives on the hill-side. A +wild yell raised from four savage throats told him a moment later that +his hopes were vain. He glanced back, and saw that the riders had +lashed their speedy ponies to a furious gallop and were climbing the +slope towards them at terrific speed.</p> + +<p>The fugitives exchanged not a word. They ran now in silence, looking +on every hand for some way of escape from the horsemen who followed. +Jack burned to gain the ridge and see what was beyond. "If it's broken +and rocky ground," he thought, "it may prove too rough for their +ponies to face."</p> + + + +<p>He looked eagerly out as they gained the ridge, and a bitter +exclamation broke from his lips. The ground was more open and easy +than that they had just crossed. They still ran on, but now without +hope of escape, merely running forward <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>with the instinct of flight +which possesses every hunted creature. They heard the ponies' hoofs +rattle over the ridge, they heard the thud of the galloping feet close +at their backs, they heard the mocking laughs and yells of the +triumphant riders.</p> + +<p>"I can run no farther, Jack," gasped Mr. Haydon, and pulled up.</p> + +<p>Jack whirled round, <i>dah</i> in hand, and stood at bay, his blood on fire +to have a stroke at those who hunted them.</p> + +<p>The riders were now not more than a score of yards away, and coming on +at the same furious speed. Scarce had Jack turned, when the leading +horseman was upon him. Jack looked up and saw the tossing mane and +fiery eyes of the pony straining to its utmost speed, and above the +tossing mane leaned forward the half-caste, his dark eyes shining with +savage fire, his mouth widened in a cruel grin. Jack sprang aside and +launched a sweeping blow at Saya Chone. The latter, with hand and +knee, swung his pony round and hurled the animal full on Jack. The +knees of the powerful beast, just rising to the first movement of the +gallop, caught the English lad square in the body and dashed him +headlong to the ground. Stunned and unconscious, Jack was left in a +heap on the sand, while the horsemen encircled the other fugitives.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLII" id="CHAPTER_XLII"></a>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<h3>IN THE COURTYARD.</h3> + + +<p>When Jack came to himself after that rough tumble he felt bruised from +crown to heel, and his head was aching dully. For a few moments his +mind was in a puzzle as returning consciousness began slowly to array +before him the last things he remembered. Then he came to himself with +a start, and looked round eagerly to see where he was and what had +happened to his companions.</p> + +<p>The first glance told him that he was once more within the deserted +city. He lay in the corner of a ruined house, bound hand and foot; two +Kachins, with muskets across their knees, squatted within six feet of +him, and watched him with a fixed stare. Over his head the sky was +still bright with sunshine, but the low rays told him that the night +was not far off.</p> + +<p>"They've got us after all," thought Jack bitterly. "We're in their +hands as tight as ever, and they'll take care, I know, that we don't +slip out of them again."</p> + +<p>It was heart-sickening that after their struggle through the pass, +their fight in the pagoda, and their escape by a way which seemed to +open for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> them in a magical fashion, that they should end by falling +once more into the hands of their cruel foes. As the light faded, Jack +lay and wondered what had become of his father and the native woman, +and what would be the next turn in their strange and wild adventures.</p> + +<p>The sun sank, and the night fell with tropic swiftness; soon he was +gazing at a velvety sky, full of bright stars. Still no one came near +them, and his guards sat before him like two statues.</p> + +<p>An hour after nightfall a voice called to them from the lane without, +and they obeyed the command at once. They sprang up, and removed from +Jack's ankles the thong which bound them together. Next they dragged +him to his feet and led him forward.</p> + +<p>At the gap in the wall, where once a door had been, two other guards +awaited the prisoner, and marched one before and one behind him. Thus +closely watched, Jack was led along the narrow lane. They went fifty +yards or more, and then entered the very courtyard into which the +secret passage opened. Here a huge fire of brushwood and broken beams +was burning, and the place was as light as day, and filled with busy +figures. Jack was led across the courtyard and placed near the +opposite wall.</p> + +<p>He looked round, but could catch no glimpse of his father. He saw the +native woman, their companion in misfortune, seated in a corner, a +Kachin beside her as if on guard. The woman's head was bent upon her +breast, and her child was closely clasped in her arms. She did not +look up when Jack was brought in, and her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> attitude was one of utter +dejection. She had already learned her fate. She was to be taken back +to the village from which she had fled, and there suffer by fire in +the presence of the other villagers. Thus would U Saw teach a lesson +of obedience to all.</p> + +<p>The Ruby King himself was seated on a rug spread over the stones of +the courtyard on the other side of the great fire. A meal was just +over. A smaller fire was smouldering near the entrance to the +courtyard, and beside it lay cooking-pots and the long, square baskets +in which food had been carried. Several of the retainers were still +devouring the last fragments of their portion, and the rest were +placidly smoking as they moved to and fro. U Saw was quietly pulling +at a huge cheroot, his eyes fixed dreamily on the leaping flames of +the great fire, and, save for the prisoner and his armed guards, the +whole scene had the air of a peaceful camp, of a caravan of merchants +resting for a night on their march.</p> + +<p>An hour passed, and the scene had but changed to this extent that the +moving figures had settled down to a man to give themselves up to the +soothing influence of tobacco. On his rug, U Saw had not stirred a +limb save to flick the ashes from his cheroot, nor had his gaze +wandered aside from the glowing flame. The quiet had become profound. +Then, in deep silence, there was a sound of footsteps approaching the +courtyard. Without turning his head, U Saw raised his hand. The +gesture was scarcely begun when Jack felt himself gripped from behind +by more than one pair of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> hands, and he knew among them the deadly +clutch of the Strangler.</p> + +<p>He was gripped at the same instant by the throat, the waist, and the +heels, nor, so cunning had been their approach, had he dreamed that an +enemy stood behind him. In an instant the thong at his wrists was +severed and his arms drawn out to their fullest extent, a rope tight +about each wrist, while his ankles were lashed together with magical +swiftness and dexterity. He was swung against the wall despite his +struggles, and his body and feet bound to an upright beam. Then the +ropes which were about his wrists were drawn taut and made fast, and +he was a helpless prisoner.</p> + +<p>Just as the last twist was given to the bonds, a group of four entered +the courtyard. Saya Chone, the half-caste, came first, and he was +followed by Mr. Haydon, under guard of a couple of Kachins. Now U Saw +slowly rose from his rug and moved forward, his silken kilt catching +the light and glowing with the softest, brightest hues of crimson and +gold.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Jack?" called out Mr. Haydon anxiously. "Any bones +broken?"</p> + +<p>"Not one, I believe, father," replied Jack; "only bruises."</p> + +<p>"If either of you speak another word," said the half-caste smoothly, +"I'll gag you till you choke."</p> + +<p>Jack and his father knew that much significance lay under the quiet +words, and they remained silent. U Saw and Saya Chone now spoke +together in a low tone, and then father and son were brought face to +face.</p> + +<p>"You are such a slippery couple, and have evaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> us so often," said +the half-caste, "that we are going to pay you the compliment of +dealing with you once and for all upon the spot. Now you can be +assured that your last chance of saving your skins has arrived. Here +and now we settle the matter. You can start for Bhamo or Mandalay with +the break of dawn, or you can become food for wild beasts. It remains +with you to decide."</p> + +<p>"Don't say a word, father," broke in Jack impetuously. "Don't you see +that we're done for in any case? If you told, do you think such men as +these would keep their word? Dead men tell no tales."</p> + +<p>"That's horribly true, Jack," said his father in a low voice.</p> + +<p>The faces of the Ruby King and the half-caste had blackened with rage +upon hearing this swift, shrewd speech, which laid bare their motives +and intentions, for Jack had hit the mark fair in the centre. Saya +Chone thrust his face forward till it was within six inches of Jack's.</p> + +<p>"Bold words," he hissed viciously, "bold words; but we shall see +before we have done with you."</p> + +<p>At this moment there ran into the courtyard a man who panted as if he +had travelled far and fast. He bore beneath his arm a small basket +made of rushes very closely and strongly woven. The Ruby King gave a +grunt of satisfaction, and moved towards him.</p> + +<p>Saya Chone now sprang forward and seized the collar of Jack's tunic. +He fixed both hands in it and ripped it open. Then he gripped the +collar of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> the flannel shirt beneath and made a snatch at that With a +grin of vicious pleasure he rent that open too, and tore a piece of +the stuff clean out. He raised his open hand and struck the bare +breast of the English lad with a resounding slap.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall see," he cried, "now we shall see!"</p> + +<p>At sight of this Mr. Haydon had attempted to spring forward, but half +a dozen of the iron-muscled little men had leapt at him like cats, and +kept him in his place. They hung on to him and held him a close +prisoner during the scene which followed.</p> + +<p>Jack was little affected by the slap. He had his eyes on U Saw. He +felt strongly that the grim, silent Ruby King was the man to be feared +above all.</p> + +<p>U Saw and the man with the basket had retired to the other side of the +fire, and a group of Kachins watched the Ruby King respectfully from a +little distance. The watching group now gave a loud murmur of wonder +and admiration, as if they had divined some superlatively clever trick +of their master's, and were applauding it. Then U Saw turned and came +across the courtyard, his right arm oddly and stiffly extended.</p> + +<p>Jack watched him come, and wondered what it was that seemed to move +and writhe about his arm as he came. The Ruby King stepped into the +full light of the great, blazing pile, and Jack saw what it was that +moved, and felt his blood run cold within him.</p> + +<p>Upon his right hand U Saw wore a thick leathern hunting glove, and his +right arm was heavily swathed with a woollen girdle. About<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> his arm +the body of a snake was twisted, and he held the head firmly in his +hand. A terrible groan of agony burst from Thomas Haydon's lips as he +saw the venomous reptile coiling and uncoiling its short, thick body +round the arm of the Ruby King. It was a small cobra of the most +venomous kind, a creature whose bite took effect at once, and was +followed swiftly by death.</p> + +<p>U Saw walked up to Jack and held the head of the horrible creature +within a foot of Jack's face. The latter tried to look steadily at the +frightful death which menaced him, and, for a few seconds, was +fascinated by the dreadful sight. The tiny, glittering, bead-like eyes +of the reptile sparkled with rage, and its hood swelled and swelled in +its fury as it sought something to strike, something upon which it +might expend its store of deadly venom. But the grip of the Ruby King +held head and neck immovable except as he wished, and the cobra had no +power save over its coils. These were in constant and furious motion. +They were now wrapped tightly round U Saw's arm, now flung loose, and +then tightened anew as the angry snake twisted and writhed and sought +to free itself from the clutch which imprisoned its head.</p> + +<p>Inch by inch U Saw advanced the frightful flat head until the forked +tongue played immediately before Jack's eyes, and the grip on the head +was now slightly loosened, and the cobra opened wide its horrid jaws +and disclosed its poison fangs, and made convulsive efforts to reach +and strike the face just before it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack closed his eyes and drew a long, quivering breath. This torture +was exquisite beyond any bodily pain. But there was no thought of +yielding in his heart. Among these dark-skinned Asiatics he and his +father stood alone, and it lay with them to maintain the English name +and credit in this moment when men of a weaker race would have given +way and cringed and begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>Summoning up his utmost resolution, Jack opened his eyes again, +resolute to deny to his enemies the smallest token of their triumph. +But he found that the horrid, gaping jaws were no longer close to his +face. U Saw had stepped a pace backwards, and was adjusting his grip +of the reptile with the greatest care.</p> + +<p>He grasped it anew and more tightly, and stepped forward once more. +Now he advanced the flat head little by little towards Jack's naked +breast. At last it was so close that the cobra's tongue, darting in +and out, was touching the lad's body. Ah! that was horrible. To feel +the cold, forked tongue playing upon the warm flesh above the beating +heart, that heart which would be silenced for ever were but the keen +fangs advanced an inch or so farther.</p> + +<p>The natural repugnance of the flesh to so horrible a situation was too +strong for the spirit, and Jack could not restrain a convulsive +shudder, which shook him from head to foot. His father groaned in rage +and agony.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIII" id="CHAPTER_XLIII"></a>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<h3>THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY.</h3> + + +<p>The sullen face of the Ruby King was lighted up with a smile of deep +relish. His savage nature was pleased to its depths to see the effect +this simple but exquisite torture had upon the Englishman within his +grasp. Again he drew back a pace, and waited a moment for Jack to +recover himself. Next he waved to the men who were holding Thomas +Haydon to bring their prisoner closer to the bound captive. They did +so, and now the position of those gathered in the ruined courtyard was +as follows. Jack faced the doorway, and the Ruby King and the +half-caste, with their followers clustered behind them, were on his +left. His father, under charge of the guards, was on his right, and +the fire, which was now at its highest, lighted the whole scene in +most brilliant fashion.</p> + +<p>Now U Saw raised his arm and stepped forward. His evil grin shone out +once more. He was enjoying himself to the full. Jack braced his back +against the post and clenched his fists as tightly as the ropes around +his wrists would allow, and set his teeth to endure without flinching. +His eyes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> were staring straight before him, into the blackness of the +ruined doorway.</p> + +<p>Suddenly into that patch of darkness there flashed a face, peeping in +on the scene, and as suddenly vanishing. Jack gave a great start and a +gasp. Was the torture turning his brain? He had known that face, but +it was not the face of any living man. It was the face of Me Dain, +their brave guide, who had fallen headlong into the raging torrent, +close-grappled with his foe. Jack's movement was hailed by a grim +chuckle from the ring of hostile faces. They misjudged it altogether.</p> + +<p>U Saw once more held the cobra forward, and glanced with savage +meaning at both father and son. Thomas Haydon watched the evil +creature with fascinated eyes, and saw that the Ruby King was +loosening ever so slightly, and little by little, his grasp of the +head, so that the venomous reptile was working forward through the +leathern grip towards Jack's breast.</p> + +<p>By tiny degrees the cobra worked itself on and on, but Jack saw it +not. His eyes were strained into the outer darkness. What had it +meant, that face? Was it a mere fancy, or was there more behind it +than he dreamed of? Then, with another great start of his frenzied, +overwrought body, he saw something else, a thing which none saw save +himself, for every eye was fixed on the deadly, wriggling serpent, +fighting to get his venomous fangs into that smooth white breast.</p> + +<p>There slipped into the light of the fire a little round gleaming tube +of steel. Six inches beyond the doorway was it thrust, then held still +and steady.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> Jack knew it for the muzzle of a Mannlicher, and realised +with a swelling heart what it meant. He turned his eyes on the dark +face of the Ruby King, who, with an air of infinite enjoyment, was +giving the writhing reptile a little and a little more liberty, and +Jack knew that U Saw was a dead man.</p> + +<p>A moment later the rifle spoke. There was a sharp jet of flame, a +crack, and a scream. The three were practically simultaneous, and the +scream rose from the wildly-parted lips of the Ruby King as he whirled +round and staggered against Saya Chone, a slip of lead driven through +his brain.</p> + +<p>The fate of the half-caste was striking and dreadful. The +mortally-smitten man flung out his right arm, and the cobra was swung +full against the man who stood beside him, and, at the same instant, +the Ruby King's grasp was loosened. Here was the chance for which the +creature, irritated to the utmost fury, had longed. It struck, struck +with all its might, and drove its deadly fangs deep into the throat of +the half-caste.</p> + +<p>The latter staggered back with a frightful yell, and tore the horrible +reptile from its grip, and cast it away. But the work was done, and +the full-filled poison sacs had emptied their store of venom into the +blood of Saya Chone.</p> + +<p>All this happened in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye; and +before a hand could be lifted among the retainers, a whirling +hurricane of lead smote with crushing fury among the close-packed +group of Kachins which had been clustered behind the leaders. A stream +of bullets was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> poured into them as swiftly as magazines could be +worked, and half their number went down headlong. None of the rest +stayed to face this awful and mysterious foe. To them it seemed as if +evil spirits must be encompassing their destruction, and they fled +from this dreadful attack, which leapt upon them so suddenly from the +darkness and the silence. Those who could move ran for a low place in +the ruined wall, climbed it frantically, and fled into the darkness, +yelling and terror-stricken.</p> + +<p>Now there burst into the courtyard three familiar figures. Buck Risley +led the way, Jim Dent followed, and Me Dain raced after.</p> + +<p>"Say," cried Buck, "we only dropped on this little fandango just in +time. Stand steady, Jack." With a few swift strokes of his knife he +severed Jack's bonds, and the English lad staggered aside, and was +caught by his father. They exchanged a strong, silent hand-grip, but +neither could speak.</p> + +<p>Jim Dent, a reloaded Mauser pistol in hand, was standing on guard. But +they had nothing to fear from the groaning wounded, nothing from the +Ruby King who lay with his evil smile fixed for ever on his dark face, +nothing from the half-caste, now writhing in the agonies of a terrible +death.</p> + +<p>"Say, Professor, this is great to see you again!" cried Buck joyfully, +as Mr. Haydon seized his faithful follower's hand.</p> + +<p>"Buck, Buck, this is wonderful," said Mr. Haydon in a shaking voice. +"You have come to our rescue at the moment of our utmost need. And +Dent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> and Me Dain. A thousand thanks. But what are words to tell you +how we feel?"</p> + +<p>"We know just how you feel, Professor," said Jim Dent. "We're only too +glad we turned up in time to put a stopper on their fiendish tricks. +Now the word is march."</p> + +<p>"Right, Jim," said Buck; "off we go. Come on, Me Dain."</p> + +<p>The Burman was bending over the body of the Ruby King, and stripping +off his rich silken girdle.</p> + +<p>"I come," he said, and they trooped across the courtyard together.</p> + +<p>Jack had not spoken a word. He had clasped the hands of his faithful +friends, but he was too overwrought and bewildered to be able to frame +his feelings into speech. He stumbled as he walked, for his limbs were +numbed from his bonds, and his father and Buck supported him. Near the +doorway the native woman waited for them. Her guard had fled, and she +had at once sprung to join her companions in flight.</p> + +<p>Their path ran across the open space before the pagoda. Here the +ponies of U Saw and his men had been picketed, and were now left +without watchers, for all had been drawn to the courtyard. Three of +these were caught and saddled, and led with the party till the ruins +were cleared and the open hill-side was gained.</p> + +<p>"Now we're right," breathed Jim Dent. "I don't reckon there was much +to fear from that lot we sent scuttling. They're dangerous enough as a +rule, but this time we rattled 'em all to pieces. Still, I'm glad to +be in the open."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Me Dain!" cried Jack, who was rapidly becoming himself again. "Is it +really you, alive and in the flesh? How did you escape after that +frightful fall from the ledge?"</p> + +<p>"I had very good luck, sahib," chuckled the Burman, "very good luck. +The Kachin was under when we drop down, and that break my fall. I very +near drowned, but at last I got on bank. Then I go on up the pass, and +run to the other sahibs."</p> + +<p>"Here's the road," said Jim Dent. "There's no moon, but we can see all +we want by the stars. Up you go."</p> + +<p>Jack, Mr. Haydon, and the native woman were set on the ponies, and +then the little cavalcade moved briskly forward, talking as they went, +and exchanging experiences.</p> + +<p>Me Dain's story made it plain that he had cleared the mouth of the +pass just before U Saw and his men blocked the way. He had put his +best foot forward and regained the camp, made in a solitary glen among +the hills, where Buck and Jim awaited him. The three of them had +started back at once well armed, but had travelled on foot in order +the more easily to escape observation. Thus the night had fallen by +the time they had gained the outskirts of the ruined city. They saw +the flare of the fire, and heard the voices of the encampment. Little +by little, and with the utmost care, they crept upon the Kachins and +brought aid in the very nick of time.</p> + +<p>"Say, I don't guess we need trouble much about these little blue-kilts +any more," remarked Buck Risley.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not in the least, Buck," replied Mr. Haydon. "The death of their +leaders sets them at once free from their allegiance. I've no doubt in +the world but that the survivors will hurry back home and plunder U +Saw's house."</p> + +<p>"And how did that little half-caste come off?" asked Jim Dent. "I hope +he had something for his trouble."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jim," cried Buck, "didn't you twig that? It was about the best +touch in the show. The snake they'd got ready for Jack worked loose +when you dropped the King, and nipped the half-caste, and he hit the +long trail right away."</p> + +<p>"Serve him right, the little varmint," was Jim's comment.</p> + +<p>They had covered a league or more from the deserted city, when the +tinkle of running water fell on Jack's ears.</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a brook," he said. "I'm fearfully thirsty."</p> + +<p>"So am I," said his father. A brook it was, and they halted beside it +and drank their fill.</p> + +<p>"Better stop here till daylight," said Me Dain. "Not easy to find the +way over hills in the dark." So it was agreed to make a camp beside +the brook. The fugitives were quite willing, for they were exhausted +by fatigue, and when they had eaten a little of the food which Me Dain +had carried in a wallet across his shoulders, and drunk once more of +the water of the brook, they lay down and slept the deep sleep of +utter weariness. Their fresher companions, Buck and Jim, took turns to +watch through the night.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span></p> + +<p>By an hour after dawn they were all on the move, and did not halt +again till they reached the secluded hollow where the pack-ponies, +securely hobbled, were quietly grazing. In a trice Me Dain had a fire +blazing, and he and Buck soon made ready a good meal. When the meal +was over they sat in the shade of a clump of bamboos and discussed +affairs.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, with a grunt of surprise as if at his forgetfulness, Me Dain +sprang up and fetched the wallet which had been slung over his +shoulders. He laid it before Mr. Haydon, and began to draw forth a +long band of rich, glittering silk.</p> + +<p>"Why, you've brought U Saw's girdle, Me Dain," said Mr. Haydon.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sahib," said Me Dain, a broad smile lighting up his dark face as +he looked up at his old master. "And for why? You lose a big ruby. U +Saw got it."</p> + +<p>The meaning smile on his face broadened.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon slapped his knee with a crack like a pistol shot. There was +no need of words between them.</p> + +<p>"By Jove, Me Dain!" he cried, "I shouldn't be surprised if you are +right."</p> + +<p>"Right, quite right," said Me Dain. "U Saw never leave great stone +like that at home. Carry it everywhere. U Saw trust no man."</p> + +<p>By this time the others had grasped the meaning of this conversation. +Was the great ruby in U Saw's girdle?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XLIV" id="CHAPTER_XLIV"></a>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<h3>HOW THINGS ENDED.</h3> + + +<p>All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain. His swift, +practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft +band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby +King.</p> + +<p>"Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife. He made a couple of +rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his +old master.</p> + +<p>"Hold your hand, sahib," he said.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon held out his hand, and the Burman shook the girdle sharply. +A cry of admiration and wonder burst from every watcher as an immense +ruby fell into Mr. Haydon's palm and lay there glittering with +richest, deepest fire.</p> + +<p>The great expert did not need to take a second glance. "That's my +stone," he said. "Me Dain, I am indebted to you for ever. Its value to +me is beyond all money, for it represents my honour and the good faith +which I owe to those who employ me. Me Dain, my good friend, I shall +give you ten thousand rupees."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sahib," cried the Burman, overcome with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> the vision of so much +wealth, "it is too much for your servant."</p> + +<p>"Not a penny," said Mr. Haydon earnestly, "not a penny too much. You +have rendered me a service which no money can repay."</p> + +<p>Amid a buzz of wonder and surprise and delighted congratulation, the +huge stone was examined and passed from hand to hand. Then Mr. Haydon +took it again, wrapped it up in a piece of silk cut from the girdle, +and carefully bestowed it in an inner pocket.</p> + +<p>"I'll have another try to get to London with it," he said. "We ought +to manage it this time among us."</p> + +<p>Jack stood looking at his father with shining eyes, and Mr. Haydon now +turned to his son. As he did so, Buck slapped the tall lad on the +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," he cried, "is this good enough for you? You've got your +father and the big pebble. Seems to me you've worked your way through +this business pretty successful. I reckon you've been the king pin of +this outfit."</p> + +<p>"Right, Buck, right," said Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep feeling. "I +was just thinking of what I owed to my boy."</p> + +<p>The next morning they struck south across the hills for Mogok, the +great mining town, and their journey thither, under the skilful +guidance of Me Dain, was made in safety. The native woman accompanied +them for the first half day of their journey, and then her path +branched off to the west. She took leave of them with a thousand +thanks and good wishes, and, from the store of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> ready money, carried +on one of the pack-ponies, she was furnished with a bag of silver +pieces which would make her a rich woman when she reached her native +village.</p> + +<p>Her parting words were mysterious. She said, "Tell the young sahib +that he will find that I have not forgotten him."</p> + +<p>Me Dain asked her what she meant, but, with a smile, she refused to +explain, and presently was lost to sight along a forest path, and they +saw her no more.</p> + +<p>From Mogok the travellers pushed on straight to Mandalay, where, +through a merchant of his acquaintance, Mr. Haydon obtained sufficient +money to pay Me Dain the reward he had promised. So that this time the +Burman retired to his native village with wealth beyond anything he +had ever dreamed of.</p> + +<p>This business detained them in Mandalay for some days, but one evening +Mr. Haydon said, "We'll take the first train to-morrow morning," and +the others nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>Jack went to his room to pack the big bag which he had bought to +contain his share of the baggage. The latter had been carried to the +room he occupied in the hotel, and he now began to look over it and +lay things in order. Presently he came to a torn flannel shirt, and he +looked at it with interest. It was the shirt which the half-caste had +rent from his breast, and he had replaced it with a spare one which +had been among their store. He raised it, and it felt oddly heavy. He +unrolled it, and found that it was wrapped round a small parcel.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's this?" murmured Jack. "I never wrapped anything up in this +shirt."</p> + +<p>He took up the parcel and examined it. The outer covering was of +native cloth of a dull blue shade. Jack wondered where he had seen +such cloth before, then remembered that the head-dress of the native +woman, their companion in so adventurous an escape, had been made of +it.</p> + +<p>"Looks like a bit of that great bundle of stuff she twisted round and +round her head," reflected Jack. "Let's see what she's wrapped up for +a keepsake."</p> + +<p>But the chuckle with which these thoughts passed through his mind was +suddenly cut short. A lamp burned brightly on the table beside him. He +untied the scrap of cloth which was fastened about the parcel, and +unwrapped the folds. He gave a jump of astonishment and a cry of +amazement. For there before him, gleaming softly and richly in the +strong light of the lamp, lay a heap of magnificent jewels, glorious +rubies every one.</p> + +<p>He was still staring entranced at this extraordinary find among his +traps when the door was opened and a head thrust in.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," began the newcomer.</p> + +<p>"Buck!" cried the lad, "run and fetch my father and Jim, and come back +with them."</p> + +<p>Buck hurried away, and in less than a minute the four of them were +gathered about the heap of precious stones.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thunder!" breathed Jim Dent, in a soft tone of amazed wonder.</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack, who've you been stickin' up on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> trail?" murmured Buck. +"Well, if they ain't got a shine on 'em!" and he could say no more.</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon was whistling softly, his eyebrows raised. At last he +opened his mouth. "I fancy we've seen these before, Jack," he said.</p> + +<p>"Rather," said his son. "These are the rubies that lay among the bones +of the priests in the secret chamber. I dropped to that at once."</p> + +<p>"We never thought of them again," went on Mr. Haydon, "but the woman +gathered them and carried them off. Now she has passed them on to you +in this fashion. She must have tucked them into the baggage at some +moment when our backs were turned."</p> + +<p>"And this is what she meant by saying that he'd find she hadn't +forgotten him," broke in Buck. "Say, Jack, you've struck it rich this +time."</p> + +<p>The fingers of the expert were busy at the next moment among the rich +stones. Mr. Haydon handled each carefully, sorted them, then took a +pencil and began to appraise them roughly on a scrap of paper. While +he did this, Jack related in a low voice to the other two the story of +the secret chamber in the pagoda.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mr. Haydon at length, "there are thirty-seven altogether. +They vary very much in size, but all are of excellent colour. Speaking +in round figures, they are worth about ninety thousand pounds."</p> + +<p>"Bully for you, Jack!" exclaimed Buck.</p> + +<p>"Bully for all of us, Buck," replied Jack quietly. "If you fancy I'm +going to pocket these, you've missed your kick by a long chalk. We'll +all share<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> and share alike. Where would my father and myself have been +if you hadn't come to the rescue?"</p> + +<p>"Right, Jack, quite right," said Mr. Haydon. "But you will count me +out, if you please. We'll realise this parcel of stones in London, and +then divide the money squarely among you three;" and so it was +settled.</p> + +<p>"Then I'll come home with you!" cried Jim Dent. "I've had enough of +Rangoon, and this trip'll set me up as a rich man for life."</p> + +<p>"I hope the woman kept a few stones for herself," said Jack. His +father laughed.</p> + +<p>"If she's a wise woman she most certainly did not, my boy," he +answered. "The possession of rubies would lead to her getting her +throat cut as sure as she had a throat. No, no. She's much better off +with her bag of rupees."</p> + +<p>Five weeks later, about eleven o'clock on a Thursday morning, Jack and +his father walked into the city, and sought the offices of Messrs Lane +and Baumann. They had come through from Rangoon without a hitch, and +had run into Charing Cross by the boat-train the day before.</p> + +<p>As they walked along the crowded streets, Mr. Haydon smiled, and said +quietly to his son, "You've seen a thing or two, Jack, since last you +paid a visit to Lane & Baumann."</p> + +<p>"I have, father," said Jack. "It seems years ago since I was here +instead of a few months."</p> + +<p>Mr. Haydon had insisted on Jack accompanying him on this visit. "It +was in their offices that you vowed to begin your quest, Jack," he +said; "and in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> offices you shall end it, as far as the great +stone is concerned."</p> + +<p>They were expected, and were at once shown up to Mr. Lane. The latter +sprang forward and greeted Mr. Haydon and Jack most warmly.</p> + +<p>"Welcome home," he said, "welcome home. I am delighted to see you safe +and sound in England once more, Mr. Haydon."</p> + +<p>"And I am very pleased to see you, Mr. Lane," said the famous expert, +"and glad to say that I have brought home in safety, after all, that +big stone, an account of which I cabled to you."</p> + +<p>He drew from his pocket the great ruby still wrapped in the fragment +cut from U Saw's girdle, and laid it before Mr. Lane. The latter gazed +spell-bound at its size and beauty.</p> + +<p>"A marvellous stone, Mr. Haydon!" he murmured at last. "A marvellous +stone! Ah," he went on, "I wonder what Baumann would say to-day if he +were confronted with this wonderful proof of his folly in leaving us."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Baumann is no longer your partner?" cried Thomas Haydon.</p> + +<p>"No," said Mr. Lane. "We disagreed, and he withdrew from the +partnership." Mr. Lane had too much delicacy to say that the quarrel +had arisen over their respective opinions as to Thomas Haydon's +honesty. Finding that he could not induce the senior partner to make +public what he believed to be the theft of the great jewel, Baumann +had broken off his connection with the firm.</p> + +<p>"I have a long story to tell you, but this is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> not the time to tell +it," said Jack's father. "You are too busy."</p> + +<p>"Will you both dine with me to-night?" cried the great merchant. "Then +we can have a good talk over things," and the invitation was accepted.</p> + +<p>As Jack and his father walked away from the offices, the former +remarked, "In one way I was much disappointed that Baumann was not +there. It would have been a cheerful arrangement to make him eat his +words. But on the whole it just caps the affair nicely to find that he +won't benefit by it. Now we'll turn our parcel of rubies into cash and +set up Jim and Buck with a good banking account apiece."</p> + +<p>His father nodded absently. Between his fingers he held the piece of +shining, delicate silk in which the great ruby had been wrapped.</p> + +<p>"I see you've brought the scrap of U Saw's girdle with you," said +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my boy," returned his father. "I shall never part with this +patch of silk. It stands in my eyes for a good deal. I am here safe +and sound, and the big stone is at last in the right hands."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Jack quietly, "with the aid of staunch friends, I have +come to the end of my quest."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + +***** This file should be named 19877-h.htm or 19877-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/7/19877/ + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Jack Haydon's Quest + +Author: John Finnemore + +Illustrator: J. Jellicoe + +Release Date: November 20, 2006 [EBook #19877] +Last updated: January 3, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + + + + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: IN RANGOON.] + + + JACK HAYDON'S + QUEST + + + BY + + JOHN FINNEMORE + + + _CONTAINING EIGHT FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS_ + _IN COLOUR FROM DRAWINGS BY J. JELLICOE_ + + + + PHILADELPHIA + + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + LONDON: ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK + + 1907 + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER + +I. THE ATTACK ON THE HEATH, + +II. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, + +III. THE BIG RUBY, + +IV. BUCK SEES LIGHT, + +V. THE SPY, + +VI. IN RANGOON, + +VII. UP THE RIVER, + +VIII. THE ATTACK ON THE SAMPAN, + +IX. A CLOSE CALL, + +X. THE DACOITS, + +XI. BELEAGUERED, + +XII. A FIGHT FOR LIFE, + +XIII. A CUNNING TRICK, + +XIV. JACK'S PLAN, + +XV. IN THE JUNGLE, + +XVI. THE BRIDGE AND THE FORD, + +XVII. A FRIGHTFUL PERIL, + +XVIII. THE COMBAT IN THE RIVER, + +XIX. THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL, + +XX. THE DANCING GIRL, + +XXI. JACK FINDS HIMSELF IN BAD HANDS, + +XXII. THE TWO ELEPHANTS, + +XXIII. THE PANTHAY WOOD-CUTTERS, + +XXIV. AN UNWELCOME MEETING, + +XXV. THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE, + +XXVI. THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM, + +XXVII. THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNEL, + +XXVIII. THE RUSE OF SAYA CHONE, + +XXIX. THE TORTURE BY FIRE, + +XXX. THE STRONGHOLD OF THE RUBY KING, + +XXXI. FATHER AND SON, + +XXXII. THE HORROR IN THE SWAMP, + +XXXIII. THE POTHOODAW, + +XXXIV. THE HIDING-PLACE AND THE THIEF, + +XXXV. THE FLIGHT FROM THE VALLEY, + +XXXVI. PENNED IN THE PASS, + +XXXVII. HOW THEY MADE A ROPE, + +XXXVIII. IN THE DESERTED CITY, + +XXXIX. THE SECRET CHAMBER, + +XL. THE BATTLE ON THE STAIRS, + +XLI. THE SECRET PASSAGE, + +XLII. IN THE COURTYARD, + +XLIII. THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY, + +XLIV. HOW THINGS ENDED, + + * * * * * + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +IN RANGOON, _Frontispiece_ + +THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY, + +THE DANGER AT THE FORD, + +THE DANCING GIRL, + +A SUDDEN ALARM, + +THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD, + +THE MIDNIGHT THIEF, + +THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT, + + * * * * * + + + + +JACK HAYDON'S QUEST. + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ATTACK ON THE HEATH. + + +Jack Haydon, prefect of Rushmere School and captain of the first +fifteen, walked swiftly out of the school gates and turned along the +high road. He had leave to go to the little town of Longhampton, three +miles away, to visit a day-scholar, a great friend of his, now on the +sick list. + +He was alone, and he swung along at a cracking pace, for he could walk +as well as he could run, and a finer three-quarter had never been +known at Rushmere. He was a tall, powerful lad, nearly nineteen years +of age, five foot ten and a half inches in his stockings, and turning +the scale at twelve stone five. At the present moment he carried not +an ounce of spare flesh, for he was in training for the great match, +Rushmere _v._ Repton, and his weight was compact of solid bone, +muscle, and sinew. As he stepped along the highway, moving with the +easy grace of a well-built athlete, he looked the very picture of a +handsome English lad, at one of the finest moments of his life, the +point where youth and manhood meet. + +The road he followed was called a high road, but the name clung to it +from old use rather than because of present service. Eighty years +before it had been a famous coaching road, along which the galloping +teams had whirled the mails, but now it had fallen into decay, and was +little used except by people passing from Rushmere to Longhampton. A +mile from the school it ran across a lonely, unenclosed piece of +heath, the side of the way being bordered by clumps of holly, thorn, +and furze. + +Halfway across this desolate stretch of country, Jack was surprised by +seeing a man step from behind a thick holly bush and place himself +directly in the lad's way. As Jack approached, the man held up his +hand. + +"Stop," he said, "I want to speak to you." + +Jack stopped in sheer surprise, and looked at the speaker in wonder. +What could the man want with him? At a glance he saw the man was not +English, though upon closer examination he could not place the type. +The stranger's skin was darker than an Englishman's, but not darker +than many a Spaniard's. His eyes were large and black and liquid; +their look was now crafty and a trifle menacing; his hair was lank and +intensely black. In build he was very slight, with thin arms and legs. +Jack's idea was that if he had been a little darker he might very well +have been a Hindoo. + +"And what, my friend, may you want with me?" said Jack genially. + +"This morning you received a letter from your father," said the dusky +stranger. + +"How under the sun do you know that?" asked Jack; "and what if I did? +I don't see where your interest comes in." + +"I wish to see that letter. You had better hand it over at once." + +"Don't you ever apply for a further stock of cheek, my little man," +said Jack, "for you've got all you need, and a little bit over." + +"The letter is almost certainly in your pocket," said the stranger in +perfect English, yet pronounced with a curiously odd lisp and click, +"and I must see it." + +"It's in my pocket all right, confound your cheek," replied Jack, "and +there it will stay. Come, get a move on you, and clear out of my way." + +"I shall not get out of your way," said the other. "I shall stop you +until I have read the letter." + +"I don't know what lunatic asylum is short of your cheerful presence +to-day," remarked Jack, "and if you don't clear out quick I shall +certainly rush you. In which case, I beg you to observe that I am, +even if I say it myself, a pretty stiff tackler, and about three stone +heavier than you." + +The man laughed mockingly and waved his hand, as if making very light +of Jack's purpose. + +"I assure you," he said in a soft voice, and giving once more his +laugh of light mockery, "that it would be much better for you to hand +over the letter at once. I do not wish to hurt you, but I have not the +least objection to do so if it becomes necessary." + +Jack's warm blood was fired at once, and he pulled himself together +for a swift charge which would fill this stranger with surprised +regret for what he had brought upon himself. But, for a second, +something checked him; a strange, mysterious feeling came over him as +he wondered what lay behind all this. He stood, though he knew it not, +at a great parting of the ways. Behind him lay his happy days of +triumph on the football meadow and the cricket field. How was he to +know that this dark, slight figure before him meant that a strange, +new life was opening out to him, a life of wild adventures in far-off +lands, in lands where the memory of English meadows would seem like +thoughts and dreams of another life. Jack Haydon knew nothing of this; +yet he paused for a moment as some strange prevision seized upon him +and held him in its grip. Then he brushed away this odd influence, and +was back at once in the present. + +"For the last time, clear out," said Jack. The man laughed, and Jack +made a swift leap at him. They were not three yards apart, but Jack +never reached his man. Without a sign, without a sound, someone sprang +upon him from behind, flung a cord over his head, and seized him in a +strangling grip. Jack was as strong as a young bull, but in this +awful, noiseless clutch he was helpless. He fought madly to throw off +his unseen assailant, but he fought in vain. He felt a noose close +upon his throat, and his eyeballs began to start out and his head to +swim. In front of him stood the mysterious stranger, who had moved +neither hand nor foot, and Jack's last conscious recollection was of +the quiet, smiling face, and the mocking laugh once more rang in his +ears. Suddenly the frightful, strangling clutch seemed to tighten, the +blood drummed madly in his ears as if every vein was bursting; then he +knew no more. + +When Jack Haydon came to himself, he found that he was in the same +spot, and that someone was chafing his hands and pouring water on his +face. He gave a deep sigh, and a well-known voice said: "Thank God, +Haydon's coming round. Whatever could have been the matter with the +poor lad? What does this mark round his throat mean?" + +Jack opened his eyes and saw Dr. Lawrence, the headmaster of Rushmere +School, bending over him. Near at hand stood Colonel Keppel, a +gentleman residing in the neighbourhood. The Colonel had been driving +Dr. Lawrence back from Longhampton, and his trap stood close by. At +the present moment the Colonel held a hat from which water was +dripping. He had fetched it from a pool near at hand. + +Jack gulped once or twice, then began to speak. The two gentlemen +heard his story with the utmost surprise. + +"Garrotters!" cried Dr. Lawrence, "I never heard of such an outrage in +this neighbourhood before. What a frightful thing! Yes, yes, that +explains the mark on your throat. Their object must have been robbery. +What have they stolen from you, Haydon?" But the mystery now deepened. +Jack's watch and chain, his purse, everything he had worth stealing, +were perfectly safe and untouched. Suddenly Jack started up and thrust +his hand into his pocket. "The letter! the letter!" he cried. He drew +out several letters and looked over them. "My father's letter has +gone!" he said. + +"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel, pointing to a sheet of paper +fluttering over the heath about thirty yards away. He ran and fetched +it. "This is the letter," said Jack, "the letter I received from my +father this morning." + +"But what an extraordinary thing that you should be attacked in this +manner, Haydon, in order that this man may read a private letter. Is +there anything in it, may I ask, to explain such a strange +proceeding?" + +"Nothing, sir, that I know of; nothing in the least. My father says +nothing there but what anyone may see. I beg that you and Colonel +Keppel will glance over it; you will then see how ordinary it is." + +The two gentlemen demurred, but Jack insisted, and they ran their eyes +over what Mr. Haydon had written. "Purely and simply an ordinary +letter from a father abroad to his son," said the Doctor; "it seems +madness to go to such lengths to gain a glimpse of such a letter." + +"All the same, young Haydon was quite right in not giving up his +father's note to such rogues to read, whatever their purpose may have +been," remarked the Colonel. + +"Oh, quite so, quite so," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "They had no right +whatever to see his private correspondence. By the way, Haydon, I see +your father is on his way home. This is posted at Cairo. In what part +of the East has he been staying lately?" + +"He has been in Burmah for some time, sir," replied Jack, "but I do +not know exactly what he has been doing. I rather fancy he went out to +survey some ruby-mines for a big London firm." + +"Quite so," said the Doctor, "I have seen him referred to many times +as a famous ruby expert." + +At this moment Colonel Keppel came towards them with something in his +hand. He had started away after concluding his last speech, and had +gone in the direction where he had seen the letter fluttering. Now he +was returning. + +"Here is something they dropped, something which throws a flood of +light on the affair in one way, and makes it much stranger in +another," he remarked in a grave voice, holding up his find. It was a +curiously-plaited thong of raw hide, with faded strips of silk worked +into the plaits. + +"The cord with which Haydon was garrotted!" cried Dr. Lawrence. "They +dropped it." + +"Yes," said the Colonel slowly, "but this does not mean common +garrotters. The fact that they stole nothing really disposes of that. +This means a much darker and more terrible business." + +"And what is that?" cried the headmaster. + +"Thuggee," said Colonel Keppel very gravely. + +"Thugs, Colonel!" said Dr. Lawrence in a tone of stupefaction. "Are +you serious? Thugs on the heath here, in our quiet, familiar country?" + +"This is a Thug noose, at any rate," said Colonel Keppel. "I know it +very well. I served twenty-seven years among the hill-tribes of +northern India in one capacity and another, and once I served in a +Thug country, and I shall never forget it. The way young Haydon was +handled suggests Thuggee. No common garrotter could have overcome such +a fine, powerful young fellow in that fashion. But the skill of these +Thugs is a thing truly diabolical. I remember one instance well. One +night, just upon dusk, two men of my regiment were entering the gate +of the cantonments. The guard saw them pass, and one was relating a +story to the other. The man telling the story expected his comrade to +laugh at the conclusion of the anecdote. Hearing nothing, he turned +and found that he was walking alone and talking to the empty air. +Thinking his comrade had slipped aside and played a trick upon him by +leaving him to himself, he went on to the barrack-room. Later the +second man was missing, and inquiries were made. A search followed, +and the dead body of the unfortunate man was found under the wall of +the cantonments. He had been seized and strangled by Thugs when +actually walking beside a comrade, and the latter had known nothing of +it. + +"That shows frightful skill and cunning, Colonel," said Dr. Lawrence. + +"It does indeed," said the other, "and I could relate a dozen such +stories. But why Thugs should be here and attack Haydon seems a most +extraordinary mystery. How do you feel now, Haydon?" + +"Much better, sir," replied Jack. "My throat's a bit stiff, but for +the rest I am none the worse." + +"You've had a wonderful escape, my boy," said Colonel Keppel; "there +are not many who have felt a Thug noose and lived to say what it was +like. But now, Doctor, what are we to do? There must be some inquiry +made into this." + +"Of course, of course," agreed Dr. Lawrence. "You are a magistrate, +Colonel; what do you recommend?" + +"We must put it into the hands of the police at once," said Colonel +Keppel. "The fellows cannot have got far. We saw no sign of them on +the road, so they must have slipped away over the heath, very probably +as soon as they heard the sound of wheels in the distance. Now, +Haydon, jump up at the back of the trap. The cob will soon run us up +to the constable's cottage in Rushmere." + +All three climbed into the Colonel's dog-cart, and away went the brown +cob at a slashing pace for Rushmere. Tom Buck, the Rushmere constable, +was just returning from a round, and he touched his hat respectfully +to the gentlemen. Colonel Keppel told the story, and Buck slapped the +gate-post with his open hand. + +"Well, gentlemen," he said in surprise, "then they are the very men +I've just been hearing about." + +"What's that?" said Colonel Keppel. "Where have you heard of them?" + +"From Parsons, the postman, he drives the mail-cart, you know, sir, +from Longhampton. This morning, just after six, he was coming through +the Chase, the wood beyond the heath, when two men slipped out o' the +trees before him and made a dash at the horse's head. There was hardly +light enough to see 'em, an' they'd ha' stopped him as easy as could +be if he hadn't been drivin' a young, fresh, chestnut mare. She's that +wild he daren't use a whip to her, but seein' these suspicious +characters, he snatches the whip out and gives her a cut as hard as he +could lay it on. Off she went like a shot, took the bit between her +teeth and bolted. As for the men jumpin' at her head, it was all they +could do to save themselves from being run down and trodden underfoot. +Parsons luckily managed to keep her on the road, and after she'd +galloped a couple o' miles or so, he managed to pull her in all of a +lather." + +"Then those rascals meant to raid the mail-bags to find your letter, +Haydon," said Colonel Keppel. "They seem to have been thoroughly +posted as to its time of arrival. Missing the postman, they hung +about, and a strange chance delivered you into their hands." + +"It's certainly a most mysterious business, sir," replied Jack. "But +why they should want to see so simple and ordinary a letter, who they +are, and what they're after, are altogether beyond me." + +"We must try to get hold of them," said Colonel Keppel, "then we shall +perhaps be able to fathom the mystery." He gave orders to Buck, who +went off at once to follow, if possible, the track of the strangers +across the heath, to inquire at cottages, and do his utmost to trace +them. + +"For my part," said Colonel Keppel, "I shall drive back at once to +Longhampton, and see the superintendent. The railway must be watched, +and every constable for miles round be warned by telegraph to keep a +look out for the rascals." + +"You are very kind to take so much trouble, Colonel," said Dr. +Lawrence. + +"I'm working for myself as much as anyone," laughed the other. "My +wife and daughters use that road continually, and very often they are +driving alone in a pony-carriage. It is imperative that the +neighbourhood be cleared of such desperate characters." + +He drove away at once, and Dr. Lawrence and Jack walked up the hill to +the school. Jack had given up the idea of his visit to Longhampton. + +"If I were you, Haydon," said the Head, "I should go and rest a +little. Sit down quietly in your study for an hour or two; you must +feel badly shaken by your awful experience." + +"Thank you, sir," replied Jack, "I will do as you say, though as a +matter of fact I am practically recovered now. Luckily, I'm in +first-rate condition, I'm not bothered with nerves." + +"No," smiled Dr. Lawrence, "I suppose not. Still, I should be careful +for a time if I were you." + +At the Doctor's gate they parted, and Jack went to his own study and +sat down. He could not keep his mind from his extraordinary adventure. +Why had those fellows seized him, and what did they want? Would they +be caught, and then would their secret be discovered? His mind worked +over these points again and again, like a squirrel working the wheel +in his cage. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. + + +Four days later Jack Haydon was in his study, his heels on the +mantelpiece, his eyes fastened on the pages of a novel, when there was +a tap at his door and a telegram was brought in. He broke open the +envelope and read the contents in growing surprise and wonder. Then a +look of uneasiness came into his eyes. It was a cablegram from +Brindisi, and ran, "Come at once. Most urgent," and was signed +"Risley." Jack went across to the Doctor's house, sent up his name, +and was bidden to go up to the study. Here he laid the cablegram +before the Head. + +"Who is Risley, Haydon?" asked Dr. Lawrence. + +"My father's man, sir," replied Jack. "It seems to me that they must +have got as far as Brindisi on their way home. I feel wretchedly +uneasy. Something tells me that things have gone wrong with my +father." + +"Oh, I hope not," said Dr. Lawrence. "There is no word of ill-news +here. The urgency may be quite on another score." + +"I should like to start at once, sir," said Jack. "I know my way about +the Continent very well. I have spent two or three vacations in +Italy." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Dr. Lawrence. "Have you plenty of money for +the journey, Haydon?" + +"I don't need more than sufficient to carry me to London, sir," +replied Jack. "I shall go there to Mr. Buxton, my father's friend, who +manages all his business affairs, and he will supply me with funds." + +Jack was on fire to be off to Brindisi and see what was wrong. He made +short work of his packing, and within an hour he was driving to +Longhampton to catch the London express. He caught it with scarcely +two minutes to spare, and was soon whirling towards the great city. A +short distance from Longhampton, he caught a glimpse of Rushmere +School in the distance on its hill, and the strip of heath country +running up to the foot of the slope. This brought to mind his +adventure, which remained as mysterious an affair as ever. The police +had been most active, stations had been watched, inquiries had been +made in every direction, but all to no result. The Thugs had vanished +and left no trace behind. But the thought of his encounter on the +heath soon faded from Jack's mind. It was crushed out by the pressing +question of the moment. What was the matter at Brindisi? Why had +Risley cabled and not his father? Had something happened to his +father? Jack felt wretchedly uneasy, for he and his father were bound +together by no ordinary ties of affection. + +In the first place, he had, as far as he knew, no other living +relation. His mother had been dead for many years, and his father was +the only close friend that Jack knew. Then the elder Haydon had always +been a great hero in his son's eyes. His profession of mining engineer +had carried him into many wild corners of the world, and the store of +marvellous tales which he would pour forth for the boy's delight had +made Jack's holidays a time of intense pleasure. Mr. Haydon had always +made a point, if it was possible, of keeping himself free for such +times, and he and Jack had spent the weeks joyously, until the day for +return to school had become a Black Monday indeed in the boy's eyes. + +As Jack mused over memories of other days, his anxiety to know what +was wrong at Brindisi grew moment by moment, and the flying express +seemed to crawl, so great was his impatience to be in London, where he +expected to get further news from Mr. Buxton. But he was destined to +learn something long before he saw Mr. Buxton. The express screamed +into an important junction and pulled up for five minutes. Three +fellow-passengers got out, and left Jack to himself. A boy came along +the platform shouting, "London Pay-pers," and Jack bought a _Daily +Telegraph_. + +He turned to the football news, and was reading it, when the train +pulled out and shot forward once more towards London. But the accounts +of his beloved sport failed to interest him, and he turned the paper +over listlessly, idly scanning one big sheet after another. Suddenly +the word imprinted on his brain caught his eye. "Brindisi"--here was +some scrap of news from Brindisi. + +What was it? Jack folded the paper, and then a second name seemed to +leap at him from the sheet. His own name! Haydon, Brindisi. What now? +His eyes darted over the paragraph, and he drew a long, gasping +breath. This, then, was the explanation of the cablegram. Over and +over again Jack read the paragraph, striving to grasp what it all +meant, striving to seize the inner meaning. The paragraph was short +and to the point. It ran:-- + + "STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE. + + "FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. + + "BRINDISI, _Tuesday_. + + "There is much stir here over the mysterious disappearance of + Mr. Thomas Haydon, the famous mining expert and engineer. He + arrived here on Sunday, and it was believed that he intended + to travel to England by the mail-train. He went for a walk on + Sunday evening, but did not return to his hotel, where his + man and his baggage were awaiting him. Since he left his + hotel there has been no sign of him, and the authorities are + making a diligent search." + +His father had disappeared? How? Why? Jack could make nothing of it, +and he stared at the paper with pale face and perplexed eyes. It was +so contrary to his every idea of his father, this extraordinary +disappearance. Thomas Haydon was the last man in the world to set +tongues wagging and to give anxiety to friends by such a trick. There +was something very strange at the back of this, and Jack struck the +paper with his open hand. "Foul Play!" he murmured to himself, and +then, for he was alone in the carriage, he said it aloud, "Foul Play!" + +Jack glanced at his watch. The train was due at St. Pancras in an +hour. How slowly that hour dragged! Now that he knew this momentous +piece of news, Jack burned more fiercely than ever to be in the midst +of affairs and doing something to clear up this strange mystery which +had gathered about his father's name. At last, with a thrill of joy, +he heard the engine give its warning shriek as it ran into the big +station. He had brought nothing but a Gladstone bag with him, and he +had it in his hand, and the door of the carriage open, before the +train drew up. He made a leap at the first hansom, and shouted, +"Lincoln's Inn. Drive fast," and away he rattled into London streets. + +There was a good cob in the shafts, and little time was lost on the +way. Jack paid the man double fare for the excellent speed he had +made, then bounded upstairs to the landing upon which Mr. Buxton's +chambers opened. In answer to his knock, a tall, thin man with a long +beard came to the door, and Jack gave a cry of joy. "You are at home, +then, Mr. Buxton. How glad I am! It has been my one terror that you +might be away in the country." + +"No, Jack, I'm here," said Mr. Buxton, shaking hands. "I've been +expecting you every knock I've heard. I suppose you've seen the +papers." + +"Yes," cried Jack, "I saw the _Daily Telegraph._ Are there any further +particulars in the others?" + +"No," replied Mr. Buxton, leading the way into his sitting-room. "The +_Telegraph_ has as much as anyone." + +"Have you heard anything? Do you know anything?" cried Jack eagerly. + +"Nothing but what I've seen in the papers," replied the other. "I'm +altogether at sea. I can't fathom in the least what it all means. What +have you had?" + +"Nothing but this cablegram," said the lad, and handed it over. Mr. +Buxton read it aloud slowly, and nodded. "From Risley," he said. "Of +course he wants to get you on the spot at once." + +"I shall start without any delay," said Jack. "Isn't there a +boat-train to-night?" + +"Yes," said Mr. Buxton, glancing at a clock on the mantelpiece, "but +there's plenty of time for that. Sit down and talk it over, and +besides, you must have something to eat." + +He rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to set out a +meal in the adjoining apartment: he gave Jack a chair beside the fire, +and took one opposite to him and began to fill a pipe. + +"Mr. Buxton," said Jack earnestly, "there's something out of the +common in this. My father has met with foul play. Before I know +anything else I feel sure of that." + +Mr. Buxton struck a match and puffed out several clouds of smoke. Then +he tossed the match into the fire, and nodded through the tobacco +clouds. "I agree with you, Jack," he said. "This is the queerest thing +I ever came across in my life. I've known Tom Haydon, boy and man, +this forty-five years, and he's as straight as a gun-barrel. If they +expected him back at that hotel, if Risley expected him back, then he +meant to come back. And if he didn't get back, it was because he was +interfered with. I'd stake a hand on that." + +Jack nodded with glistening eyes. "And I'm going to see why he didn't +come back," said the lad. + +"I'd come with you if I could," said Mr. Buxton, "but at present I can +no more leave London than the Monument can. I'm as fast by the leg, +held by press of work, as a bear tethered to a stump. How do you +stand for funds?" + +"I've only got a sovereign or two in my pocket," said Jack. "I was +depending on you." + +"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "of course you were. I made time an hour +or so ago to run over your father's accounts. There's plenty to draw +on." He went over to his desk and ran his fingers through a bundle of +papers. "Here it is," he remarked. "At the present moment your father +is worth the respectable sum of forty-seven thousand two hundred and +nineteen pounds eighteen shillings and fourpence; so he certainly +hasn't run away from his creditors." + +Jack nodded. "I'll start straight for Brindisi to-night, Mr. Buxton. I +can't lose a minute till I get on to the spot and talk with Buck +Risley." + +Mr. Buxton nodded. "I quite understand your feelings, Jack," he +replied. "I've wondered whether the matter might not have a very +simple explanation after all. One thing struck me. Has your father +ever said anything about his health to you? You know he's been a great +deal in India and Burmah. It's a very easy thing to get a touch of the +sun, and that will often cause a man to lose the sense of his identity +and get lost for a time." + +Jack shook his head. "I've never heard him mention such a thing," he +said. "He's always been perfectly fit whenever I've seen him." + +"Yes, yes," said Mr. Buxton, "and whenever I've seen him, too. He has +a wonderful constitution. But, you know, the possibility crossed my +mind, and I mentioned it." + +At this moment the servant announced that the meal was ready, and +Jack did his best to eat something. It was a very poor best, however, +for he was too anxious to be on his way to be able to eat, and he was +relieved when Mr. Buxton said it was time to start and sent the +servant for a cab. + +On their way to Charing Cross they did not talk much: conjecture was a +pretty useless thing, and, in their present state of utter lack of +information, conjecture was the only thing possible. + +The bustle of getting a ticket and finding a seat occupied most of the +ten minutes they had to spare before the train started, and, as the +swift express glided out, Mr. Buxton waved his hat to Jack leaning +through the window, and cried, "Good luck!" + +Of Jack's swift scurry across the Channel and over the Continent it is +not necessary to enter into details. He made the journey with the +utmost speed, and chafed at every delay. At last the train ran into +the station of Brindisi, and Jack hung half out of the window, his +eyes searching the crowd for Risley, to whom he had telegraphed his +time of arrival. + +"Hullo, Buck," sang out Jack, as a middle-sized, stiff-built man of +five and thirty ran up to his carriage door. + +"Glad to see you, Jack," said Buck Risley, as they shook hands. "Very +glad to see you." + +"Any news?" snapped Jack. + +"Not a word," replied Buck gravely, "not a word. Is this your bag?" + +"Yes," said Jack sombrely, for he was very disappointed. He had been +hoping to hear that something had been found out, or that his father +had returned. + +Buck took Jack's gladstone, called a carriage, and gave the name of +the hotel. He did not speak till they were rattling along the streets +of Brindisi. + +"Say, Jack, this beats the band," he said. "I can't make a guess +what's happened to the Professor." + +Mr. Haydon and Buck Risley had first met in a "wild-cat" mining camp +in Dakota. _The Lone Wolf Clarion_ had introduced the English engineer +to the local community as Professor Haydon, and Mr. Haydon had been +the Professor ever since to his part-comrade, part-servant. + +"Tell me all about it," said Jack, and Buck began his story. It was +soon finished, for there was very little to tell. They had been four +months in Burmah, and Mr. Haydon and Buck had gone up to Mandalay, and +then on to the Mogok country. At Mogok Buck had been seized with a +sharp touch of fever, and had been compelled to remain in that famous +mining town while Mr. Haydon went up country, accompanied only by a +few natives who had been with him in other journeys. He came back +after an absence of five weeks to Mogok, found Buck better, and +announced that they would return to England at once. They had packed +and started forthwith, and returned by the usual route. + +"Did my father seem quite himself, just as usual in every way, Buck?" +asked Jack. + +"No," said Buck thoughtfully. "He didn't quite. There was somethin' on +the Professor's mind, I'm sure o' that." + +Jack put forward Mr. Buxton's suggestion, but Buck waved it aside. + +"Touch o' the sun," said he. "Oh, no, nothin' like that. The +Professor was as fit as he always was, right as a bull-frog in a +swamp. No, it was a sort of anxiousness there was about him. He was +that careful that you might almost call him fidgetty." + +"Fidgetty!" said Jack in surprise, as he remembered the perfectly +equable manner of his widely-travelled father. + +"Yes, that's as good a word as any I can jump on at short notice," +replied Buck. "He seemed as keen on getting back to London as some o' +these globetrotters who have got sick o' foreign parts." + +"That was rather strange," commented Jack. "You've been with my father +twelve years now, Buck. Did you ever see him like it before?" + +"Never in my knowledge of him," said Buck, shaking his head. "As a +general rule the Professor was as calm an' easy campin' in a jungle as +another man in a front seat at a circus. It was all one to the +Professor, let things come how they might. But this time he seemed as +if his only idea was to get back. Not that he said much about it. The +most I ever heard him say was, 'Well, Buck, I don't care how soon I +get into Lane & Baumann's office,' an' he only said that once when he +was fretted at losing a day by missing a boat at Rangoon." + +At this moment the carriage drew up at the door of the hotel. They had +scarcely entered the door when the hotel clerk came forward with a +cablegram. It was from Messrs Lane & Baumann, asking if anything was +yet known of Mr. Haydon. + +"If he was anxious to see them, they are just as anxious to see him," +said Buck, handing the form to Jack. "Every day they wire, an' +sometimes twice a day, to know if I've got hold of any news." + +"I wish I'd been to see them before I left London," said Jack. "I +might have got some useful information from them. What do you believe +has happened to my father?" + +"I dunno what to think," said Risley, "except that some o' these +Dagoes got him in a corner and went for his pocket-book. He'd got +plenty of money with him." + +"But if he'd been attacked by thieves," argued Jack, "the police would +have found something out before this. He could not have been hidden +away from them." + +Buck shook his head. "Some o' these Dagoes are very sly and deep," he +replied. "I've heard queer stories about 'em at times. They say there +are brigands around." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack, "in Sicily and in some of the wilder parts of +Calabria, but not in Brindisi, Buck, not in this big port." + +"Well, I give it up," said Buck, "but there's a queer twist at the +bottom of it somewhere. The Professor ain't the sort o' man to worry +us by goin' into hiding somewhere, and lyin' low." + +"Of course he isn't," said Jack. "My father was prevented from +returning to the hotel, that's clear enough; and we've got to find +how." + +"Say, I'm your man, Jack," returned Buck. "I shan't feel easy till +I've had a glimpse o' the Professor with his old, quiet smile on him. +We'll hunt every hole there is." + +For two days Jack and Buck hunted every hole about Brindisi, and, +stimulated by the promise of handsome rewards, the police, too, did +their utmost, but all was in vain; the missing man had disappeared as +though the earth had opened and swallowed him. Absolutely the only +thing out of the ordinary that the police could discover was that a +fisherman's skiff was missing one night, and was found the next +morning a couple of miles down the coast, floating idly about. But the +painter was drifting astern, and it might easily have happened that it +had been carelessly fastened, and the rope had slipped from the +mooring ring and allowed the skiff to drift away. + +On the afternoon of the second day Jack announced his decision. +"Buck," said he, "I'm going back to London. I want to see Lane & +Baumann. It's quite possible that some information may be gleaned from +them which would give us a basis to go to work upon." + +"It's no good stopping here," said Risley. "When shall we start?" + +"To-night," said Jack, and, being near the station, they turned in to +look up the time of the fast express. Jack glanced along the platform, +and soon found what he sought, one of Cook's interpreters. "I want to +ask some questions of the booking-clerk," he said to the man, slipping +several _lire_ into his hand, "you might come and interpret for me." + +"Yes, sir," said the man at once, and followed the tall young +Englishman to the office. In three minutes Jack had learned what he +wished as to the shortest route and fastest trains; then he and Risley +set out to return to the hotel. Suddenly Jack remembered another +point, and crying, "Half-a-minute, Buck," he rushed back to the +office. He thrust open a swing door and saw that the interpreter was +still there, and was now in conversation with a smaller man. Jack +stepped forward, and the smaller man looked up and gave a short, quick +cry of alarm. For a second Jack stood with widely-opened eyes and +parted lips, an image of wild surprise. Then darting forward at full +speed, he seized the second man by the throat, and clutched him as a +lion clutches his prey. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BIG RUBY. + + +Jack had known the fellow at once, had recognised him instantly as the +small, dark man who had stood in front of him upon Rushmere Heath and +demanded that he should produce his father's letter. An instant +conviction had darted into Jack's mind that these things were +connected, and that this man knew something of his father's +disappearance. + +"I've got you this time," cried Jack, and was upon him in a second. +But a most astonishing thing happened. The small, slight man offered +no resistance to Jack's fierce rush, instead, he seemed to give way +before it as a reed gives way before the wind. Then he bent slightly +and laid one small, sinewy hand on Jack's knee, and, in some +mysterious fashion or another, the lad felt that his hold was torn +away, and that he was flying through the air over the little man's +head. All in a heap Jack landed on the dusty floor. As he fell, he +caught a glimpse of Buck's head thrust through the swinging door as he +followed his young leader, and saw the look of surprise on Buck's +face. + +"Seize him!" roared Jack, and Buck darted forward as the dark stranger +shot through another door and vanished into a crowd which swarmed on +to the platform from a train which had just drawn up. Jack gathered +himself together, and sprang to his feet, and rushed after his +companion. He soon found Buck, who was hurrying through the groups, +looking about on every hand, and they searched together, but searched +in vain; the mysterious stranger had gone to earth safely amid the +ample cover provided by the mass of bustling passengers. At last they +pulled up and looked at each other. + +"No go," said Jack, "he's lost in the crowd. He may be far enough away +by now." + +Buck's look of wonder and surprise was striking to behold. + +"See here, Jack," he said, laying his hand on his companion's arm. +"How in thunder do you come to know Saya Chone, and jump on him at +sight like a hawk droppin' on a chicken?" + +"You know him, Buck?" cried Jack. "You know his name?" + +"Know him all right," replied Buck. "But what under the sun is he +doing this distance from home? What brings Saya Chone in Brindisi? The +last time I set eyes on him he was coming into Mogok with a little bag +of rubies to sell to U Saw, the chap they call the Ruby King." + +"He comes from Burmah, where you have been?" + +"Sure thing," said Buck, nodding his head. "He's a half-caste. Says +his father was a British officer, and prides himself on talking Number +One English." + +"He talked English as easily as we do," said Jack, "but with an odd +click of the tongue." + +"That's the native strain in him," returned Buck. "But where did you +run up against him and hear his English?" + +Jack told his story quickly, and Risley listened with a knitted brow +of attention. + +"Say, there's business at the back o' this," murmured Buck, "but where +it fits in beats me at the moment. We don't know enough, Jack, to be +sure which way we're moving." + +"We do not, Buck, you are quite right," replied the lad, "and we'll +make a bee-line for London and see the firm for whom father was +working." + +"Let's go and see what tar-brush was talking to the interpreter +about," suggested Buck, and they went at once and found the man, who +had returned to his post on the platform. The interpreter readily told +them that the half-caste had offered him a liberal sum in order to +learn what Jack was doing, and what route he intended to follow on +leaving Brindisi, but the man declared that he had made no answer, +had, indeed, been unable to reply to the questions before Jack was on +the scene and making his rush. + +"Is it worth while to stop here and put the police on the search for +this fellow, I wonder?" said Jack, as he and his companion returned to +the hotel. + +"I doubt it," returned Buck. "There are such numbers of foreigners of +all kinds passing through the port that the police can't keep track of +them all. Besides, it would take time, and if there's some queer game +in the wind, we've lost a good deal now. If you could learn, Jack, how +matters stand between the Professor and the firm that sent him out to +Burmah, it might give you a line to go on. At present we're snuffin' +the wind and pickin' up no scent." + +"You're right, Buck, we'll get the baggage together at once." + +Again Jack rushed across Italy, France, and the Channel, never pausing +for one instant on the way. It was a little before noon on a Thursday +morning when he saw London again, and, at the terminus, he parted with +Buck. + +The latter went with the baggage to Lincoln's Inn to report to Mr. +Buxton, while Jack, too anxious to lose another moment, jumped into a +cab and drove straight to the offices of Messrs Lane & Baumann in Old +Broad Street. He sent his name in, and was shown at once into a large +room where Mr. Lane, the senior partner, sat at his desk. + +"Ah, Mr. Haydon," said he, "you have, I hope, come to give us some +news about your father." + +"Unfortunately I have not," replied Jack. "I have been in Brindisi +making every inquiry possible, but I have been able to gather no +information whatever as to his whereabouts. I have come here in hopes +that you may give me some idea of what his arrangements were with you, +and from that I might plan a course of action." + +"I think my partner had better join us," said Mr. Lane, taking up a +speaking-tube. For a few moments nothing was said. The business man +went on with the letter he was writing, and Jack looked about him. The +office was large and splendidly fitted up. Jack knew nothing of Lane & +Baumann, but it was plain on every hand that it was a large and +wealthy firm. Mr. Lane himself was an elderly gentleman, +irreproachably dressed, and the picture of an important man in the +City. + +The door opened and the other partner came in. Jack saw that Mr. +Baumann was much younger, a fat, heavy German with clean-shaven face +and big, round spectacles, through which little, thick-lidded eyes +peered. + +"Has he brought some news?" asked Baumann quickly. "What does he say?" +His accent at once betrayed him, though his English was excellent. + +"No," said Mr. Lane quietly, "he has brought no news. He comes to +learn of us." + +"To learn of us," said Baumann slowly; "and what is it you wish to +learn?" he demanded of Jack. + +The latter eyed the German keenly. At the first word he detected an +enemy. Mr. Lane had been gravely polite and non-committal in his +manner. This man showed hostility at once. + +"I wish to learn anything that will aid me in discovering the reason +for the mysterious disappearance of my father," replied Jack, firmly. + +"Mysterious disappearance," repeated the German, with a sneering +stress upon the words. "_Ach Gott!_ it is no mystery to me when a man +with such a gombanion as that disappears." He was becoming excited, +and his German accent began to thicken. + +"Companion," repeated Jack, "I do not understand you. My father had no +companion except Buck Risley, his man, who has now returned to London +with me." + +"Had he not, indeed?" said Baumann. "But he had a very close +gombanion, one who might easily lead him astray. _Himmel_, what was it +not worth? I think about it night and day." + +"Gently, Baumann, gently," said Mr. Lane. "You are mystifying Mr. +Haydon, and I shall explain to him what you mean. He clearly does not +understand you, and I do not think it is right to keep him in the +dark. Mr. Haydon, do you know why your father went to Burmah for us?" + +"I understood that he was going to survey some concession you had +gained," replied Jack. + +"My goncession," cried Baumann. "I went over there and saw the place, +and I said to myself, _Himmel_, here is the for rubies, yes, fine +rubies, and I got all rights to dig there." + +Mr. Lane quieted his excited partner and turned once more to Jack. + +"Exactly," he said; "your father went to survey a concession for us. +My partner had been over the ground, and had returned convinced that +there was a fine field for ruby-mining. We sent your father out to +look carefully over the ground on our behalf, and a short time ago we +received some very startling news from him. He cabled to us that in a +fissure of the rock, where, as everyone knows, the finest rubies are +found, he had made a most marvellous find. He had come across a ruby +of priceless quality, and, as his work was done, he intended to return +at once, bringing the ruby with him in order to place it himself in +our hands." + +"And now he has mysteriously disappeared," sneered Baumann. His +meaning was very plain, and Jack leapt to his feet with pale face and +shining eyes. + +"Sir!" he cried. "Do you dare to hint that the ruby is the cause of my +father's disappearance?" + +The German smiled, and Jack's anger grew. + +"It is impossible!" he cried. "My father is the soul of uprightness +and honour. And do you think he would be tempted by a mere stone, +whatever its value? He has handled rubies a hundred and a hundred +times." + +"Ay," snarled the German, "but not such a ruby as this. What did he +say himself? What was in his cablegram? 'The finest ruby by far that I +have ever seen or handled!' He says that. He, Haydon, the first living +expert on rubies, the man who knows everything of every big specimen +in existence. _Himmel, Himmel_, what a stone was that! And what time +are we losing! I would set every police of the world on his track. And +we do no nothing, nothing!" + +"Gently, Baumann, gently, you know very well that I do not agree with +you," said Mr. Lane. + +Jack turned eagerly to the senior partner. He felt that the whining +German was below both his anger and contempt. + +"Sir," said Jack earnestly, "if my father had in his charge a stone so +immensely precious, I fear he has met with foul play." + +"Who knew of it?" said Mr. Lane. "Had he mentioned anything about it +to his man?" + +"No, he had not," said Jack, and narrated at once what he had heard +from Buck Risley. + +"Yes," said Mr. Lane, nodding, "it was the possession of the great +jewel which made him uneasy." + +"Who can say what it was worth?" broke in Baumann fiercely. "A big +ruby of perfect colour and without flaw, remember, he said its like +did not exist, is of all stones the most precious. Diamonds, poof! +This ruby was worth a score of great diamonds." + +"And if my father had with him so wonderful a stone," urged Jack on +Mr. Lane, "is it not almost certain that someone has learned of its +existence? and again I say that he has met with foul play." + +"But who should know of it?" said Mr. Lane. "It is most unlikely that +he should mention it to anyone; and you say, moreover, that his own +companion knew nothing of it." + +"But," cried Jack, and thought this point was a clincher, "he cabled +home to you about it, and word of it got abroad, perhaps, from the +telegraph office." + +Mr. Lane shook his head. "He cabled to us in cipher," he said; "a +cipher which he had composed himself and wrote down for us before he +started. The paper has been safely locked up in our strong-room, and +it was the only copy in the world, for he told us that, for himself, +he should carry the cipher in his memory." + +This was puzzling and baffling, and Jack was silent. In a moment he +put forward another point. + +"But we are not sure the ruby has disappeared with my father," he +said; "it may be packed away in his baggage." + +Mr. Lane shook his head once more. "No," he said, "that is very +unlikely. Your father would be certain to carry a thing so small and +so valuable on his person. He would never part with it night or day." + +Again there was a short interval in which nothing was said. Into this +silence suddenly broke the grumbling roar of Baumann's great voice. +The German had been brooding over the disappearance of the great stone +until he was beside himself. + +"_Ach Gott_," he cried furiously to Mr. Lane. "You are foolish. You +still believe in the man and trust him. Me, I do not, I tell you +plainly he is a thief. He is to-day perhaps in Amsterdam, cutting that +noble and splendid stone into many smaller ones, and each of them +still a fortune. Yes, he is a thief!" + +"You liar!" roared Jack. "My father is not a thief. How dare you take +such words on your dirty lips in respect of such a man!" + +He had bounded to his feet and clenched his fists. Mr. Lane sprang +between them. + +"Now, Mr. Haydon," said the elder man, "you must keep the peace. +Baumann is speaking very wildly. I do not agree with him. I know your +father too well." + +Respect for Mr. Lane held Jack back, and nothing else. He would dearly +have liked to plant his fist on the German's foaming mouth, but he +commanded himself with an immense effort, and tried to speak calmly. + +"The man is mad to say such things," said Jack with trembling lips. +"Why, the whole facts of the case are against any such monstrous idea. +If my father had wished to steal the stone, would he have cabled to +you full particulars and started home? What would have been easier +than to pocket it at once, and say nothing?" + +"He was not a thief at first," vociferated the German. "He was honest +when he cabled. But the jewel, the great, big, beautiful jewel itself +corrupted him. He looked at it, and looked at it, till the love of it +filled his heart and he could not part with it. _Himmel_, I have felt +it all. I know what happened as well as if I had been at his side all +the voyage." + +"Look here, you foul slanderer," cried Jack. "I'll prove you a liar +out and out. Listen to me. I'll find my father if he still remains in +existence, and I'll prove that you wrong him by your unjust +suspicions." The lad turned to Mr. Lane with flushed face and shining +eyes. "I thank you, sir," he said, "for the trust you still retain in +my father. I will do my very utmost to prove to you that it was well +placed. I cannot promise you anything save that I will do all that +lies in my power to trace your great ruby and discover my father's +fate at the same time." + +Jack could say no more. He held out his hand and Mr. Lane shook it, +and the tall English lad strode from the office. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BUCK SEES LIGHT. + + +Jack walked rapidly through the city, and, free from the presence of +Baumann and his vile insinuations, began to cool rapidly and survey +the situation with a steadier eye. + +"This needs talking over," he said to himself. "Here's a big new +development." He hailed a cab and was driven to Lincoln's Inn. He +found Mr. Buxton's sitting-room littered with the baggage they had +brought home, and Mr. Buxton himself in close confab with Buck Risley. + +"Hullo, Jack," said the elder man, rising to shake hands with him; +"how have you been getting on with Lane and Baumann? You look +excited." + +"Rather, Mr. Buxton," said Jack. "I have been learning a great deal." +He struck into his story at once, and the two men listened with great +interest. + +"He had an immense ruby of incalculable value in his possession," said +Mr. Buxton slowly, when Jack had finished. "I say, this changes the +whole situation. I'm afraid, Jack, something very serious has happened +to your father." + +"Then that's what was on the Professor's mind," cried Buck. "I knew +very well there was something. It was big enough to make even him +feel uneasy." + +"It's an odd thing he didn't mention it to you, Risley," said Mr. +Buxton. "I've always understood that you were privy to all his +business movements." + +"That's all right, Mr. Buxton," said Risley cheerfully. "You've got +that quite straight. In a general way the Professor hid nothing from +me. But this time he did hide it about the big stone, and I'm goin' to +show you how right, just as usual, the Professor was. You must +remember," went on Buck, "that when he picked me up at Mogok on the +way home, he found only a dim and distant shadder o' the party now +talkin' to you. I'd been on my back for weeks with fever, and was as +weak and nervous as a kitten. I've picked up wonderful on the voyage +home. Well, if he'd told me o' such a thing as he'd certainly got at +that moment in his belt, it would ha' rattled me to pieces. I should +have been certain to give the show away in my anxiety for fear anybody +should get to know about it, and do him a mischief. So he said nothing +at all. But it puts everything in a new light, everything." + +"Buck!" cried Jack. "What about that fellow who stopped me on Rushmere +Heath and then turned up in Brindisi? Can he have something to do with +it?" + +"Now you're talking, Jack," said Risley, nodding at the young man. +"'Twas all runnin' through my mind. It all hangs together, as straight +as a gun." + +Buck knitted his brows in deep thought, and stared into the fire. Mr. +Buxton was about to speak, but Buck held up his hand for silence, and +the quiet remained unbroken till the American slapped his knee with a +crack like a pistol-shot, looked round on them, and nodded briskly. + +"I've worked it out," said Buck. "The Professor's been kidnapped, and +I'll lay all I'm worth I can spot the parties who have boned him." + +"Kidnapped!" The cry burst in irrepressible surprise and excitement +from the other two. + +"Sure thing," said Risley. "Just listen to me. That half-caste Saya +Chone comes from up-country somewhere in the direction the Professor +headed for after leaving Mogok. That's the starting-point for the +whole business. He's mixed up in it from first to last, that's plain +enough, by his showing up at Rushmere and then followin' Jack to +Brindisi as he must have done. What brought him trackin' us all this +way if he didn't know about the big ruby and was in with the gang +that's carried off the Professor?" + +"But why are you so sure that they have carried Tom Haydon off, +Risley?" asked Mr. Buxton. "Perhaps they--" Mr. Buxton paused, unable +to put into words the terrible thought which filled his mind. + +"Say it right out, sir," said Buck encouragingly. "You can say it out, +for I don't believe it's the least bit true. You meant, suppose +they've murdered the Professor for the ruby?" + +Mr. Buxton nodded, and Jack went white about the lips. + +"Well, that's all right," said Buck cheerfully, "they ain't done that, +anyway. First thing, if so we'd ha' found the Professor, for all they +wanted was the stone; they'd no use in the world for his body. But +there's a lot more in it than that. They want the Professor himself. +It's a dead sure thing that where that big stone came from there's a +lot more, and they intend to make him show them the place." + +"Ah," said Mr. Buxton, "there's a good deal in that, Risley. I hadn't +thought of that." + +"Then, Buck," cried Jack, "you think that my father has been seized +and is being carried back to Burmah?" + +"I'm as sure of it as I am that we are in this room," said Buck +solemnly. + +Jack drew a long breath of immense relief. To feel that his father +might be alive, and possibly could be rescued, was to bring a bright +gleam of hope into the darkness of this strange affair. + +"How have they carried him away?" cried Jack. + +"By sea," replied Buck. "Couldn't be done by land, nohow. But you can +get a quiet road by sea easy enough. I wonder how much that boat that +disappeared from the harbour had to do with it. They might have nailed +him, pulled him out in it to a vessel waiting off the harbour, and +then sent it adrift when they'd done with it." + +Mr. Buxton had filled his pipe and was smoking thoughtfully. Now he +took the pipe out of his mouth, and spoke. + +"I can see another thing which, in the light now thrown upon the +affair, seems very possible," said he. "How many letters did you +receive from your father, Jack, when he was on his way home?" + +"Only one, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "The one he sent me from Cairo +was the first I had had from him for a long time." + +"Isn't it possible," went on Mr. Buxton, "that those who were +following him up knew of that letter being sent, and were anxious to +read it, hoping that he would describe where he had been and what he +had been doing? Then, even if they failed to secure him and the big +stone, they would know the spot where he had discovered the +ruby-mine." + +"Say, Mr. Buxton, you've hit the bull's eye," remarked Buck. "That's +about the square-toed truth." + +"And that's why they threw the letter away when they had read it," +cried Jack. "There was no hint of any such thing in it." + +There was silence for a few moments, while all three pondered over the +strange events which had taken place. It was broken by Jack. + +"Oh, Buck," he said, "I suppose there is no chance of such a precious +thing being in the baggage after all." + +"Not it," replied Risley. "I packed every consarned thing with my own +hands. I had just enough strength for a job like that." + +"And you feel convinced, Risley, that Tom Haydon has been spirited off +back to Burmah by a gang who have learned of his wonderful find, and +mean to seize it for themselves?" said Mr. Buxton. + +"Dead sure of it, sir," replied Buck. + +Jack sprang to his feet and paced the room excitedly. + +"Then we'll go ourselves, Buck," he cried, "and run them to earth." + +"Sure thing," said Buck calmly. "I'm on at once for a look into what's +happened to the Professor." + +"It will be a dangerous quest," said Mr. Buxton slowly; "a very +dangerous quest, among wild lands and savage peoples. I know that +much. Do you think the Government authority extends over the district +where the discovery was made, Risley?" + +"No, it don't," replied Buck. "They're all savage Kachins and Shans up +there, as ready for a scrap as any you ever met. It's all the +authorities can do to hold 'em off the settlements." + +"A dangerous quest indeed!" repeated Mr. Buxton. + +"But one that must be undertaken," cried Jack earnestly. "Would you +have me leave my father's fate a matter of uncertainty, Mr. Buxton? I +know very well it's a long journey on the chance of Buck being right +in his suspicions. But so many things point that way, and if Buck is +willing to guide me to the country where the search ought to be made, +I will gladly go." + +"Oh, I'm with you, of course, Jack," sang out Buck Risley. "We'll have +a look into things, anyhow, an' I know more than a bit of that +country. I've been three times up the river, an' made all sorts o' +little side-trips." + +"Thank you, Buck," cried the lad. "I knew you'd be willing to help me. +We'll start as soon as possible. You'll find us plenty of funds, won't +you, Mr. Buxton?" + +"Oh, yes, Jack," said Mr. Buxton, "I'll find you all the money you +want for such a purpose." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SPY. + + +Three days later, about four o'clock in the afternoon, Jack and Buck +walked into Lincoln's Inn, and knocked at Mr. Buxton's door. They had +been staying at a hotel near at hand, and nothing was said until Jack +had carefully closed the door of the inner sitting-room, where Mr. +Buxton was at work among his papers. + +"So you're off to-morrow?" said Mr. Buxton, laying down his pen. + +"No, to-night," said Jack. + +"What?" returned Mr. Buxton in surprise. "Have you got all your +luggage ready?" + +"Yes, sir," said Buck. "We've got it with us." + +"Oh, your cab is outside?" he said. + +"No, sir," replied Buck, with a twinkle in his eye. "You see it all on +view." + +Mr. Buxton scratched his head. "Do you mean to say that you're going +to start for Burmah with an umbrella apiece?" + +"We do, Mr. Buxton," replied Jack. "We're going to slip off quietly. +Buck thinks we're being watched." + +"Watched!" cried Mr. Buxton. "By whom?" + +"Can't say that," said Buck. "But there's someone takin' a deep +interest in us I feel certain. I should venture to spec'late as the +ruby gang want to know what we're up to." + +"And you mean to start off for the other side of the world equipped +merely for a stroll through the Park?" cried Mr. Buxton. + +"Why not, sir?" asked Buck. "You've found us plenty of money, and we +can rig ourselves out whereever there are shops. Best for us, too, to +pull out on this business with as little show as we can make. If we +don't, we may find ourselves pulled up mighty soon and mighty sharp. I +tell you this is a deep an' cunning gang we've got to fight. An' +they've got a big pull of us. They know us and we know very little of +them. I can tell you there are wily birds east of Suez. They are up to +all the tricks, both of East and West." + +The two visitors did not stay five minutes with Mr. Buxton. They +wished their visit to have the air of a mere passing call, and when he +had shaken hands with them and wished them good luck, they left his +rooms, strolled into Chancery Lane, and went gently up towards Holborn +as if they had nothing to do but stare at the sights of the town like +country cousins. + +"Jack," said Buck softly, "let's pull up and look at this shop window, +the panes have just got the bulge I want." + +Jack, wondering a little what his companion meant, stopped, and they +stared into a print shop where photographs of eminent judges and +K.C.'s were set out in rows. + +"Say, this is bully," murmured Buck. "Move a bit on one side, Jack, so +that I can see the street behind us reflected in the glass. Now, come +on, I've seen all I want. Don't turn your own head or you'll spoil the +show." + +They walked on together, and Buck muttered in deep satisfaction: "I've +spotted the man following us; a stout chap with a double chin and a +look like a fat policeman out o' work. I reckon I've tumbled to this +game. I've seen him outside our hotel." + +"Is it one of the gang?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, no," replied his companion. "More likely to be one o' these +private detectives hired to watch us. Now we've got to throw pepper +into his eyes, an' then make a break for the station." + +Buck raised his hand and hailed a growler. They got in, Buck said +"Marble Arch," and away trotted the horse. Buck now set himself to +keep a watch out of the little window at the back of the cab, and soon +gave a chuckle of satisfaction. + +"He's coming," he said, "he's in a hansom about fifty yards behind. +This makes it a dead cert that he's our man. It would be a bit too +much of a coincidence for him to be outside our hotel last night, +following us up Chancery Lane to-day, and now tracking us along Oxford +Street." + +"How will you drop him?" asked Jack. + +"As easy as tumbling off a log," replied Buck. "We'll use Connaught +Mansions. Do you remember its two entrances? We'll pop in at one and +out at the other." + +Jack laughed, and understood at once. His father had a flat at +Connaught Mansions, a huge block of flats near Lancaster Gate, which +served as Mr. Haydon's London home between his journeys. They had +made no use of it during the few days they had been in town, +preferring a hotel near Mr. Buxton's rooms, but now it would be of +service to their plans. + +As they neared the Marble Arch, Buck gave the address to the driver. +He handed up a couple of half-crowns at the same time. + +"We may be detained at the place you're driving to," he remarked. +"Wait a quarter of an hour at the door, and then if we don't send any +message to you, you can go." + +"Very good, sir," said the cabby, and on rolled the growler, and soon +turned into the courtyard of Connaught Mansions, and pulled up at the +main entrance. Jack and his companion left the cab at once and went +into the lobby, where the porter came out of his office. + +"Hullo, Mr. Risley, you are back again," said the porter. Then he +caught sight of Jack, whose face was very well known from frequent +visits to his father. The question which had plainly been on the +porter's lips was at once checked. He had been eager to talk to Buck +about the disappearance of Mr. Haydon, but Jack's presence put a +barrier upon that. + +The cloppety-clop of the feet of a passing cab horse now came in +through the open door of the vestibule. Jack glanced out and saw the +stout man passing in his cab. The spy seemed to be very busy reading a +paper, and the whole thing looked as innocent as could be. + +"Well, I'll nip upstairs an' get what I want," said Buck to the +porter, and he and Jack rang for the lift, and were shot up to the +fifth floor. Upon this landing there was one projecting window, which +commanded the front of the great building, and the two comrades went +cautiously to it and peeped out. + +"There he is, there he is," whispered Jack. + +"Sure thing," chuckled Buck. + +Far below them they saw their cabman sitting idly on his perch and +waiting for his quarter of an hour to pass. The Mansions looked on to +a square, a long narrow strip of gardens, filled with lofty bushes +rather than trees. The spy's cab had taken a sweep round these gardens +and was now drawing up on the other side, exactly opposite their cab. +As they looked they saw the stout man leave his cab and move to and +fro till he found a space through which he could look across the +gardens and watch the entrance to the great building. From their lofty +standpoint Jack and his companion had a splendid bird's-eye view of +everything. + +"Off we go now," said Jack. "For if our cabman makes a move he'll +become suspicious." + +"We've got ten minutes yet," murmured Buck; "but as you say, Jack, off +we go." + +They turned and crossed the landing swiftly, and ran down the stairs, +flight after flight. They did not wish to call attention to their +movements by ringing for the lift; besides, they were making for the +back of the place, where a smaller entrance opened on a quiet side +street. They gained this and were once more free to strike where they +wished, leaving the baffled spy to watch the main entrance in vain. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +IN RANGOON. + + +"Now for a start in earnest," said Buck, as the two comrades hurried +swiftly through the quiet streets, moving westwards in order to put as +much ground as possible between themselves and the baffled spy. "I +propose, Jack, that we make for Harwich and cross over to the +Continent, avoiding the usual English routes and English steamers. We +want to get there as quietly as we can. It wouldn't be healthy to +arrive in Upper Burmah thumping a drum to let 'em know we were on +their track. They've got ways of their own of gettin' rid o' people +they want to see the last of." + +Jack nodded. "Then we must head for Liverpool Street," he remarked. + +"Yes," said Buck. "We're not far from Queen's Road Station. We'll hit +the Twopenny Tube and dodge back east, now." + +They went into the station and were just in time to jump into an +east-bound train, as the conductor was about to shut the gates of the +carriage. + +"Nobody followed us there anyway," remarked Buck. "We were the last to +board the train." + +They went right away to the Bank, plunged into the City, and threaded +the narrow streets and busy crowds in every direction, gradually +working their way towards Liverpool Street. They timed their arrival +there five minutes before a fast express pulled out, and were soon on +their way. As they rushed through the Essex flats Buck detailed his +plans, and Jack listened and agreed. + +"From Harwich we'll make for Hamburg," said Risley. "There we can buy +an outfit and take passage for Rangoon in a German boat which does not +call in England." + + * * * * * + +Our story now moves on to a point nearly five weeks later, when, as +evening fell, a big German steamer slowly moved up to a wide quay of +Rangoon, and took up her berth. Over her side leaned two figures we +know, one looking at the scene with eyes which noted the familiarity +of it all, the other drinking in every detail with eager interest and +curiosity. + +Jack was too absorbed in the scene to utter a word; the minarets of +the mosques, the vast spire of Shway Dagon, the famous pagoda, its +crest of gold glittering in the last rays of the sun; the crowd of +masts, the native boats, the swift little sampans darting hither and +thither, the quaint up-river craft, the Chinese junks--all was so new +and strange and wonderful that he could not gaze enough upon the +scene. And above all, he felt that this was the land whose wildest +recesses he must penetrate upon his quest, and his mind turned +strongly upon that. + +"Do you know, Buck," he murmured to his companion, "that the sight of +all these strange new things makes the whole affair very visionary to +me?" + +"I think I tumble to what you mean," replied the other. "I had a +touch of it myself when I first came to these queer parts. You feel as +if you were ramblin' about in a dream." + +"That's it, exactly," said Jack. "It seems impossible that this is +workaday life in which we have a definite task." + +"You'll soon shake that off," replied Buck; "the sight o' these places +makes every tenderfoot moon a bit; and we've got a straight enough job +before us. We'll have to rustle some before we've got the Professor +out o' the hands o' these people who want to jump his claim." + +"You feel certain my father is here, Buck?" + +"Three times as certain as when we started," replied Risley. "Mr. +Buxton's kept the search going, and found nothing. Very good. That +makes it all the surer the Professor is in front of us up this river;" +and Buck threw his hand northwards, pointing to the broad flood which +slipped past the quays of Rangoon to the sea. + +At different points of their voyage they had received cables from Mr. +Buxton giving the news of the search, which was going on in vain. + +The steamer took up her moorings, and the stream of landing passengers +began to flow swiftly to the quay. Jack and his companion stepped +ashore, each with a large kit-bag in hand. They had travelled light, +and all their luggage was with them. Buck held up a finger, and a +Chinese coolie darted up to them, his rickshaw running easily behind +him. The two bags were pitched into the light vehicle, and Buck bade +the man follow them by a gesture. + +"This way, Jack," said Risley, and led his companion up a broad +street, which, now that the dusk had fallen and the sea-breeze was +blowing, was filled with a strange and busy crowd. + +"Everybody turns out for an hour or two, now," remarked Buck. "It's +pleasant and fresh after the day. This is Mogul Street, about the +liveliest street in the city." + +Jack looked upon the crowd with wonder, the first Eastern crowd of +which he had ever made a part. The thronging pavements were a +kaleidoscope of the East--long-coated Persians; small, brown, +slant-eyed Japanese; big, yellow, slant-eyed Chinamen; a naked +Coringhi, his dark body shining in the lamp-light, and the rings in +his nose jingling together; Hindus of all ranks, from the stately +Brahmin to the coolie bearing loads or pulling a rickshaw; Burmese; +and, to Jack's pleasant surprise, three straight-stepping English +soldiers, swinging along with their little canes, their lively talk +sounding pleasantly familiar amid the babel of Eastern tongues. + +At a narrow opening Buck turned and left the main street. Fifty yards +along the side street he stopped the rickshaw and paid off the coolie, +each taking his own kit-bag. Next Buck plunged into a dusky, +ill-lighted alley, and Jack followed, wondering. + +"I'm making for a friend's house," murmured Buck, "an' I'm takin' a +shy road. We've got to keep our eyes skinned from now on." + +"Do you think the gang will be on the look-out for us in Rangoon, +Buck?" asked Jack. + +"Likely enough," replied Risley. "No harm in takin' care, anyway." + +The two gained a narrow lane beyond the alley, followed it some +distance, then turned into a wider street. Here Buck paused before a +shop whose windows were closed, but rays of light were streaming +through chinks in the shutters. He tried the door and found that it +was not fastened. + +"Nip right in," said Risley, and the two entered briskly, and closed +the door behind them. Behind the counter stood a tall, elderly man +taking a rifle to pieces by the light of a brightly-burning lamp. He +was surrounded by weapons of all kinds, and a single glance told Jack +that he stood in a gunsmith's shop. + +"Hello, Buck," said the tall man calmly. "Slidin' in like a thief in +the night, eh? What's wrong, and who's your friend?" + +"This is the Professor's son, Mr. Jack Haydon," replied Buck, +answering the last question first, as he put down his bag and shook +hands with his acquaintance. + +"Pleased to know you, sir," said the gunsmith, offering his hand to +Jack in turn. "Me and your father have known each other a long time +and done a lot of business together. Perhaps you've heard him mention +me, Jim Dent?" + +"Yes, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "I've heard your name many a time." + +"I'm very sorry for you, sir," said Dent. "This is a queer business +about the Professor. Knocked me all of a heap when I heard of it." + +"The news is about Rangoon, of course, Jim?" said Buck. + +"Came at once," replied Dent. "The Professor was known to so many +people here." + +"Well, between me and you, Jim," said Buck in a low voice, "that's +just what I've come to talk about. You know the ropes in this country +pretty well, and I want your advice." + +"Been in Burmah twenty-eight years, and spent a good deal of the time +shiftin' about here and there," remarked Jim Dent. "I know a thing or +two, as you may say. But come in; I should like to hear all about it." + +He secured the outer door, put out the lamp which lighted the shop, +and led the way to an inner room. Here another lamp was burning, and +all three sat down. Buck plunged into the story, and Dent listened +attentively, now and again putting a question. + +"They've got the Professor all right," said Dent at the conclusion of +Buck's narrative. + +"You, too, think so?" cried Jack. + +"Oh, yes, sir," returned Dent, nodding at him, "they're going to make +your father show 'em his find, there's no mistake about that. The +thing's been done before, but the men have been collared in this +country, I admit. I've never known anything so big and daring as this, +but still it's on the cards, and Buck has tumbled to the right +conclusion." + +"But how could they carry off my father with such secrecy?" asked +Jack. "It was impossible to book a passage back in any vessel. They +would have been found out at once." + +"That's right enough, sir," replied Dent. "They must have had a vessel +of their own, but that's a puzzling thing. Did you see any sign of +this Saya Chone on the voyage, Buck?" + +"Not a hair of him," replied Risley. + +"He and his pals might have been among the third-class passengers +after all," said the gunsmith. "You weren't looking out for them, but +it's pretty plain they were looking out for you. They must have been +fly to your posting that letter, and got an idea somehow or other of +the address. Well, this is a rum go. What's your next move, I wonder?" + +"Go straight up to Mogok," suggested Jack, "and strike into the +country where my father was exploring. Surely we can lay our hands +upon one or other of his native guides, and they will lead us to the +place. Then we can discover whether those people you suspect of +kidnapping him are anywhere in that neighbourhood." + +Dent nodded his head in agreement. "Well, sir," he said, "you'll have +to do something after that fashion. But you must go to work very +cautiously. The men you are after are at home there, and have a +hundred ways of finding out what you're up to, while you know no more +of them and their movements than you know which way a snake's slipping +through the jungle." + +"Would it be of any use to appeal to the authorities?" asked Jack. + +The gunsmith shook his head. + +"Not a mite, sir, not a mite. In the first place, you're moving on +suspicion, and you can hardly expect the police to go tramping round +in wild and only partly explored jungle to find out if your suspicions +are correct. Then, again, if inquiries were started you would only +warn the parties you suspect, and they'd take good care your plans +came to nothing. For holding a man tight and keeping the place of his +hiding secret, this country is a marvel. I've known many a native +disappear in a very mysterious fashion and be never heard of again; +some enemy had disposed of him." The gunsmith fell silent and mused +for a few moments. + +"I'll tell you," said he, "the best thing to do now, and that is to +strike up to Mandalay. There might be a chance there to pick up a bit +of river news which would help you. I wonder whether old Moung San is +up in Mandalay yet. He started up river with his _hnau_ weeks back, +and you know how they dawdle along, picking up every scrap of river +gossip." + +"Moung San!" cried Buck, "old Moung, why, he's the very man whose +_hnau_ took the Professor up the river Chindwin, the last trip Mr. +Haydon made before he went up to Mogok. He'll give us a hand if he +can, I know." + +"He was in here, buying stuff off me to trade along the river," said +Dent, "and he ought to be somewhere about Mandalay by now." + +"Then we'll start in the morning by the first train," said Buck; "and +that reminds me, Jim, we shall want some guns; we've got nothing at +all at present, and we'll look over your stock." + +"Come in the shop," said Dent, and all three went back to the little +front room where weapons stood in racks about the wall. + +"These Mauser pistols are handy things," remarked Dent, as he turned +some of his stock on to the counter. "Clap the holster on 'em and they +make a very smart little rifle." + +"We'll have a couple," said Buck, "they're daisies. I've tried 'em. +Have you got a light rifle or two in stock, Jim? We don't want to +drag any weight through the jungle, as you know as well as most." + +"What's the matter with the Mannlicher?" said Dent, picking up one of +those handiest of shooting tools and passing it over to Jack. "No +weight, and as good a little rifle as a man wants to put to his +shoulder." + +"This is all right," said Jack, putting it up. "I've never tried it, +but I've heard about it. Makes pretty good shooting, I think." + +"Wonderful good, sir," said Dent. "You can't wish for better. And such +a handy little cartridge, too. That's a thing to consider on a march. +You can carry a much bigger number for the same weight of ordinary +cartridges." + +For half an hour or more Buck and Jack turned over Dent's stores, and +laid in a very complete stock of weapons and cartridges. As the +gunsmith talked, speaking of the wild jungle into which they must +wander, the wild people they would be likely to meet, and what they +would need to meet the chances of their journey, his eye fired and his +excitement grew. He poured forth a flood of information, of warning, +of directions, which showed how complete was his knowledge of the +wilds into which they were about to venture, how deep was his lore of +jungle-craft, and how great his passion for the life of the explorer +and adventurer. His flood of speech ended on a sigh. + +"Five years it is now," he said, "since I made what I call a real +trip, getting clean off the track and striking a line which you might +fancy no white man had ever struck before." + +Buck had been watching his old acquaintance keenly. Now he leaned +over and laid his hand on Dent's arm. + +"Look here, Jim," he said, "you're achin' in every bone o' your body +for a real good trip again. Come with us." + +The invitation was like a spark thrown upon gunpowder. The gunsmith +struck the counter with his open hand till the weapons danced again. + +"By George, I will!" he cried, "I'll come fast enough. It's the sort +o' trip I'd choose out of a thousand." + +Jack saw what a splendid recruit offered here, and he hastened to +second Buck. + +"If you could, indeed, spare time to accompany us, Mr. Dent," he said, +"we shall be delighted to have your company and assistance." + +"Well, sir," said Dent, "I'll give you a month. I can manage, I know, +to get the business looked after by a friend as long as that. And +within a month, if we go the right way to work, we ought to get a good +idea as to whether the Professor's in the hands of that gang or not." + +"And if your business suffers at all, Jim, you need never fear you'll +be at a loss in the end," said Buck. "There's plenty of money for +everything." + +"Oh, that's all right," returned Dent. "Didn't you say you're offering +a reward of L500 for finding the Professor?" + +"That's so," replied Risley. + +"Very good," said Dent. "Suppose I hit on him first and pick that up. +That'll clear my expenses, and a bit over bar the fun o' the trip." + +"Oh, Mr. Dent," said Jack, "we're paying all expenses, of course." + +"Better an' better still," chuckled the gunsmith. "I get all the fun +and the chance of L500 thrown in, and the lot for nothing. You can +count in Jim Dent on this game." And so the matter was settled. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +UP THE RIVER. + + +It was on a Tuesday evening that Risley and Jack entered Dent's shop +in Rangoon: late on the Thursday afternoon the three comrades stepped +out of the train at Mandalay. + +"I know a little place down by the river where we can stay quietly," +said Dent, and they took a carriage and drove down to the banks of the +broad Irrawaddy. Here, at a native rest-house in a riverside village, +they set down their baggage and made a hearty meal in a room whose +window overlooked the noble stream with its crowd of craft. + +Before they ate, Dent had an interview with the master of the house, a +short, stout Burman in silken kilt and headgear of flaming scarlet, +and their business was put in hand at once. The Burman sent a native +boatman off to see if Moung San had reached Mandalay. + +The meal was scarcely ended before the light sampan was back with good +news. Moung San had been in Mandalay the last two days, and now lay at +his accustomed anchorage. + +"That's capital," said Dent. "We'll give old Moung a look up before +the evening's much older." + +Half an hour later all three embarked upon the sampan whose owner had +found out the anchorage of Moung San, and the tiny craft was thrust +into the river and pulled across the flowing stream. Jack looked with +much interest on the pretty, picturesque little craft with its bow and +stern curving upwards, and on its boatman, a strong Shan clad in wide +trousers and a great flapping hat, who stood up to his couple of oars +and sent the light skiff along at a good speed. A pull of a mile or +more brought them to the _hnau_, a big native boat moored near the +farther shore of the wide stream. The sampan was directed towards the +lofty and splendidly-carved prow of the _hnau_ and brought to rest. + +Now there looked over the side a dark-faced old Burman, whose face +broke into smiles at sight of his old acquaintances. + +"Hello, Moung San," cried Dent. "We've come to pay you a visit." + +"Very glad, very glad," replied the Burman. "Come up, come up." + +They climbed at once to the deck of the _hnau_, where Moung San shook +hands with them very heartily. When he heard Jack's name he smiled and +showed all his teeth, stained black with betel-chewing. + +"Me know your father," he said, and shook Jack's hand again. "Very +good man, very good man." + +Amidships there was a large cabin, roofed with plaited cane, built up +on the _hnau_. Moung San invited them to enter it, and all four went +in and sat down. + +"Now, Moung San," began Jim Dent "You listen to me. You know the +ruby-mines well, don't you?" + +"Yes," replied Moung San. "Do much trade with the miners for many +years." + +"Do you know a man named Saya Chone?" + +"Yes," said the trader. "Know him. Don't like him." + +"Who is he with now?" + +"With U Saw, the man they call the Ruby King." + +"U Saw," murmured Dent reflectively. "He's jumped into notice since I +was up here last. What sort of character has U Saw, Moung San?" + +The Burman lowered his voice and looked uneasily round to see if any +of his crew were within earshot. + +"Very dangerous man," he said, shaking his head, "if he hears of one +of the hill-miners finding good ruby, that man sure to lose it, +perhaps lose his head same time. U Saw has many Kachins who follow +him, and every Kachin carry strong, sharp _dah_ (native sword)." + +"Have the police been on to him, Moung San?" asked Buck. + +"The police!" Moung San laughed disdainfully. "What do the police know +about the hills and the jungle, and what goes on there? But we know. +The word goes from Kachin to Shan, and from Shan to Burman, over the +country, up and down the river. We know." + +"Where does U Saw sell his rubies?" asked Dent. + +"In China," replied the Burman. "Takes them along the great road to +China from Burmah over the mountains. Sells them there for big, big +money. Very rich and very strong is U Saw." + +Then, with scarcely a pause, Moung San came out with a piece of news +that made his hearers jump. + +"When I am at Prome two weeks ago, the 'fire-boat' of U Saw pass me, +and go up the river." + +"Fire-boat!" cried Jim Dent. "U Saw possesses a steamer. How big, +Moung San?" + +Moung San went into details. He compared the "fire-boat" with the size +of his _hnau_, he compared it with a river-steamer which now went +puffing past, he described it with the greatest minuteness, for he had +lain beside it at Bhamo for three days on the trip before last. + +"Say," murmured Buck, looking round on his deeply-interested +companions, "this beats the band. I didn't know U Saw had a steam +yacht of about three hundred tons, for that's what Moung San's talk +comes to. Say, Jim, my son, this clears things up a bit." + +"It does that," said Dent. He turned to Jack. + +"You see, sir," he remarked, "that Buck's guess hit the mark pretty +straight. I'd stake my shop that the party we want was on that yacht." + +Jack nodded, with bright eyes. "It must be so," he said, but Buck was +again in conversation with the Burman. + +"Do you know where the 'fire-boat' had been?" he asked. + +"There was a word that U Saw had been a long cruise in the islands," +replied Moung San. + +"Been a long cruise in the islands, had he?" said Dent, in a meaning +tone. There was silence while the three white men made swift +calculations mentally. + +"If the yacht is a good sea-boat," said Jack, "they would just about +have had the right time to do it, supposing they came up the river two +weeks back." He meant the voyage from the Mediterranean, and the +others nodded. + +The old Burman looked from one to the other gravely. There was +something he did not understand behind this, and it was plain that he +was about to shape a question. + +Buck whispered swiftly to Jack, then spoke: + +"Well, Moung San, we must be going. But the son of your old patron +wished to see you and to give you a little present because you have +served his father." + +Jack smiled and passed over twenty rupees. Moung San's mouth was at +once filled with thanks instead of questions, and an awkward moment +passed safely. + +"I could see the old fellow was going to ask questions," remarked Jim +Dent, when they were once more in the sampan, and the big Shan was +pulling strongly across the stream. "It was a lucky stroke to stop his +mouth with the rupees." + +"Yes," said Jack, "it's quite clear he knows nothing about my father's +disappearance, or he would have said something. So it was just as well +to leave him in ignorance, and escape a lot of talk. You never know +where the simplest question may lead you to." + +"You don't," agreed Dent. "He may wonder why we want to know about the +Ruby King, but as long as he's in the dark about things, he'll put it +down to mere curiosity." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE ATTACK ON THE SAMPAN. + + +Jack nodded and looked out across the wide, shadowy waste of waters +which surrounded them. The night had fallen and there was no moon, but +the sky was full of the glorious stars of the East, and the great +silent river spread itself abroad in the bright starshine till its low +distant banks were lost to sight, and the sampan seemed to be crossing +a vast lake. Far away up the stream a myriad twinkling lights showed +where the shipping lay thickly, and now a huge cargo boat came down +stream, its vast bulk looming high above the smooth flood. + +Somewhere on the shore a mandoline tinkled, the faint distant notes +coming sweetly to them across the water. Jack dropped his hand into +the stream and found it warm to the fingers. Then he felt that the +river was full of something floating on its surface, which brushed his +fingers, and circled about his wrist. + +"What's this in the water?" said Jack. + +Buck dropped his hand down. + +"Paddy-husks, the husk of rice," he replied. "There are rice-mills on +the banks up above, and they pitch the husks into the stream. When the +mills are busy, the husks cover the river." + +"It is a strong current," said Jack. + +"Ay, and a very dangerous one," remarked Dent "There's no mercy in +this river. It'll sweep you away like the under-tow of a strong tide, +and suck you down to feed the crocodiles, if it gets the chance." + +For a few moments there was silence, and Jack, who was seated with his +face to his companions, watched the big cargo-boat now passing them, +but a good distance away. Suddenly he sharpened the glance of his keen +eyes and looked more intently. A tiny dark patch shot from the shadow +of the great vessel and held its way straight towards them. + +"There's a boat just come from behind that big ship, and it's making +straight for us," said Jack. + +"That's queer," said Dent sharply, turning his head to look. "It must +have come down stream in shelter of the cargo-boat. I've been keeping +a watch on the river round us." He said a few words in the native +tongue to the big Shan, and the latter pulled much faster and altered +his course a little. + +"If they're only making for the shore they'll go straight on," said +Jim Dent. "If they're after us, they'll change their course." + +"They row fast," said Jack. + +Jim spoke to the Shan once more, and a few sentences passed between +them. + +"It's one of those long creek skiffs, pulled by six men," announced +Jim. "He knows by the shape of it on the water and the sound of the +oars." + +"Think they're after us, Jim?" asked Buck in a low voice. + +"I don't know, Buck," replied Dent. "But I wish we were ashore. This +isn't a country to take any chances in." + +All three watched the dark, long shape behind them, and the Shan +pulled with all his might. + +"It's after us." Jim Dent's low, fierce tones broke into the tense +silence, and Buck gave a growl of anger. + +"What's their game?" he muttered. + +"Run us down, there's no doubt of it," replied Dent. "That skiff is +built of stiff teak planks, with a nose as sharp and hard as an iron +spike. If they once hit this light sampan they'll cut it in two and +scupper us." + +"Ay, ay," said Buck, "and drop an oar on the head of a man who tries +to swim." + +The long narrow row-boat was now heading for them as straight as an +arrow. There could be no doubt of the rowers' intent. They meant to +run down the slight sampan and hurl its occupants into the deadly +current below. Driven by six powerful oarsmen, the skiff was coming on +at tremendous speed, and the shore was still a dim and distant line. + +Jim Dent spoke again quickly to the Shan, and the latter made a swift +reply and bent to his oars with all his might. He understood their +danger better than any one, supposing that his light vessel was run +down, and he beat the water with long powerful strokes which drove the +tiny craft forward with great power. Jim Dent had begun to rummage in +the stern, and soon drew out a broad-bladed steering paddle. He dipped +this into the water and added a strong dexterous stroke to the +efforts of the boatman; now the sampan began to fly. + +"Isn't there anything for us, Jim?" cried Jack. "Must we sit idle?" + +"There's not another thing to pull with in the boat," said Dent. "I'll +lay in with all the strength I've got with this paddle. We'll take +turns at it." + +Now commenced a stern, fierce race for life. The two men in the sampan +fought with set brows and clenched teeth to gain the far-off shore and +save the lives of themselves and their comrades. The six rowers in the +long skiff lashed the water furiously with their oars in order to +overtake and ram the slight vessel they pursued. One, two, three +hundred yards were covered. Jack's heart sank. The skiff had gained +terribly. Manned by six powerful oarsmen, she was cutting down the +distance between them with frightful rapidity. In the sampan the Shan +was still pulling with undiminished energy, but Jim Dent was beginning +to pant. Buck seized the paddle from his grip and took a turn. But the +skiff continued to come up hand over hand. + +"She'll get us long before we reach the shore," murmured Dent as he +marked the relative distances, and he spoke in the native tongue with +the Shan, who only answered with a grunt or two which had a sound of +acquiescence. + +"Give me the paddle, Buck," said Dent. + +"No, no," said Jack, "it's my turn." Every muscle in his body was +tingling to put its strength against the smooth current and the weight +of the sampan. + +"We're going to try a little trick," said Dent, and Jack perforce had +to sit still. He glanced down the river and saw a light low on the +water, as if a boat was coming towards them. He wondered whether it +meant chance of help, but in any case, it was far off, and the enemy +were now terribly near, and his attention was drawn again to their +position of immense peril. + +Dent and the boatman were now pulling easily, and the long skiff +darted up to them faster and faster still. Jack watched their pursuers +with a fascinated eye. There was not the faintest sound made, save for +the regular plash of the rising and falling oars. They were so near +that he could see the naked backs of the oarsmen glisten as they swung +their bodies to and fro in the starshine. Nearer, nearer, came the +long darting skiff. + +Jack held his breath. The sharp nose was within half a dozen feet of +the stern of the flying sampan, for Dent and the boatman were once +more pulling with all their might. For the first time a sound was +heard from the pursuing boat. A single word rang out from the +steersman, and the rowers bent to one last tremendous effort to hurl +their stout skiff upon the fragile sampan. But at that very instant +Jim Dent dipped his paddle deep on the left side, the Shan made a +corresponding movement with his oars, and the light vessel spun round +on her heel and darted away from the impending stroke. + +So close were the two boats when this skilful manoeuvre was executed +that the dripping bow oar of the pursuers was flourished almost in +Jack's face as the sampan flew round. He seized it, but did not +attempt to snatch it from the oarsman's clutch. He had no time for +that, but he made splendid use of the chance afforded him. He gave it +a tremendous push, and released it. The rower, caught by surprise, was +flung over the opposite gunwale, and the skiff was nearly upset. As +the sampan darted away on her new course, the skiff was left +floundering on the water. + +"Good for you," chuckled Dent, who had seen the swift action and the +confusion it caused; "that's given us twenty yards," and now he +allowed Jack to seize the paddle. Kneeling on one knee in the bottom +of the sampan, Jack put all his strength into the strokes of the broad +paddle. He had paddled a canoe often enough at home on the river which +ran near the school, and his powerful young arms backed up the +boatman's efforts to such purpose that the sampan travelled as it had +never done before. Behind him he heard the fierce swish of oars, and +knew that the skiff was once more in hot pursuit. + +Suddenly, without a hint of warning, the end came. Jack was just +beginning to thrust the paddle down for a strong, deep stroke when the +sampan struck something. The shock was so great that Jack was flung on +his face. As he sprang up again he heard Buck cry, "She's hit a +floating log." The sampan was uninjured. She had struck the obstacle +with her tough keel-piece, and had been turned aside at right angles. +The Shan had been flung down too, but was up in an instant and +gathering his oars. But this loss of a moment gave the pursuing skiff +her chance. Driven by twelve brawny arms, held straight as a dart, her +sharp beak of stout, hard teak crashed into the light gunwale of the +sampan, hit her broadside, and cut the little vessel down to the +water's edge. + +Scarcely recovered from the first shock, the second hurled Jack +headlong. He felt the sampan turn turtle under him, and in another +second he was shot into the dark, fierce current, and felt the waters +close over his head. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A CLOSE CALL. + + +Jack did not rise at once. As he sank, the words of Buck flashed into +his mind, and he dived and swam swiftly down stream. When he could +stay under no longer, he came very slowly to the surface and put out +his face. He drew a deep breath and looked eagerly about for the +enemy, dreading to see a heavy oar poised against the sky to beat a +swimmer under. But there was nothing close at hand, and he trod water +and raised his head very carefully to look round. + +Suddenly the splash of an oar falling upon the water came to his ears. +He looked behind him and saw the dark mass of the skiff thirty yards +away. One of the oarsmen was standing up and striking at some object +in the water. A pang went through Jack's heart as he realised that one +of his companions must be there, struggling for his life, and being +brutally beaten under. Then he saw the frightful danger in which he +stood himself. At any moment the skiff might shoot towards him. He +turned and was about to strike away when a dark object appeared within +a few yards of him down stream. + +It looked like a head, and Jack struck out for it. He swam in silence, +and within half a dozen strokes had a man by the hair. He turned the +face up to the starlight and saw that it was Jim Dent, and that the +gunsmith appeared to be unconscious. Taking a firmer grip of Jim's +hair, Jack struck out down stream and swam as fast as he could towards +the approaching light, which was now much bigger and brighter. He had +turned on his side to swim, and looked back now and again as he rose +to his stroke. To his horror he saw the long, dark line which marked +the skiff begin to move swiftly after him. It was difficult to swim in +silence and support Jim. His splashes had marked them out to the +murderers, and they were hastening to beat him and his helpless +companion under before help could arrive. + +Jack marked the approaching light and lashed out more fiercely than +ever. Unencumbered by Jim Dent, he would have had ten times as good a +chance of escaping from the human tigers who pursued him, but of +abandoning Jim, the gallant lad had never thought for a moment. Like a +snake darting over the water, the skiff was upon them, and a figure in +the bow raised an oar to strike at Jack's head. Lifting himself high +out of the water with a tremendous stroke, Jack yelled, "Help! help!" +at the top of his voice. The oar fell, but the man had been flurried +by that sudden wild cry at his feet, and it missed its mark. Again he +raised it and struck. Jack had turned on his back, and as the oar +fell, he raised his hand, met the stroke, turned it aside, gripped the +blade, and hung on desperately. The figure gave a muttered cry and +strove to draw the oar back. + +But now a warning murmur arose among his companions. The light was +coming on at great speed. Jack's cry had been heard, and the vessel +was rushing swiftly up to the place. The men in the skiff knew well +now what vessel it was, and their only thought was of instant flight. +The oar was abandoned, the skiff was turned round, and away it darted +into the gloom which overhung the mid-stream. A moment later, a police +launch, with its brightly-burning lamp, and two Sikh policemen aboard, +shot up to the spot where Jack clung to the oar and to his comrade. + +In an instant the two were drawn into the vessel and Jack was telling +his story. + +"There are two others of us in the river," he said, and he raised his +voice and shouted, "Buck! Buck!" + +"Hello!" came a cry from some distance, and Jack's heart thrilled with +relief and delight. + +The launch was headed in the direction whence the reply came, and soon +Buck's head appeared in the ring of light cast upon the water by the +bright lamp. He was drawn into the launch, and then the little +steamer, circling to and fro, scoured the river to find the Shan +boatman. While this was being done, with one policeman keeping a watch +for the missing man, the second policeman, Risley, and Jack were hard +at work on Jim Dent, trying to bring him back to consciousness. + +"Say, this is great," suddenly snapped Buck. "I can feel old Jim's +heart beginning to thump. He'll do, he'll do." + +"Thank heaven," breathed Jack, who had been terrified at Dent's white +face and clenched teeth, and thought hope was gone. "He'll come round +then, you think, Buck?" + +"He'll come all right," said Buck. "Keep on rubbing him." + +"We'll take you ashore," said the first policeman; "there's no sign of +your boatman. That was the man they were beating under, there is no +doubt. Do you know anything of the men who attacked you?" + +"Nothing at all," replied Buck. "We have no idea who they were." + +"River-thieves," said the second policeman, "as hard to catch as a +monkey in the jungle. They work by night always. If we hadn't come up, +your bodies, stripped to the skin, would have been thrown up on the +river bank to-morrow." + +The police launch put them ashore near the rest-house where they were +staying, and Jim was now sufficiently recovered to be able to walk. + +"It was a close call that time," he said. "Who held me up? The only +thing I remember is hitting my head a terrific crack against the prow +of the sampan as I went over. I knew nothing after that till I sat up +on the deck of the police-boat." + +"Jack had got hold of you, good and all right, so the policeman told +me," said Buck. "Where he found you I don't know." + +Jack was compelled perforce to tell his story, and Jim Dent expressed +his deep gratitude. + +"By George, sir," he concluded, "I should have been a supper for an +alligator to-night if you hadn't stuck to me. Those murdering rogues +would have beaten me under easy enough, even if I hadn't been drowned +before giving them the trouble. I've got to thank you for my life." + +"Oh, you'd have done the same for me, Jim," said Jack. "We're bound to +stick together." + +At this moment Buck, who had gone forward, gave a loud cry of pleasure +and surprise. Jack and Dent hurried after him, and entered the door of +the rest-house. Here they saw Buck slapping the Shan boatman on the +shoulder. The man, like themselves, was dripping from the river, and +was telling his story to the Burman landlord. The latter acted as +interpreter, and they learned how the Shan, as much at home in the +river as out of it, had dodged the blows of the oar, and dived and +swum so far that their assailants had believed him sunk for ever, and +had followed up Jack and Jim. Meanwhile the Shan had swum quietly +ashore and walked up to the rest-house. His only trouble now was the +loss of his sampan, and his grief was soon turned to joy when he +received a sufficient sum of rupees to buy another and leave him +something in pocket. + +"River-thieves," was the comment of the landlord on the story. "They +are very daring sometimes. Without doubt they heard you speak English, +and hoped to make a fine booty by drowning and stripping you." He +bustled off to get them a supper, and Buck looked at his companions. + +"I dunno as I put much faith in this river-thief theory," he remarked. +"It's handy and natural, an' all these people jump at it, of course, +but I don't think there was much river-thieves about that lot." + +"Nor me, Buck," rejoined Dent. "I'd be willing to lay a trifle that +some friends of U Saw had a finger in that little pie. It would have +been a nice clean sweep of us, and as safe a way of being rid of us as +could easily be found." + +"After this I'm going to wear a gun," remarked Buck. "I fancy it +would have been rather useful if you could have pumped a few bits of +lead into that boat as it came swinging into us." + +"Very useful, Buck," returned Jack, "but after all, this afternoon we +were in a train where it would have seemed as out of place to wear a +pistol as if you were going from the Mansion House to Westminster." + +"Yes, things change mighty quick in this country," said Buck, "and +you've got to be ready to change with 'em." + +"By the way," said Jack, "those fellows who attacked us seemed to have +nothing to shoot with." + +"Best for them not," remarked Dent. "They've got their own way of +going to work, and a good one too. Their chief aim is to work in +silence. Suppose they'd cracked off gun or pistol at us. A sound like +that travels a long way over water, and draws a lot of attention. You +see what a sharp watch the river-police keep. Instead of one launch on +a regular patrol, there would have been three or four shooting up to +see what the row was about." + +They stripped off their wet clothes, gave them to the Burman landlord +to dry, and put on fresh garments from their baggage. Jim Dent +unstrapped the ammunition case, and each took a revolver, carefully +loaded it, and put it in a pocket hidden by the tunic. + +"We don't want to walk about with holsters strapped round us just +yet," said Buck, "and at the same time we might want to do some +shooting at any minute. My opinion is that the gang is watching us all +the time." + +"So I think," said Jack. "How can we drop them, I wonder, so that we +can make a start on our expedition without being ambushed as soon as +we strike into the jungle?" + +"It's going to be mighty dangerous to go into the Mogok country and +follow up the Professor's trail straight from the beginning," said +Buck. "We shall be spotted at once, and, as Jack says, an ambush will +be laid for us as soon as we hit the jungle and leave the last +policeman behind." + +Jim Dent scratched his jaw thoughtfully. + +"They're a trifle too handy at layin' a trap for you," he remarked. +"Let's have a squint at the map. We ain't bound to follow just the +only track which would give U Saw and his men the chance to scupper us +without givin' us a chance to lay one or two of 'em out." + +The map was spread on a table, and all three bent over it. + +"See, now," said Jim, "everybody knows the road to Mogok. You go up +the river by steamer to Thabeit-Kyim, and then you've got sixty miles +of road across the hills to the ruby-mines." + +"And the road about as quiet as Piccadilly on a fine afternoon in +June," remarked Buck. "There are mule-trains and bullock-carts, an' +men walkin' an' men ridin'. You can no more keep yourself hidden on +that road than you can if you walked down the main street of +Mandalay." + +"Can't we take the place in flank?" asked Jack. "Drop somehow on my +father's line without giving them such warning as they would receive +by seeing us about Mogok?" + +"Why, the bother is," said Jim, "we don't know the Professor's trail. +We must pick up one of his guides. Buck, here, can lay his hand on one +of the people who accompanied your father easily enough, but he's got +to be in Mogok to do it." + +"Wait a bit," said Buck. "Not so fast, Jim, my son. I see a glimpse o' +daylight. What's this place farther up the river, Kyan Nyat. That's +where the man came from who was the Professor's head man on his last +trip, the chap who engaged the coolies and looked after everything. He +was about as useful as they make 'em, the Professor said when he got +back. His name's Me Dain, and he told me he was going back to his +native village. He was tired of Mogok." + +"We'll look him up then, Buck," said Jack. "If we can get hold of him, +he could pilot us across country." + +"Yes, yes," said Jim. "Straight from the river. Very good, now we know +what we're after. The sailing orders are Kyan Nyat." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE DACOITS. + + +Two days later a swift river steamer dropped three travellers and +their belongings at the riverside village, and a couple of coolies +carried the baggage to a rest-house on the crest of a slope above the +wide stream. + +"Me Dain," said the landlord of the rest-house, a huge, fat Chetti, +with shaven head and scantily-clothed body. "Oh, yes, sahibs, he lives +here. He has returned from the ruby-mines with much pay, and has built +himself a fine, new house. I will send a messenger for him at once." +Within half an hour Me Dain appeared, a middle-sized, powerfully-built +Burman, with a broad, flattish, good-humoured face, marked by high +cheekbones. At sight of Buck, a merry face lighted up with the widest +of smiles, and he rushed forward to greet him. + +"Well, Me Dain," said Buck. "How are you getting on now?" + +"Pretty good, yes, pretty good," replied Me Dain, who had picked up a +fair amount of English on his travels. "And you, and the Sahib +Haydon?" + +"This is the sahib's son," said Buck, pointing to Jack, and the Burman +bent very politely. + +"I am very glad to know you, Me Dain," said Jack. "My father has +spoken very well of you." + +"The Sahib was always kind to the poorest and worst of his servants," +replied the Burman. "I, Me Dain, was always glad to be of use to so +kind a master." + +"Come aside with me, Me Dain," said Buck, and the whole party moved +out of earshot of the inquisitive Chetti, hanging about to hear what +passed between the sahibs and his neighbour. + +In two minutes Me Dain agreed to go with them. They had no difficulty +whatever in enlisting him. Despite his monied leisure and his new +house, Me Dain was already bored by the quiet life of his native +village, where nothing happened save that a river-steamer selling +goods called once a week. He was already longing for the trail and the +camp fire, and closed without delay on the good offer Jack made him to +act as guide to the region where Mr. Haydon had been surveying Lane & +Baumann's concession. + +"When we start?" asked Me Dain. + +"To-morrow morning," said Jack, and the Burman grinned. + +"Then we be very busy at once," he replied, and their preparations for +the march were commenced forthwith. + +"Can't we manage without coolies?" said Jack, and Buck nodded. + +"Best plan," said Jim Dent. "Just the four of us, and a couple of +ponies to carry the traps." And so it was decided. + +The dawn of the next day saw them afoot and leaving the rest-house. +Their baggage was strapped on a couple of Burmese ponies, strong, +shapely little beasts, not more than twelve hands high, hardy as wild +boars, nimble as cats. + +Me Dain marched ahead with the ponies, and the three comrades walked +behind. The Burman followed a country road which soon took them +through tall palm groves out of sight of the river, and then began to +climb upwards. They made a march of four hours, when a halt was called +on a lofty ridge, where they sat down in a little clearing to eat and +rest. + +"That's the country we've got to push through," said Jim Dent, and +pointed ahead. + +Jack gazed eagerly on the magnificent scene which filled the vast +outlook before him. Peak upon peak, spur upon spur, rose a vast array +of wild mountains running to the north-west, till a range of great +summits closed in the horizon. + +"See that big mountain shining red over there, the one with twin +peaks?" continued Jim. + +"Yes," said Jack, "I see it plainly." + +"That's near upon seventy miles from here," returned Jim, "and lies in +the ruby country. That's the finest ground in the whole world for the +ruby hunter," and he swung his hand in the direction of the vast sweep +of wild hill country into which they were about to plunge. + +For three days their march was quite uneventful. By day Me Dain led +them along secret ways, sometimes mule tracks, sometimes hidden +country roads, sometimes through trackless jungle where he steered a +course as straight as a ship at sea. Then, towards evening on the +third day, he rejoiced them by describing a village where he intended +to spend the night, and at the thought of fresh warm milk, eggs, +chickens, fruit, and such like provisions to be obtained there, the +four travellers made swinging headway. + +Presently Me Dain pointed forward and said, "Here we are," and they +saw the slender spire of a pagoda dart above the low trees ahead. A +few steps again carried them from the forest path they were following +to a narrow track deeply printed with the hoof-marks of cattle. + +"Here's the village highway," said Buck, and the Burman looked back +and grinned and nodded. + +The prospect of a night in a village with an exchange of gossip, a +thing so dear to the Burman heart, put speed into his heels. He +trotted forward, and the baggage ponies broke into a trot also. Jack, +eager to see every new sight on the march through this strange and +wonderful land, ran after him, and the two others came leisurely +behind. Me Dain vanished round a bend in the path, and, almost as he +did so, gave a wild cry. + +Jack bounded forward and gave a gasp of astonishment at the +extraordinary sight before him. Four little men, clothed in blue, had +leapt upon Me Dain from the bushes which lined the way. The powerful +Burman was fighting desperately, and the ponies had run on ahead. But +the four assailants were too much for him. They beset him on every +side, clutching him, grappling with him like four wolves pulling down +a deer. But even as Jack came into sight, the strangers had mastered +Me Dain, and in a second he was dragged to the ground. With incredible +speed and quickness they flung loops of rope around ankles and +wrists, ran them taut, and made the Burman a prisoner. Then two of +them dropped on Me Dain's legs and arms, and the third seized his hair +and dragged his head forward. The fourth leapt a pace back as nimbly +as a panther, and swung up a short, broad, heavy sword. + +It had all taken place so quickly that Jack had barely jerked his +Mauser pistol from his holster when all was ready for the decapitation +of their guide. But as the gleaming blade flashed above the head of +the little man in blue, Jack laid the muzzle true for his ribs and +pulled the trigger. The heavy bullet tore its way through the +headsman's body, and with a wild cry he pitched forward on the +captive's prostrate form. His three companions vanished into the +jungle beside them as Jack ran forward. He did not dare to fire at +them, for he might have struck Me Dain. Not one of them rose, but +darted away along the ground like four-footed creatures, and just as +nimbly. Jack whipped out his knife and slashed the bonds across; the +Burman at once leapt to his feet. As he did so, the other two ran up, +pistol in hand. + +"An attack!" cried Buck. "What's this game? Why, it's a Kachin. You +dropped him, Jack?" + +"Yes," said Jack, "he was going to lop Me Dain's head off with this +sword." + +Jim picked the blade up and looked at it carefully. + +"A Kachin _dah_ (native sword)," he said. "Did you see any more of +them about, Jack?" + +"Yes, there were four; three of them have cut into the jungle." + +"Come on, sahibs," cried Me Dain, who was very little disturbed by his +queer experience, "this dangerous place to stop. Perhaps they come +back with _jingals_ (native guns)." + +"What do you make of it, Me Dain?" said Buck. + +"Dacoits, sahib, dacoits; let us hurry. That man is dead," pointing to +his would-be executioner, "but plenty more in the forest." He seized +the _dah_ as a weapon for himself, and all four hurried after the +ponies, who had come to a stand fifty yards farther along the narrow +way. + +"Queer business, dacoits so near a village," muttered Jim. "Let's see +what the headman has got to say about it." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +BELEAGUERED. + + +But they found no headman to tell them anything. The forest clearing, +where the village had stood, was a scene of destruction. Their eyes +fell upon ruined houses and burned huts, with here and there a figure +lying about. They paused beside the first which lay in their way. It +was the body of a big, heavy man, a Chetti, as they saw at once by his +build, scored with the most terrible slashes. + +"That's the work of a _dah_," said Buck. "This village has been raided +by dacoits, and, by thunder, they're not far off." + +Everyone looked round uneasily. The forest lay calm and silent in the +evening sunshine all about the clearing, and no sign of a blue-clothed +figure was to be seen on its edge, yet all felt that the dacoits were +near, and that great danger hung over them. Jack had heard many times +of the Kachin dacoits, the terrible mountain banditti who descend at +times from their hills to plunder and slay, and now he was face to +face with them. + +"See how it was," said Jim. "This village was raided at daybreak this +morning. Not a body has been torn by a wild animal, and the beasts +would have been busy enough to-night. Then some of 'em were left +lurking about, and they spied Me Dain coming, didn't see us behind, +and thought he was coming to the village alone. Of course they slipped +out of the bushes and nabbed him, thinking to whiff off his head and +turn the ponies' packs out at their own leisure. But Jack upset their +little plan, and Me Dain's head stops in the right spot." + +"Many thanks, _phaya_ (my lord), many thanks," said Me Dain, bending +low before Jack. "Your servant thanks you for his life." + +Crack! There was a dull roar as of someone firing a very heavy +duck-gun from the forest, and a ball whistled by their heads. + +"A _jingal_!" cried Buck. "We've got to hustle round and find shelter. +The dacoits are on us." + +"The pagoda, sahibs," cried Me Dain. "It is the only place of stone in +the village. Let us hasten there." + +He gathered up the leading-reins of the ponies--which had been easily +caught--and hurried towards the spire. The others ran swiftly after +him, their steps hastened by the roar of a second shot and the whistle +of a second heavy ball. + +In a couple of minutes they had reached the pagoda and leaped on the +platform between the columns which supported the bulb-like roof +crowned by its tapering spire. In the centre of the platform was a +shrine. Jack glanced quickly round. + +"This won't do," he said, "not enough cover here, supposing the +dacoits attack us. What's that place?" + +He pointed to a new, strongly-built house of stone a short distance +from the pagoda. + +Me Dain looked at it in surprise. "It has been built since I was here +last," he cried. + +"Looks just the thing for us," said Jack. "Come on," and the whole +party hurried across to the building, whose door stood half open. + +"It is a small monastery," cried Me Dain, as they approached, "some +rich man has been winning merit since I was last this way. Stay a +moment, sahibs; I will enter and see that all is safe." He flung the +leading-reins to Buck and darted forward. In a few moments he +reappeared, and cried out, "There is no one here but a wounded +villager, sahibs. Come on, we shall be safe from the dacoits' guns in +this new, strong house." + +The party entered through a door formed of strong teak slabs, and Me +Dain closed it behind them. They now found themselves in a large, wide +apartment, formed of the whole ground floor of the building, from +which wooden stairs led to upper rooms. + +At the foot of the stairs was huddled a fine-looking old man, whose +rich silken kilt and jacket of delicate muslin showed that he was a +person of consequence. He had received a severe cut from a _dah_ on +the left shoulder, and while Me Dain skilfully bound up the wound, he +talked with the old man and learned the story of the affair. + +It proved to be the outcome of a blood-feud, one of those savage +vendettas so common among the hill-tribes of Burmah. A band of Kachin +dacoits had raided near the village some six months before, and three +of the dacoits had been cut off and killed by the villagers. Now, in +revenge, a strong troop of the savage mountain banditti had fallen +upon the village, burning, slaying, plundering without mercy. The old +man had fled for refuge to the monastery, his own monastery, for he +had built it to house a party of Burmese monks. + +"I am Kyaung-Taga Pah, 'Builder of a Monastery Pah,'" he declared +proudly, and Me Dain bowed before him in much respect. + +It is the great ambition of a wealthy Burman to show his piety by +building a pagoda or a monastery, and when he has done so, he is +always saluted by his fellows as "Builder of a Monastery," or "Builder +of a Pagoda," titles held in very high regard. This was the meaning of +Me Dain's phrase about some rich man winning merit, for it is +considered that such good works meet with the deep approval of the +gods. + +When "The Builder of a Monastery," Pah, had finished his story, Buck +inquired where the monks were, for, as a rule, such holy men are safe +even in blood-feuds. The old Burman replied that they were absent at +present. There was a great festival at a large village three days' +journey away, and the monks had gone to attend it. + +Jim had stayed at the door, keeping watch and ward. + +"We're in for a little blood-feud, too," he remarked. "They're dottin' +about pretty lively at the edge of the jungle." + +Jack ran across to him and saw a large number of little figures in +blue flitting through the trees; now and again he caught a flash of +steel as some naked _dah_ glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. +Buck had come too, and was looking over his comrade's shoulders. + +"Say, we shall have to flip our guns a bit before we drive those +blood-thirsty little ferrets away," he remarked. + +"Yes, they'll do their level best to cut our throats," agreed Jim. +"They're like a nest of hornets. Touch one and you've touched the +lot." + +"Hullo, they're bringing something forward," cried Jack. "It looks +like a clumsy gun on a stand." + +"That's a _jingal_," said Jim. "They're laying it for the door. We'll +get out of the way. It's a clumsy weapon and a clumsy ball, but if it +hits you, you get all you want an' a little bit over. I remember in +'85"--for Jim had once been a British redcoat and had fought in the +Burmese war--"we were carrying a stockade with a rush, and a chum o' +mine got a _jingal_-ball and went down. He must have been a dead man +when he dropped, for we found afterwards that the ball had fairly +ripped the inside out of the poor chap." + +He closed the door as he finished speaking, and a heavy bar was placed +in position across the stout planks. From one of the small, slit-like +windows they watched the movements of the dacoits. The _jingal_, a big +muzzle-loader on a stand of iron forks, was touched off and a heavy +shot crashed into the door. + +"Whew!" whistled Jim. "That's a heavier shot than I thought. That bit +of iron weighed nearer half a pound than anything." + +"It's cut into the door pretty badly," cried Jack, who had run forward +to look, and found a long streak of white in the plank which had been +struck. "We shall have to stop that or the door will be down." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "an' those little tigers away to the left o' +the _jingal_ are massing for a rush as soon as the gunners have worked +the door loose." + +"You're right, Buck," said Jack, who had returned to his window. "Look +here," he went on, "there are three windows facing that patch of +jungle where the dacoits are clustered. We'll take a window apiece. +I'll give the word, and we'll empty our magazines into them as fast as +we can pull the trigger." + +"Good plan," cried Buck. "It will show 'em we're well armed and an +awkward lot to tackle, even if we don't scare 'em off." + +"There ain't much scare about them, worse luck," said Jim, "but we'll +pepper 'em a bit an' see what happens anyhow." + +Each of them had unslung his Mannlicher and held it in hand since the +moment of the first alarm, and now they opened the magazine and saw +that all was in perfect order. Then they threw the deadly little +rifles into the embrasures formed by the window slits, and all was +ready for the word. + +"Fire!" cried Jack, and the swift trill of rifle-cracks rang out on +the soft evening silence. As swiftly as they could press finger on +trigger, the three comrades emptied their magazines completely into +the fringe of forest three hundred yards away. This storm of tiny, +whirling slips of lead struck among the dacoits at point blank range, +and, by the screams and yells of the banditti, did much execution. The +watchers distinctly saw three or four fall, but these were swiftly +dragged among the trees by their comrades, and for a moment not a +single dacoit was to be seen. Then, just inside the shelter of the +trees, five figures were observed very busy placing a new _jingal_ in +position. At a glance the besieged saw that the gun was much larger +than the first, and would throw a heavier ball. + +"We shall have to pick off those fellows at work with the new gun," +said Jack. "Perhaps that will terrify them into flight." + +"I hope so," said Jim, but there was not much hope in his voice. "The +worst of these little chaps is that they never know when they're +beaten. They'll give their lives to get yours, as cheerfully as +possible." + +"And they don't set any high value on their lives, either," chimed in +Buck. "Whoever's runnin' the show over there, he'll spend his men's +blood like water for the chance o' catchin' us and puttin' us to death +as slowly as he can make the time spin out." + +"Slowly? Killing us slowly, Buck?" said Jack. "What do you mean?" + +"Torture," replied Buck, and the one dreadful word was answer enough. + +Crack! It was Jim's Mannlicher which spoke, but the bullet missed its +aim. The dacoits at work about the big _jingal_ had artfully placed +the weapon so that its mouth pointed from between two close-growing +teak saplings, and the trees formed a safe cover for the gunners. + +"I thought I could pick one of 'em off that time," remarked Jim, "but +I believe I only hit a tree after all." + +At this instant a figure was seen for a moment behind the long gun. A +dacoit stepped into view, crouched down, and carefully trained the +piece. There was a second crack, and the freebooter dropped under the +_jingal_ and never moved. Jack had fired and sent a Mannlicher bullet +through the dacoit's brain. + +"I say, you can shoot a bit," cried Jim Dent admiringly, and Buck +chuckled. + +"I guess he can, Jim. He put on a very pretty string o' bull's-eyes at +Bisley, shootin' in the competition for public schools. The Professor +grinned all over his face when he read how Jack headed the list with a +highest possible." + +Buck's speech was cut short by a loud roar from the _jingal_. The +fallen dacoit had trained it perfectly before he dropped, and a +comrade now touched off the piece. At the next moment a terrific crash +rang through the building. The heavy missile had lighted full on the +point where the door was secured by the stout bar, had smashed its way +through door and bar and hurled the door open. As the portal flew +back, there was a tremendous yell from the edge of the jungle. Then a +cloud of blue figures burst into sight. With gleaming _dahs_ +flourished on high, or long-barrelled muskets thrown forward ready to +fire, the blood-thirsty little men of the mountains rushed upon their +prey. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A FIGHT FOR LIFE. + + +Jack ran forward to the door and tried to thrust it into place again. +It swung to, for its hinges were uninjured, and as he closed it, Me +Dain was beside him with a short, thick plank he had brought from the +other side of the room. The plank was placed diagonally against the +door, its head caught under a cross-bar piece of the framework, and, +for the moment, the open gap was filled up. The rifles in the hands of +Jim and Buck had been going steadily from the moment the Kachins flew +out of their cover, and Jack now poked the muzzle of his weapon +through a broken plank, and fired swiftly and steadily into the mass +of assailants racing directly towards him. The whole thing happened so +quickly that the dacoits had not crossed more than one half of the +space intervening between monastery and jungle when Jack opened fire. + +The withering storm of bullets poured from the three magazines had no +more effect in checking the dacoit rush than if the bullets had been +drops of rain. The men actually struck dropped, of course, but their +comrades were not in the least terrified by their fall. The short, +broad, powerful figures rushed on as undauntedly as ever, their dark, +wild faces full of the savage light of battle, their rough, deep +voices uniting in a terrible yell of rage and of fierce lust for +vengeance. A shower of bullets from their muzzle loaders pattered on +the door or whistled in through the windows. + +Buck gave a grunt of pain as a bullet cut him across a shoulder; Jim +and Jack were untouched. The Kachins did not stay to reload, and in +another moment their dark faces and blue forms were massed in the +doorway, and the door rang under the tremendous blows delivered upon +it by their _dahs_, weapons so broad and heavy as to be sword and axe +in one. The windows, luckily, were too narrow for them to swarm +through, and when Jim and Buck could no longer rake the flying crowd, +they ran to the door to help their young leader. This was the moment +when the Mauser pistol proved itself an invaluable weapon. Quicker and +handier in the narrow space than a rifle, it poured its stream of +heavy bullets into the assailants in an almost unbroken stream, as the +defenders slipped clip after clip, each containing ten cartridges, +into the magazine. + +Fanatically brave as were the desperate Kachins, this was a punishment +too severe for mortal flesh and blood to endure. Of a sudden they +broke and fled, leaving a heap of dead and wounded about the door, and +a trail of fallen men to mark the track they had followed. + +"Are you hurt, Buck?" cried Jack, drawing a long breath. Fiercely as +they had been pressed, he had not forgotten Risley's grunt of pain. + +"Snicked my shoulder, that's all," replied Buck. + +Jim looked at the wound and nodded. + +"A snick it is, Buck," he agreed, "and a lucky thing for you. A bit +lower, and it would have smashed the bone." + +"We'll wash the wound and tie it up," said Jack. + +"Later on, later on," murmured Buck. "We've got no time to spare at +present. What's the little move next with these boys in blue." + +"Do you think they will attack us again?" cried Jack. + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "they're a tough crew, I can tell you. We've +got a lot more to do before we chill 'em cold." + +"That's true," said Dent. "After they smell blood there's no more +holdin' them than you can hold a tiger." + +"We've punished them terribly already," said Jack. + +It was his first battle, and in true English fashion he had fought his +hardest for his own life and the lives of his comrades. Now he looked +with a troubled eye on the fallen, and sighed. + +Jim Dent nodded at him with a friendly smile. "I know just how you +feel, Jack," he said. "But the thing is pure necessity. If you hadn't +shot that chap back in the path there, he'd have had Me Dain's head +off as sure as sin, and after you shot him, the rest followed as +straight as a string." + +"True, Jim," said Jack, "the whole thing lies at their door." + +"Say, Jack," murmured Buck, "you'd better get your Bisley bull's-eye +trick on that _jingal_ again. They're goin' to try another shot or +two." + +Jack ran to the window, and as he did so, the _jingal_ roared, and +crash came the heavy shot into the door. It struck a weak place, +burst through, and rolled across the floor. In another moment Buck had +picked it up and brought it forward. + +"Say, boys," murmured Risley, "no wonder this _jingal_ makes the poor +old door crack. Look here!" He displayed a ball of iron, nearly the +size of a cricket ball. + +"By George! What a smasher!" said Dent. "The door's bound to go if +they can get two or three of those straight on it." + +Jack glanced at the heavy shot, then turned to the window to watch for +the gunners in order to check them in working their destructive piece. + +"I can't see them," he said. "There's no sign of them at all." + +Jim and Buck joined him at once. + +"There's the bunch of trees they were at work among," said Dent. "They +must have drawn the _jingal_ farther back into the jungle." + +"Yes, but if they can shoot at us we ought to be able to see them," +said Jack. + +"Sure thing," murmured Buck. "Where's the little old cannon gone to?" + +In another moment all three gave a cry of surprise. The mystery was +made clear before their eyes. A sudden puff of smoke burst from a +tangle of vines and creepers twenty yards to the left of the _jingals_ +former position, and a second ball crashed into the door, shook every +plank in it, and ripped a great piece out where it struck. The dacoits +had swiftly cut down and lashed a number of saplings across a couple +of trees to form a cover for their gun. Over the slight barricade they +had thrown a great tangle of creeping plants, and the whole concealed +and protected them in a wonderful fashion. + +"They know how to play their own game," said Jack, as he searched the +spot with a few bullets. "They're hidden all right." + +"Sure thing," said Buck. "They're up to all the tricks of the jungle. +I don't see how we're going to stop 'em gettin' the door down now. +It's pure luck firin' into that tangle." + +Within the next half hour Buck's fears were verified. Shot after shot +was launched from the heavy _jingal_, and at the short range the +gunners found the door an easy mark, and pounded it again and again +until it was utterly shattered, and the opening into their stronghold +was left defenceless. Nor could the besieged make the gap good with +any other barrier. Between the firing of the heavy balls a steady +fusillade of musketry was poured into the doorway, and no one dared to +show himself there. + +The three comrades stood each at a narrow window, each with his +weapons charged, and his mind sternly resolved to make the banditti +pay a heavy price for his life. + +"They'll come again soon," muttered Jim Dent. "We must pump lead into +'em like mad as they cross the open, then hold the doorway as long as +we can." + +"Yes," agreed Jack. "We must not let them get in if there's any way of +keeping them out. Once they surround us, their _dahs_ will finish the +struggle in a few strokes." + +"Say, I fancy I see a bunch of 'em just beyond the _jingal_," said +Buck. He fired, but there was no sign that his bullet had taken +effect. "They're gone again," he continued in a tone of +disappointment. + +There was now silence while each watched the fringe of the jungle with +the utmost vigilance. Minute after minute passed, and not a sign +appeared of the terrible little dacoits. The _jingal_ was fired no +more, the musketry had dropped, and the stillness remained perfectly +unbroken. Anyone less experienced in jungle warfare than Jim Dent +would have concluded that the fierce Kachins for once had had their +fill of fighting, and had retired towards their fastnesses among the +hills. But he bade his comrades stand close and be ready. + +"There is some trick in the wind," he said. "What it is we shall see +before long if we keep our eyes open." + +Suddenly into this silence came the sound of heavy blows on the planks +over their heads. These planks formed the ceiling of the lower room +and the floor of the upper. The noise in this unexpected direction +made them jump, and then Buck roared, "Who's aloft?" + +The head of Me Dain was now shown at the head of the flight of steps +leading to the next story. + +"Me up here," said the Burman. "Me got a job." He held in his hand the +heavy _dah_ which had so nearly been driven through his own neck, and +he now returned to his task without making any further explanation. +Buck moved as if to investigate into the Burman's doings, but at this +moment Jack gave a cry of surprise, and he turned hastily back to his +window. + +"What do you see, Jack?" said Dent quickly. "Are they coming?" + +"Something's coming," cried Jack, and pointed. "Look straight opposite +to us," he went on. "It seems as if a piece of the jungle were moving +upon us." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +A CUNNING TRICK. + + +Jim and Buck followed the direction of his outstretched finger, and +then gasped in surprise. As Jack said, it seemed as if a patch of +jungle had begun to move. A mass of tangled greenery was edging +steadily forward from the sharp line where the forest ended, and was +making its way very slowly across the open towards them. For a moment +the whole thing looked horribly uncanny, then at the next instant the +explanation flashed upon them. + +"Say, that's a deep game," cried Buck. "We're in for a hard streak o' +weather, boys. They're coming on in shelter of a movin' barricade." + +So they were. The cunning little men in blue had set their savage +hearts on the blood of the white men, and were sparing no effort to +compass the destruction of their enemies. But the terrible hail of +bullets from those steady rifles was a thing they must avoid, or the +attacking party would be wiped out before the shattered door was +reached. So they were coming on under cover. The thing was simply +enough contrived. They had cut down young palms and saplings and +lashed them together with tough creepers. Thus they had formed a +little palisade six feet high and fifteen feet along. Into the joints +everywhere they had thrust great feathery bushes of the wild plum, +completely concealing every sign of themselves. Six of the sturdy +little highland caterans were strung along behind the palisade. To +their muscles of iron it was the simplest thing in the world to swing +the barricade forward a step at a time, and behind them crept a score +of their comrades with _dah_ and musket ready for action. + +"They'll march right up to us if we can't stop them in some fashion," +cried Jack, and he fired his Mannlicher into the palisade. The others +followed his example, and for a few moments they searched the oncoming +mass of greenery with a close fire. + +"There's something behind those bushes of wild plum," said Jim Dent. +"Can't you hear the bullets striking into wood? They've formed a big +shield of logs, and are pushing it forward." + +Now that their advance was known, the Kachins gave up their silence. +The bearers began to shout to give each other the time and to make +their movements regular and swift. "Ai-ai-Ai!" they shouted. On the +last cry they all lifted and swung the barricade a step forward, +"Ai-ai-Ai!" On they came again, "Ai-ai-Ai!" Another swing of their +burden, and so they cut down the distance foot by foot, and the +blood-thirsty little men who crawled after them felt the edges of +their _dahs_ and promised to dull the shine of the great blades in the +blood of the English sahibs who had shot so many of their friends. + +In the building, Jack and his comrades were at their wits' end to +know what to do in order to check this deadly advance. + +"They're standing us off easily enough," cried Jack. "At the rate +they're coming, they'll be up to the door in a quarter of an hour, and +then they'll swarm straight in on us. These bullets are too light to +check them." Suddenly he turned on Dent, his bright eyes flashing. +"Jim, Jim!" he cried, "what are we thinking of? Didn't you pack a +heavy big-game rifle among the baggage?" + +Jim Dent leapt as if he had been shot. + +"Of course I did," he roared. "I put it in on chance of being useful +if we had trouble with tigers or a rogue elephant." He darted across +to the baggage ponies, who had been tethered in a far corner of the +large room, and swiftly cut a case loose. He unstrapped it and drew +out an eight-bore rifle, a big powerful weapon. In a corner of the +case was a package of the cartridges which fitted the rifle. Jim +caught up the packet and ran back to his window. + +"The very thing," he breathed in the utmost excitement, "and I stood +here like a dummy and never remembered it was with us till you thought +of it, Jack. Unless they've got some very stiff stuff in yonder +palisade, I'll send a bullet through it as if it was only paper. I've +tried this gun with nickel-covered bullets such as these, and sent the +bullet through eight one-inch teak planks and five inches of wet +sawdust." + +"That ought to be good enough," cried Buck. "Pipe the lead into 'em, +Jim, and me and Jack will watch for any you drive out of cover if your +bullet goes through." + +"If," snorted Jim, as he threw open the breech and slipped in the big +cartridge, "I'll show you." + +He threw the elephant gun forward and fired at the centre of the +palisade. There was an instant scream. The immensely powerful weapon +had driven the bullet straight through the centre of a palm log, +through the body of the dacoit behind, and wounded one of the party +following up. + +Jim whipped open the breech, and the empty shell flew out, for the +rifle was an ejector. His practised hands had another cartridge in and +the breech closed in an instant. He fired again and then again, aiming +each time at a different spot in the palisade. There was a roar of +anger from the hidden Kachins, a roar answered by an exultant shout +from the besieged. + +"Pipe it into 'em, Jim," roared Buck. "You're gettin' home every shot. +Hark at 'em squealin'." + +The barricade had now come to a standstill, and it trembled all over +every time that it was struck by the heavy bullet travelling at +terrific speed at so short a range. + +"Fire low, Jim," cried Jack, "they have stopped and are crouching at +the foot of the palisade, I know." + +Jim fired low, and his shot was answered by a fresh outburst of yells +of pain and rage. Suddenly the palisade began to waver, then it slowly +fell over, as a stream of blue-clothed figures darted from its +insufficient shelter. The dacoits did not make either for the door of +the hut nor for the jungle they had left. The pagoda was the nearest +cover to them, and they raced for it with all their speed, the +quick-firing Mannlichers scourging them with a whistling shower of +lead as they flew. When the last Kachin who could run had disappeared +behind the building, the comrades checked their fire and looked at +each other with joyful eyes. Jim slapped the breech of the eight-bore +exultantly. + +"It sent every bullet through their shield like a cannon!" he cried. +"Lucky I put it in; they'd have got up to the door all right if it +hadn't stopped 'em." + +"They would, indeed, Jim," replied Jack, "and it would have been all +over with us then." + +"Sure thing," agreed Buck. "We should ha' hit the long trail in short +order." + +"What's the next move?" cried Jack. + +"Hard to say," replied Jim. "We can do nothing but watch 'em." + +Watch them they did. The three comrades kept a steady look-out, but +the sun went down, and the swift dark of the tropics fell over jungle +and clearing, and the dacoits had given no further sign of their +presence. The approach of night filled the besieged with the greatest +uneasiness. There was no moon to light the early hours of the +darkness, and in the deep gloom the dacoits could creep upon them +unseen and swarm over them by sheer force of numbers. But just as dusk +fell, Me Dain began to drag down a number of planks and posts from +aloft. This was the fruit of his hacking away with the heavy _dah_. He +had cut loose enough timber to make a very useful barrier at the open +doorway, and he and Jim made the strongest barricade they could while +the others kept watch. + +When night fell they kept their places, every ear strained to catch +the faintest sound. They had only to watch one side of the ground +floor where they stood. Three of the walls were solid and very +strongly built; the fourth was pierced by the windows and the door, +and here they had taken their stand from the first. + +About two hours after dark, Me Dain came to the head of the stairs +leading to the next floor. He had been stationed there to move from +one to the other of the upper windows and keep strict watch all round. + +"Come here now," said Me Dain. + +"I'll go," murmured Jack, and he groped his way across the floor to +the foot of the wooden steps. Up he went, and found the Burman waiting +for him at the top. + +"Me think some men this way," muttered Me Dain, and took Jack's +shoulder to lead him through the darkness of the unlighted passage +above. + +"Which way?" whispered Jack eagerly, clutching his rifle. "Are they +creeping on us from the back, Me Dain?" + +"Me think so," replied the Burman, and led Jack to a long, narrow room +at the back of the monastery, a room lighted by a large window. Coming +from the blackness of the passages, Jack saw the window clearly, a +grey patch in the gloom of the walls. He ran across to it and looked +out. The window was high above the ground, twenty feet at least, and +looked upon a tangle of low bushes which ran almost to the wall of the +building. + +"Men in the bushes. Me hear them," said Me Dain. + +Jack nodded, and watched intently. The window was a mere hole in the +wall, closed, when necessary, by a shutter. At present the shutter was +fastened back, and Jack could hear every sound that was made below. + +Presently his ears caught a rustling among the bushes, and he threw +his rifle forward. Then he returned it to the hollow of his arm. He +would wait and see what were the plans of the freebooters now ambushed +below. At this moment he found Me Dain's lips at his ear. + +"They make ladder and come up here," breathed the Burman. + +Jack nodded. That was the idea that had already struck him. Well, it +would be easy enough from above to sweep the ladder with a swift rifle +fire and drive the dacoits back into their hiding-place. + +Then another idea struck him, and he turned it over and over. To drive +them back. Yes, that was all right. But it would still leave him and +his comrades prisoners with the Kachins in hiding about the monastery +and thirsting for their blood. Would it be possible to win a chance of +escape out of this? It seemed to him there was a chance, just a bare +chance, and he resolved to seize it. He drew Me Dain back into the +shadows, and whispered softly, "How many doors lead into this room?" + +"One," answered the Burman, who had thoroughly explored the monastery +before the dusk fell. + +"Can you fasten it?" + +"Yes, very easy. Big lock, strong lock, and key in it." + +"All right," said Jack. "Now you keep watch on, the men below. I'll be +back soon." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +JACK'S PLAN. + + +He hurried to the ground floor, and in a dozen swift words laid his +plan before his friends. + +"Frightful risky!" said Jim, "Frightful risky! I don't say there's +nothing in it, but a big risk." + +"We stand in fearful danger now, Jim," said Jack. "I know it's only a +chance, but we've got to do something, or these fellows will wipe us +out for a certainty." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "and there is a chance in Jack's idea. I'll +carry it out." + +"No, Buck," said Jack firmly, "I can't agree to that. Both of you came +into this thing to oblige and to help me, and it would be a cowardly +trick on my part to put the risky work on your shoulders. I'll try +it." + +"Let's toss up," suggested Jim, "or draw straws. I'm willing to take +my chance." + +"I know you are, Jim," said Jack, "but I insist on having a shot at it +myself. If they catch me, it may leave a chance for you two to get +clear away. I know it's a mere toss-up whether the plan comes off or +not, but we must try something." + +Jack left his Mannlicher with Buck and slipped away up the stairs +once more. He regained the window where Me Dain was watching, and +found that the Burman had nothing to relate save that much rustling +had been heard. Within five minutes again Jack saw the very thing he +had been awaiting. A dark, thin shape rose from the bushes and began +slowly to creep up the wall. It was a ladder which the dacoits were +raising to the window below which they stood, a ladder formed of a +couple of bamboo stems with rungs of creepers. + +Now came the time for action, and Jack drew the Burman back into the +passage and locked the door himself; luckily the big key turned +quietly and easily. Down to the lower floor hurried Jack and crossed +to his friends. + +"They have raised the ladder just as I expected," he said. "Now I'm +off." + +"Good luck, Jack, good luck," breathed Jim and Buck earnestly, as Jack +dropped on hands and knees at the door and glided out at a hole which +they had prepared for him by moving a portion of the barricade. When +he found himself in the open, Jack paused for a moment and listened +with all his ears. But he could not catch the slightest sound of +either voice or movement on this side, and he glided on like a snake, +keeping his body very low and pressing closely against the dark wall. + +He gained the corner of the building just beyond the door, and +cautiously put his head round. Again he listened and looked. All was +quiet, and once more he slipped on. Near the next angle was a patch of +low-growing bushes. He worked his way into these with the utmost care, +and raised his head slowly until he could peer through the upper +shoots. He now commanded the rear of the building, and his heart gave +a great thump of excitement and satisfaction as he saw the sight which +he had been hoping for. He saw the swaying line of the ladder clear +against the sky, and mounting it, rung by rung, a line of climbing +figures. The dacoits were swarming nimbly up to the quiet room, from +which they expected to fall like thunderbolts upon their unsuspecting +enemies below. + +Jack now began to work his way towards the foot of the ladder. He went +very slowly and with the utmost care. At last he paused. The bushes +which had helped the banditti to approach the back of the monastery +unobserved had helped him too, and he was now within ten yards of the +foot of the ladder. He raised himself to one knee and looked intently +over the ground. The last of the climbing dacoits was vanishing +through the window, high above his head, and one stood motionless +below. He, clearly, had been left on guard to keep the foot of the +ladder. Now Jack heard plainly a shuffling and creaking and straining +above. The Kachins were trying to force the door which he had locked +against them. + +"Lucky it's a strong door," thought Jack. "It'll keep them busy for a +few minutes. How shall I dispose of this fellow?" + +Suddenly the crash and uproar of heavy blows rang out from the room +above. The dacoits had given up trying to force the door quietly, and +were beating it down. This noise gave Jack a chance of a thousand to +carry out his plan. He had slung his rifle over his shoulder. He now +unslung it quickly, clubbed it, and bounded forward. The dacoit at +the foot of the ladder was staring upwards, intent on the doings of +his comrades, when Jack landed without a sound scarce a yard behind +him. + +Down came the butt of the rifle with a terrific swing, fair and square +across the skull of the dacoit, who crumpled under the blow and +dropped without a groan. Jack jumped at the ladder, seized it, dragged +it from the window, and flung it among the bushes. The dacoits were +trapped. Then he turned and darted away. He gave a glance at the +window as he ran. As far as he could see, his plan had met with +wonderful success. Not a figure showed at the dark square above; every +man seemed to be taking part in the furious assault on the door. + +Now Jack ran for his life. Would the dacoits beat the door down and be +upon them before he could give the word? He flew back to the front and +called in a low, quick tone, "Come on! Come on! I've cleared the +ladder away, and they're trapped above." + +"Then we'll be off before they've got the door down," said Jim softly. +"Forward, boys!" + +A little procession now streamed swiftly through the doorway and +hurried across the open space which led to the friendly jungle, where +they hoped to find shelter and hiding. + +Me Dain went first leading a pony, Buck followed with a second pony, +Jim and Jack brought up the rear, their rifles ready for any pursuers +who might hit on their trail. + +[Illustration: THE ATTACK ON THE MONASTERY.] + +They were on the edge of the forest when a confused uproar of voices +told them that the dacoits had swarmed down the stairs and were in +the stronghold they had so luckily deserted. But even as the shouts of +the Kachins rang in their ears, the sounds were dulled, for Me Dain +plunged into a narrow path running through a thicket of bamboos, and +they left the clearing behind them. + +"Will they follow us?" whispered Jack to his companion. + +"It would be sheer luck if they hit on our track now," replied Dent in +the same soft tones. "Me Dain is leading us by a path that it isn't +likely these fellows know. Coming from a distance, they would only +know the chief road through the village, and they are almost certain +to divide and strike along that in both directions, thinking we have +fled towards the next village." + +"Where is the old Burman whom we found in the monastery?" asked Jack. + +"Dead, poor old chap," replied Jim. "He'd lost too much blood before +Me Dain tried to patch him up." + +"What savage fellows these dacoits are!" murmured Jack. + +"A merciless crew," returned Dent. "Any of our poor fellows who +dropped into their hands in the Burmese war were cut up in most +frightful fashion, and in cold blood, too. But we made them pay for it +now and again, when we got in amongst them with the bayonets." + +No more was said, and they tramped on in silence, with their ears laid +back to catch the faintest sounds of pursuit. But no sign of danger +was to be caught. Now and again they halted, and listened intently. +The jungle was perfectly silent save for its own noises, chief among +which was the sullen, deep roar of a tiger calling to its mate. + +"That's a tiger calling," said Dent to Jack. + +"I thought so," replied Jack; "it sounds like the Zoo, but how queer +to think that fellow is not behind bars, but roaming free through the +forest." + +"Say," remarked Buck over his shoulder, "I hope that 'Tiger, tiger, +burning bright' isn't a man-eater. If he is, he'll have a soft snap +with us, marching along this narrow path through thick cover." + +"By George, he's coming!" cried Jim, in a tone of sudden alarm. "Let's +bunch together, boys. If he doesn't get one of us, he may get a pony, +and that wouldn't suit our game at all." The tiger had again raised +his voice, but not in a roar so much as a fierce, grumbling snarl, and +the sound was much nearer. + +"Quick, quick!" cried Me Dain, from the head of the procession, and +the whole party hurried forward. Suddenly the trees above their heads +parted, and they saw the stars. The little band had reached an open +space in the jungle, and they gathered in the midst of this space and +closely surrounded the ponies. + +"Put your hand on this little beast's shoulder," said Dent to Jack. + +Jack laid his hand on the shoulder of the pony next to him, and found +that it was trembling violently and running with sweat. + +"I rather fancy it knows all about that noise, and what's making it," +went on Dent. "They understand when trouble's in the wind as well as +anybody." + +"It must be in a terrible fright," said Jack. "Do you think the tiger +will attack us, Jim?" + +"It isn't at all unlikely," replied Dent. "What do you say, Buck?" + +"If he doesn't want one of us, he wants a pony," replied Buck, "so it +comes to just the same. We'll have to pipe him full o' lead, I +shouldn't wonder." + +"This is a bad place for tigers," broke in Me Dain. "Very bad place. +Three Chinamen killed here four months ago." + +"How was that, Me Dain?" asked Jack. + +"Nobody know," returned the Burman. "Three diggers going up to the +hills to look for rubies. Make camp on little creek not a mile from +here. Somebody pass the camp next day and see one man dead. Then they +look, and see pieces of the other men in the jungle. Me forgot that, +running from Kachins." + +"Never mind, Me Dain," said Jim Dent. "Don't worry about that. A 'bad' +tiger is a very awkward brute to run up against, but a bunch of +Kachins is a more desperate case still. Hallo, he's pretty close. Hold +the ponies tight, Me Dain. They're ready to bolt." + +The little creatures were now frantic with fear, and the Burman had +all his work cut out to keep them in hand. + +"Look there! Look there!" cried Jack. "What's that straight in front +of us?" He had been staring hard into the blackness of the jungle, and +now, all of a sudden, two bright green flames seemed to start up in +the gloom. + +"That's a tiger just stepped from behind a tree," murmured Jim. "Stand +steady, boys, and don't let anybody loose off in any too much hurry." + +"There's another, and another," said Jack. + +In swift succession two fresh pairs of gleaming eyes were seen. Me +Dain gave a groan of terror. + +"Old tiger and two little ones," he said in a low voice. He was much +more terrified of tigers than of dacoits. + +"Say, he's got it quite straight," said Buck. "It's a tigress and a +pair of cubs. The eyes of the last couple are nearer the ground." + +It was so dark in the jungle which surrounded them that no sign of the +bodies of the savage creatures could be seen, only the eyes, which +burned upon them with a fierce, steady gaze. + +"It's a family party," said Jim. "Where's the old man tiger? It was +his call we heard, certainly." + +At this moment the tigress gave tongue. She let out a horrible whining +snarl, full of ferocity and threat. In an instant her call was +answered. Somewhere near at hand in the jungle arose a terrible sound +which seemed to fill the air and shake the earth, a sound which made +the blood run cold. It was the horrible coughing roar of a charging +tiger. + +"Here he comes," said Jim in a low voice, and Jack clutched his rifle +tightly. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +IN THE JUNGLE. + + +A moment later, and a fresh pair of burning eyes was added to the +group in the jungle. + +"Shout, shout, or he spring," cried Me Dain. + +The whole party shouted at the top of their voices. This sudden uproar +checked the tiger; the most ferocious brute hesitates to leap upon +people who are making a great noise. Then a sudden flame spurted up, +and they saw the whole scene plainly. This was the doing of Buck. He +had been hastily gathering great handfuls of dried grass and piling +them together. He struck a match and tossed it into the heap. The +withered grass caught at once, and a great red flare leapt out and +lighted the scene. For the first time they saw the tigers clearly, an +immense male tiger, his smaller mate, and two large cubs. The tigress +and the cubs were retreating a little, and the male was crouching as +if for a spring, his tail lashing his flanks, but the sudden flaring +up of the fire checked him, and for the moment he did not leap. + +That moment's hesitation saved them, so quickly and well was it used +by Jack. He had his rifle already at his shoulder. As the flame sprang +up, his quick eye brought the sights to bear on the huge, round head +of the crouching tiger. He touched the trigger, and the rifle spoke. +The great tiger gave one convulsive shudder, but did not move. There +was a general thrill of terror among the party. Had Jack missed, or +only grazed him? If it was so, he would spring at once, and his mate +would follow. + +The flame leapt and fell. The grass had burned out. With frenzied +haste Jim and Buck tore fresh handfuls to feed the fire. Every second +they expected the tigers to rush on them through the darkness. But no +charge came, and once more the red flame ran through the dried grass +and leaped into the air. As it did so, they gave a cry of +astonishment. There crouched the tiger, just as before, save that his +tail no longer swept to and fro. His head was laid low, his paws were +drawn under him just as if he were about to rise in the air and +descend upon them like a living thunderbolt, but he made no movement, +uttered no sound. Suddenly Jim Dent broke the wondering silence. + +"By George," said he in a low voice, "what a shot! What a shot! Jack, +that's a dead tiger." + +"Do you think so, Jim?" said Jack, joyfully. "Have I killed him?" + +"Sure thing," said Buck, "that's a brain shot. He never moved after +the bullet hit him. Now for the others. Where's the lone, lorn widdy +and the poor orphans. Jack, they'll rip holes into you for robbing +them of a kind father." + +Buck was still speaking when the tigress returned and rushed up to her +mate. She seemed to suspect something, and she bent over the huge, +prostrate figure and snuffed at it eagerly. Then she gave a +blood-curdling growl and retreated slowly towards the cubs, which came +bounding to her side, whining impatiently. + +"Those cubs are very hungry," said Buck. + +"Yes," said Jim quietly. "What's her next move? Will she scent danger +and clear off with the young ones, or is she in so great a need of +food for herself and them that she will attack us?" + +Suddenly Me Dain began to shout, "Shoot, sahibs, shoot! She is coming! +She is coming!" His experienced eye had told him that the tigress was +about to charge, and another instant showed that he had given no false +alarm. Maddened by the scent of the pack animals, and by the whining +of her famished cubs, the tigress turned short and came at them with +two tremendous leaps! The second carried her full into the light of +the fire, and as she touched the ground, all three rifles cracked, and +three bullets were driven home into her shining, striped body. + +Again she rose to her leap, her eyes blazing madly, her mouth opened +to its fullest extent, showing her huge fangs, and the repeaters +crackled as a rapid fire was poured into her in hopes of checking her +rush, for a wounded tigress is the most savage and dangerous beast in +the jungle. The last volley carried the day. Each fired into the open +mouth, and each hit his mark. The bullets, travelling at terrific +speed, cut their way through flesh, sinew, brain, and bone, and almost +tore the head of the tigress to pieces. She dropped across the fire +and lay there without moving, her coat singeing in the embers. + +"Whew!" Jim blew out a long breath. "I thought she was in among us +that time. And if she had been, we should have known about it. There's +a fore-arm for you." As he spoke, he touched the short, thick leg +where the muscle bulged in huge rolls under the loose skin. + +"And look at her claws," said Jack, bending with much interest to +examine the dreadful creature now lying so still. "A stroke of those +would mean mischief." + +"I saw a tiger once rush out of cover and give a beater a stroke in +passing," said Jim. "I remember I thought the brute had only patted +the man. I wasn't fifty yards away, and I'm perfectly sure the beast +didn't put any particular force into the blow. But the man dropped, +and when we ran up to him, we found five of his ribs torn clean out of +his body. He died from loss of blood almost at once." + +Buck twisted a bunch of dried reeds into a rude torch and lighted it. +"Let's have a look at the boss," he said, and they crossed to the +great tiger, still crouching as if about to spring. There was no mark +of injury on him save a small patch of blood between his eyes. + +"That's where you hit him, Jack," said Buck. He bent down and felt +among the fur. "I can feel the hole in the skull," he said, "but those +Mannlicher bullets are so small, there's scarcely anything to be +seen." + +"That bullet took him through the brain and then went down the spine," +said Jim. "Must have done, to have settled him so completely. You see +he never moved after he was hit." + +Jack took the torch from Buck's hand and looked proudly over the +magnificent proportions of his first tiger. The gleaming, satiny skin, +the bright bars of black and yellow, showed that the animal was in +splendid condition, and at the height of his powers. + +"Isn't he a splendid fellow?" murmured Jack. "I should just about like +to have his skin." + +"Sahibs," came a voice behind them, "let us go. Perhaps the Kachins +hear the guns." + +"The dacoits!" cried Jack. "Upon my word, I'd forgotten all about +them! By Jove, it's a matter of saving our own skins without worrying +about the tiger's. We'd better be on the move." + +"I'd clean forgotten 'em myself," said Jim, and Buck chimed in with, +"So had I." + +"They're pretty awkward parties to forget," went on Jack. + +"That's so," agreed Buck. "If they hit our trail, we'll see trouble +yet." + +No more time was spent over the dangerous brutes which had threatened +to bar their way. They were left lying where they had fallen, and the +little party of fugitives turned once more to their flight, and pushed +rapidly through the jungle. + +An hour later the moon came up, and soon after that they reached a +wide, naked stretch of rocky hill-side. This was very hard travelling, +but they welcomed it, as it was country where they would leave very +few traces to guide pursuers. On and on they pushed, until dim grey +streaks in the east told them that the dawn was near at hand. They +climbed a steep slope, and were just on its crown when the morning +broke, and the sun shot up into a sky without a cloud. + +"Good place here to make camp," remarked Me Dain, and all agreed +heartily with the remark. + +"I reckon this is your first night march," said Jim to Jack, +smilingly. + +"Yes," said Jack. "It isn't bad fun either." His tall, powerful, young +figure was as upright as a dart, his eye bright, his cheek fresh; he +could have gone on all day again. + +"Well," said Jim Dent, "I don't mind saying I'm ready for a rest," and +he dropped on the grass beside the fire which Me Dain had already +begun to build. + +Buck got out the provisions, and they ate from their store of native +bread and dried beef, and washed it down with plenty of tea. + +"The country looks empty," said Jack, glancing over the wide stretch +they had traversed, "but for all that we had better keep our eyes +open, perhaps." + +"We had," said Jim. "Those Kachins will follow us hot-foot when once +the light comes and they get our track for certain. I should say we'd +better stop here a few hours and then push on again till we've got +clean out of this country-side." + +"Very well," returned Jack. "We'll set a guard. Best to run no risks. +I'll take first watch." + +The last watch fell to Me Dain, and Jack awoke just as Buck roused the +Burman and lay down himself for another nap before continuing the +march. Jack, who was lying in a patch of thick grass, and wrapped in a +blanket, watched the sturdy figure of the Burman as Me Dain paced +lightly to and fro, looking out keenly on every hand. Then Jack dozed +off himself for half an hour, and woke again. He glanced round and saw +that Me Dain was sitting on a rock with his back towards the +sleepers. The first glance aroused Jack's suspicions. The Burman's +head was sunk between his shoulders. Next moment suspicion became +certainty. A gentle snore reached Jack's ears, and he knew that Me +Dain was sleeping at his post. + +Up sprang Jack at once, and crossed to the sleeping man. He was about +to shake the drowsy watchman by the shoulder, when he paused and +looked intently at the slope below. What were those creeping figures +among the rocks down there? A second later he knew them, and aroused +his sleeping companions by a low, fierce cry. + +"Up, up! Buck! Jim! Get your rifles at once. The dacoits are on us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE BRIDGE AND THE FORD. + + +The two men were on their feet at once. + +"Dacoits! Dacoits!" growled Jim, dashing the sleep from his eyes and +gripping his weapon. "How in thunder do they come on us so soon? Have +we overslept?" + +"No," said Buck, glancing at his watch. "We're inside our time. They +must have picked up our trail quicker than we thought, and followed a +lot faster than we travelled with the ponies." + +By this time Jack had taken cover behind a boulder, and was drawing a +bead on the first of the oncoming figures. Up the hill-side was +streaming a broken line of crouching little men in blue, following, +with the skill of born trackers, the signs of the fugitives' march. +Jack's finger pressed on the trigger, and the leader dropped. At once +the men in blue seemed to disappear as if the earth had swallowed +them. They vanished behind rock, or bush, or tuft of grass, and the +hill-side was empty save for the fallen figure. At this instant Buck +and Jim crept to Jack's shoulder. + +"How do they come to be so near to us as that?" cried Buck in +surprise. "In two minutes again they'd have been in the camp slicing +us up as we lay." + +"Me Dain was asleep," said Jack briefly. "I happened to wake up and +hear him snore. So I nipped up and took a look round and dropped my +eye on the dacoits making straight for us." + +"Good for you, Jack," replied Buck. "That's saved all our lives, for a +certainty." + +A groan of misery behind them drew their attention. They glanced over +their shoulders and saw Me Dain seated on his rock, a picture of +shame. He had been awakened by Jack's call and the crack of his rifle, +but sat still, unable to face the men whose lives he had risked by +giving way to his desire for more slumber. + +"Me Dain, you fat, brown-faced villain of the world," cried Buck. +"What d'ye mean by letting the dacoits nearly get us?" + +"Me sorry, me very sorry, sahibs," cried the Burman. "The sleep just +catch me. Me very sorry." + +"You'd better be sorry," returned Buck. "I've a good mind to boot you +till your nose turns grey. If it hadn't been for Jack, the king-pin o' +this outfit, we should all have hit the long trail this morning." + +"We'd better give those chaps down there a volley," said Jack. "See +how the tufts of grass shake as they creep on us." + +"You're right," said Jim. "They're trying to get within range. At +present they can't reach us with their muzzle-loaders, but we can +pepper them easy enough." + +Firing steadily but swiftly, the three comrades raked every patch of +cover with a stream of Mannlicher bullets. This checked the advance; +no more signs of movement were seen. + +The voice of the Burman was now heard behind them. + +"Sahibs," he said, "let us go on. Two miles more we reach a deep +river, and break the bridge. No Kachins follow then." + +"Sounds like a chance for us," remarked Jim. "Get the ponies, Me Dain, +and cut along ahead. We'll follow in a minute." + +The Burman at once slipped the hobbles from the ponies, whose packs +had not been removed, and led them quickly away. From the head of the +slope the path crossed a kind of tableland, and they could easily keep +their guide in sight for a long distance. + +"Now to search the places where these fellows below are in hiding," +cried Jack. "That will hold them back from following us till we get a +good start." + +"That's it," returned Jim. "Just what I was thinking of." + +Each man spent a couple of magazine loads in firing into every spot +where a Kachin had been seen to move or to go to cover. Then they drew +back out of sight, leapt to their feet, and ran at full speed after Me +Dain, who was hurrying the ponies along in the distance. + +"After that bit o' shootin' they'll wait a while before they push on +to the top of the slope and find we're gone," said Jim as they ran. +"And that will give us a good start to cross the river." + +Within a mile they caught up the Burman. Jack looked back as they ran +up to the ponies, but the top of the slope was now out of sight, and +he could not discover whether the Kachins had swarmed up to it or not. + +The fugitives were now following a well-worn path, clearly that used +by the people of the country-side to gain the bridge over the stream +in front. + +Jack was now leading the way, while Buck and Jim formed a rearguard +behind the ponies. Looking ahead, Jack saw that the path began to +descend very rapidly and fell out of sight. He ran forward and found +himself on the lip of a ravine with steep sides. At the foot of the +ravine flowed the river, and Jack gave a shout of joy when he saw how +near they were to the stream which promised safety. + +Then the sound of swift, heavy blows came to his ears, and he looked +in the direction whence they proceeded. His call of joy was checked in +an instant. What were those three figures in blue doing down there? In +a second he saw what it meant, and he dropped on one knee and clapped +his Mannlicher to his shoulder with a cry of anger. The dacoits had +been more cunning than they suspected. The pursuers knew also of the +bridge, and at this very instant three powerful Kachins were hacking +away with their keen, heavy _dahs_, cutting the bridge down. + +The three men in blue were so intent on their work that they never +once glanced upwards. They were slashing fiercely at the nearer end of +the bridge, and were about two hundred and fifty yards away. A +rifle-bullet would reach them more quickly than anything, and Jack +drew a careful bead on the nearest worker and fired. His bullet went +through the arm which had just swung up the heavy blade for a fresh +stroke at the frail bridge, and the _dah_ dropped into the water, +while the dacoit's yell of pain came clearly to the ears of the party +now gathered on the edge of the ravine. + +"Gosh!" cried Buck. "They're ahead of us." + +"So they are," snapped Jim. "They're cutting down the bridge and +penning us in. Drop 'em, boys, drop 'em quick, or it's all over with +us." + +At the next instant a swift shower of the tiny slips of lead was +pelting on to the bridge head where the two dacoits still hacked away, +striking harder and faster now that the rifles cracked on the lip of +the ravine. One dropped into the river with a splash, the other leapt +into cover of the big tree to which the bridge was swung, and was safe +from the darting bullets. But his gleaming _dah_ still flashed into +sight now and again as he hewed fiercely at the bridge. + +Jack at once bounded out, and, followed by his companions, raced madly +for the place. The bridge was but a slight affair, a native structure +formed of a couple of long bamboo poles with cross pieces lashed into +place by native cordage. + +The lower slope of the ravine was covered with tall bushes of wild +plum, and, as Jack ran through these, he lost sight, for a few +moments, of the bridge and the busy dacoit. He burst through them with +a straight, open run before him of seventy yards to the bridge head. +His heart beat thick and fast as he flew across the open. The blows of +the _dah_ had ceased. Had the bridge gone or not? A little clump of +water-grasses on the bank hid the bridge from him, but the silence was +terribly ominous. He thought he saw a blue kilt disappearing among the +trees, but he did not stay to intercept it. He shot up to the edge of +the stream, and saw a horrible space of blank water between bank and +bank. The bridge was swinging slowly towards the other side. Held fast +there, the current was thrusting the slight structure across the +stream. The dacoits had succeeded in their plan. + +Jack stood still and looked round for their enemies. There was no sign +of a Kachin to be seen. One had dropped into the river, and the +current had certainly carried him away; the others had escaped into +the jungle which grew thickly within a short distance of the bridge +head. + +"By Jingo!" cried Jim Dent blankly, as he ran up. "The bridge has +gone. We're in a pretty fix." + +"Gone," echoed Buck. "They've cut us off after all. Boys, we're in a +tight place." + +"Bridge gone!" cried Me Dain. "Bridge gone! What shall we do? Sahibs, +oh, what shall we do?" + +Jack looked from one to the other in some surprise at hearing this +outburst of deep anxiety. + +"It isn't very wide," he cried. "Why on earth can't we swim over? That +would be simple enough." + +"Ay, ay," said Jim Dent. "Easy enough if we were sure of getting to +the other side, but we're not. All these rivers swarm with alligators, +big, savage brutes that would pull a man under as easy as if he were a +dog." + +Jack's looks were now as blank as the others. This put a very +different face on crossing the river, and he gazed on the dark, swift +stream with horror. In those gloomy depths lurked huge, dreadful +reptiles whose vast jaws would drag a swimmer down to a frightful +death. + +"It's not a short journey across this creek, d'ye see," said Buck. +"The stream's so fast that a swimmer would be swept down full a +hundred yards in crossing from bank to bank, and in that time it would +give an alligator plenty of chance to lay hold of him." + +"We can't cross here, sahibs," put in Me Dain. "Stream too swift, too +strong. The bridge is here because the river at this place is very +narrow, but about a mile down there is a ford." + +"We'd better light out for it without losing any more time then," +cried Buck. "We might see an ugly row of Kachins any minute now along +the brink of the gully behind us." + +"True for you, Buck," said Jack. "Lead us at once to the ford, Me +Dain." + +The Burman turned and hurried down the banks of the stream, and the +others followed. In a moment they were lost to sight among the tall +bushes which were dotted about the bank. When the sound of their +footsteps had completely died away, two figures slipped from the edge +of the jungle and approached the spot where the fugitives had stood. +The newcomers were a couple of dacoits, one the man who had been +wounded by Jack's first shot. The short, broad, powerful figures stood +for a moment in close conversation, then the wounded man started to +climb the bank of the ravine. The second dacoit plunged into the +bushes, and followed easily the track left by four men and two ponies. +It was his task to track the intruders down: his comrade was +despatched to find the rest of the band and lead them to enjoy the +revenge for which the blood-thirsty dacoits lusted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A FRIGHTFUL PERIL. + + +Meanwhile the fugitives, unconscious that a sleuth-hound was on their +track, hurried forward and came to a point where the river spread out +broadly over sandy flats. + +"This is the ford," cried Me Dain. + +"Why was it given up?" asked Jack. + +"Because it was too dangerous, sahib," replied the Burman. "Many men, +many women have been seized by alligators at this ford. So the +villagers made a bridge at the narrow place higher up." + +"Well, we shall have to face it," said Jack. "How deep is it in the +middle?" + +"To the waist when the water is low," replied Me Dain. + +"H'm, that's awkward," remarked Jim Dent, "for the water certainly +isn't low to-day. There's been rain among the hills. You can tell by +the colour. It may mean swimming in the middle." + +"I'll try it first," cried Jack, "and I'll sing out to you how I find +it. Here goes!" He was about to spring into the river, when Jim Dent +called to him to stop. + +"No, no," said Jim. "That won't do, Jack. We might lose you that way, +and we should prefer a good deal to lose a pony." + +"Sure thing," said Buck, as Jim looked at him. + +"Now," went on Dent, "here's our best plan. We'll go in in a bunch +with a pony each side of the party. Then, if some of these ugly brutes +come up to see who's crossing their river, they're more likely to grab +a pony, and if we lose them, why we must." + +"It will be a frightful loss," said Jack. + +"It lies between that and being scuppered ourselves," said Dent. + +"Yes, yes, Jim, of course," cried Jack. "Your plan is the best." + +It was carried out at once. The four men went into the ford in a +bunch, with a pony up stream and a pony down stream. Jack was leading +the up-stream pony, Buck the down-stream animal, while Jim and the +Burman were between them. The crossing was a broad one, near upon a +hundred yards, for the river had spread out on a sandy flat, and they +were thirty or forty yards into the stream before they were more than +thigh-deep. Then the water suddenly deepened a full twelve inches, and +they were up to their waists. The stream, even on the flat here, was +fairly swift, and they could only wade forward slowly. + +"Slow job this," remarked Buck. "Water's tougher stuff than you think +to get through. I feel as if I was wading through treacle." + +"Yes, doesn't it clog your movements," agreed Jack, "but I should +think we're a good half-way over." + +"Deep part got to come yet, sahib," said Me Dain. "We have come +through easy part of ford." + +Just at this moment Jim's voice broke in; his tones were low and +fiercely earnest. + +"Push ahead, boys," he said. "Do your best. Strike it faster, +everybody." + +"What is it, Jim?" The question broke from Jack's lips, but a glance +up stream answered it before Jim could speak in reply. A hundred yards +above the ford a small sand-bank rose above the water. On this bank +lay, to all appearance, three logs washed thither by the current. But +now, oh horror, Jack saw these logs move and raise themselves. They +were huge alligators sunning themselves and waiting for prey. It was +clear that the vast saurians had noted the movement on the surface of +the river. One by one they slid down the sand and vanished into the +stream. + +"They are coming, sahibs, they are coming!" cried Me Dain, and his +brown face was hideously ashen with terror. + +"Strike it faster, everybody," growled Jim, and the party pushed +forward at their utmost speed through the stream. + +"Gosh!" panted Buck. "It's getting deeper and deeper. That's dead +against us." + +"Let us go back, sahibs," cried Me Dain, beside himself in terror of +the awful reptiles now coming down stream upon them with frightful +rapidity. "Let us go back. Better to face dacoits than alligators." + +"Easy does it, Me Dain," said Jack. "Peg along and do your best. It's +facing death either way. Let's have a go at the other bank." + +[Illustration: THE DANGER AT THE FORD.] + +"That's the way to talk, Jack," said Jim, through the teeth set in +his white, grim face. "We've got to go through with it now. And hark, +listen to that!" + +There was the crack of a musket on the shore behind them, and a ball +whistled over their heads and splashed into the water before them. +Jack glanced back and saw a blue-clothed figure on the river bank. + +"They're coming," he said. "One of them's trying to pot us now. +Impossible to turn back." + +"Gosh! it's deepening again," growled Buck. + +So it was. The stream ran nearly shoulder deep, and the other bank was +still a good forty yards away. Jack pushed on as fast as he could, +urging the pony forward. His breath came fast, and his heart thumped +like a trip-hammer. The situation was inconceivably desperate. +Somewhere through the hidden depths of the rushing stream, three +monstrous and frightful reptiles, fearfully dangerous and terrible +creatures in their own element, were darting swiftly towards them, and +behind them the dacoits now lined the shore and prevented return into +shallower waters which might promise safety from the huge saurians. + +Suddenly the pony which Jack led gave a great leap, and pawed the +water madly with its fore-feet, and uttered a loud snort of agonised +terror. Jack held him tight and looked over his withers. Nor could the +brave lad keep back a cry of alarm at the frightful thing he saw +there. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE COMBAT IN THE RIVER. + + +The river, though swift, was not muddy, and through the clear brown +water he saw plainly the vast open jaws of a huge alligator rising in +the stream, and about to seize the pony by the neck. In another second +the great saurian would have seized its prey, but the pony swerved +aside, and the huge snout shot out of the water, and the jaws, missing +their prey, clashed together with a sharp snap. At the next moment +they were opened, as the alligator drew back a little for a fresh +assault. + +Jack had been marching with his Mannlicher held on top of the pony's +pack, and his Mauser pistol held up in the other hand, hoping to keep +the weapons dry. Now he seized the opportunity of pouring a stream of +heavy Mauser bullets into the open jaws. + +So swiftly did he press the trigger that he drove five shots in before +the alligator once more snapped its jaws close. The great saurian was +badly wounded, and in its rage and agony began to lash the water +furiously with its huge tail, while blood and foam poured out at its +jaws and nostrils. The deadly, ripping, soft-nosed bullets, which +would have glanced off its hide of mail, had torn their way down its +throat and through the soft parts of the body with fearful destructive +power, inflicting mortal wounds. At sound of the pistol shots so close +to its ear, the pony leapt forward more frantically still, and the +huge dying brute was left floundering in the water. + +"One done for," roared Jim in delight. "Peg away, boys. We may come +safe yet." + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Buck let out a yell of +alarm. + +"Say," cried Buck, "there's one here. He's got hold of the pony." + +Buck's words were drowned by the loud shrill squeal of affright from +the pony, whose off-hind leg had been seized by the second of the vast +brutes to attack the party. + +"Here's another," shouted Jack, and he and Jim, who had been also +holding his pistol above the stream, fired rapidly. The third +alligator was sailing straight upon them down stream, floating on the +surface, his evil, unwinking eyes fixed full on the pony which he was +about to attack. Jim planted a lucky shot in one of the wicked-looking +eyes and knocked it clean out of its socket. Jack plainly saw the +bleeding hole before the alligator threw up his huge tail, slapped the +water with a crack like thunder, and dived. + +In the meantime Buck was engaged in a terrible struggle with the +alligator which had seized the pony. He held the bridle of the unlucky +beast, and assisted it as much as possible in the strong fight it made +for its life. So desperately did the powerful little animal struggle +with its terrible foe that it actually gained a dozen yards or more, +dragging the huge reptile along the river-bed. But the immensely +powerful jaws, fanged with strong, sharp teeth, never loosed their +grip. + +Jim now turned to Buck's assistance. At that instant the alligator +rolled in the water, showing its softer underside. It rose towards the +surface, yet never easing its grip, and lashed the river into foam +with its powerful tail as it tugged backwards with tremendous force, +aiming to pull the pony into the deeper water. For a moment Jim saw +its underside near the surface, the four horrible legs armed with huge +claws striking out savagely in the water. + +He thrust his rifle into the stream, pressing the muzzle against the +saurian's body. Luckily the magazine still remained above water, and +he fired several shots in swift succession into the vast brute, the +water boiling and swirling as the gases of the discharge came to the +surface in huge bubbles. One of these shots must have reached a vital +part; the alligator gave a final convulsive shudder, its jaws ground +savagely together, then they gaped wide, and the pony was free. + +Jack was pushing on swiftly with the pony under his charge. That was +his business, and he hurried forward, feeling joyfully that the water +was growing shallower with every step. His shoulders were out, and now +the pony's withers began to rise. Suddenly a horrid dark snout was +thrust up in front of him. It was the wounded alligator, which had +returned to the assault. + +Before Jack could fire the saurian dived, and Jack saw the huge dark +form dart at him under water. He felt his legs swept from under him +at the next instant, and down he went. He had not been seized, he had +simply been knocked from his foothold by the rush of the great brute, +and he landed full on the alligator's back. He felt plainly with his +hand its rough scaly covering like knobs of horn. He had kept his eyes +open, and saw clearly the horrid brute below him, and the dark forms +of his companions at hand. + +He dropped his pistol, whipped out a great hunting-knife from his +belt, and drove it time and again into the underside of the big +reptile. Then he struck out for the surface and came up gasping for +breath. He swam a dozen swift strokes before he dared to drop his feet +again and find the easy depth which the whole party had now reached. +He saw that the Burman was leading ashore the pony he had been torn +away from, and that Buck and Jim were doing their utmost to keep the +second pony on its legs. Suddenly the bottom began to rise swiftly, +and the whole party, fearfully exhausted, but very luckily unhurt, +staggered ashore and threw themselves down on the warm sand. + +"You all right, Jack?" snapped Buck. "I thought I saw you go under." + +"Yes," said Jack, "the brute that Jim knocked an eye out of attacked +me and fetched me off my legs. But I dug a knife into him and got +away. How are you two?" + +"Oh, we've come through with a sound skin," replied Jim. "But that was +a near shave. And look what we've missed." He pointed to the water, +where, thirty yards out, half-a-dozen huge ridged backs were now to be +seen cruising to and fro. + +"By Jove!" said Jack, "it's a fresh lot turned up just as we got out." + +Everyone shuddered as they thought what their fate would have been if +the alligators, attracted to the scene by the scent of prey, had +arrived a few moments earlier. + +"Where are the dacoits?" said Jack, looking across to the other bank. +"They've all cleared out, except a couple who seem posted to watch +us." + +"So they have," rejoined Buck. "What's their little game?" + +"I wonder if there's another bridge handy," remarked Jack. "Where's +the next bridge, Me Dain?" + +"A long way down the river, sahib, but there is a village about four +miles off." + +"Then they've gone there to borrow a boat, I'll wager a trifle on +that," cried Jack. + +"Right for you, Jack," said Dent. "We'd better be on the move. But +what can we do with this pony?" + +The poor beast, which the alligator had mauled, had managed to get +ashore and that was all. Its leg was frightfully torn. + +"This pony 'll never hit the trail again," remarked Buck, after he had +examined it carefully. "We shall have to carry its pack partly between +us and partly on the other pony." + +"Poor little brute," said Jack. "It's suffering fearfully. Look at its +eyes!" + +"We can do nothing for it, I'm afraid," remarked Jim. + +"No," said Buck, "but if we don't hump round a bit, somebody'll do +something for us." + +This hint of the danger in which they still stood from the +blood-thirsty and revengeful dacoits quickened their movements, and +the wounded pony was stripped in a few moments. The other pony was +quite unhurt, and a good share of the baggage was added to its load +for the present; the remainder was swung up on the shoulders of the +four members of the party. + +Jack, Jim, and the Burman now marched swiftly up the river bank +towards the road which ran from the broken bridge. Buck stayed behind +for a moment. Soon his companions heard the crack of the pistol which +put an end to the sufferings of the wounded pony, then heard Buck's +footsteps as he hastened to rejoin them. + +"What a lucky thing you packed the ammunition in water-tight tins, +Jim," remarked Jack, as they pushed at full speed along the bank. + +"Yes," said Jim, "I've been in this country a time or two afore. It +wasn't wetter in that river than it is in the jungle at times when a +storm catches you." + +"I've lost my Mauser pistol," said Jack. "It had to go when that brute +knocked my legs from under me. I had to drop it to whip my knife out. +Luckily I've got my rifle all right. That was on the sling." + +"We've got another Mauser in the outfit," said Jim. "I slipped a couple +of spare ones in. We'll turn it out at the next stopping-place." + +No more was said, and they pushed on swiftly along the river bank. The +day was fearfully hot and the road rough. Jim Dent began to puff and +blow under his burden. + +"Say," grunted Buck, "this is a tough job running away under loads +from dacoits who'll scour after us like coyotes as soon as they hit +our bank of the river." + +"It is," panted Jim. "Me Dain, how far is it to the next village which +is strong enough to make us safe against the Kachins?" + +The Burman shook his head. + +"Soon the road leaves the river," he said. "Then it goes through +jungle. But it passes only little villages, very little." + +"A jungle road, and no chance of a haven," said Jack. "This sounds +precious awkward. It strikes me our only chance will be to pick a +strong position, or as strong a one as we can find, and wait for them. +They'll certainly run us down pretty soon at the pace we're travelling +now." + +"And we can't go any faster," said Buck, "without we leave our traps, +and then we should be up a tree for want of them, even if we escaped +from the dacoits in the end." + +"I'm getting beat, and that's a fact," murmured Jim Dent. "I had a +sharp touch of fever about three months ago, and it's not gone so +clean out of my bones as I thought." + +"I'll carry your pack, Jim," cried Jack. + +"In addition to your own?" said Dent. "Not likely. I'll peg along a +bit farther before I agree to that." + +At that moment the path ran into a grove of tall bamboos clustered +along the bank. The grove was of no great width, and they emerged from +it to see a little camp pitched on a sand-bank beside the stream. A +fire was burning, and a pot of rice simmering over the flame. Watching +the rice, sat, or rather squatted, a couple of Shan boatmen, and their +boat was moored to a tree at the water's edge. + +"Hallo!" cried Jack, "these chaps have got a big boat here. Can't we +get them to run us and our stuff up the river?" + +"By George!" said Jim Dent, "there's something in that." + +"Ask them, Me Dain," called Jack. "Tell them we'll pay them well if +they'll carry us up the river." + +The Burman ran forward at once and began to talk quickly to the +big-hatted boatmen. In two moments everything was settled. The men +were poling their boat back up the stream after selling a load of +tobacco in a down-river village, and were glad to serve travellers who +would pay them well. The baggage was stripped from the pony, and +hastily swung into the empty boat. + +"What shall we do with the pony?" said Jack. + +"Turn him loose into the jungle," said Buck. "He's got heaps of sense, +they all have. Before night he'll hit on some village, and then he'll +soon find a master. A stray pony comes in very useful to anybody." + +This was done. Me Dain led the pony a short distance from the river +bank and loosed it, and gave it a cut with a switch. The little +creature threw up its heels joyfully to find itself free, then +cantered off among the trees, and they saw it no more. + +By this time the Shans had swallowed their rice, and were ready to +seize their poles. All sprang aboard, the Shans and Me Dain grasped +the boating-poles, and the craft was soon being driven steadily up +stream. For some time Jack watched the boatmen with deep interest. +They drove their craft along just as a punt is propelled in England. +Each man handled a long stout pole, and, where the water was shallow +enough, he set the bottom of his pole in the gravelly bed and urged +the boat forward. Where the water was too deep the craft was turned +inshore, and the polers thrust the ends of their staves against the +bank or against tree trunks lining the water's edge. Jack saw that +quite deep holes had been made in many of the trunks where boatman +after boatman had gained the purchase which sent his craft spinning up +stream. + +"Well, Jim," said Jack, "this is a bit easier anyhow." + +"It is," sighed Dent, wiping the streaming sweat from his brow. "I was +pretty near caving in, and that's a fact." + +"We'll drop the dacoits for a sure thing," said Buck. "They'll stop to +hunt all about the place where they lose our trail, and then they'll +follow up the pony for a dead cert." + +"True for you, Buck," replied Jim Dent. "We left no marks at all to +show them where we got into the boat." + +They had embarked secretly by pushing the boat up to a big stone, and +moving carefully in order to leave no trace. + +"Where does the road turn off from the river bank, Me Dain?" asked +Jack. + +"We have passed it already, sahib," replied the Burman. "It is solid +jungle on both banks now, with no path at all The dacoits cannot +follow except along the river itself." + +"Then we've dropped 'em," said Jim Dent decisively. "We shall never +see 'em again." + +And Jim's words proved to be right. They had at last eluded the +pursuit of the blood-thirsty little Kachins. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE VILLAGE FESTIVAL. + + +For three days the strong arms of Me Dain and the two Shan boatmen +drove the river boat up the stream, and every day's journey brought +them nearer to the mountains where the rubies were found, and among +whose recesses they believed that Jack's father was a close prisoner +in the hands of men who coveted rubies above all things. + +Jack said very little to his companions about the object of their +journey, but his own thoughts were full of it at every waking moment. +Since he had discovered that U Saw, the Ruby King, had a steam yacht, +and that it had returned and gone up river shortly before their own +arrival, he had felt no doubt whatever in his own mind as to his +father's fate. He knew that the great ruby expert was on that yacht a +close captive, and that he had been carried by secret ways, through +the jungle and over the hills, to the place where U Saw was +all-powerful, and would do his utmost to wrest from Thomas Haydon the +knowledge which the latter certainly possessed of a great ruby-mine. + +Very good. They, too, would push into the Ruby King's country, and do +their utmost to foil his plans and snatch his prisoner from his +clutch. Hour after hour Jack thought over the situation, while his eye +rested almost carelessly on the lovely scenes of hill-side and jungle, +past which their boat was driven. + +At the end of the first day they left the main current of the river, +and poled eastwards by a network of creeks leading to the village from +which their boatmen came. For the most part the water-way was very +solitary. Here and there they passed a village, but, as a rule, no +life, save that of wild animals, was to be seen. Monkeys chattered in +the trees over their heads, panthers and deer came down to the stream +to drink, tigers roared in sullen fashion in the jungle, and once, a +troop of wild elephants crossed a ford before them in stately line. + +With the evening of the third day the boatmen reached their native +village, and the travellers stepped ashore. A new hut, built of reeds +and cane, was set apart at once for their use, and, after supper, they +talked over their future movements before turning in. + +"How do we stand now as regards striking the course my father followed +from Mogok?" asked Jack. + +Jim Dent, who knew the country well, cross-examined Me Dain for a few +moments. + +"We ought to hit it to-morrow afternoon," he said. "We've come a long +way on the right road by dropping on these boatmen. We're just handy +to the foot-hills, and the Professor skirted 'em, according to what Me +Dain says." + +"Very well," said Jack. "Then we'll roll into our blankets, and be off +by daybreak." + +Jack was so eager to start on the real trail, and so excited by its +nearness, that he slept but little. He was up an hour before the dawn, +and had got the fire burning when his companions awoke. Buck sat up, +and rubbed his eyes, and sniffed the smoke. + +"Keen on a start, Jack?" he murmured. + +"I am, Buck," replied the tall lad. "Haven't you told me a score of +times how the news of travellers in a country runs with marvellous +swiftness through the jungle, from village to village? Well, I want to +be ahead of the news. It might make Saya Chone and U Saw suspicious. +They knew very well we were in Mandalay. I don't want them to learn +too soon that we're at their very doors." + +Jim Dent nodded. He, too, had wakened, and had been listening to Jack. + +"Me Dain," said Jack, "go to the headman, and tell him we want a +couple of good ponies to carry the packs once more. Bring them here +for us to see, and then we'll pay the owners." + +Within half an hour they had the pick of a score of capital little +beasts. They looked them over carefully, chose the couple which seemed +best suited to their needs, paid for them, and set to work to pack the +traps on them. Within an hour after sunrise they were on the march. + +For several miles they followed a well-worn road running due north +from the village. This was to conceal their true line of march from +the knowledge of the curious villagers. But when they were well away +from the place, and safe from all prying eyes, they swung to the east +and marched straight through open country for the foot-hills, plainly +in view a score of miles away. + +The sun was low and they had made a good day's journey, when Me Dain +halted on a little ridge, overlooking a sloping green valley with a +brook tinkling down its centre. Jack was beside him. + +"There, sahib, there," said the Burman. "We have reached now the path +which the sahib, your father, followed. We made our camp, one night, +under those trees." + +He pointed to a group of noble teak trees growing beside the little +brook, and Jack strode forward, and was soon standing on the spot +where his father had camped a month or two before. He had scarcely +reached the place when he received proof positive that Me Dain was +right. Something glittered in the rays of the sinking sun. It was an +empty tin tossed carelessly into a clump of wild-fig bushes. Jack +picked it up with a cry of recognition. + +"Look here," he said; "the Burman's hit the trail all right. Here's +one of the governor's empty tobacco tins. He's never smoked anything +else in my knowledge of him." + +Jack held in his hand an empty tin which bore the name of a brand of +Carolina tobacco. Though little known out of America, the tobacco was +an immense favourite with Mr.. Haydon, who carried an ample supply of +it with him wherever he went. + +"Sure thing," chuckled Buck. "That's one o' the Professor's tins. +Well, we'll follow him up." + +They camped that night under the teak trees, and with the first light +of the next morning, began to follow up the track which Mr.. Haydon +had taken some time before, the track which led into the wild +hill-country, where U Saw, the Ruby King, was all-powerful. + +They now moved with the utmost caution. When they saw a caravan of +cattle, laden with salt, marching along a hill road they were about to +cross, they hid from it in the jungle. When they saw afar off the +spire of a pagoda peeping over the trees, and knew they were near a +village, they sent Me Dain ahead to make inquiries, and find whether +the villagers were familiar with the name of U Saw. And so for three +days they worked cautiously along the track running up into the hills +where Thomas Haydon had found the immense ruby of priceless value. + +On the fourth morning they were just breaking camp, when, to their +surprise, a troop of gaily dressed villagers passed them, and called +out a cheerful greeting to Me Dain. The Burman went forward to talk to +them, while Jack, Jim, and Buck went on with their packing, and tried +to look unconcerned. + +They were in reality vexed that they had been seen. But the bunch of +walking figures had descended the ravine in which they were camped so +suddenly and unexpectedly, that there was no time to get out of the +way. + +"Where under the sun have these people turned up from, in so lonely a +part of the hills?" said Jack to Buck. "Why, we haven't seen a village +since yesterday morning." + +"I dunno," replied Buck. "This beats the band. They seem to have +dropped from the sky." + +When Me Dain came back to them, the explanation was simple enough. +Four hours' march ahead was a large village, where every three years a +great religious festival was held. To this festival the whole +country-side gathered, and the band of villagers, now pushing ahead +and almost out of sight at the foot of the ravine, had already come +three days' journey to attend the feast. + +The Burman reported that the villagers had been filled with curiosity +at the sight of three white travellers in this out-of-the-way region, +and had overwhelmed him with questions about them. + +"What did you tell them, Me Dain?" asked Jack. + +"Said you were crossing the hills to strike up to the great road from +Bhamo," replied the Burman. "Sahibs, we must go to that village now, +and pass through it openly." + +"But won't that make our presence known throughout the whole +district?" cried Jack. + +"Not half so much as if we don't show up," said Jim Dent "D'ye see, +Jack, it's uncommon, but not impossible, for travellers to strike +across the hills this way. Now, if we pass through this village in an +open sort of fashion, it won't make a tenth of the talk as if we were +to slip off and never be seen again. Then there'd be such a chatter in +the country-side as we don't want to start." + +"I see what you mean, Jim," returned Jack. "We must hope that we can +get through the place quietly." + +But Jack's hopes proved utterly vain. Half a mile outside the village +they were met by a dozen of the leading inhabitants, each wearing a +fine new silk _putsoe_, and with a _gaung baung_ of gorgeous colour on +his head. The strangers were politely bidden to take up their +residence in the house of the headman, and to be present at the great +feast which was that night to open the week of religious festival. It +was impossible to refuse these attentions, and the little group of +travellers, whose keenest wish was to pass unnoticed, entered the +place under the stare of many hundreds of eyes. + +A large room was set at their disposal in the house of the headman, +and here they talked together. + +"It's vexing, but it can't be helped," said Jack. "We must slip off +again in the morning. After all, this fandango, you say, will last a +week. At that rate, we shall get a big start of the people assembled +here, and shall outrun the country gossip far enough." + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE DANCING GIRL. + + +After the dusk had fallen, the travellers were conducted by the +headman himself, a white-headed old fellow, who showed them the utmost +respect, to the spot where the festival was to be opened with a play +and a performance of dancing girls. + +Jack was fascinated with the wonderful sight now presented to his +view. He, alone, among the party, had never seen such a spectacle +before, and he looked on with the deepest interest. He was seated on a +heap of cushions, before a wide open space surrounded by thickets of +low trees and tall bushes. On the branches of these were hung +innumerable coloured lamps, which lighted the scene with a soft, +bright radiance. + +In the centre of the space were ranged sixty dancing girls, in ten +rows of six in a row, and each dancer stood at an equal distance from +her next neighbour on either hand. Each girl was dressed in beautiful +silks of the most glowing, or the most delicate shades. Her short +embroidered jacket, her tightly folded skirt, were of the brightest +and newest, and her hair was decked with beautiful flowers. + +The dance began, and the graceful swaying movements, to which the +clink of the bangles worn in rows on every arm kept time, were full of +fascination and charm. All round the open space the villagers from far +and near were gathered, and this mass of spectators in strange garbs, +but everything of the freshest and gayest, formed a striking setting +for the scene. + +When the dance was over, the headman, through Me Dain, begged them to +inspect the pagoda and the offerings which had been brought to it by +the faithful. They went and saw a very quaint and beautiful structure, +its columns inlaid with mosaics and coloured glass which glittered +with a thousand glancing rays in the lights of the myriads of lamps. +Chief among the offerings at the shrine were huge packets of +gold-leaf, for the religious Burman loves to decorate his favourite +pagoda with sheets of gold-leaf, till it glistens in the sun like a +palace of gold. + +Among the offerings ranged on the steps of the pagoda was a native +painting, a quaint piece of work which drew Jack's attention at once. +He bent down to look at it, while his companions rambled on with Me +Dain and the headman. + +As Jack straightened himself again, he felt a light touch on his arm, +and looked round. Beside him stood a dancing girl, wrapped in a +close-fitting robe of yellow silk, and a scarf of muslin so wound +about her head that he could not see her face. + +Jack stared for a moment in surprise, wondering what the girl could +want with him, then he gave a great start as she began to speak. She +used the softest, gentlest whisper, but her voice came easily to his +ears, and, marvellous to relate, she spoke in perfect English. + +"I know what you seek," she said, "and I can help you." + +Jack's surprise was so great that, for a moment, he could not answer, +and the veiled figure went on: + +"Would you not like to know where the object of your search is?" + +"How do you know that I seek someone?" said Jack in wonder. + +"Oh, I know," murmured the dancing girl with a soft, light laugh. "I +will go a little further. Would you not like to know where your +father, Thomas Haydon, is imprisoned, and what is happening to him?" + +For a moment the whole glittering scene of lamps and gaiety went round +before Jack's eyes. Then he pulled himself up steady once more. This +savoured of the utterly marvellous, that a dancing girl in this +village which he had never seen before, should glide up to him and +tell him the innermost secret of his heart, the purpose of his quest. + +"Who are you, and how did you come to know such things?" said Jack. + +"Oh," said the girl lightly, "in this strange land we can do many +strange things. But I cannot talk to you long. Do you wish, I ask you +once more, to gain tidings of your father?" + +"There is nothing I wish for more upon earth," returned Jack +earnestly, for it was idle to pretend that the girl was wrong, and try +to hide his secret. It was known only too clearly to this strange +creature in the yellow robe, with a score of silver bangles tinkling +on her arm. Jack turned his head towards his companions who had +strolled on, and were now a dozen yards away, and half hidden by a +group of villagers standing before the shrine. + +"No," said the girl, laying her hand on Jack's arm, "no, you must not +call to them. I do not wish to talk to your Burman guide. It would +place me in great danger if it became known that I had warned you. If +you do not listen to me, and alone, I shall vanish into the crowd, and +you will never see me again, or learn that which you long to know." + +The girl's hint that she stood in danger by warning him, at once +checked the call on Jack's lips. He looked at her keenly, but could +only see a pair of lustrous eyes flashing through the folds of +delicate muslin, her features he could not make out at all. His brain +was in a whirl. Here seemed a most extraordinary, a most wonderful +chance to gain news of his father, but at the same time his reason +bade him be careful. + +Suppose he were to seize the girl and declare that she must tell him +at once what she knew? But Jack's feelings revolted at such conduct. +Suppose she should come into danger by his doing so, by his making +public the fact that she was warning him? No, he could not do that. +Besides, they were but a few strangers amid a great concourse of +natives. Such an action might give great offence, and place, not only +himself, but his friends in a position of the utmost peril. + +These thoughts went through Jack's head in a flash. The girl at his +side gave another light laugh. + +"You can find out all you want in so simple a fashion," she murmured. +"Turn your head to the right, and near a patch of acacia bushes you +will see a monk with his begging-bowl. Cross over to him, and drop a +piece of money into the bowl. At the same moment you can take out of +it the letter which your father has sent to you by his hands. I would +fetch it for you, but he will not give it up to anyone but you." + +This became more and more bewildering, but at the same time, Jack saw +that this matter was very simply settled. He looked away to the right, +and saw the monk plainly enough, a Buddhist monk in yellow robe, his +begging dish of bronze held out before him. The man stood upright and +motionless, not thirty yards away. + +Jack turned on his heel and strode straight across towards the monk, +resolved to see at any rate what was in the dish. The dancing girl +followed him with graceful, swaying step. + +At the instant that Jack moved towards the monk a fresh band of +revellers came out of a path leading from the acacia bushes and +crossed towards the steps of the pagoda. From among them a tall, thin +man dressed in white robes stepped out and moved with long, soft +strides after the young Englishman. His companions lingered and stared +idly about them. + +As Jack approached the monk, he saw the latter raise his head and +glance at him meaningly. Then, with a slight movement of the hand, +the monk pointed to the bottom of his bowl. Jack had taken a rupee +from his pocket and stretched out his hand to drop it into the bowl. +As he did so he glanced eagerly into the bronze vessel. A folded piece +of white paper lay in the bottom of it. Jack dropped his coin and +stretched out his hand to seize the paper. But he never touched it. + +With horrible swiftness and suddenness, someone clutched him from +behind. Once more he felt his throat in the frightful strangling grip +which had seized him on Rushmere Heath, in far-away England. He tried +to shout, but his half-choked voice was drowned in the sudden burst of +song which rose from the band of gaily dressed figures which now +swarmed around him. He tried to struggle, to throw off the fearful +grip which held him, but now the dancing girl sprang to him and +pressed against his face a cloth she had drawn from beneath her yellow +robe. Almost at once the powerful drug with which the cloth was +saturated took effect. Jack's head dropped forward, and the dancing +girl nodded to the strangler to loose his frightful clutch. + +At that moment Buck looked round and missed his young companion. + +"Where's Jack got to?" he asked. + +"I don't know," said Jim. "He was looking at a picture just along +there, the last time I saw him." + +[Illustration: THE DANCING GIRL] + +"I don't see him anywhere about," said Buck, in an uneasy voice, and +he walked rapidly back. He came to the picture, stopped in front of +it, and looked eagerly round for Jack. He saw the band of singers a +short distance away, but took no notice of them. He had seen scores of +such bands during the evening. Little did he dream that, under cover +of those harmless looking revellers, the body of his young comrade was +being dragged among the acacia bushes by the monk and the dancing +girl. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +JACK FINDS HIMSELF IN BAD HANDS. + + +When Jack came to himself again, he felt faint and sick, and his head +ached dully. This was the effect of the powerful drug which had been +used to overcome him, but for the rest he was unhurt and quite +himself. He found at once that he was securely bound hand and foot. +His ankles were fastened together by a short cord, his hands were tied +behind him, and a rope ran round the middle of his body and tethered +him securely to a strong post. But he was not gagged, and his eyes +were free. + +He looked eagerly around the place in which he found himself. It was a +native hut, built of canes and reeds, woven upon a framework formed of +saplings and stronger trees. The floor was of earth, and he could see +the whole of the bare, empty room, for in one corner a lamp stood on +the floor, and gave sufficient light to show him every nook in the +place. Somewhere, not far away, there was a hoarse roar of water, as +if a river leapt over falls near at hand. + +Jack raised his voice and shouted. He could not move, but his throat +was free. Twice or thrice he shouted the names of his companions. The +only answer to his call was a light mocking laugh outside the door, +which swung half open straight before him. Then a figure appeared in +the doorway, a figure in a tight yellow robe and short embroidered +jacket, the dancing girl who had ensnared him. But even as he opened +his mouth eagerly to speak to her, he was silenced. The figure was +drawing aside the muslin veil from its head. As the soft shimmering +folds of the delicate wrapper slipped away, Jack's heart leaped within +him. He knew that face. This was no dancing girl. It was the +half-caste in disguise. It was Saya Chone, the man who had stopped him +on Rushmere Heath, the man who had slipped out of his clutch at +Brindisi. + +"Ah," said the half-caste, squatting down in front of Jack, "I have no +need to ask if you know me. I see recognition in your astonished face. +Well, does it now surprise you that a dancing girl should know so much +of your business up in these hills?" + +"So it was you, you rascal, was it?" said Jack, drawing a deep breath. +"You, all the time." + +"I, all the time," chuckled the half-caste, clicking consonants +between his teeth. + +"If you'd have spoken out, I should have known you," said Jack. + +"Ah, possibly," said Saya Chone; "but then for my purpose the soft +voice, the gentle whisper, was the only thing." + +"What do you mean by this, and what do you want with me?" demanded +Jack. + +"Orders, orders, I am acting under orders," murmured the half-caste, +waving his brown hand in the air. "And I do not want you at all. It +is merely my business to hand you over to my patron U Saw. It is he +who wants you, not I." + +"And what does he want me for?" said Jack. + +"Ah," murmured Saya Chone, "that I shall not tell you now. It is not +good for the servants of U Saw to interfere too much in their master's +business. Well, I must prepare for the march." + +He clapped his hands, and a tall, thin man in white robes came in. +Saya Chone said a few words to the newcomer, and the latter sat down +and fixed his dark, menacing eyes on Jack. + +"This is a Malay, who is entirely devoted to U Saw's service," said +the half-caste, with an evil grin. "He is a very useful man, for he is +absolutely the cleverest hand with the strangling noose that I have +ever known. I believe he could strangle a child in its mother's arms +and she would know nothing about it. You have already had a slight +taste of his skill on two occasions. Once on that heath in your queer, +cold England, and again to-night. But as he was under strict orders on +both occasions not to take your life, he spared you the last touch of +his art, that sharp, neat twist which breaks his victim's spinal +column as if he was snapping a bit of dry stick." + +Saya Chone turned to go, but paused at the door and looked over his +shoulder. + +"I heard you shouting as I came in," he said. "If you have a fancy for +that amusement, pray shout as much as you like. But I ought to warn +you that it is a pure waste of breath. We have carried you nearly a +couple of miles into the jungle, and fifty times the uproar you could +make would be quite useless to attract attention." + +He left the hut, and Jack sat back against the post to think over his +desperate situation. He had fallen into the hands of the very people +that he and his comrades were trying to circumvent. How they had +discovered their line of march, and been enabled to lay this clever +trap for him, he could not imagine. But one thing he saw clearly, that +U Saw's arm was very long in this country, and that his net for +information was spread abroad very widely and very successfully. + +He looked across at the Strangler, and found the dark bright eyes of +the Malay fixed intently upon him. Jack had been thinking to test the +strength of the knots and the cords which bound him, but in the +presence of this keen watchman it was useless, and he bent down his +eyes in thought once more. + +"I am to be carried to U Saw," he thought. "Then my father must be +there already. At any rate I shall see him, I hope, and find out what +has happened to him, and how he has been treated." + +Several hours now passed in complete silence. Jack's bonds chafed him +miserably, but he could do nothing to relieve himself, and the Malay +watched him with fierce alertness at every moment. Then the ricketty +door was jerked open again, and Saya Chone came in. + +"It is the dark hour before the dawn," he laughed jeeringly. "A +capital time to slip away while all the revellers are sleeping, and +the forest paths are empty. Your conveyance awaits you, my lord." + +He said two words to the Strangler, and drew a revolver from beneath +his jacket. He had thrown aside his disguise as a dancing girl, and +now appeared in the rich tartan silk kilt, the jacket, and turban-like +head-dress of a prosperous Burman. + +"Get up," he said curtly to Jack, while the Strangler unfastened the +rope which bound the captive's feet and also that which bound his body +to the post. + +Jack got up, and Saya Chone motioned to him to go outside, and Jack +went, with the Malay and the half-caste in close attendance. +Resistance was impossible. His hands were still bound behind his back, +and the half-caste held a big, blue "Smith and Wesson" within two +inches of his ear. + +In front of the hut loomed up a huge beast looking monstrous in the +light of a couple of lanterns held by attendants. It was an elephant, +and a ladder was placed against the open howdah fixed on its back; the +great beast was swinging trunk and tail impatiently, and its driver +was already seated behind the huge head. + +"Up with you," said Saya Chone. Jack glanced round, and saw nothing +but dark, fierce, inimical faces all about him. + +"No chance in the world at present," he thought, and began slowly to +climb the ladder. It was very awkward work with no hand free, but the +Strangler stretched out a long arm, supported him to the top rung, +then thrust him violently forward, so that Jack rolled into the +howdah. It was the simplest form of this kind of carriage, and was +exactly like a huge open basket of strong wicker-work fastened on the +elephant's back. Before Jack could recover himself from his fall, the +Malay and two other men bounded into the howdah, and flung themselves +on the prisoner. In a trice they had strapped his ankles together +again. Then they swung him into a sitting posture, and lashed his arms +firmly to the back of the howdah. + +Next they descended, another figure leapt up, and the ladder was taken +away. The newcomer gave an order, and the elephant driver spoke to his +huge beast in a low voice. The elephant at once swung forward, and in +a moment the hut and its lanterns were left behind, and they were +moving through the darkness of the jungle. + +Jack had known by the voice that it was the half-caste who was his +companion in the howdah, but he said nothing, and Saya Chone, too, was +silent. Soon the half-caste lighted a huge Burmese cheroot, and in the +light, almost the flare, of this immense cigar, nine or ten inches +long and an inch thick, Jack saw now and again his beardless brown +face, his big, shining, evil eyes. + +When the dawn came and Jack could look about him, they were traversing +a narrow path through jungle so thick that the sky could scarcely be +seen overhead. + +"Ah," said Saya Chone, breaking the silence at last, "you may look +round, my lord, but you will never be able to keep in mind the details +of the route. I shall take you into the hills by paths so hidden in +the jungle or along ravines so deep that to track you will be +impossible." + +Jack was silent for a moment. Then he spoke. "Shall I see my father?" +he asked. + +Saya Chone laughed. "You will see what U Saw wills that you shall +see," he said mockingly. "I am U Saw's humble servant, and can say no +more." + +Jack made no reply. He was sorry he had spoken, but the question had +slipped out on the impulse of the moment. + +All that day they travelled on, and at night they camped in a hollow +among the rocks at the foot of a tall cliff. Jack was not ill-treated, +and plenty of food was given to him, but the keenest watch was kept +upon his every movement, and escape was a thing altogether beyond his +reach. His captors were six in number, including the man who drove the +elephant. The driver and Saya Chone were Jack's companions on the +great beast, and when they were on the move the captive was always +lashed tightly to the framework of the howdah. The other four, the +Malay and three companions, rode the strong, nimble ponies of the +country. The baggage of the party was conveyed on a pack-pony, and +they travelled at a good speed. + +On the second morning, Saya Chone sat on the edge of the howdah, +purring at his huge cheroot, while the Strangler and a companion +lashed Jack into position. The half-caste had been superintending the +operation with his revolver at Jack's ear, until the knots were tight, +and our hero could not move. + +"This is a very good idea, indeed," he murmured, "this carrying of a +prisoner in a howdah on a pad-elephant. I had an idea it would be a +success, but it is better than I thought. It is a neat, little, +portable prison. It is far better than tying the feet of an active +young man under a pony's barrel. The young man may dig his heels in +and gallop off after all. But tied up in a howdah he is quite safe." + +Jack paid no attention whatever to the half-caste's sneers and jeers: +he had resolved to take his gruel without whining, and he bore +everything in stoical silence. + +Two hours' march brought them to a clearing in the jungle, and the +road ran between small paddy-fields. This meant that a native village +was near at hand, and Jack looked out for the slight huts of reed and +cane in which the villagers lived. To his surprise he saw nothing. And +not to his surprise alone. He could not understand the words used by +his companions, but he saw plainly that they were puzzled about +something. Then the cries of wonder broke out loudly as they passed a +grove of bamboos and came upon a scene of extraordinary destruction. +The native village had been built in shelter of the bamboos, only a +little place, a cluster of fifteen or twenty huts. But every house lay +in ruins as if the place had been knocked about the villagers' ears +with a huge flail. Near at hand a man lay dead, his body horribly +crushed and battered. No sign of life was to be observed about the +place. + +But while the travellers stared in wonder on the havoc which had been +made, they were suddenly attacked by the author of it, and knew that +their own lives were in deadly peril. There was a terrific crashing +among the bamboos, and then a huge, dark object was seen to be +bursting a way through the tall stems. All but Jack knew at once what +it meant; he was enlightened in an instant. + +"A 'rogue' elephant! A 'rogue' elephant!" cried Saya Chone, and the +driver urged the pad-elephant forward with voice and spear. + +Then Jack understood. His father had told him many times how that a +big, savage male will often leave a herd of wild elephants, take up a +solitary life in the jungle, and become a "rogue." There is no more +terrible beast to be met with. His enormous size and strength, his +terrible ferocity, make him the king of the jungle. He attacks all he +meets, and tramples every foe under his huge feet. + +This "rogue" had evidently been attracted to the clearing by the +paddy-fields, where the elephant loves to feed. Then, irritated +probably by some attempt of the natives to drive him away, he had +attacked their village and swept it out of existence. Now he was +charging savagely upon the newcomers. + +He came at them across the open with terrific speed. Jack had not the +faintest idea that so ponderous a beast could move at such a pace, and +he stared with fascinated eyes at the extraordinary sight. The "rogue" +was an immense tusker, a big, wild, savage-looking brute, who charged +with up-lifted trunk, and now trumpeted with so tremendous a note that +the jungle and the hill-sides rang with the hoarse thunder. His course +was laid straight for the men in front, two of the attendants on +ponies. The Malay, the remaining attendant, and the pack-pony were +behind the pad-elephant. + +The ponies, obedient to their riders, had at first bounded forward, +but when that frightful trumpeting broke out, and they saw the huge +tusker thundering upon them, they were seized with such fear that they +stopped and stood still, trembling in every limb. Before their riders +could urge them on, the immense brute was upon them. One of the +riders, a bold fellow, stood up in the stirrups, and struck at the +"rogue" with his _dah_. But he might as well have struck with a straw. +The monster literally swept the two ponies down in his stride, +trampling them under foot in his frightful charge. The man who had +used his heavy sword to so little effect, went down with his pony. The +second man had leapt from his saddle, and he ran at full speed for a +teak tree, intending to swarm up its trunk. + +His flying figure caught the eye of the "rogue" just as he was about +to turn and trample on those he had hurled to the ground. Now the +savage brute strode on, and it was seen how swift was his great +lumbering stride. He caught the man up, long before the fugitive was +anywhere near the tree, and hurled him to the ground with a stroke of +his tusk. Then he pulled up and deliberately knelt down on the unlucky +wretch, who screamed horribly as his life was crushed out of him by +the tremendous weight of the gigantic beast. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE TWO ELEPHANTS. + + +All this passed directly below Jack's horrified eyes. The pad-elephant +was so frightened at the advent of this savage specimen of his own +species, that he had turned stupid and made no attempt to obey his +driver's orders. Instead, he turned and backed slowly from the place, +keeping his head towards the "rogue." Thus Jack saw the ferocious +brute swiftly crush the life out of the man upon whom he knelt, then +leap up and rush back to the spot where the two ponies and the rider +who had used the _dah_ were still lying on the ground. + +The ponies had both been trodden on in that terrific charge, and the +man, untouched by the elephant, had been flung three or four yards, +and lay half-stunned by his fall. As he scrambled to his feet the +"rogue" was upon him. With a scream of rage the maddened brute bent +down his huge head and delivered a sweeping stroke with his tusk. The +great sharp spear of ivory struck the man in the back and was driven +clean through the body. The elephant raised his head and swung the man +high above the ground. Jack shuddered as he saw the writhing figure +impaled on that huge tusk. + +For a moment the elephant held his victim aloft as if in triumph, then +with a swing of his head he hurled the man far away, and looked round +for fresh victims. At the next moment the earth shook under his tread +as he thundered down upon the pad-elephant and the burden it bore. + +"Cut me loose!" roared Jack to the half-caste. "What chance have I +got, tied to this howdah?" + +But Saya Chone, ashen with fear, clung to the edge of the car, and had +eyes and ears for nothing save for the great beast charging full upon +them. Jack hurled himself to and fro, trying to slacken a little the +bonds which held him a prisoner under such fearful circumstances. If +the pad-elephant would only make a fight of it, there would be a +chance for its riders to slip down and escape, but how could Jack help +himself? + +As the "rogue" made his last few sweeping strides upon them, the +pad-elephant seemed to pluck up the courage of desperation. He was a +fine, big, powerful fellow, though not equal in size to his wild +enemy, and now he took a step or two forward, threw out his huge +forehead, and met his enemy in full career. + +The crash as the two huge beasts charged into each other was +tremendous. The pad-elephant was driven back half a dozen yards, but +he kept his feet. Then the two immense creatures, head braced to head +and tusks locked in tusks, began a steady trial of strength, each +striving to force the other back. + +Now Saya Chone plucked out his heavy revolver, and, leaning over the +edge of the howdah, began to fire swiftly into the head and body of +the savage "rogue." But though the bullets cut deeply into the flesh, +and the blood spouted freely, the big brute troubled nothing about +that. As far as reaching any vital part went, the revolver might have +been a pop-gun, and the wild elephant gave himself up entirely to the +struggle with his tame brother. + +In a few minutes it was seen that he was carrying the day. The +pad-elephant, with deep grunts of anger and fear, began to give way +before the fierce strength and impetuosity of his terrible opponent. +Jack looked round and saw that they were alone; the Malay and the +fourth attendant had fled from the place. + +Then, at the next moment, the elephant under them gave up the fight. +He suddenly backed off, turned, and lumbered across the clearing in +full flight. The "rogue" threw up his trunk, and trumpeted a roar of +victory, then dashed after the pad-elephant in savage pursuit. He was +much swifter, and soon came up on the flank where Jack, by turning his +head, had him in full view. Jack saw the small, fierce eyes burning +with fury, and then the head was bent and the great forehead was +driven against the flying enemy. The shock was such that the +pad-elephant was driven to its knees, the driver was hurled over its +head, and Saya Chone flung headlong out of the car. Jack alone +remained in the howdah, held fast by his bonds. + +Again the "rogue" elephant charged his enemy, and now the latter was +flung over on to its side, and the rim of the howdah brushed the +ground. Jack looked up in despair. The vast bulk of the infuriated +elephant hung right over him as the "rogue" prepared to trample upon +the foe whom he had hurled to the ground. In vain did Jack dash +himself to and fro in his bonds; he was fastened only too securely, +and he knew that the least stroke of the foot now raised above his +head would crush him as surely as a steam-hammer would crush a nut. At +the next second Jack saw a gleaming white tusk dart down towards him +as the "rogue" bent his head and struck. + +The tusk went through the howdah within six inches of Jack's leg, and +was buried deep in the back of the pad-elephant Then the "rogue," as +he withdrew the dripping spear of ivory, caught sight of something and +turned his wicked little eyes on it. He saw the driver and Saya Chone +at some little distance running for their lives, and his fickle fancy +turned to the thoughts of making short work of them before he finished +with his tame brother. + +Away he went in pursuit of this new object, and the pad-elephant +scrambled to its feet, and stood for a few moments as if bewildered +and uncertain what to do. During these few moments Jack saw the driver +caught and felled to earth by the huge beast before whose savage might +all stood helpless. Saya Chone had far outrun his companion, and the +half-caste disappeared among the trees as the "rogue" began to trample +upon the driver, whose frightful screams were silenced as both breath +and life itself were swiftly crushed out of the body, so soon made +pulp under those huge round feet. + +Suddenly the pad-elephant wheeled about with big clumsy movements, and +was off at a good round lumbering trot in the opposite direction. He +had seen quite enough of this savage brother of the jungle, and had no +wish for further punishment. But the "rogue" had no intention of +letting him go so easily. Leaving the driver, the wild elephant dashed +after the tame one at full speed. + +And now began a most extraordinary race. The pad-elephant darted +straight into the jungle and took the country as it came, straight +before him, thinking of nothing but escape. He dashed through groves +of bamboos and saplings, cutting his way clean through; he raced +grunting and puffing up hill-side and down ravines; he dodged through +the big trees with an agility and swiftness most wonderful in so heavy +and clumsy a beast, and all the time his enemy hung upon his rear, +sometimes near enough to gore his flank, sometimes out-distanced for a +little as the tame beast, frenzied with fear and pain, put out an +extraordinary burst of speed. And in the howdah, fast bound still to +the tough wicker-work, was Jack, the only spectator of this marvellous +chase through the jungle, and one with an immense stake in it. + +When the "rogue" came up, Jack's heart beat thick with anxiety. If the +creature that bore him was once more knocked down, then he knew that +it would be all over with him. He would certainly be crushed like a +fly in the terrific struggle which would follow. When the +pad-elephant got away, Jack breathed a little more freely, until he +heard his enemy's ponderous steps once again thundering up. + +Mile after mile, through jungle or over open plain, this marvellous +chase went on, and still the pad-elephant raced snorting for his life, +still the furious "rogue" pounded at his heels in hot pursuit. + +Jack was nearly shaken to pieces. He braced his feet against the side +of the howdah, and propped himself firmly against a corner of the huge +basket in which he rode. More than once the curling trunk of the +pursuer was raised above his head, but, as is well known, the wild +elephant hesitated to attack a rider on the tame one's back. For three +full hours the furious monarch of the jungle drove the pad-elephant +before him, a ride Jack never forgot to the end of his days. Then they +came out on a wide grassy plain by a river, where a large herd of wild +elephants was standing knee-deep in the stream, solemnly spouting +water over their backs. + +On rushed the pad-elephant, now panting and almost ready to fall from +exhaustion, towards his fellows. But the "rogue," a hater of his kind, +pulled up, trumpeted a few shrill notes of defiance, turned, and +trotted back into the jungle. + +The pad-elephant now stood still, trembling from head to foot with his +tremendous exertions. The herd of wild elephants, more than twenty in +number, left the river and came towards the beast which bore the +howdah and Jack. They marched up in slow and stately fashion, without +any sign of anger, but apparently full of curiosity as to this +newcomer and his strange equipment. + +At the next moment Jack found himself in a most extraordinary +position, his elephant being surrounded by the wild herd, whose trunks +ran here and there over their tame brother like so many hands being +stretched out to examine him. One big bull put his trunk into the +howdah and ran it over Jack, who remained perfectly still, knowing +that an incautious movement might arouse the animal's anger. But these +creatures seemed as mild and gentle as the "rogue" had been ferocious. +Before long their curiosity was satisfied, and they strolled away to +crop the young bamboo shoots. + +At last Jack breathed a little more freely. His wild ride had been a +terrible business for him. A hundred and a hundred times had his heart +come into his mouth when the great beast that bore him had plunged +through groves where it seemed that over-hanging boughs must sweep +howdah and rider from the elephant's back. But he had come through all +these dangers safely, and now the "rogue" had gone back to the jungle +and the pad-elephant was at peace. + +Presently Jack underwent an odd experience. His elephant walked down +to the river and took a long drink. Jack envied the lucky brute; he, +too, was parched with thirst. But in another moment he had water +enough and to spare, for the elephant, filling his trunk with water, +began to cool himself by spouting it over his body, and in a very +short time Jack was drenched to the skin. + +"It's refreshing, at any rate," thought Jack, as he shut his eyes +against a fresh deluge of yellow water. "I wish to goodness I could +only work myself free. I've got clear away from Saya Chone and the +Strangler, and that's something to the good." + +He began again to work himself about in his bonds, but he was soon +obliged to desist. He was already stiff, and he soon became very sore +as he struggled with his fastenings, which seemed to be eating into +his very flesh. + +"It's no go," he said half-aloud. "I cannot shake myself loose," and +he fell back into his corner. + +His elephant now came out of the river, and looked around eagerly for +food. The herd of wild ones was already deep in a large bamboo +thicket, and the tame one went at once after them and began to crop +and munch the bamboo shoots. The wild elephants, feeding as they went, +plunged farther and farther into a region of wild jungle, far from any +habitations of men, and the tame one steadily followed them, bearing +on his back the young Englishman, a prisoner, and forced to accompany +the elephant wherever he might go. + +"I've heard," thought Jack, "that these tame ones will often break +away and join wild herds. I'm in a pretty desperate fix if I've got to +remain lashed in this howdah while this brute rambles far and wide +with this troop of companions he has hit upon." + +He looked around on every side, but saw nothing that could give him +the slightest cause for hope. With every step he was being carried +deeper and deeper into the recesses of the jungle where no hunter +dare venture, where the elephant, the tiger, and the leopard rule as +undisputed masters. His plight was terrible. Who would free him, who +could free him of the bonds which held him in subjection to so cruel a +fate? + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE PANTHAY WOOD-CUTTERS. + + +It was within an hour or two of dark, and Jack, faint with hunger and +the strange and exhausting experience through which he had gone that +day, was hanging listlessly in his bonds. The elephants had gathered +in an open stretch at the foot of a deep ravine, and all was very +quiet. The pad-elephant stood with his trunk gently swinging, his huge +ears slowly flapping; he had eaten and drunk, and now he was taking a +rest. + +Suddenly into the silence of the narrow valley there fell the sound of +blows. Thud--thud--thud. A pause. Thud--thud--thud, again and again. +Jack started and listened eagerly. There was a ring about the sound +which told him what it was. + +"It's the sound of an axe on a tree," cried Jack to himself, and he +knew that other human beings were in the neighbourhood. He collected +all his breath and gave a loud shout. Again and again he shouted. The +noise on the hill-side far above was now stilled, and once more Jack +roared at the top of his voice. + +At the next moment his outcries were drowned in the wild trumpeting +of the elephants. The human notes had disturbed them, and they +trumpeted shrilly and moved uneasily away from the neighbourhood of +the pad-elephant. Then the wild herd set off at a trot, went a mile or +more up the ravine, and came to a halt near another feeding-place, a +clump of young bamboos. The tame elephant with its burden had followed +steadily, and now Jack shouted no more. He feared lest his cries +should disturb the herd so much that the wild creatures should take +flight, and run a great distance. If they did so, the pad-elephant +would be sure to follow them, and thus very possibly carry Jack +completely out of reach of the human beings, whoever they were, that +he had heard at work among the trees high up on the bank of the +ravine. + +So now Jack was silent, but he looked about eagerly on every hand for +some sign of human life. If the people had heard his cries, surely +they would come to see who called for help in such a place. His +elephant was now quietly feeding with the rest, and the last rays of +the sun were shining through a gap in the hills straight into the +hollow where the elephants were gathered. + +Looking eagerly back on the track the herd had followed, Jack saw +something moving in the wild plum-bushes about three hundred yards +away. He looked closer and saw that it was a man, a native. His heart +leaped for joy. Whether friends or enemies, perhaps he was about to be +loosed from his dreadful position. Now he saw a second man, and the +two dark figures, both naked save for a waist-cloth, crept slowly +towards him under cover of the bushes. + +They were a couple of Panthay wood-cutters, felling teak trees on the +edge of the ravine. At present the ravine was dry, but in the rainy +season an ample flood of water roared along the hollow, a flood which +would carry the teak logs down to the big river below. They had heard +Jack's cries, and, wondering at the strange sound, had followed up in +rear of the flying elephants. + +Their surprise was immense when they saw a white sahib in the howdah +on the elephant's back. But in this part of the country, where white +men very rarely came, a white face was regarded with the deepest +reverence, and the simple, harmless Panthays at once set about the +task of relieving the sahib who seemed unable to rise in his carriage. +One of them disappeared at once into the jungle, one remained in the +bushes. + +Jack saw that they were engaged upon some plan, and hoping that it +meant his deliverance, he remained silent, and watched eagerly for +what was about to happen. + +Within ten minutes he saw one of the woodmen swarming up a tree some +distance ahead, a tree growing beside the well-trodden path which wild +beasts had made along the foot of the ravine. Then his companion +showed himself among the bushes below and uttered a peculiar cry. The +wild elephants stopped feeding at once. Always sensitive to the +presence of man, which means danger, they gathered uneasily in a +group. Then, following the lead of an immense bull, the patriarch of +the herd, they lumbered along the path up the ravine and away from the +wood-cutter who had shown himself. + +Jack saw, to his immense relief and delight, that his elephant would +pass directly below the branch where the second Panthay was now +perched. As the pad-elephant jogged up, closing the file of the +retreating herd, the native, swinging himself from the bough, dropped +with the greatest ease and certainty into the howdah. + +For a moment the Panthay, a short, strong, powerful man, looked upon +Jack and his bonds with great surprise. Then he thrust forward the +head of his axe, which he had carried with him all the time, and laid +the keen edge against the cords which bound Jack to the howdah. In a +trice Jack was free. He flung his arms up thankfully, but dropped them +again with a groan. They were so stiff that all movement was painful. + +He thanked the Panthay again and again, and patted his bare, smooth +shoulder, and the native grinned and bowed before him. Then the +wood-cutter pointed to the ground, and Jack nodded. He saw that the +man wished him to drop from the howdah and leave the elephant. Jack +was perfectly willing. It was plain that the pad-elephant meant to +stick to his new friends and follow them wherever they roved. + +The Panthay slipped down the right flank of the elephant and dropped +to his feet like a cat. Jack was wretchedly stiff, but he also climbed +over the side of the carriage which had been his prison, and let +himself slide over the elephant's tail. + +"I shall stand the least chance of being trodden on that way," thought +Jack. He dropped to the ground all right, for the pad-elephant took +not the least notice of their movements. But as for keeping his feet, +that was impossible. He rolled to the earth, for his ankles were even +more numbed than his wrists. + +At this instant the second Panthay ran up. The natives seemed to +understand at once what was wrong, for both began to rub Jack's ankles +and wrists briskly. Jack had to set his teeth to keep back a cry of +pain. After the long numbing confinement, it was pure agony when the +blood began to move freely once more, but he grinned and bore it, and +soon began to feel better for the treatment. + +When he could stand up and walk a little, the Panthays beckoned to him +to accompany them, and they went down the ravine, following the track +used by the wild inhabitants of the place. The dusk was falling over +the jungle when they reached the camp of the Panthays, a deep cave in +the side of the ravine, where a few simple cooking-pots and a small +store of rice furnished all the woodmen needed. + +By signs Jack was invited to sit down on a big heap of dried grass at +the side of the cave, and one of the men swiftly built a fire and put +on a pot of rice to cook. Soon the simple meal was ready. The +cooking-pot was swung from the fire, and the rice was flavoured with +salt and other condiments; each of the latter articles was contained +in a small neat cylinder of bamboo, and packed away again when done +with in the basket which was the only baggage of the teak-cutters. + +Jack was as hungry as a wolf, and he ate heartily of the food which +his new friends offered to him. They were extremely respectful, called +him _phaya_, my lord, the only word of their speech which he could +make out, and did not touch a single grain of rice until he had +finished. + +While they ate, Jack rested on the soft, dried grass, and went through +his pockets to see where he stood. Somewhat to his surprise, Jack +found that his captors had relieved him of nothing save his weapons. +His money-belt round his waist, the contents of his pockets, his +watch, everything had been left untouched. + +"No," thought Jack, "I don't know what their game was, but it was a +lot bigger thing than just collaring what I had about me. However, +it's lucky my money's left. It's bound to be useful even in the +jungle. If I can only get these fellows to lead me to a village, I can +find a guide to put me on the road towards joining Buck and Jim +again." + +The thought of Buck and Jim turned Jack's thoughts towards them, and +their surprise and consternation when they found that he was missing. + +"What will they do, I wonder," thought Jack. "They'll never in the +world be able to discover what's become of me. I must try and hit a +line back towards them as soon as possible." + +His eyes now turned on the Panthays, busily devouring the last of +their rice. + +"How can I talk to these chaps?" thought Jack. "I'll give them a tip. +They've done me a first-rate good turn. Perhaps they'll be willing to +do more if they see there's something to be got by it." + +He drew a handful of rupees from his belt, and gave them five each. +The woodmen stared in astonishment at so much wealth, fingering the +big silver coins with childlike wonder and delight. Then they bent +before Jack, and made him at least a score of deep obeisances, and +poured forth floods of thanks. Jack did not understand their words, +but their movements told all they wished to convey. + +Each tucked his new-gained riches in his waist-cloth, and then they +busied themselves in making Jack comfortable for the night. He was +soon satisfied. He was far too tired to be very critical of his +sleeping quarters. As a matter of fact, they were excellent. The cave +was dry and warm, and the Panthays made up for him a big heap of soft +dried grass. + +The thought of sleep made Jack's eyes drop to of themselves. In a +couple of minutes after he stretched himself on the couch of grass, he +was deep in slumber. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +AN UNWELCOME MEETING. + + +When he awoke the next morning the pot of rice was once more bubbling +over the fire, and one of the natives was squatted near by, feeding +the fire with dry chips; the second man was not to be seen. The +Panthay feeding the fire looked up with a cheerful grin when he heard +Jack move, and pointed to the cooking-pot, as if to assure him that +breakfast would soon be ready. + +Jack stretched himself and yawned. After his long sleep he felt like a +giant refreshed. He wondered what time it was, and glanced at his +watch. But his watch had stopped, he had forgotten to wind it up. The +sun, however, showed him, by its height, that the morning was well +advanced. + +"I've slept off my weariness with a vengeance," murmured Jack to +himself. "It must be nine or ten o'clock by the look of the sun." + +At this moment the native by the fire uttered a cry which was answered +from without. The second Panthay ran up at that moment, panting as if +he had travelled fast and far. He bore upon his shoulders a basket +from which he took a couple of chickens, half a dozen plantains, and +a fresh supply of rice. + +"Then there's a village somewhere in the neighbourhood," thought Jack. +"But it may be ten or a dozen miles off. This fellow looks as if he +had had a long run for the stuff. I suppose it is in my honour." + +The two men prepared one of the chickens in a trice. They stripped off +the feathers, cut up the fowl, and broiled the pieces over the fire on +little skewers of hard wood. In a short time an excellent breakfast of +broiled chicken, rice, and plantain was set before him, and Jack +devoured it with the utmost relish. Then he set himself to work by +means of signs to make them understand that he wished them to lead him +to the village from which the Panthay had fetched the supplies. + +In the end they understood him, and put their axes in a corner of the +cave. By motions of their heads and hands they gave him to understand +that they would lay by work for the day, and become his guides. Jack +patted them on the back, and gave them another couple of rupees apiece +to strengthen them in this excellent resolution. + +When he had finished his meal, Jack sat down again on the heap of +grass to await the pleasure of his companions. The second man had not +eaten, but he soon despatched his portion of rice, and then they were +ready for the road. + +They left the cave, and the two Panthays led the way down the ravine, +retracing the line the elephants had taken in coming into this part of +the country. + +"That's good," thought Jack. "We're striking on the road back at +once. I wish I knew the name of the village where the festival was +held, but I'm pretty certain to find someone in the place these chaps +come from who can tell me. People were marching to the feast from a +much greater distance away than this can be." + +Their progress was slow, for the day was one of scorching heat. The +naked Panthays slipped through the jungle as easily as the monkeys +skipped through the trees, but Jack could not move at any speed. As +the sun approached high noon a halt was called in shade of a thicket +on a little ridge, where the air was fresher than in the dark, +steaming hollows. Here they stayed for three hours, and Jack, after he +had eaten the meal the Panthays prepared, dozed in the shade. + +When he saw his guides gathering their baggage and packing it into the +big basket which one carried slung over his shoulders, Jack sprang to +his feet, stretched himself, and strolled forward half a dozen yards. +They had halted beside a narrow path which crossed the ridge, and he +wished to see toward what kind of country below the path led. + +The bushes thinned, and he saw that a vast plain was opening out +before him. But he did not leave the cover of the edge of the thicket. +Something moving below caught his eye, and he parted the tall shoots +of a bush before him, and peeped through the huge trails of pink and +crimson convolvuli which festooned the branches of the low trees. +Straight before him the path ran down a steep slope and then wound +over a broad plain, showing itself here and there in the gaps between +patches of bamboo and acacias and palms. It was among a clump of +palms at some distance that Jack had caught sight of a moving object, +and he now looked eagerly to see it come into view again. + +It was not that he feared any particular evil at the moment, but in +his present desperate circumstances, utterly stranded in these wilds +among savage hill-tribes, he knew not at any moment when a savage +enemy might appear. He knew well that he had been lucky in falling in +with these quiet wood-cutters, and he hoped that such luck would stay +with him for a little till he could rejoin his friends. + +The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when he saw that it was +vain, and that at this very moment he stood in the utmost danger from +his worst and deadliest foes. The moving objects he had seen came in +sight once more, a couple of naked fellows in turban and waist-cloth. +Jack knew them for Panthays, like the men who were now behind him +making ready for the march. Then, at the next second, he saw two +brilliant spots of colour, and knew that the Panthays were not alone. +A little cavalcade of six riders, mounted on ponies, followed the two +naked men on foot. The whole of the tiny procession passed over a +little clearing, and was lost again in a clump of bamboos. + +Jack's heart beat fast and he drew a deep breath. Who were these men +the Panthays were leading towards him? He remembered two of his +enemies yesterday, and the two leading riders brought them to mind +again. Saya Chone had worn a head-dress of brilliant flaming scarlet, +the Strangler a turban of bright yellow. + +Again the little procession filed into sight, out of the bamboos. +Scarlet and yellow the head-dresses of the first couple of mounted men +flashed vivid into the burning radiance of the sunlight. The riders +were too far off for Jack to make out their faces, but he did not need +that; he felt in his bones that his terrible enemies were upon him +once more, and he turned to fly. It was plain enough, too, how they +had hit upon his whereabouts. They had followed up the tracks of the +flying elephants, and inquired in every village round-about. Then the +Panthay, returning to his home for food, had spoken of the sahib they +had found among the hills, and had put the pursuers on Jack's trail. + +As Jack turned he heard a grunt of surprise. One of the Panthays had +stepped forward and caught sight of the approaching cavalcade. Jack +sprang upon him, seized his naked shoulder, and drew him back into +shelter of the thicket. The two men looked at him in wonder. Our hero +had nothing but signs with which to communicate to these men the +danger in which he stood. He chose three effective movements. He +pointed to the oncoming strangers, he pointed to himself; finally he +seized the _dah_ which one carried swinging in a thong over his +shoulders, and made a motion as of passing the keen weapon across his +throat. + +By their looks of intelligence he saw that the Panthays had fully +grasped his meaning. They spoke swiftly to each other for a few +moments. + +[Illustration: A SUDDEN ALARM.] + +Jack awaited the upshot in keenest anxiety. If these men did not stand +by him he was indeed lost. Then, to his immense relief, the elder man, +he who had dropped into the howdah and had taken the lead from the +first, stepped forward, raised Jack's hand, and kissed it. Then he +pointed to the depth of the jungle. Jack nodded and patted him on the +shoulder. The younger Panthay swung the basket on his back, and away +glided the three, leaving the path, and striking off directly among +the trees. + +In two minutes they were out of sight of their camping-place, and as +the advancing party was not yet at the foot of the slope, Jack never +doubted but that the half-caste would be thrown off the scent, and +would pass on towards the ravine where the wood-cutters were known to +be at work. But he had made one mistake, the error of supposing that +the two Panthays in front of the horsemen were the first of the party. +They were not. A single tracker had led the way some distance ahead, +and him Jack had missed among the thickets and groves which hid the +path here and there. So that, as the three fugitives disappeared among +the thicker growth of jungle, a dark figure gained the crown of the +slope, and with swift and noiseless tread approached their +camping-place. + +The quick eye of the Panthay at once caught sight of the retreating +men, above all of the sahib, so easily to be known by his dress, and +the tracker drew back instantly into the bushes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE CAVE IN THE RAVINE. + + +In the meanwhile Jack and his companions hurried forward, quite +unconscious that they had been spied upon. The elder Panthay led the +way through the jungle, and within a mile they came to the edge of a +steep descent. Down this they climbed with much difficulty, swinging +themselves by creepers and holding on to the boles of saplings until +they gained the foot of a deep ravine. + +The Panthay paused and pointed with a laugh. Jack nodded cheerfully. + +"By George!" he murmured to himself, "we shan't be hard up for a +hiding-place here." + +The wall of the farther side of the ravine was honey-combed with black +holes, looking for all the world as if a colony of gigantic +sand-martins had built their nests in the place. Jack knew that these +were the mouths of caves, and he ran swiftly after the Panthays as +they hurried for a hole which was within easy reach of the ground. + +A small fig tree grew below the mouth of the cave. Jack slipped his +foot into the crutch where a bough struck away from the parent stem, +swung himself up, and tumbled into the hollow, which was an irregular +circle about nine feet across. The Panthays at once followed him, and +all three pushed over the broken floor within, towards the shelter of +the cave. + +Inside, the place hollowed and widened out. Thirty feet back from the +entrance it was dusky, and here Jack seated himself on a huge fragment +of rock which had fallen from the roof. He was very glad of a rest and +of a chance to wipe the sweat out of his eyes, as it was terribly +punishing for a European to have to hurry on foot through the +frightful heat of so scorching a day. + +The elder Panthay had followed Jack to the back of the cave, and was +now squatting on his haunches in front of the English lad. The younger +native had remained nearer the entrance, and, placing himself behind +another big fallen boulder, was keeping watch through the mouth of the +cave. + +The Panthay who had accompanied Jack now entered upon a series of +gestures so clear and striking that Jack understood them as if he +spoke. The signs were to the effect that they should stay in the cave +till darkness had fallen, and then they would resume the journey. + +Half an hour later, when Jack was lying at full length on the rock, +lazily staring into the gloomy heights above him, a sudden, low, sharp +cry broke into the stillness. The cry had been uttered by the watcher +at the mouth of the cave, and now he said a few quick words. The elder +Panthay leapt to his feet and shot down the cave with the glide of a +panther. Jack sprang from his rock and followed. + +The English lad had known at once that the cry meant danger, so deep +an anxiety had lain in the low troubled note. As he crept up to the +boulder behind which the two Panthays crouched, he saw that the peril +which threatened him a short time ago still hung over his head. +Looking through the hole, they commanded a full view of the upper edge +of the opposite side of the ravine. Gathered aloft there, in full +sight, was a bunch of figures, and, in the front of the group, the +scarlet and yellow turbans still blazed. + +Jack knew at once that danger was closer than ever. By some means Saya +Chone and the Strangler knew that he and his guides had turned aside +from the ordinary track, and had followed on their new trail. + +Now their pursuers began to climb down the steep side of the ravine, +led by a Panthay tracker. In a moment Jack saw that the man was +following the path they had followed. His quick eye was marking the +displaced stones and torn creepers, and he was leading Saya Chone and +the Strangler straight upon their prey. + +Jack looked swiftly round the cave in which they stood. Did it offer +any securer hiding-place than the part in which they were? To leave it +was impossible! They could only step out in full sight of the +advancing band of enemies. He looked at the Panthays and saw that they +could render him no help. They were trembling like leaves with terror. +He caught a name on the elder Panthay's lips, and knew it. + +"Saya Chone," the man was murmuring. "Saya Chone." + +"Oh," thought Jack, "this fellow recognises the half-caste and fears +the vengeance of a powerful enemy. Then we can't be far now from the +country where the Ruby King rules the roost. But the point for the +moment is, how to dodge Mr. Saya Chone." + +He beckoned to the Panthays to follow him, and all three retreated to +the depths of the cave. The elder Panthay ran ahead, waving his hand +to Jack to follow. + +"Hullo!" thought Jack, "looks as if this chap knew of a spot to hide +in," and he hurried forward. At the lower end of the cave the roof +dipped sharply down, and the sides closed in, forming a tunnel about +six feet high and five feet wide. This tunnel was three or four yards +long, and then it opened out again into a second cave of fair size. +The second cave was dimly lighted from a rift in the rock, forty feet +above their heads. In two minutes Jack had made the circuit of it, and +knew that, except for the fact that it was an inner cave, it offered +them no refuge. The walls were smooth and unclimbable, and there was +no break in them except at the point where the tunnel ran in. + +Jack returned from his swift search and peered down the tunnel. From +the cool darkness he looked out and saw a ring of brilliant light, the +mouth of the outer cave. Suddenly a head shot into the patch of +blinding sunlight without. The head was covered with a yellow turban, +and Jack saw the Strangler slowly draw himself up and stand in the +mouth of the cave. The big Malay did not rush forward. Instead, he +stood gazing curiously about, and then Jack understood. He and his +companions had left no track on the smooth hard rocks which paved the +bottom of the ravine, and their enemies were not certain in which cave +they lay; each cave was being searched in turn. + +"Oh," thought Jack, "what would I not give for my handy little +Mannlicher, and a good pocketful of cartridges. I could hold an army +at bay in this narrow tunnel. But they stripped me of every weapon, +even to my knife." + +At this instant there flashed across his mind the thought of the _dah_ +carried by the younger Panthay. He turned and found the man at his +shoulder. Jack seized the thong by which the man bore the weapon, and +lifted it over the Panthay's head. The native made no resistance, but +gave up the sword at once. + +Jack drew the weapon from its sheath and looked at it carefully in the +dim light. He saw at once by the bright gleam that it was in excellent +order, and well polished. He tried the edge with his thumb; it was as +keen as a razor. He stepped back two or three paces to give himself +room to swing the blade, and flourished it about his head in order to +find out its swing and play. These, too, were perfect. So well +balanced were the huge, broad blade and heavy handle, that the great +sword swung easily about Jack's head in his powerful young hands. + +"By George!" thought he, "I'll make it warm for these rogues before +I've done with them. If I can't give it 'em hot in this narrow tunnel +with this good bit of steel, I'm a Dutchman." + +He stepped forward and peered once more down the tunnel. He started. +Saya Chone was climbing up, and after him came three or four figures +in blue kilts. Jack had seen such before, and knew them for tough, +wiry, hard-bitten little Kachins, small men, but immensely muscular +and powerful. Behind him he heard a sound as of a withered leaf +blowing along the floor. He turned his head and saw the two Panthays +fleeing to the uttermost part of the cave. They trembled before these +terrible enemies. + +At this moment the Panthay tracker climbed into the cave. He spoke for +a few moments to Saya Chone, pointing to the tunnel where Jack stood, +but where in the darkness no one could see him. Saya Chone nodded, and +the whole party moved forward until they were within a couple of yards +of the mouth of the tunnel. Now Saya Chone began to speak. + +"Haydon," he called in a loud voice. "Come out at once. The game is +up. We know you are within there. You have left a score of signs in +the outer cave to show whither you have retreated. Come out, I tell +you." + +He ceased, and stood as if awaiting a reply, but Jack made no answer. +He meant to give his enemies no idea of the point where he had +stationed himself. Again the half-caste's voice rang out. + +"I will give you one minute again to come out," he called, "and then, +if you do not appear, I shall send in those who will fetch you out +more roughly than you will like." + +Jack made no answer, but went down on one knee to give himself plenty +of room to strike overhead in the combat which was now near at hand. + +The minute passed, and Saya Chone called out some orders to the +savage little men in blue, who were now hovering about the mouth of +the tunnel as if burning to rush in to the assault. Upon the orders +being given, three Kachins started forward. + +Jack saw them clearly against the bright light outside, and his heart +swelled with rage and fierce anger. Not because each man held in his +hand his broad and glittering _dah_. Oh, no. That was all in the game, +and Jack was willing to give and take in the struggle between man and +man, out-numbered as he was. But each man had now drawn out a coil of +fine rope and slung it about his left arm. Jack saw that shameful +bonds were being prepared once more for his free limbs, and his heart +burned with fury. + +"I'll die fighting before they shall tie me up again," breathed Jack +to himself, and he clutched still more tightly the heavy _dah_. Then +he drew a short, sharp breath, and held himself ready, every nerve +strung up to its highest tension, every muscle braced and ready for +action. + +The Kachins were coming. Already their figures darkened the mouth of +the tunnel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM. + + +We must now return to Buck and Jim, whom we left in great perplexity +at the village festival, wondering what had become of their young +leader. + +At the moment that Jack was dragged into the bushes by the Buddhist +monk, who was not really a monk at all, but one of Saya Chone's +followers in disguise, and the dancing girl, who was Saya Chone +himself, Buck was within a dozen yards of them, looking all about for +Jack. But he saw nothing of his young master, because a group of +people, also in Saya Chone's pay, covered the movements by which Jack +was drugged and carried off by his enemies. + +"Thunder and mud," growled Buck. "Where's Jack got to? I left him here +not five minutes ago, laughing over this picture." + +At this moment Dent came up. + +"Where's Jack?" said he quickly. + +"I don't know, and that's the square-toed truth," replied Buck. +"P'raps he's rambled off in a different direction." + +The two comrades began to move swiftly about in search of their young +leader. They kept together, for, with their knowledge of the country, +they felt uneasy at once, and were not willing to separate, lest each +might not find the other again. They found Me Dain, and set him to +hunt in every direction. They found the headman, and he seemed +bewildered at the idea that Jack had disappeared. He gave, or seemed +to give, them every assistance possible in their search, but within an +hour the two comrades were looking at each other very blankly. Jack +had gone. There was no sign of him from end to end of the village, but +how or where he had gone was a completely impenetrable mystery. + +Buck and Jim and the Burman gathered in the hut which had been +assigned to them, and held a council of war. + +"Say," muttered Buck uneasily, "this beats the band. What's come to +Jack?" + +Jim Dent shook his head, and made no reply for a moment. + +"Well, Buck," he said at last, "there's one thing quite certain; he +hasn't gone on his own account." + +"Sure thing," replied Buck. + +"And if he's been nabbed in some mysterious fashion or another, we're +pretty certain who's got hold of him," pursued Jim, and Buck nodded +with a blank face. + +At the next instant Jim's suspicions were confirmed by the Burman. + +"Well," grunted Me Dain, "U Saw got both now, for sure, both young +master and old master." + +"What makes you think that, Me Dain?" cried Buck. "Have you seen or +heard anything?" + +"Nothing, nothing," replied the Burman, waving his hand. "But what +else can be? They catch him and take him off. Oh yes, sure to be." + +"After all, it would only be in line with plenty of things we've heard +of, Buck," remarked Jim Dent, and again Buck had to give a sorrowful +nod. + +"Well," said Buck, in a decided voice, "s'pose we put it at that. In +some fashion or other he's been kidnapped by the people who kidnapped +his father. Let it go at that. Then, next thing is, what are we going +to do?" + +"I'll bet I know what you're going to do, Buck, my son," said Jim +Dent, with a dry chuckle. "You'll follow on a bit and see what's +happened to father and son, or I'm making a big mistake." + +"You're quite right, Jim," said Buck Risley. "I don't hold with +backin' down on a pardner, and I'm goin' along to see what's happened +to the Professor and Jack just as far as I can crawl." + +"And I'm with you, old man," said Jim quietly. "I owe Jack my life, +too. One good turn deserves another." + +"And me, sahibs, and me," said Me Dain quickly. "The young sahib save +my life also when the dacoit thought to chop off my head. I go with +you everywhere to help the two sahibs." + +"Bully for you, Me Dain, you're a good sort," cried Buck, and he +thrust his hand out to the Burman. Me Dain, highly delighted to +receive the white man's sign of friendship, shook hands very solemnly +with both Buck and Jim, and they formed at once a confraternity of +three to hunt up U Saw's quarters, and see where he held the +prisoners, whom they now firmly believed to be in his grasp. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE FIGHT IN THE TUNNEL. + + +We must now return to Jack, whom we left crouching at the end of the +tunnel which led to the outer cave, and awaiting the onslaught of +three powerful Kachins. + +As the natives drew step by step along the tunnel towards Jack, he +balanced the great broadsword he held by both hands, and poised it +ready to strike at the foremost. Though he was greatly out-numbered, +yet he held one advantage. The forms of his enemies were clear against +the sunlight which poured into the mouth of the outer cave. He could +see every movement they made, but they could not see him. The inner +cave was very dimly lighted, and, coming from the bright light +without, his enemies could not mark that Jack was waiting for them. + +A second advantage he enjoyed was that they did not know that he was +armed. They knew that they had stripped him of every weapon when he +was first seized, and now they did not dream that he had secured a +_dah_ for himself, and was thoroughly resolved to make the deadliest +use of it before he would submit to capture. + +On crept the Kachins in the boldest fashion, urged forward not merely +by their native bravery, but convinced that they had before them the +simplest of tasks, the seizing of an unarmed lad who would surrender +at sight of their weapons. + +At the next moment they were terribly undeceived. Fetching a sweeping +blow, Jack cut down the leading Kachin with a terrific stroke. The +edge of the keen, heavy blade fell at the point where neck and +shoulder meet, and the doomed man was nearly cut in two. He dropped +with a single groan, and the two men behind caught him by the feet and +dragged him swiftly back. + +Jack drew a deep breath, regained his heavy weapon, and poised it +anew. But for the moment he was left in peace. The group in the outer +cave had gathered about the fallen man. They uttered loud cries of +surprise when they saw the deep and dreadful wound he had received +with such terrible force from the dah. "_Dah! dah!_" Jack heard the +name of the native sword pass from lip to lip, and knew that they had +recognised by what weapon that frightful slicing blow was delivered. + +But in another moment he recognised how grim and fell were these +people who were his foes. As coolly as though it were but a dog that +Jack had slain with that tremendous blow, the Strangler lifted the +dead Kachin and tossed him carelessly aside. Saya Chone said a sharp +word, and a fresh man stepped forward, drawing his _dah_ with a grin +as he was ordered to join his companions in a fresh assault. Jack knew +these little men in blue kilts to be brave to desperation, utterly +careless of life, either their own or another's, and he braced +himself once more for the struggle. + +But this time the Kachins came on in different order, and in a +different fashion. A sudden flare of yellow light filled the tunnel, +and Jack saw that two men marched ahead, each with his _dah_ ready to +strike, and that behind them the third man held a flaming torch. He +saw at once how cunning was the trick. The glare would flash over the +assailant's shoulders straight into his eyes, confusing him, while +they would be lighted perfectly to the attack. + +In a second Jack had devised a plan of meeting this danger. He dropped +his _dah_ over his left arm, bent and seized a huge pebble from the +floor. He poised the stone for an instant, then flung it with great +power. At this short range he struck the mark to a hair, and his mark +was the grinning face of the Kachin who carried the torch, and +rejoiced that his friends would now make short work of the fierce +young Feringhee who had hidden in the cave. + +The dark face of the native was wrinkled with a savage smile, and all +his gums were on view when the heavy stone struck into his open mouth +with a crash of splintering teeth. The first pebble was followed by a +second, which took him between the eyes. Stunned and blinded, he +reeled back and dropped the torch. His comrades, bereft of their +guiding light, upon which they had counted so much, hesitated for a +moment and hung upon the next step. There was no hesitation with Jack. +Things stood at too desperate a pass with him that he should let +things hang in the wind. No sooner did he see the Kachin with the +torch reel back and drop the firebrand, than he swung his weapon on +high and darted at the two men who had halted in the tunnel. As he did +so he let out a mighty shout. Shout and blow fell together on the +hesitating Kachins. Both thrust their _dahs_ forward to parry the +unseen assault. + +Jack's weapon fell with a ringing clash of steel across the _dah_ of +the leading man, beat it down, went on, and bit deeply into the +Kachin's skull. The latter reeled against his companion and clutched +him. For a second they swayed, then both men fell heavily together to +the ground. + +Lying helpless as they were at his feet, it was a mere matter of a +couple of blows for him to utterly destroy both, and so lessen the +number of his enemies. But Jack could not strike fallen men. He +returned to his own end of the tunnel, and allowed them to creep back +to the outer cave, the wounded man crawling slowly after his friends. + +This second repulse seemed to put Saya Chone and the Strangler beside +themselves with fury. They screamed invective and insult against Jack, +and threatened him with the most frightful penalties when he should +fall into their hands. Both had a perfect command of some of the worst +language in English that Jack had ever heard, but he took it all for +what it was worth, clutched his faithful broadsword tighter still, and +waited to see what their next attempt would be. He still cherished a +hope of escape. He had crippled pretty well half of the attacking +force, and if he could but hold them off till darkness came, there +might be an opportunity of escape in the moonless night. + +"There were only four Kachins with them," thought Jack, "and the +natives they have picked up from the neighbouring village may be +dismissed as fighting men, if they are anything like the chaps who are +somewhere behind me here. The half-caste and the Malay seem to keep +out of the scrimmages. If I only have a bit more luck, I can chew them +up enough perhaps to make them sheer off and leave me alone." + +As far as appearances went, they were leaving him alone now. But Jack +knew that appearances are too often deceitful. The outer cave looked +perfectly empty. Neither sign nor sound of human presence was given. +Saya Chone and the Strangler had gone away, leaping down from the +mouth of the outer cave to the ravine. But Jack was certain that the +unwounded Kachins were still lurking in the cave out of his sight, and +he had no intention whatever of creeping out and engaging in a +hand-to-hand struggle with the iron-limbed little mountaineers. Fully +half an hour passed in this profound silence. Jack kept the sharpest +look-out, but could catch no sign to show that his lair was still +watched. + +"If they can wait," thought Jack, "so can I. I'll not stir an inch +from my cover, however silent they may be." + +At that instant he caught a sharp, low cry of surprise behind him. He +whirled round swiftly, for in his intentness he had actually forgotten +the two Panthays, his fellow-prisoners. With a gasp of relief, Jack +found that it was the elder Panthay who had called out. The two men +had been crouching in a corner of the inner cave, and had given no +sign of their presence while Jack struggled with his foes. Now one was +calling out, and both were pointing upwards. + +Jack took a step back from the mouth of the tunnel and looked aloft. +The rift in the rock forty feet above, which lighted the cave, was +obscured and darkened. In a moment he saw that the gap was filled with +a human body, and that a Panthay was peering down upon them. + +"What's this game?" thought Jack. "They've climbed up to that hole, +but unless I obligingly stand under it, and let them drop a stone on +my head, I don't see what they get by it." + +Little did the heroic lad dream of the fearful use to which his +enemies meant to put the rift in the rock high above him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE RUSE OF SAYA CHONE. + + +In a moment the native drew back, and Jack jumped to cover as he saw a +dark object come whirling through the rift and fall straight into the +cave. But the thing flung in was harmless enough in appearance, a mere +bundle of dried grass bound loosely with a shred of creeper. Then, +thick and fast, bundle after bundle was hurled into the cave, dried +reeds, more grass, big loose splinters of pine, fat with resin, +withered brushwood, and the like. + +Down they came, thicker and faster, until a great pile of this rubbish +was heaped on the floor of the cave. Jack was staring wonderingly at +this novel method of attack by flinging rubbish apparently at large, +when once more the Panthay above thrust his head through the rift and +spoke a few words, his voice ringing down hollow into the depths where +the three prisoners stood. Jack did not understand what was said, but +he saw that the effect on his companions was most extraordinary. + +They sprang to their feet, and, braving all the terrors of Saya +Chone, whose name had appeared so dreadful to them, they darted for +the tunnel, brushed swiftly by Jack, and were gone. The English lad +watched them eagerly. He saw them fly down the outer cave, leap wildly +into the ravine, and disappear. A minute later he saw them cross his +field of view as they climbed the opposite bank. They were going like +the wind, and there seemed not the slightest attempt made to stop +them, nor was the faintest sound of pursuit to be heard. + +"All the same," murmured Jack to himself, "I don't think I shall +follow you, my nimble friends. It's pretty certain you've been allowed +to go in peace in the hopes of drawing me out as well. I hardly fancy +I should be permitted to pass so quietly. Well, I'm thankful the poor +beggars have got away in safety. But what scared them so frightfully? +They went like rabbits bolting from a hole when the ferrets have been +put in. There seems nothing very terrifying about this heap of +rubbish." + +But was there not? was there not? Ten seconds later Jack was ready to +take his words back, and acknowledge that heap of rubbish to be a very +terrible and awful weapon in the hands of his enemies. Something +flashed above him, and he glanced up to see a flaming torch hurled +through the rift. It did not, however, fall into the heap of light +inflammable materials awaiting it. It struck against a projecting +point of rock, was turned aside, and fell almost at Jack's feet. He +stamped the flame out swiftly with his boot. + +But his breath came fast and short, and his brave face paled as he saw +the frightful cunning of this master-trick. He had luckily quenched +one torch, but he could not be sure of quenching the next and the +next. One of them had but to fall into the mass of reeds, canes, dry +grass, and withered brushwood, to cause a swift, fierce flame to run +through the whole mass. + +This, then, it was which the Panthays had learned from their fellow +who looked down from the rift. The Englishman was to be roasted out, +and they were warned of the fearful fate about to befall him. Before +this vision of horrors they had fled, the greater fear conquering the +less. + +Jack stood looking up at the rift with blanched face, and teeth set +like a steel-trap. His heart gave another jerk within him. A second +torch flashed through the rift. But this time the torch whirled +flaming through the air, and fell at the mouth of the tunnel, within a +yard of Jack's foot. He stamped it out. A second torch followed, +almost in the same place. He stamped this out too. He looked eagerly +to see where the next would fall. + +It seemed extraordinary fortune that not one of them should fall in +the midst of the waiting heap. Then he heard a low, evil, chuckling +laugh from someone beside the rift, and he understood. Saya Chone was +there, playing with him, as a cat plays with a mouse. The half-caste +was tossing torches within Jack's reach, simply to torture him with +the idea of what would happen when one of the flaming splinters of +pine fell into the heap of tinder awaiting it. + +Five minutes of perfect silence passed, and not another torch fell. To +Jack the time seemed like five years rather. He cast swift alternate +glances at the rift above and through the tunnel, where he felt that +enemies waited and watched for the opportunity the fire might give +them. + +And now a great flare appeared in the rift. A huge bundle of reeds, +blazing fiercely, was thrust in, and dropped. His enemies meant now to +fire the pile and bring the play to an end. The flaming mass rolled +slowly down the steep face of the cliff within, and Jack was torn in a +fierce dilemma as to what was the best course for him to follow. +Should he leave the mouth of the tunnel and try to beat out the flames +with the broad blade of his _dah_, or should he not? + +But if he left the tunnel, then he would give up the key of the +situation, and be swiftly surrounded. If he did not, the roasting +flame and the masses of billowing smoke would render the inner cave +untenable. Yet, before the bundle of reeds had rolled down to the mass +below, the question had been settled for him. + +A second and a third faggot, each blazing fiercely, and each directed +towards a fresh part of the heap, were flung through the rift. + +"I can't stop all three," thought Jack. "The pile must burn." + +Within a few seconds it was burning in very truth; the fire ran +through the heap of light combustibles with magical power and +swiftness. Scarce had the first bunch of burning reeds fallen, than a +vast scorching flame was leaping up and roaring towards the rift, +while a powerful current of air was drawn through the tunnel and +fanned Jack's face. + +"What's this?" thought Jack; "they reckoned without the draught, I +fancy. It looks as if I shall be no worse off than before. It's very +hot, certainly, but with this rush of air through the tunnel I can +manage all right." + +But he soon found that his enemies had not made any miscalculation. +For five minutes the air rushed fiercely past Jack, fanning the +tremendous flame which leapt from the blazing pile and carrying it +upwards to the rift, then it began to slacken, and the flame, instead +of roaring upwards to a point, began to sink, and spread its wide red +wings abroad in the cave, fluttering from one side to the other. + +Jack looked upwards with a sinking heart: _the rift was closed_. It +had been left open till a terrific fire had burned up, and now it was +blocked, and the whole of the heat and the smoke was pent up in the +cave; and Jack was pent up, too, in this roasting inferno. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE TORTURE BY FIRE. + + +For some time Jack was but little troubled with the smoke. It billowed +up and up, and rolled in huge clouds about the lofty roof. But +gradually the cave filled, and Jack saw that with every moment the +smoke came lower and lower, threatening to fill the cave from the +floor to roof and choke the life out of him. A cloud whirled about him +and was gone again. But it left Jack coughing and half-choked, so +pungent and keen was the whiff which he had drawn into his lungs. + +Thicker and thicker rose the clouds of smoke as the fire burned, for, +cunningly intermingled with the dried tinder of the canes and reeds, +his enemies had flung great bunches of fresh-cut boughs. The green +wood of the latter, roasting and spluttering with sap in the midst of +the roaring fire, threw out vast rolling clouds of choking smoke. + +The freshest air was still at the mouth of the tunnel, and here Jack +crouched, his head as low as possible, for he knew that the last fresh +air would be found nearest to the floor. He was resolved not to go +out. His stubborn British blood was aflame at the thought of being +placed afresh in bonds, and he was ready to face the fiery torture +within rather than creep out and give his enemies the joy of knowing +that he was beaten, and of seeing him surrender. + +Hope, too, was not yet dead in his heart. The heap of blazing +brushwood was at some distance from him, for the rift was at the other +side of the cave. If he could but set his teeth and endure this agony +of fire until the heap had burned out, he would not be forced from his +post. + +But at that instant the fire reached several great faggots of green +palm branches, and fresh clouds of aromatic smoke rolled out still +thicker and faster than before. A swirl of the air currents within the +cave sent a thick billowing mass full on the spot where Jack crouched. +The brave lad felt that he was choking, that his senses were deserting +him, as he drew, involuntarily, the pungent, biting smoke into his +lungs. + +He flung himself on his face, coughed out the smoke he had swallowed, +and caught one refreshing gasp of sweet air blowing up the tunnel. +Then the fresh air was driven back by the huge billow of smoke, and +the heavy clouds settled about Jack. He could not have moved now had +he wished. He was the prey of the thick suffocating smoke, and a swift +merciful unconsciousness fell upon him and put an end to the agonies +he had so nobly endured. + +When Jack came to himself again, the first thing he knew was that he +had failed to keep himself out of the clutch of his enemies. When he +opened his bleared and smarting eyes and looked round, he saw the +dark face of Saya Chone straight before him. The half-caste said +nothing, only grinned in evil joy, and Jack closed his eyes again with +a groan of despair. He felt that he was once more in bonds, though +they were not so close and galling as before. He was dripping wet, and +his eyes pained him cruelly. + +He lay still for a few instants, then pulled himself together, jerked +himself into a sitting position, and looked round boldly, determined +to put the best face possible on the situation, and not give the +half-caste the joy of gloating over an enemy who acknowledged himself +beaten. + +He found he was in the outer cave, and through the tunnel he could see +plainly the glow of the fire still blazing in the inner recess. But no +smoke came this way. Clearly the rift had been opened, and the fire +was pulling up towards the natural vent. Jack looked round and saw +that he was in the midst of a pool of water; he supposed that it had +been flung upon him to bring him to. + +"Well," said Saya Chone at last, "are you not going to thank me for +saving the life you seemed obstinately bent upon throwing away? If I +had not been able to order a couple of fellows, as careless of their +lives as you of yours, to go into the smoke and drag you out, it would +have been all over with you by now." + +Jack made no answer. He did not so much as trouble to look at Saya +Chone. He ignored him entirely, and glanced down at the fetters which +confined his limbs. He found that his ankles were bound together with +light and slender links of steel, a steel ring encircling each ankle, +and similar fetters bound his wrists. At first glance it seemed as if +these light bonds might easily be broken, but Jack gave up that idea +very soon. He saw that they were the work of a very cunning and +skilful craftsman, highly wrought and beautifully tempered, slight in +appearance, but immensely strong. + +A head now came in sight outside. It was the Strangler, and he called +out a few words to Saya Chone. The half-caste had been sitting with +his hand in the breast of his jacket. He now drew it out and showed +that the butt of a heavy revolver had been in his clasp. He pointed +the weapon at Jack's heart. + +"I must beg of you to get up, my lord," he said, in tones of sneering +deference. "Your conveyance awaits you outside the cave." + +When he saw that Jack hesitated to obey, he gave a shrill whistle. A +couple of Kachins at once sprang up at the mouth of the cave. Sooner +than be handled by these evil little ruffians, Jack now got up and +shuffled slowly down the cave, his fetters allowing him to move about +ten inches at a stride. But this, however, did not save him from their +hands. At the mouth of the cave the two Kachins and the Malay seized +upon him and swung him down to the bed of the ravine. Here a strong +pony was waiting, and when Jack's ankles had been freed, he was tossed +astride and the reins put in his hands. + +The half-caste followed him at every step with the revolver, nor did +he put the weapon away until the Strangler had once more locked the +fetters which bound Jack's ankles together. This he did with a small +key, and, as the links of steel were brought under the pony's barrel +from one foot of the prisoner to the other, Jack was securely tethered +to the animal. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE STRONGHOLD OF THE RUBY KING. + + +As soon as Jack was mounted, Saya Chone and the Malay also got to +their saddles, and the party moved off down the ravine. Save for his +fetters, Jack rode as usual, but the two Kachins, one on either side, +held his pony by stout thongs of raw hide, fastened in the bridle. At +his heels trotted the two leaders, and Jack knew that both were well +armed. + +On the journey that followed it is not necessary to dwell, for it was +quite uneventful. They travelled steadily till dusk, when they halted +in a small village where Jack was assigned a hut, and a strict watch +was kept over him at every moment. The next morning the journey was +resumed at earliest dawn, and now they held their way for mile after +mile through wild, gloomy passes between lofty mountains, where no +sign of human life or cultivated fields was to be seen. Hour after +hour they pushed on through this deserted hill country, until, late in +the afternoon, they topped a stony ridge, and Jack gave a sharp +exclamation of surprise. + +Below him the ground fell away steeply to a small and fertile valley +with a river running down its midst, and fields of paddy and plantain +lining the course of the stream. Groves of palmyra, and teak, and +palms were dotted about the scene, and in the midst of the valley rose +a tall house of stone. Instinctively Jack felt that they had reached +their journey's end, and that before him was the goal he had set +himself to win, the stronghold of U Saw, the Ruby King. But how +different was his approach from that he had hoped to make! Instead of +advancing upon it in company of his trusty friends, he was marching in +as a prisoner, fettered hand and foot. + +Jack fixed his eyes eagerly on the great house below as another idea +sprang to his mind. Was his father there? Had his quest been in vain, +and was Thomas Haydon far away from this lonely valley set among the +wild hills? But Jack believed that his father was there; everything +seemed to point to it. Well, he would soon know, one way or the other. + +The path now ran through a native village, whose slender huts of reed +and cane bordered both sides of the narrow way. The people ran to +their doors to gaze upon the passers-by, and Jack knew them for +Kachins. He recognised the short, dark, sturdy forms of the men. +Beside the latter, women in embroidered kilts, with big, queer +head-dresses, and brown, naked, nimble children, came to look upon the +sahib who rode into their valley, the captive of their lord and +master, U Saw. + +The village was passed and a grove of palms was entered. Beyond the +palms the land ran smooth and open to the front of the great strong +house of stone which U Saw had built to keep himself and his treasures +safe. + +The cavalcade halted before a strong gate formed of huge bars and +beams of teak, and in another moment half of the gate was flung open +by a pair of blue-kilted Kachins. Jack's pony was led inside, and the +English lad now found himself in a large courtyard beside the house. +The walls of the courtyard were formed of great logs of teak, and +round them ran rows of thatched huts built against the palisade. +These, as Jack learned afterwards, were used as the lodgings of the +strong body of retainers whom U Saw kept about his person, his +bodyguard. + +Only one small door opened upon the courtyard from the house, and +towards this Jack's pony was led. The Malay unlocked the fetters which +bound Jack's feet, and he was hauled roughly to the ground. + +"March in," said Saya Chone, and pointed to the small, narrow, dark +doorway. Jack went in, staring hard into the dark before him, and +wondering what fate would befall him in this great, lonely house to +which he had been led in so strange a fashion, and through such wild +adventures. He found himself in a small, dusky hall, lighted only by +one tiny window, and that heavily barred with iron. The door was now +closed and bolted behind him, and he was taken up a narrow flight of +tortuous stairs. Then he was conducted along a maze of narrow +passages, being led now and again through doors which Saya Chone +unlocked and carefully locked again after them. The stone walls, the +iron bars which covered every opening, the narrow passages, the locked +doors, all told of the caution of U Saw, he who trusted no one, and +suspected all. + +At last they arrived before a narrow door, heavily banded with iron, +and fastened by a huge bar of teak. Before it squatted a little man in +blue, with a big naked _dah_ across his knees. Saya Chone spoke to him +and it sounded like a password, for the man sprang to his feet and +stepped aside. The great bar of teak was drawn from its staples, and +the door was opened. The Malay thrust Jack into the room, and the door +was at once closed and barred behind him. + +Jack now found himself in a bare stone cell, lighted only by one small +window eight feet or more from the ground. There was nothing in the +place save a small bench in one corner, and he sat down on this and +awaited the next movement of his captors. For full three hours he sat +there, and had begun to wonder whether they had forgotten him, when +the door was suddenly opened and the Strangler appeared, attended by a +couple of the bodyguard. The Malay beckoned to Jack to come forward, +and the latter went. + +He was now led into a large room, where a tall, stout man sat on a +heap of rich cushions, and Jack knew by the deference paid to him that +the latter was U Saw, the Ruby King. The room was lighted by a couple +of large lamps, for the dusk had fallen, and the English lad was led +into the bright light and placed before the Ruby King. + +The latter looked steadily at Jack, and Jack returned the stare with +interest. The Ruby King had a huge, gross face, thick-lipped and +evil-eyed. He was dressed splendidly in a rich embroidered jacket of +pink silk, a silken kilt striped in red and white, and a huge pink +_gaung-baung_ on his head; in the front of his head-dress blazed a +magnificent ruby. + +He looked long and keenly at Jack, and the latter thought that U Saw +was going to speak to him, but the Ruby King said nothing, and at last +waved his hand. Upon this Jack was led aside by the Malay and made to +sit down upon a large, heavy chair near the right-hand wall. All this +was done in perfect silence, and for some minutes Jack sat there +waiting, while U Saw seemed to forget his presence, and rested upon +the pile of cushions with head bent as if in deep thought. + +Suddenly the Strangler, who had been moving to and fro, disappeared +behind Jack's chair. Jack was about to turn his head to keep an eye on +his enemy's movements, when he felt a soft silken band slipped swiftly +over his head and tightened about his shoulders. At the same instant a +couple of attendants flung themselves upon him and held him down +tightly in the chair. + +Jack tried to throw them off and wrench himself free, but his hands +had never been unfettered, and he was easily mastered. In a trice he +found himself securely lashed to the heavy chair, and then felt +another broad band of silk drawn over his mouth. Coolly and +methodically the Strangler gagged him in so skilful a fashion that he +could not utter a sound, though he was able to breathe quite easily. +When both bonds and gag were secure he was released from the grip of +the men who had held him down, and the attendants and the Malay +stepped aside. + +The next movement puzzled Jack beyond measure. A muslin curtain, +running on a light bamboo rod, was drawn before him, thus cutting him +off from the main body of the apartment. With the exception that he +had been firmly seized and held down while the Strangler bound him, +Jack had not been roughly treated, and he was quite free to turn his +head from side to side and mark all that went on. + +In a few moments the Ruby King raised his hand. As if in response to +the signal an attendant struck one deep booming rolling note on a +great gong. Jack looked eagerly to see what would follow. And that +which did follow held him spell-bound with amazement and wonder. + +A door opened and Saya Chone came in. Jack recognised him at once, for +the delicate filmy veil of muslin which hung just before him was so +slight in texture that he could see through it easily and make out all +that went on in the light of the lamps. But the part of the room where +he was a prisoner was unlighted, and the veil served to hide him +sufficiently from anyone standing in the brighter part of the place. +Saya Chone came forward and conversed with U Saw for a few moments, +then a second note was struck upon the resounding gong. + +Again the door opened, and a couple of Kachins came in, leading a man +between them, a tall, thin man with grey hair and pale face. Jack's +heart leapt within him, and he felt suffocating under his gag. Yes, +there was his father, there he was. They had been right in their +suspicions all the time. Thomas Haydon had been carried off by the men +who served the Ruby King. + +Jack's heart swelled within him at sight of that well-known form and +face, and he strained every muscle against his bonds. But he had been +secured too strongly, and his efforts were utterly in vain. He could +only stare and stare at the old familiar figure, and long for the +moment when his gag should be loosed and he could acquaint his father +with his presence. He wondered whether his father would see him +through the curtain, but he felt sure at the next moment that it was +impossible. He was seated in a dusky corner, and his father stood full +in the light of the lamps. + +What an end was this to his quest! He had set out to find his father. +He had found him: they stood within a few yards of each other. But he +had found him a prisoner in cruel and merciless hands which now also +held Jack captive. What an end to all his fine dreams of rescuing his +father! What a mockery of his hopes! As these thoughts thronged +through Jack's mind, Saya Chone began to speak. Jack was at once all +attention to the words of the half-caste. + +"Well, Mr. Haydon," began the latter, "you have now had several days +to know whether you are more inclined to be reasonable. You have only, +you know, to write down on a scrap of paper the bearings of the place +where you found the big ruby, and then you are free to go where you +please." + +There was silence for a moment, then Mr. Haydon replied. How the +well-known tones thrilled Jack through and through as they fell on his +ear! + +"Exactly," said Thomas Haydon, in a tone of quiet but bitter scorn. "I +have only to give up the interests which were confided to my hands, to +prove myself a traitor to those who trusted me, and then you say I may +go. I take leave to doubt the latter statement. In any case, I shall +certainly not do as you wish." + +"You still refuse to disclose the secret of the ruby-mine you found?" + +"I do." + +"It would be better, I think, for you to reconsider that decision," +said the half-caste, in his cold, cruel voice. "There are ways, you +know, of making people speak, however obstinate they may be." + +"You refer to torture, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon, in as cool a +tone as though he were speaking on the most indifferent subject. +"Well, I do not wish to boast, but I hardly think you will get +anything out of me that way." + +"Why, there I am inclined to agree with you," said the half-caste, in +his silkiest tones. "That is to say, so far as applying torture to +yourself personally is concerned. You are a stubborn Englishman, and +that means you will cheerfully die before you give in; is it not so?" + +"Then, if you think it useless to deal with me in such fashion, why +enter upon talk of it?" demanded Mr. Haydon. + +"Oh," said the half-caste, "such a thing may be useful yet. If you +were careless about torture applied to yourself, you might see it in +another light when brought to bear on someone to whom you were +attached?" + +Mr. Haydon gave a scornful laugh. "And where will you find such a +person in this den of thieves?" he asked, drily. + +Upon this reply, Saya Chone and U Saw burst into a great shout of +mocking laughter. They rolled to and fro in their mirth, and the room +rang again with their hideous merriment. Mr. Haydon looked from one to +the other, his brow knitted in puzzled wonder. + +But behind the curtain Jack's heart had sunk very low indeed, and a +light of terror had come into his eyes. Now he saw at a flash why the +half-caste had carried him off, and pursued him so closely and +fiercely, yet without doing him the least harm. It had puzzled Jack a +score of times why Saya Chone had not killed him, and so put an end to +any further trouble, but now he saw the whole plan only too clearly. + +By this time the Ruby King knew the character of Thomas Haydon, and +had learned that neither threats nor force had power to sway him from +his duty in order to save himself. But what if his only son, his boy +Jack, was exposed to a like danger: would that not break down his iron +resolution? + +The terror which had come into Jack's eyes was not for himself, not +for an instant. But he saw at once what the arch-rogues meant to do, +to put pressure upon his father through him. And Jack felt sick at +heart to think that he had won the thing he had longed for, that he +had gained his father's side, and yet he came only as an added +difficulty to a cruel situation. + +"You have a son, I think, Mr. Haydon?" began Saya Chone again, in his +purring tones. + +"How do you know that?" replied Thomas Haydon. + +"Oh, we know many things," replied the half-caste lightly. "We have +even heard of your only son, Jack Haydon." + +Mr. Haydon made no reply. + +"You would, I suppose, be very unwilling to see any harm happen to +him?" + +"Thank God!" cried Thomas Haydon fervently, "that, at any rate, is far +beyond your power. He is safe at home in England." + +Again the mocking laughter burst out in redoubled volume until the +rafters rang again. The Ruby King and Saya Chone enjoyed their mirth +to the full, then the half-caste sprang to his feet, and pointed with +glittering eyes and laughing face to the soft white muslin veil. + +"Look there! Thomas Haydon," he cried, "look there!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +FATHER AND SON. + + +Mr. Haydon turned his calm, steady eyes on the filmy curtain, but he +could see nothing. Then, as he gazed quietly at it, U Saw raised his +hand, and a deep booming note resounded from the gong. The full, +musical trembling of the note still rang through the room when an +unseen hand drew back the curtain, and the light of the lamps fell +full upon Jack. + +Thomas Haydon stood for a moment with the wild, distraught look of one +who sees a sight altogether beyond belief or reason, then he made to +spring forward. But he was chained to the Kachins who stood upon +either side of him, and two more leapt forward from their posts by the +wall to check his movements. And again the mocking laughter of his +enemies filled the room. + +But Thomas Haydon had neither eyes nor ears for them. He could only +stare and stare upon his son as if he found it impossible to believe +the evidence of his own sight. At last he spoke. + +"Jack!" he said in a tone of wonder beyond all wonder, "Jack, is it +you?" + +Jack could not reply, for the gag effectually checked his utterance, +but he nodded, and his eyes spoke for him. + +"My son here," murmured Thomas Haydon again, and a bitter groan broke +from him. He could not restrain it; this last stroke was utterly +beyond all human endurance. When his son had been mentioned by his +unscrupulous enemy, his thoughts had flown thousands and thousands of +miles, far away from the hot, glaring East, with its mysteries and +dangers, to the cool, quiet English meadows amid which lay Rushmere +School, where his only son, as he believed, worked and played in +safety. + +And all the time Jack was within a few yards of him, hidden, a +prisoner, behind the muslin curtain. How he had got there, how he had +fallen into the terrible hands of U Saw, were the most insoluble of +mysteries to the elder man, and he could only stare at his son with a +white and ghastly face, for he knew only too well the character of the +men in whose power they both lay. + +The jeering voice of the half-caste broke out on a high note of +derision. "And is there no one among this den of thieves for whom you +care, Mr. Haydon?" he cried. "If there is not, what an unnatural +parent you must be!" + +A deep guttural chuckle from U Saw echoed this speech. The Ruby King +said never a word from first to last. He sat on his cushions as one +enjoying the play. His gross face was filled with an evil joy, his +small dark cunning eyes twinkled for ever with laughter at the scene +which was enacted before him, but he maintained, except for his +laughter, a perfect silence, and there was something terribly uncanny +and threatening about this. + +"Where has he come from?" asked Thomas Haydon, in a low and troubled +voice. Yes, it was Jack, bound there; he was compelled to believe his +own eyes at last. It was not an hallucination; it was a piece of +dreadful fact, and in it the elder man saw his difficulties trebled +upon the spot. + +"Oh, as to that, he will have plenty of opportunity to tell you +himself in a short time," smiled the half-caste. "We shall shut you up +together to talk things over. In the meantime, another piece of work +demands U Saw's attention." + +He waved his hand and the Kachins led Thomas Haydon aside and placed +him against the farther wall. There was a shuffle of feet at the door, +and three or four natives from the village brought in a man whose +hands were bound behind his back. They were followed by at least a +score more of men and women, and for the next half hour there was a +fearful babel of tongues. As far as Jack could gather it seemed a sort +of trial, and the Ruby King acted as judge. + +The latter uttered never a word, all the questioning being done by +Saya Chone; but at last he opened his mouth and pronounced a verdict. +It was received with cries of joy by some, and howls of grief by one +or two women. Now the bodyguard drove the whole crowd, save the +prisoner, out of the apartment. + +When the uproar of the noisy horde had died away in the narrow +passages, Saya Chone waved to the guards to bring Mr. Haydon forward. + +"Look at this man, Thomas Haydon," said the half-caste in a low, hard +voice, pointing, as he spoke, to the native; "he has killed a +neighbour; he is a murderer. Very good. U Saw has sentenced him to +death. Now I tell you that if you do not give us the information we +want, you have as surely sentenced your son to death as U Saw has +sentenced this man." + +He said no more: there was a far more dreadful threat in his quiet, +cool words than any violence could have shown. He waved his hand once +again, and Mr. Haydon was led away by the guards. + +When he had disappeared, Saya Chone turned to Jack. + +"You have heard what was said," he murmured. "Do not be so foolish as +to think it was spoken as a mere threat. Base all that you do or say +on that statement as a fact. There is no hope for you unless you get +your father to do as we wish." + +He turned away, and the Strangler at once released Jack from the chair +and removed the gag from his mouth. Next Jack was led away by a couple +of guards and conducted once more through a labyrinth of narrow, +winding passages until they halted before a door, where the Malay +unlocked and took off Jack's fetters. The door was opened, and he was +thrust into the room, his limbs once more his own. + +The room in which Jack now found himself was lighted by a small lamp, +and, as he entered, a figure sprang up from a low bench. "Father!" +cried Jack, and at the next moment their hands were clasped together. + +"Jack, Jack," said Mr. Haydon, in a low voice which he strove to keep +steady; "where, where have you come from, and how do you come to be +here?" + +Jack at once plunged into his story. They sat down together on the +bench, and now Mr. Haydon learned the whole history of Jack's +adventures. + +"Your quest, Jack, was well and bravely undertaken," he said, when his +son had finished the story, "but these powerful and cunning rogues +have been one too many for us up to the present." + +"But how were you seized, father?" cried Jack, and Mr. Haydon related +his story in turn. It was short and soon told. He had gone for a walk +along the shore near Brindisi, when, in a lonely spot, he had been +attacked from behind and felled by a severe blow on the skull. This, +however, did not entirely reduce him to unconsciousness, for he had a +distinct recollection of inhaling the smell of some powerful drug +before he became insensible to everything about him. + +He had awakened to consciousness to find himself in a cabin of U Saw's +steam yacht, and here he had been kept the closest of prisoners on the +voyage back to Burmah and up the river. He had been put ashore by +night on some deserted part of the river bank, and then carried, by +unfrequented ways, through the jungle and across the hills to U Saw's +stronghold. In the latter place he had been kept in strict +confinement, and urged by threats to disclose the ruby-mine he had +discovered. Hitherto his enemies had not proceeded to torture, though +he had been daily expecting it. + +"And now they threaten me through you, Jack," concluded his father in +an anxious voice Jack laughed, a quiet, steady, confident laugh. + +"They will threaten in vain, father," he said. "We shan't give way an +inch. What do you think that half-caste said to me last thing before I +was brought here to you?" He related the speech Saya Chone had made to +him, and Mr. Haydon gave an uneasy movement of the shoulders. + +"Yes," he said, "they hope that you will plead with me, Jack, to give +up the secret of the ruby-mine in order to save the pair of us." + +"Not likely, father," returned Jack at once. "Whatever they do to me, +mind you are not to give way on my account. We'll keep a stiff upper +lip and win through this yet." + +His bold, brave words cheered Mr. Haydon, and the latter eyed his +straight, strong lad with pride. But at the same time the look of deep +anxiety never left his face. He had met his enemies boldly enough face +to face with them alone, but to have Jack in their clutches too was a +terrible thing. + +"At any rate," burst out Jack, "it's awfully jolly to be in here with +you, and be able to talk things over. I hardly expected such luck as +this." + +Mr. Haydon made no reply, only smiled. He saw plainly enough why they +had been allowed to share the same cell. His enemies knew that the +more he talked with his frank, brave boy, and looked into those +bright, courageous eyes, the less would he be inclined to let ill come +to Jack, the more powerful would be their hold upon him. + +"And was the ruby that you found such a very fine one?" asked Jack. + +"It was a most wonderful stone, Jack," replied his father. "I have +never seen one like it. Unfortunately a couple of natives, old +ruby-miners, were with me when I found it, and of course I could not +keep their tongues quiet." + +"These fellows went to a tremendous lot of trouble, the rascals, to +follow you up and get possession of it," remarked Jack. + +"They were well repaid, my boy," returned his father. "The stone is +worth a large fortune, and the greed of a man like U Saw for a +precious stone is beyond your understanding, for you do not know the +tribe." + +"And the mine, was that rich?" asked Jack. + +"Very rich," said his father, "but it is best for us not to speak of +these matters, Jack. Walls have ears with a vengeance in these +places." + +Their talk now turned to the channel of their own doings while they +had been separated. For nearly twenty-four hours father and son stayed +together, and were as cheerful as the dark fate hanging over them +allowed. Then towards sunset of the day after Jack's arrival at U +Saw's stronghold, the door of the cell was opened, and the Strangler +appeared at the head of a strong guard. + +By signs he ordered the two prisoners to follow him. As they stepped +forward, they were placed in single file, and the guard closed round +them. Jack and his father were now led into the courtyard, where they +saw that a larger procession was awaiting them. At the head of the +latter was placed the villager who had killed his neighbour. His hands +were bound behind his back, a loop of cord was thrown about his neck, +and he was in charge of a couple of the Kachin bodyguard. + +Jack and his father were placed behind this prisoner, and were now +allowed to walk side by side. + +At the next moment the Ruby King and Saya Chone rode forward, and took +their places at the head of the procession. They moved on, walking +their ponies quietly, and the line of men on foot at once marched +after them. + +Neither Jack nor Mr. Haydon was bound. They were entirely free except +for the Kachins who marched on either side and kept a wary eye on +their movements. + +"After all," thought Jack sadly to himself. "What need is there to +bind us? Suppose I broke loose now and ran? Even if I got away from +these fellows, where could I go to? The whole valley is a prison just +as sure as the stone walls we have left behind for the moment." + +But scarce two minutes had passed before Jack had burst from the guard +and was running at his fleetest. It happened in this way. They filed +out of the courtyard and along a broad, ill-kept, dusty road passing +the village. + +Near the first houses of the village, a woman sprang out of the crowd +which was waiting to see the procession pass. She rushed forward, an +infant in her arms, and flung herself on the ground before the ponies +ridden by the Ruby King and the half-caste. Holding the infant out at +the fullest reach of her arms, she lay in their path, and poured out a +string of loud, supplicating cries. Jack knew not a word she said, but +he understood very well that the wife and child of the doomed man were +before him. + +He looked to see the riders pause upon witnessing this spectacle of +wretched despair. Then, with a start of horror, he saw that they were +intending, in cold-blooded fashion, to trample mother and child +beneath the hoofs of the animals which bore them. The woman had +stretched herself out so that her body was in front of the +half-caste's pony, her infant in front of that of the Ruby King. Saya +Chone's pony was more merciful than the flinty-hearted wretch who +bestrode it. It started back, reared, shied, refused absolutely to +step forward upon the unhappy woman. The Ruby King uttered a brutal +laugh, and urged his own animal on. + +The latter beast went forward willingly, and was within a stride of +placing its fore feet on the little brown, naked body, when Jack gave +a sharp cry of horror and darted forward. Several of the bodyguard +sprang after him, but they might as well have leapt after a deer. Jack +raced forward, flew between the ponies, and caught the child from the +ground. At the same instant three or four of the villagers ran to the +spot, lifted the woman, and dragged her away. One of them took the +child from Jack and put it in her arms. + +Now the guards came up, seized Jack, and hustled him back to his place +in the procession. + +"Well done, Jack," said his father quietly. "You were just in the nick +of time. Another second and U Saw's pony would have trampled the life +out of the poor little mite." + +"Really, he would have done it," breathed Jack incredulously. "Even +after cutting in and picking it up, I can hardly believe it." + +"Oh, he'd have done it, without doubt," said Mr. Haydon drily. "You +will find out, Jack, that these people hold human life very cheaply, +and human suffering cheaper still." + +The Ruby King and the half-caste had taken no notice of Jack's action +save to laugh derisively, and now the procession moved forward once +more. They went about a couple of miles, and halted on the edge of a +steep descent which ran down to a broad swamp. It wanted now about +half an hour to sunset. At the foot of the descent, on the edge of the +swamp, a cross had been raised. Jack's blood ran cold within him. What +awful sight were they now to see? Were these monsters about to crucify +the condemned man? + +[Illustration: THE RESCUE OF THE NATIVE CHILD.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE HORROR IN THE SWAMP. + + +He breathed more freely when he saw that the men who led the villager +forward had coils of rope in their hands and nothing else. In a trice +the man was bound to the cross, his arms at full length, his body +firmly lashed to the upright. + +The half-caste now beckoned to Jack. + +"Come down the slope," said Saya Chone. "I want you to look at this +man now. You will see him again in the morning. Perhaps you will find +it useful to note the difference." + +Jack was led down the descent and brought face to face with the +native. The English lad saw at once that the man bound to the cross +was stupefied with an extremity of terror. His brown skin was a +frightful ashen shade, his eyes were wide, distended with horror, and +fixed on the swamp, his mouth open, his jaw hanging limp. + +"You will see him again in the morning," repeated the half-caste; "and +you will see, I assure you, another kind of man." + +"Yes," said Jack, "after you have practised your brutal devilries on +him." + +"No, no, oh no," laughed Saya Chone in his soft, cunning tones. "We +shall do no more to him. His whole punishment consists in remaining +here in bonds from sunset to sunrise. Then we shall loose the ropes, +and he will be free." + +"Yes," said Jack, who thought now that he saw daylight, "with every +vein full of the fever and malaria that haunt this swamp." + +"Fever," laughed Saya Chone, "this fellow is absolutely safe against +fever. You could no more give him jungle fever than you could make him +ten feet high. A night here would give you a fever that would kill you +in ten days, never him." + +Jack was puzzled once more, and said nothing. He resolved to ask his +father what it all meant. + +But he soon found that this chance was not to be afforded him. He was +led back up the rise, and placed at some distance from the spot where +his father stood. He saw his father taken down the slope and +confronted with the condemned native, then brought back. At once the +procession was reformed. Jack was placed at the head, his father at +the rear, and they were not allowed to exchange a word. + +Jack's heart sank a little. Did this mean that they were to be +separated? It did. When the great house was once more gained, Jack was +shut up by himself in a room which he had not seen before, and there +he spent the night. + +The sun had been up a couple of hours next morning before Jack heard +the sound of any movement outside his cell. Then there was a rattle +of creaking bolts and the door was flung open. Saya Chone stood in the +doorway with the usual band of blue-kilted and well-armed Kachins. + +He did not speak, only beckoned with his hand, his malicious eyes lit +up with their usual evil grin. Nor did he speak throughout the +subsequent journey when Jack was led over the track he had followed +the night before. Jack looked round for his father, but no sign of Mr. +Haydon was to be seen. The half-caste ambled ahead on a pony, Jack and +four of U Saw's retainers followed behind, and that was the whole of +the party. + +As they approached the edge of the declivity which ran down towards +the swamp, the sound of a loud, measured voice came through the air. + +Saya Chone started, touched his pony with his heel, and cantered +forward. Then he dropped back to his former pace as they cleared a +patch of bamboo and saw the origin of the sound. On the edge of the +slope stood a man dressed something like a monk. His head was close +shaven, and he carried a large yellow parasol through which the +sunlight poured, and made his polished skull shine like gold. He +carried a large basket on a pole slung over his shoulder. + +Jack had seen such a figure before, and Buck had told him all about +it. It was a _pothoodaw_, a man who, without belonging to the order of +regular monks, still leads a life of prayer and pious works. The holy +man had paused on the edge of the slope to recite his prayers, moved +doubtless thereto by the sight of the condemned man below. Now, as the +little procession arrived, he swung up his basket and moved away +without a glance at them. + +Nor, save for Jack, was a glance cast at him. A _pothoodaw_ is a +familiar sight in every corner of the country, and his wanderings from +place to place take him to every nook, however desert or solitary. + +Jack, too, soon had eyes for something beside the holy man. They +reached the edge of the slope. Saya Chone turned with a grin and spoke +to one of the Kachins. The latter at once whipped off his turban, +unrolled it and folded it over Jack's eyes, and so the latter was led +down the slope. + +"Now you can look," said a mocking voice, and the turban was whipped +aside. + +Jack gave a cry of horror. He could not help it. He had meant to +restrain all signs of feeling, but this was too much. He had been +placed so that he stood almost breast to breast with the most dreadful +and grisly horror that the mind of man could conceive. He looked upon +the horrible, dry, shrivelled mummy of something which had been a man. +The shape of the villager hung there in the bonds, but it was a mere +framework of bones, upon which hung wrinkled brown folds of shrivelled +skin. The haunting terror of the vision was beyond all description. + +Jack tried to speak, to ask what had done this fearful thing. But his +dried tongue refused its office; it clung to the roof of his mouth. + +The half-caste at his shoulder now broke into a chuckling laugh. + +"He looks pretty, does he not?" said Saya Chone. "And you see nothing +has happened but what I said. He has been tied here all night." He +was silent for a few moments in order to let the awful sight sink +deeply into Jack's mind, then he went on. "You are puzzled. I can see +it in your face. What has happened to him? I will tell you. You now +see what a man looks like when _every single drop of blood has been +sucked out of his body_." + +The half-caste paused a little, then laughed gaily. "It is having a +better effect on you than I should have hoped for, my young friend. +You look sick with horror. But even through your disgust I see a +glimmer of wonder as to the manner in which it is done. Simply enough, +I assure you. This swamp is famous throughout the valley for the +immense size and virulence of the mosquitoes which breed in it. With +the fall of dusk they pour from its recesses in vast swarms, and +fasten on man or beast or any creature into whose skin they may drive +their stings, and from whose body they may suck its blood. Here has +been a feast royal for them." + +He waved his hand towards the dry, rattling, shrivelled remnants of +humanity, fastened to the cross, and Jack understood the awful, the +sickening cruelty of this exquisite torture. + +"It is a slow death, but terribly sure," went on the half-caste. "As +one gorged horde drop off, be certain that a thousand hungry swarms +hover round, eager to fill the empty places, and taste also of the +feast. Think of it to-day, think of it well." + +He waved his hand and the Kachins marched away up the hill, leading +Jack with them. The road back to the great house was taken in +silence, and Jack was thrust once more into his solitary cell. There +he spent the whole day alone, not seeing even those who thrust his +dish of meat and rice through a small trap in the door. + +The afternoon had worn far on, and he was sitting on his bench deep in +thought. He had striven to keep out of his mind the spectacle he had +seen that morning, but the impression it had produced upon him was one +of such terrible power that it was before his eyes at every moment. +What did it threaten to them, to his father and himself? His mind +recoiled before the idea. + +Suddenly, without a sound, the door of his cell swung back, and there +was a swift rush of naked feet on the floor. Four of the guard were +upon Jack before he could lift a finger, and at the next moment his +hands were bound behind him, and his ankles fastened together with a +rope which permitted him to walk with fair ease, but gave him no +freedom to do aught beside take short steps. Within five minutes again +he was in a procession such as he had walked in the night before. + +In front once more rode Saya Chone and the Ruby King. The latter rode +on a fine white pony, and was attended by a couple of retainers, one +of whom held a huge scarlet umbrella above U Saw's head, and the other +carried his betel-box of solid silver. Jack turned his head, and saw +at first no sign of his father, but when they had gone about half a +mile, he looked back and saw his father's tall figure, conspicuous +among the short, sturdy Kachins who guarded him, among a group now +setting out from the gate. + +This order of the march was kept until they reached the edge of the +slope. Down this Jack was hurried, and now saw a sight which filled +him with the gloomiest of fears. The villager still hung in his bonds, +and two yards in front of the cross to which he was bound stood two +similar crosses, each surrounded with a framework of strong cane. + +Jack stiffened himself for a struggle against the horrible fate which +menaced him, but his struggles were all in vain. His enemies, small +perhaps, but many, and with muscles of iron, had him strung up to the +cross in a trice, and here he was gagged, after he had been bound +securely. + +In a few moments he saw his father bound in like fashion, and then, to +his surprise, he saw a couple of men swiftly and thoroughly cover the +framework of cane around each cross with strong mosquito-netting. + +"What does this mean?" thought Jack. "Are they only putting us here to +terrify us? The mosquitoes cannot get at us through this netting." But +at the next moment he learned that this was but a trick to prolong +their agony, and cause them to endure an extremity of mental suffering +which the villager had never known. Saya Chone, as ever, was the +spokesman of his master's will. + +"You will be safe under these nettings until these cords are pulled," +he said. Jack and Mr. Haydon looked to the ground whither the +half-caste pointed. There they saw a couple of stout cords, one +fastened at the corner of each mosquito-net. + +"A sharp tug at the cord will displace the nets," went on Saya Chone. +"But you will have a chance to save your skins before that is done. In +any case, the first cord will not be pulled until an hour after +sunset. Then," went on the half-caste, addressing himself to Mr. +Haydon, "this is the cord which will be pulled," and he pointed to the +cord fastened to Jack's net. Mr. Haydon ground his teeth. "If you +don't want it pulled," purred Saya Chone softly, "you know what you +have to do, a few words, nothing more. An hour later the other cord +will be pulled, and you will be left for the night. On the other hand, +if you wish for release, you have only to shout that you will tell us, +and a dozen men will rush down with torches and smoking green boughs +to beat aside the mosquitoes, and bring you out in safety. I myself +shall remain under shelter and within earshot." + +Without another word he turned and marched up the slope. The +attendants had already retired, and within a few moments the edge of +the swamp was empty save for the prisoners and the dead villager. + +Jack closed his eyes. He and his father were so placed that straight +before them, almost at arm's length, was the horrible, shrivelled +figure which was so dreadful a pledge of the terrible powers which +lurked within the dismal swamp behind them. + +Jack now heard his father begin to speak. "I see you are gagged, +Jack," said Mr. Haydon. "It is a compliment to your staunchness, my +poor boy, if nothing else. Had they fancied there was the least chance +of your showing the white feather, they would have left you your +powers of speech, that you might beg for release. This is a frightful +position. I have been expecting some cunning device, but this is awful +beyond what I could have dreamed of." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE POTHOODAW. + + +Jack could make no answer. Mr. Haydon now remained silent, and his +brow was knitted in deep thought as he turned their cruel situation +over and over, yet saw no hope of release for his son save in +betraying the secrets of those who employed him, secrets he was in +honour bound not to disclose. + +The sun sank swiftly. Before it had disappeared Jack saw swarms of the +dreaded mosquitoes begin to thicken in the air, like flights of gnats +on a summer evening in England. The swift tropic dark swept over swamp +and hill-side, and almost at once the framework which covered each of +the captives was literally hidden with the vast masses of the venomous +insects, which knew that a fresh prey awaited them within. + +It did not need sight to tell the prisoners that an incalculable +number of their tiny but deadly enemies awaited the moment when the +nets would be drawn aside, the sense of hearing told them only too +clearly. The air was filled with a steady hum caused by the beating of +myriads upon myriads of tiny wings. + +Jack shuddered. He had already been bitten severely by mosquitoes when +they had invaded a camp in their dozens and scores, and he had been +free to defend himself, but what hideous torture would lie in that +moment when they would be exposed to the onslaught of these +innumerable swarms, and be unable to move a finger to disturb them at +their dreadful feast upon the life-blood of their victims. + +Jack and his father had spent half an hour in silence, when a yellow +glow brightened over the swamp, and presently the moon came up and +cast a strong light over the scene. Now Jack saw the mosquitoes. They +hovered in vast clouds around and above the netting, they hung in huge +festoons from every fold, from every corner, from every point of +vantage where foothold could be gained. It had seemed incredible to +him at first that such tiny creatures could drain the body of a man of +every drop of blood, but now that eye and ear together assured him of +the vast number of their swarming myriads, he wondered no longer. + +He was still staring at them when there was a flare on the edge of the +slope above. He glanced up and saw a couple of men in the moonlight. +They bore burning green branches, and waved them to and fro to keep +off the clouds of mosquitoes which danced about them. From the midst +of the smoke came a voice. "In ten minutes more the first hour will +have gone and the first cord will be pulled." + +It was the voice of Saya Chone, and he added no word to that brief +message. He and his attendant withdrew, and the prisoners were left in +silence to stare at the horrible death which now hung with terrible +nearness over the head of Jack. + +Mr. Haydon gave a deep groan. + +"This is too dreadful, Jack," he said, in a low, shaking voice. "I see +they mean it. There can be no possible doubt of that now." Then +suddenly the note of his voice changed. It became tense, vibrating, +eager. "What's that?" he said, and again, "What's that?" and fell +silent. + +Jack turned his head and saw what his father meant. Twenty yards to +their right a large patch of reeds grew on the edge of the swamp. From +the reeds the figure of a man was slowly creeping towards them. +Swathed from head to foot in folds of thick white linen, to defend +himself from the bites of the venomous mosquitoes, the man was working +his way inch by inch along the ground. + +Jack watched the stranger's progress with deep and burning interest. +Surely he came as a friend! The bitterest enemy could not come to make +their situation worse than it was at present. + +With a last swift wriggle the creeping figure was at the foot of the +net which shrouded Jack. The latter looked down and saw that the man +was literally covered from head to foot with masses of the swarming +insects. Then, with wonderful dexterity, the newcomer jerked aside the +insects which were massed upon him, raised the lower edge of the net, +and shot with a swift, sinuous movement inside. + +As he sprang to his feet, his linen wrapper fell aside, and, to his +great astonishment, Jack saw the bald shaven head of the _pothoodaw_ +flash up into the moonlight. Then the holy man smiled, and Jack knew +the cheerful grin. His heart leapt for joy. It was Me Dain, the Burman +guide. Out gleamed a keen knife, half-a-dozen rapid cuts were +delivered, and Jack's bonds, gag and all, hung in shreds about him. +Jack caught a fervent, grateful whisper from the neighbouring +framework. + +"Thank God! a friend, a friend!" Mr. Haydon breathed in a tone of +intense relief. + +"Wait!" breathed Me Dain in Jack's ear, and was gone. The Burman +wrapped himself again in his linen shield, wormed his way across to +the framework where Mr. Haydon was a captive, and cut him free in an +instant. + +"Me Dain!" Jack caught the whisper from his father, and knew that the +latter had recognised his old guide. A few whispered words passed +between the Burman and Mr. Haydon, then the latter whispered across to +his son: "Wrap your coat round your head, Jack, to keep these venomous +little brutes off as much as possible, then follow us." + +Jack whipped off his Norfolk tunic and folded it about his head, +leaving himself a peep-hole to watch the guide. He did as he saw them +do. He dropped to the ground, wriggled under the net, then sprang to +his feet and hurried beside his father, following Me Dain, who led the +way back to the patch of reeds whence he had crept. Skirting the reeds +he raced at full speed along the edge of the swamp, keeping at the +foot of the slope which ran down to the marsh, but heading away from +the spot where Saya Chone and his attendant Kachins were posted. + +The torture of that journey through the swamp was a thing which Jack +never forgot. The mosquitoes worked their way into every crevice of +the tunic he had folded about his head. They crept into his hair, down +his neck, and swarmed over his face through the breathing hole he was +compelled to leave open in front of it. The pain of their sting was +such that he had to set his teeth to keep back a growl of malediction +upon their evil fangs. Every venomous little wretch seemed to carry a +red-hot needle which it thrust joyfully into the soft flesh wherever +it happened to alight. + +At last, after three hundred yards of silent scurry through this +pestilential tract, they struck hard ground, and went at full speed up +the hill-side for open country and purer air. Still following Me Dain, +who pushed on as fast as he could go, Jack and his father plunged into +a bamboo groove, and followed a narrow path. This brought them in a +few minutes to a small clearing, where the Burman paused, and all were +glad of an opportunity to draw breath, and knock off the mosquitoes +which still clung to them. + +Jack sprang forward and seized the guide by the hand. + +"Me Dain," he cried, "wherever have you sprung from to lend us a hand +in this fashion, just in the nick of time?" + +"Ay, ay," said Mr. Haydon, "just at the moment of our hardest trial +and greatest danger. Me Dain, old fellow, we are enormously indebted +to you." + +Father and son shook hands with the Burman and thanked him over and +over again, and Me Dain grinned all over his broad, pleasant face. + +"Better get on," he said, "Saya Chone not far away yet." + +These words recalled the fugitives to a sense of the great danger in +which they stood as long as U Saw's valley still held them, and they +hastened to follow Me Dain, who was now walking briskly forward. +Twenty minutes of swift and silent progress brought them to a native +hut in a little clearing. + +"Here you must stay for a time," said the Burman. + +"But will it be safe, Me Dain?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "Whoever lives +here must belong body and soul to U Saw. We shall be informed upon at +once." + +"No, no," said the Burman emphatically, "not by this woman. She tell +nothing. She help you all she can. She is the wife of the man who was +killed in the swamp. The young sahib save her child. She never forget +that. Oh, no, I settle with her to-night. She keep you safe." + +Mr. Haydon said no more, and all three crept under cover of a patch of +plantains to the shelter of the broad eaves of the thatch of reeds +which covered the dwelling. Here they found that a hole had been made +in the cane walls, and they crept into the house, thus avoiding the +entrance by the door, which faced another house at some little +distance away. + +Inside the place they found no one but the woman and her child. She +came forward and _shekoed_ again and again, and Mr. Haydon, who had a +fair knowledge of the language of the country, spoke to her and +thanked her for the refuge which she offered to them. + +At one end of the cottage there was a rude loft of logs where the +little household had stored their stock of rice and other necessaries +when the time of harvest came. The loft was now partly empty, and at +its farther end there was plenty of room for two men to lie in hiding +behind a row of tall earthen jars in which the paddy was stored after +threshing. + +In this place of safety Me Dain bestowed them, assuring them that no +one ever went to the loft save the woman herself, and that he must be +off at once to show himself at the local monastery in his character of +_pothoodaw_, and so avert all suspicion that he had been concerned in +the escape. + +"The monks give me a room," said Me Dain. "I jump through the window, +and jump back. No one knows then that I leave it. Must be careful. U +Saw and Saya Chone, both bad men, very bad men." + +We must now return to that very bad man Saya Chone, who was also about +to be a very disappointed and furious one. On the stroke of the hour +he reappeared at the brink of the slope, just after the fugitives had +vanished round the patch of reeds. Had they not muffled their heads +they would have heard his call to Mr. Haydon. Had he not been thickly +surrounded by the smoke of the green boughs which partly kept off the +clouds of venomous assailants, he would have seen that the frameworks +were empty in the moonlight. But such an idea as that his victims +could escape never for an instant came into his mind. The whole +neighbourhood was under the thumb of his brutal lord, and he knew that +no one would interfere to save a friend from U Saw's hand, much less a +pair of strangers and foreigners. + +Thrice he shouted his threats and warnings to the empty cages, and he +judged that the silence meant stubborn resolution not to be conquered. +Then, with his own hand, he pulled the cord which should have stripped +the net from Jack. + +"Now the father will give way," thought the half-caste, and strained +his ears to catch a sound of yielding from Thomas Haydon. + +When never a sound was heard, the half-caste played what he thought +would be his trump card. He ordered a Kachin to dart down, and cut the +gag loose from Jack's mouth. Saya Chone counted for certain that the +son's moans of agony would be too much for the father to stand, and +that the latter would give way. But in an instant the nimble blue-kilt +was back, his face full of a surprise beyond description. + +"The white men have gone," he gasped. + +"Gone!" screamed Saya Chone, and he rushed down the slope waving a +smoking bough about his head. A glance at the prisons told him that +the man's words were true, and for a second he stared in stupefied +amazement at the severed bonds before he rushed back up the slope. He +ran at full speed to the place where U Saw was placidly chewing betel +and waiting the upshot of the affair. The Ruby King was fearfully +incensed at the idea that anyone had dared to meddle with the +prisoners, and both he and the half-caste breathed the most furious +threats of torture and death against all concerned in the affair. That +they would re-capture Jack and his father they did not doubt for an +instant. The fugitives must be somewhere in the valley, and within an +hour they had a hundred men threading every path and searching every +corner of the vale. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE HIDING-PLACE AND THE THIEF. + + +Jack and his father spent the night safely stowed behind the great +earthen jars on the loft. Stretched out on a heap of soft, dried +grass, they slept and watched in turns, for it was not safe for both +to go to sleep at once. + +At break of day the woman brought them a meal, and they ate and drank, +and Jack gave her a few rupees. A couple of hours after dawn they +heard a movement below and saw a sight which they welcomed gladly. The +loft stood upon a dozen wooden supports raised six or seven feet from +the ground. It had no window, but, upon moving the dried grass aside, +they could peep through the chinks in the floor of logs. Peering +cautiously down, they saw a yellow umbrella, and presently that was +laid aside as the _pothoodaw_ seated himself in shade of the loft and +began busily to recite his prayers. + +When these were ended he sat to all appearance absorbed in profound +meditation. But had anyone been near enough, they would have found +that a busy whispered conversation was going on between the +_pothoodaw_ and those hidden in the loft above his head. + +For half an hour the holy man sat there, then went his way. But in +that time Jack and his father had learned much of deep interest to +them. Me Dain told them that Buck and Jim Dent were now camped in a +lonely place among the hills near upon twenty miles away, awaiting the +Burman's return. The latter had been sent in disguise to U Saw's +village to pick up what information he could, and had only just +arrived when Jack saw him on the edge of the slope above the swamp. He +told them he would stay in the neighbourhood and watch for a +favourable moment to make a start for the camp where their friends +awaited them. + +For two days the fugitives lay in hiding under the care of the native +woman and in perfect safety. They proved once more the truth of the +old adage that "the nearer to danger the nearer to safety." U Saw and +Saya Chone urged the pursuit with the most savage eagerness. They +searched every corner of the great swamp, every cane-brake, every +patch of forest, every nook, and every corner. They had a cordon of +sentinels drawn round the valley, patrolling day and night, so that no +one could slip through their hands. But it never occurred to them for +an instant to search a cottage lying almost beneath the walls of the +Ruby King's stronghold, a hut so slight that it seemed incapable of +concealing anything. + +Another piece of luck greatly befriended them. + +On the day that they were tied up at the edge of the swamp, one of U +Saw's retainers had been cruelly flogged for some misdemeanour. The +man had deserted the same night, and was never heard of again. The +idea at once got abroad that it was he who had released the prisoners +in order to spite the Ruby King, and had guided them out of the +country. + +Then, on the third night, the luck of the Haydons came to an end, and +their hiding-place was hit upon in a very odd fashion, a fashion which +could not have been foreseen or guarded against. It was about +midnight, and Jack had the watch, for one or other stood on guard all +the time. He sat with his back against a great post which ran from +ground to ridge-pole, and, without the least warning, he felt that it +was shaking very slightly. + +In an instant Jack was on the alert. He could not hear the faintest +sound, but the post still trembled, and Jack felt certain that +something or someone was climbing up it. In a few moments he was +certain of this, for he heard faint rustlings on the reed roof as if +someone was moving about. He stretched out his hand and shook his +father gently. Mr. Haydon woke at once. He made no sound, only shook +Jack's arm in return to let his son know that he was on the alert. + +The rustling on the roof grew a little louder. The thatch was being +torn aside, but so cautiously, so cleverly, that the two watching +below could only catch the sound by listening intently. Suddenly the +stars flashed upon them. A hole had already been made above them, and +in this hole they saw the head of a native against the sky. + +They remained perfectly still and silent, and watched the hole grow. +Silently, deftly, the midnight marauder plucked handful after handful +of the reed thatch away and enlarged the opening. Both of those below +who watched him, had grasped by this time what it all meant. This was +no man in the pay of U Saw, who suspected a hiding-place; it was just +a common thief, pure and simple, who had an eye to nothing save the +widow's paddy. Believing that she was alone and defenceless in the +house, he had come to plunder her loft. + +But, whatever his motive, the risk to the Haydons remained the same. +In another moment he would drop among them and infallibly discover +their presence. Then his outcries would arouse the village and their +capture would be certain. + +Very, very slowly the thief slipped his legs in at the hole, which was +now big enough to admit him, and began to slide downwards. As Jack +watched the rogue gently drop upon them, he felt for a second his +father's hand laid upon his throat, and he understood; the man was to +be seized and choked into silence; nothing else remained for them to +do. + +Inch by inch the rascal slipped down. So cunning was he that he made +less noise than a mouse moving among the dried grass, and, without +doubt, he thought that he was carrying out his raid finely, and would +make the widow's store of rice smart for it. + +The thief loosed his hold upon the rafter of the roof by which he +hung, and his long, slender, naked body, bare but for his waist-cloth, +dropped as a great snake might drop between Jack and his father. Mr. +Haydon made one clutch, and closed his fingers in a tremendous +throttling grip about the rogue's neck. Jack caught him by the arms. + +A most extraordinary struggle followed. The fellow was like an eel, +and it proved a task of the greatest difficulty to hold him and keep +him from getting loose and raising a disturbance. He was like an eel +not only in his marvellous agility, his twists, his feints, his +wriggling, but in his actual bodily slipperiness. The cunning rascal +had smeared his naked body from head to foot with oil, so that, if +seized, he could the more easily wriggle out of the hands of his +captors. + +How clever a device this was Jack learned to his great surprise. The +arms he seized were whipped out of his clutch as if he was trying to +lay hold of quicksilver. He grabbed something which proved to be a +leg. A swift jerk, and his fingers slipped off the greasy limb. +Finally he settled the matter by throwing both arms round the slim, +bare waist, and closing upon the rogue with a bear's hug which drove +the breath out of the thief's body. + +Together they threw the man upon the dried grass, and Mr. Haydon, who +had made his hold good by locking his fingers about the fellow's +windpipe, now eased his grip a little so that the man could breathe. + +Suddenly a light flashed upon this scene of fierce but silent +struggle. The woman herself had been aroused from her couch in the +room below, had lighted a small lamp, and climbed the rude steps to +the loft. + +Mr. Haydon turned his head, saw her, and snapped out a single word. +She set down her lamp, disappeared, and was back in an instant with a +long strip of cloth in her hand. Mr. Haydon took this, and soon +whipped a gag round the mouth of the intruder, while Jack held him +down. In response to another whispered request of Mr. Haydon's, the +woman fetched a length of cord, and in two minutes the thief was bound +hand and foot. Then father and son got up and stood looking down at +their captive, who stared sullenly up at them from his dark eyes. + +"If this isn't a confounded fix," murmured Mr. Haydon. "Why should +this thieving rogue choose us to drop in on, of all people?" + +"The unprotected house drew him, I expect," replied Jack. + +"Ah, true," returned his father. "I wonder, though, if he had any +accomplices." + +He turned and spoke to the woman, and she at once blew out the lamp. + +"The light in any case is dangerous as likely to attract attention," +whispered Mr. Haydon. "Now, listen." + +They listened intently for some time, but there was not the faintest +sound of any movement in the neighbourhood. + +"I hope to goodness this rascal was working by himself," went on Mr. +Haydon, "and no one knew what he was about. We don't want a companion +peering in to see what has happened to him." + +[Illustration: THE MIDNIGHT THIEF.] + +"What under the sun are we going to do with him, father?" whispered +Jack. + +"We must leave him tied up here and run for it," replied Mr. Haydon. +"I see nothing else that we can do." + +"Nor I," replied Jack; "and the sooner we march the better. We don't +know that there was not someone outside to help him carry off the +spoil, and the accomplice may have learned of our presence." + +"You are right, Jack," said his father. + +"But there is Me Dain, we must pick him up," pursued Jack. "Without +him we do not know where to strike. How can we get hold of him?" + +"The woman will be of service there," said his father. "She is our +only hope." + +He spoke with the native woman for a few moments, then gave a whistle +of satisfaction below his breath. + +"She knows where he is lodging, and thinks she can rouse him without +disturbing anyone else," whispered Mr. Haydon; "at any rate, she is +going to try." + +The woman shuffled down the steps, and was gone in an instant. + +"We may as well go down and be ready for a move," murmured Mr. Haydon, +"but we'll try this chap's knots first." + +They examined the bound thief, and made certain that he could not +easily shuffle out of his bonds, then they went down to the main room +of the hut and posted themselves near the door. + +The time they waited seemed never-ending. In reality it was not more +than twenty minutes. But when they feared that every sound would see +an alarm raised upon them and their escape hopelessly cut off, every +minute seemed an hour. + +Jack had his eye at a huge crack in the door, and to his immense +relief he made out at last a couple of figures approaching the house +under the dim shade of the trees. + +"Here they are," he breathed. "She's brought it off all right. I can +make out Me Dain." + +Two seconds later the Burman shot into the hut with a stealthy, +noiseless glide. + +"Come on," he said. "Not stop at all. She tell me everything." + +Away they went at once, Me Dain leading the way, with Jack and his +father close behind. The Burman dodged round the corner of the hut, +and struck at once into a hard well-trodden path which was at once +swallowed up in the thick shade of a close-set grove of bamboos. It +was a path leading to a pagoda much frequented by the villagers, and +would show no sign by which they might be tracked on the morrow. Me +Dain had made himself familiar with the ins and outs of the place, and +he marched forward with a swift and assured step. Luckily, the hut +stood right on the outskirts of the village, and in a few moments they +were out of sight of any house, and when they turned aside from the +path to the pagoda they soon left behind all sign of human presence. + +As they crossed a little clearing, Jack thought he heard a soft +footfall in their rear. He turned, and saw, to his surprise, that the +native woman was a short distance behind them, with her child in her +arms. + +"Why," said Jack, "the woman of the hut is following us." + +"Yes," replied Me Dain. "She must come, sahib. If U Saw catch her, he +burn her alive for hiding you." + +"Likely enough, the unspeakable brute," murmured Mr. Haydon. "We must +put the poor woman in a place of safety, Me Dain. We owe her a great +deal." + +"She not want to stop in that place, anyhow, sahib," replied the +Burman. "She belong to a village over the hills. She want to go back, +now her husband is dead." + +"Oh, very good," said Mr. Haydon. "We'll put her right if we have the +chance." + +"Yes, yes," said Jack. "She's been a good staunch friend to us, the +same as you, Me Dain." + +"Very true, Jack," said Mr. Haydon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE FLIGHT FROM THE VALLEY. + + +They now went a couple of miles in silence, keeping a sharp look-out +on every hand. But they gained the foot of the hills which encircled +the valley without seeing or hearing anything which might promise +danger. + +With Me Dain still in the van, they climbed steadily up a steep slope +and over a rocky saddle between two peaks which lifted sharp points +against the starry sky. + +As they gained the saddle, Jack whispered sharply: "Stop, Me Dain, +what's this? I smell something." + +"Me too," said the Burman, snuffing cautiously. "There is a fire +somewhere ahead." + +"A fire," said Mr. Haydon. "We must take care. Who have lighted it, +and what are they doing in a lonely spot like this?" + +A dozen steps again and the questions were answered. They cleared a +little ridge and saw, two or three hundred yards ahead, a great +glowing patch of red where a big fire blazed up, and figures moved to +and fro about it. + +"A watch-fire," said Jack. "We'd better dodge back. Luckily they're up +wind." + +The fugitives retreated until the fire was hidden from their view by a +great rock, then put their heads closely together to whisper to each +other. + +"Watchmen," said Me Dain; "they are watchmen keeping guard over the +path which runs out of the valley towards the hills." + +"Then those cunning villains have set a watch over every road," +murmured Mr. Haydon. "Do you know of any way to get out without +following a path, Me Dain, any way by which we can clamber over the +hills?" + +"No, sahib, I do not," replied the Burman; "but here is the woman who +has lived ten years in the valley. I will ask her." + +For a couple of minutes Me Dain and the native woman held a whispered +conversation, then the Burman breathed a deep sigh of relief. + +"She can take us out of the valley, sahibs. She can lead us by a way, +very rough and hard to follow, but very little used, where they would +not trouble to set a guard. But we cannot follow it in the darkness. +She will take us to the mouth of the pass, and there we must wait for +daylight." + +"Good, good," said Jack in a cheerful whisper, "we'll dodge these +fellows after all. What luck that the woman marched with us!" + +The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a fierce yelping and +snarling broke out not forty yards away, and the sound swiftly +approached them. + +"Confound it all, a dog, a dog!" growled Mr. Haydon. + +In another instant the animal was leaping and bounding within two or +three yards of them, snarling savagely, and then making the hill-side +ring with its piercing barks. It belonged to one of the guards, and +had been prowling about in search of food when it caught the scent of +the fugitives. + +"This way, this way, sahibs," cried Me Dain in low, eager tones. +"Quick, quick, the men sure to come to see why the dog make a noise." + +"Sure to, for a certainty," groaned Mr. Haydon. "Well, we must run for +it." + +Away they hurried as fast as the darkness would permit, and the +wretched cur hung on their heels, yelping and barking without pause, +and thus guiding the guards straight to their prey. + +"We must stop this brute's mouth or we are utterly done for," said +Jack. At that instant he stumbled over a large stone. He bent, picked +it up, and turned round. Four or five yards behind them, and plainly +to be marked by its eyes shining green in the darkness, was the dog, +which, by its mere power of drawing enemies upon them, was, at the +moment, the most terrible enemy of all. + +For a second Jack hung on his aim, the heavy stone poised high in his +right hand. Then he hurled it with all his force. Crash! He heard the +missile strike the brute with a heavy thud. The dog gave one last +frightful yelp of pain, then dropped and lay silent Whether the beast +was dead or only stunned Jack did not know, nor did he care. He knew +that he had silenced the miserable cur, and that was all he wished. + +Enough harm had been done already. A bunch of dancing lights now shot +into view, and he saw them borne swiftly on. The watchmen, carrying +torches, were running to the spot where the dog had given the alarm. + +Jack now caught up his friends with a few swift strides, and all the +party hurried on, the woman leading the way and guiding them. + +"Well done, Jack," murmured his father. "Well done, my lad. If you +hadn't put a stop to that brute's yelping, he'd have brought those +fellows on us as straight as they could run. Now they've got to look +for us in the dark, and that's a very different affair." + +"Do you think they'll pick up our trail from the spot where they find +the dog?" asked Jack. + +"Oh, no," said Mr. Haydon, "not easily. The ground is hard, and +running a line by torchlight is a very different thing from running it +by daylight. I hope to goodness we can make good headway before the +dawn, for with the first peep of day they'll be after us as fast as +they can lay foot to ground." + +At this moment both looked back and saw the plump of torches come to a +stand. The watchmen had reached the spot where Jack had struck down +the dog, and, through the silence of the night, the eager, excited +voices of the Kachins could plainly be heard as they debated hotly +about the dog's fate, and what it meant. + +Then the bunch of lights scattered and began to flicker here and +there. The guards were looking for the trail of those who had struck +down the dog. On and on ran the fugitives, and soon Jack saw that his +father had been right about the difficulties of tracking by +torchlight. The points of fire behind them became more and more +scattered, and not one came on or followed them. Then they turned the +shoulder of a hill, and all was darkness and silence once more. + +It wanted an hour of daylight when they came to the mouth of the pass +by which they were to escape through the ring of hills which encircled +the valley. + +"Must wait now," said Me Dain. "She say no man can go through the pass +unless he can see the way." + +"Are we to lose time, Me Dain?" said Jack. "Can't we creep on slowly +and make a little headway?" + +The Burman talked again to the woman, but she was most emphatic in +declaring that nothing could be done until the day broke; so they +crouched in silence under lee of a great boulder until the first faint +bars of light began to show in the east. + +As soon as it was possible to see a yard or so before them the march +began. The woman led the way, with her sleeping child in her arms, Me +Dain followed her closely, and Jack and his father brought up the +rear. + +They soon saw why daylight had been needed for the task of escaping +from the valley by this road. Their way lay through a narrow pass +which ran through a deep cleft of the mountains, a cleft which seemed +as though it had been carved out by a blow of a Titanic axe. There +was scarcely a yard of the narrow path upon which a step could be +taken smoothly and easily. For ages upon ages the forces of nature had +been tearing huge boulders and slices of rock from the frowning +heights above, and toppling them into this crevice between the +mountains. Thus the way was littered with huge stones, over which they +climbed, between which they threaded their way, down which they often +slid and scrambled as best they could. + +For some hours they toiled steadily along this wild, rocky gorge, then +a halt was called to rest and breathe. The native woman, a lithe, +nimble creature, was as little discomposed by the hard, rough march as +any of them, although she carried her child, nor would she allow +anyone to help her with her burden. + +Their breathing space was but short. They had halted on a ridge which +commanded a big stretch of the country they had crossed. Jack was +seated on the ground, with his back to the wall of rock behind them. +Suddenly he sprang to his feet. He looked steadily for a moment down +the pass, then he said quietly, "We are pursued." + +Mr. Haydon had stretched himself at full length on the ground to rest. +Hearing those words from his son, he leapt also to his feet and looked +eagerly in the direction to which Jack's outstretched finger was +pointed. Far away a patch of the pass lay in sunlight. For the most +part the narrow cleft through the hills lay in gloomy shadow of the +precipices which bordered it on either hand, but the climbing sun +shot pencils of light here and there into the deep rift. Across one of +these sunny patches a line of tiny figures was streaming. Only for a +moment were they visible. They crossed the field of light, then +vanished into the huddle of rocks which littered the foot of the pass. + +"Fifteen," said Jack, as the last of them disappeared. + +Mr. Haydon whistled sharply and nodded. + +"We've travelled fast, Jack," said he, with a troubled brow, "but +these hard-bitten, wiry, little mountaineers have travelled faster. We +must put our best foot foremost. It will be fatal to be caught in this +narrow gully between the rocks. They will get round us and rush us +from all sides at once." + +"I thought we'd got a much better start than this," said Jack. + +"So did I," replied his father, "but it has turned out otherwise." + +Me Dain's words were short but to the point. + +"Kachins!" he cried. "Come on," and pushed ahead with the woman, who +was off like a deer at the first hint of danger. + +"How far to the end of the pass, Me Dain?" called Mr. Haydon. + +"Not more than two miles, sahib," replied the Burman. + +"Good," said Jack, "if we can only clear the pass we may find some +means of throwing them off. In the pass they have us tight between the +walls." + +"That's it, Jack," returned his father, and then they hurried over the +wild broken track in silence. + +Half a mile farther on Jack pointed forward. "Hallo!" he said, +"here's another of those roads built along the precipice. I hope it +will be a bit sounder than the last." + +In another moment they arrived at a stretch of the path where the road +was carried in mid-air over a deep chasm in the bed of the pass. They +had already passed two such places, and at each point the road was +constructed in the same manner. Holes had been cut horizontally in the +sheer face of the precipice and huge beams driven into them. About six +feet of each beam was left projecting from the hole, and upon these +outstanding bars, smaller beams were laid parallel to the face of the +rock. The earth had been heaped on all, and the result was a narrow +road running along the cliff like a shelf. + +The last they had passed had been very rotten, and Me Dain had gone +through one hole up to his arm-pits. He had only been saved from a +fall into the yawning gulf below by the promptness of Jack, who had +flung himself on his knees and whipped his hands under the Burman's +arms, and held him up. Warned by this misadventure, they moved slowly +and carefully along the narrow track which now lay before them. + +"Take care, take care," said Mr. Haydon, "this road is worse than the +others. We must go in single file. These beams will not take any great +weight." + +They spread themselves out in a line, with a yard or more between each +person, and went gingerly forward. + +The truth was, that hundreds of years before, when some native ruler +had gone to immense trouble and labour to build these roads, the pass +had been an important highway. But a tremendous land-slide had blocked +a portion of the pass, and swept away a number of the wooden roads, +and the way had fallen into disuse. Since then the vast beams of teak +which formed the road-bed had been slowly crumbling into decay, and +many were very insecure. + +As Jack brought up the rear of the little procession, he kept his eyes +fixed on the road at his feet, and this for two reasons. One, to avoid +the rotten places, and the other, because to look around from a +roadway six feet wide into the yawning gulf which gaped beside him was +very dizzying. + +Suddenly he heard a scream from the native woman who guided them. He +looked ahead at once, but could not see her. The little procession was +now winding its way round an acute angle of the cliff about which the +road had bent sharply. The woman was out of sight; Me Dain was +disappearing. Mr. Haydon quickened his steps, and Jack hurried on too. +What had that scream meant? It had not been loud, but low and full of +awful terror. What lay beyond the angle? + +Jack turned the corner and saw, and his brown face blanched as he saw +the frightful corner into which circumstances had driven them. Ten +yards beyond the angle, the road ended abruptly, broken short off. +Whether the beams had given way and fallen into the chasm, or whether +an avalanche of rocks had beaten the road into ruins, they knew not, +nor did it matter. What mattered was this, that fifty yards beyond +them the road had again joined the solid bed of the pass, and that now +along that fifty yards nothing was left save here and there a broken +stump of teak standing out from the face of the precipice. Nothing +without wings could pass over the wide space where the road had been +stripped from the cliff. + +For a moment no one could speak. They could only stare aghast at the +gulf beside and before them, at the little strip of road broken off +short and square at their feet. How were they to pass this frightful, +yawning abyss? + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +PENNED IN THE PASS. + + +"What's to be done now, father," said Jack in a low, quick voice; "the +road's clean gone. We're trapped." + +Both stepped forward and looked over the edge of the sheer descent +where the road ended. A broad torrent foamed along fifty feet below. +The side of the precipice fell away to the stream as smooth as a wall. +It rose above them just as smooth. No way up or down. They saw that in +an instant. + +"Better go back and try another way," said Mr. Haydon. "Ask her, Me +Dain." + +A few swift words passed between the Burman and the native woman. Then +the guide shook his head soberly. There was no other way that she knew +of. + +Jack stepped back to the angle and peered carefully round it. "The +Kachins are coming," he said. + +The shelf-road had risen as it ran along the precipice, and from this +point he could see a long way down the pass. He saw the bunch of +pursuers sweep into sight and race up the pass. His father joined him +at once. + +"They would see us now if we went back," said Mr. Haydon. "What on +earth are we to do, Jack?" + +Jack knit his brows in perplexity, but made no answer. He could not +see what to answer. Behind them a band of savage and determined +enemies; before them a gulf over which none but a bird could pass. + +"We're in a frightful fix," he murmured at last. + +"Frightful," rejoined his father. "I give you my word that I see no +way out." + +"Nor I, father," said Jack. "It seems to me that all we can do is to +try to hold them off at this corner." + +"But how?" asked Mr. Haydon. + +"The road's fearfully rotten just at the bend," said Jack. "I think we +could break it down pretty easily. It trembled and shook as I passed +over it." + +"I see," returned his father, "break the road down and keep them from +rushing us. But what of ourselves? How will it advantage us to be +isolated on a patch of road, stuck against the face of the cliff like +a swallow's nest against a wall?" + +"Frankly, I don't know, father," replied Jack. "I simply put that +forward as the only means I can see of gaining a slight respite. +Otherwise they will be among us and cut our throats in short order." + +"Or make us captives, which would be a long sight worse," said Mr. +Haydon. "Well, Jack, we'll give ourselves an hour or two longer to +look at the sun. Down goes the road!" + +The three men sprang to the task at once. First, with their hands, +they scraped away the earth, which was very thin on the face of many +of the beams. When this was removed, there was exposed to sight the +flooring of small beams laid lengthways across the big beams which +jutted from the rock. From this flooring each selected the soundest +stick he could find. + +Jack was lucky in dropping across a bit of teak in capital +preservation, a bar eight feet long, four inches square, and as hard +as iron. With this he began to batter at the rotten patch of roadway +where the angle of the cliff was turned, and a few strokes on the +rotten timbers served to tumble them headlong into the raging torrent +below. His father and Me Dain were hard at work beside him, and in a +very few minutes they had broken away the softest part of the road, +leaving a ragged gap fifteen feet wide, just at the turn. + +They made the last strokes at the outer side in the very face of their +enemies. When they withdrew to the shelter of the inner angle, the +racing Kachins were not a hundred yards away. In another moment the +fugitives heard their pursuers gather close at hand. The little men in +blue were now only a few yards away, clustered about the farther edge +of the gap, and chattering to each other in a very excited fashion. + +Me Dain listened intently. "They make a bridge," he whispered. + +"Ay, ay," returned Mr. Haydon. "Drop a few sticks across and come at +us." + +Jack gripped his stout bar of teak as a plan flashed into his mind. He +crept forward inch by inch until he was on the verge of the gap they +had torn in the road. Yet all the time a friendly rib of rock at the +projecting angle of the precipice protected him from the long +iron-barrelled muzzle-loaders carried by U Saw's retainers. + +The expert hands of the Kachins made short work of tearing up a number +of small beams. Jack heard them dragging the timbers forward, and he +poised his bar. A beam was flung across, and a second almost at once +fell beside it. Out darted Jack's bar, and both were hurled into the +chasm. + +The Kachins gave a yell of anger, and threw the next beam across at +the outer angle, as far as possible from the face of the cliff. But +Jack could just reach it, and that, too, he thrust into space. Again +and again they tried to make for themselves a footbridge by which the +gap could be crossed, but every time Jack's ready bar foiled their +purpose completely. There was a still louder yell of anger from the +savage little men as the last beam they had torn up was hurled from +its place. Then for a few moments there was a respite. The fugitives +could hear them draw off to a short distance and hold a conference in +low murmurs. Jack now looked round at his companions. His father and +Me Dain were close behind him. The native woman, her child closely +clasped to her breast, was watching his every movement, her face +filled with mingled feelings of fear and hope. + +"Well done, Jack!" murmured his father. "You've been one too many for +them at that game." + +The Burman now crept forward, and thrust his head as far as he dared +round the angle. The voices of the Kachins had risen in eager debate, +and many of their words could be caught. Me Dain listened intently. In +a few moments he turned his head, and there was a very puzzled look on +his face. + +"They are--they are," he began, then stopped. Clearly his English +could not bear him out this time. He said a few words in Burmese to +Mr. Haydon. + +"They are casting lots," said the latter to Jack. + +"What for, I wonder?" said Jack. "Seems a queer thing." + +"They're a queer little crew," returned his father. "As savage and +blood-thirsty as so many ferrets. We shall soon see." + +Within five minutes they did see, and the event proved how desperate +an enemy they had to deal with. + +Me Dain had retired, and Jack had once more taken up his place beside +the gap, his bar in his hands, and his ears strained to catch the +faintest sound made by those who beleaguered the little party. + +Lucky for them was it that he kept so close a watch. For there was a +sudden patter of feet beyond the gap, and then a figure with flying +kilt, and fierce, dark face flashed into sight. Upon this Kachin had +the lot fallen to leap the gap and lead an attack on the fugitives. +Had not Jack's bar been ready, the fiery mountaineer would have been +among them, with his gleaming _dah_ poised for the stroke. + +But even as he landed, his splendid bound carrying him a couple of +feet over the edge, the heavy bar shot out and caught him a tremendous +butting blow, full in the chest. He reeled, staggered, and his _dah_ +flew from his hands, as he made a frantic clutch at the bar. For a +second he struggled to make his foothold good on the brink of the +abyss, but failed. He dropped back and vanished into the gulf without +a sound. + +Jack recovered his bar, and waited with a stern, grim face for the +next attack. It was a life and death struggle now, and it was his duty +to guard the gap. Mr. Haydon caught up the _dah_ which had flown from +the hand of the Kachin, and swung it with a deep guttural sound of +satisfaction. Me Dain had his great knife in his hand. + +For some time there was complete silence among their enemies. The +terrible fall of the man who had been chosen by lot to lead the way, +seemed to teach them a little caution. But it had not the smallest +effect in the direction of quelling their desire to come to close +quarters with the fugitives. The Kachin is utterly too careless of +human life, whether his own or another's, for that. + +Half an hour passed before a fresh assault was made. The minutes +dragged by with horrible slowness to those who awaited their fate on +the isolated patch of ledge. + +Then, with no more warning of their approach than the patter of naked +feet on the earthen path, a second assault was made in the same +fashion. Again a Kachin leapt into sight, but farther out, and so more +out of reach of the bar. His hands were empty, too, and as Jack +stepped forward and thrust at him, he clutched the end of the bar. +This he did just as he alighted, and, dropping on his feet as nimbly +as a cat, he strove to turn the bar aside. Swift upon his heels three +more Kachins came, clearing the gulf and landing in safety, while +their comrade and Jack struggled for mastery of the bar. + +Upon the instant the tiny ledge was filled with the fury of a +desperate combat. Mr. Haydon sprang out and cut down the second +Kachin, as he ran forward to strike at Jack with his heavy weapon. The +third attacked the Burman, and the fourth closed with Mr. Haydon, +their heavy swords clashing together as they slashed fiercely at each +other. + +Jack had no eyes for any but his own enemy. The Kachin, perched as he +was on the very brink of a horrible abyss, fought as coolly as +possible to master the bar and avoid the swift thrusts by which at +every second Jack threatened to drive him over the edge. + +Suddenly the Kachin gave way and dropped flat. Jack thought his enemy +was disposed of, but the shifty mountaineer had only fallen along the +lip of the gulf to dodge the powerful strokes delivered by the English +lad. With a swift movement the Kachin rolled under the bar, and then +was up like lightning and rushing on Jack, a long dagger, plucked from +his girdle, in his hand. + +Jack had no weapon but his fists, but with these he sprang to meet the +savage, blue-kilted figure. Taking advantage of his longer reach, he +let fly with his right fist. The Kachin was clearly no boxer, for +though he raised his left arm, Jack's fist went straight through the +feeble guard and landed full between his opponent's eyes. This shook +the Kachin so much that the vicious knife-thrust he launched went wide +of its mark, and at the next moment Jack closed with him and tried to +wrench the knife from his grasp. + +But though the Kachin was no boxer, he was a wrestler of uncommon +power and skill, and Jack felt the little man seize upon him with an +iron clutch. To and fro they swung on the horrible, dizzying edge, +each straining every nerve and muscle to free himself from his enemy's +clutch and fling his opponent into the torrent which roared and foamed +far below. + +Locked in this clinging embrace, they stumbled and fell headlong, +still bound together by that straining clutch. They were now actually +hanging with heads over the brink of the gulf, and the uproar of the +rushing waters below sounded loud in Jack's ears. Suddenly he felt +that they were both going over, slowly but steadily. The Kachin was no +longer trying to master his foe. So that his enemy went, he was +willing to fall with him. He was now driving his heels into the +roadway, and, with all the force of the iron muscles packed in his +compact body, was trying to force himself and Jack over the brink. + +Before Jack had mastered his meaning, the pair were head and shoulders +clear of the last beam, and the Kachin was working his way outwards +and downwards, inch by inch. Jack made a terrific effort and hurled +himself backwards. He gained a few of the lost inches, and felt his +shoulders against the edge of the beam. Getting a purchase, he strove +to raise himself and fling the Kachin off. In vain. The arms were +closed around him in a powerful grip, the savage face within a few +inches of his own was working convulsively with hate and rage, and the +Kachin now was blind to everything save the desire of destroying the +white man. + +Another twist and turn in the desperate life-and-death wrestle, and +Jack's face was turned towards the opposite side of the gulf. But this +was only to show him that a new danger hung over him with fearful +menace. He looked straight down a gun-barrel. On the farther brink +knelt one of his enemies, a long-barrelled muzzle-loader in his hands. +He was leaning across with the evident purpose of firing a heavy iron +bullet into Jack's brain. Yet, though beset with death on every hand, +Jack struggled on gamely. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +HOW THEY MADE A ROPE. + + +"He may miss," muttered the plucky English lad to himself. "Anyhow, +I'm not going to let this chap chuck me over here if I can help it." + +At this moment an unexpected diversion was made in his favour. The +native woman had crouched stolidly in rear of the combat, until she +saw the Kachin about to empty his weapon into his English foe. Now she +rose swiftly to her feet, a heavy stone in her right hand. Just as the +Kachin was crooking his finger on the trigger she hurled it with all +her force. + +It proved the luckiest of shots. The missile struck the stooping man +square on the top of his head and caused him to start violently. As he +did so the jet of smoke and flame spurted from the long barrel and the +bullet sped. But not in the direction he had intended. The muzzle of +the piece was jerked a foot aside, and the wrestler received the +charge full in his body. He gave a convulsive start, then his arm fell +limp, and Jack was free. + +Up he sprang, aflame to see what was happening with his father and Me +Dain. Long as his own struggle had seemed, it had only been a matter +of seconds, and Mr. Haydon and the fourth Kachin were still engaged in +fierce sword play. Me Dain and the third man had closed in savage +wrestle, and were trying to find each other's heart with their knives. + +Jack whipped up the bar with the speed of thought, and dropped it on +the head of the man with whom his father was engaged. Down went the +Kachin, stunned and helpless. But at that very instant a wild scream +went up from the two struggling figures close at hand. Jack turned his +head to see the last flutter of their garments. The rotten foothold +had given way beneath them, and, held fast in each other's clutch, +they had fallen headlong into the deeps below. Jack and his father +were about to leap forward to see the last of their faithful guide, +when a musket cracked and a bullet flew by their heads. They sprang +back into cover and looked at each other. + +"We have lost Me Dain!" cried Jack. "Brave fellow, he has gone, +fighting to the last." + +Mr. Haydon nodded gloomily. "It is a cruel, bad business for all of +us," he said. + +A profound silence now fell upon the little battlefield. The remaining +Kachins made no further attempt at an assault. Jack peered out very +cautiously to see what they were doing, and was surprised to see them +drawing off. His father joined him, and they watched the mountaineers +retire to the point where the shelf-road began. Here they squatted on +the ground, lighted their pipes, and calmly smoked, motionless as the +rocks around them. + +"There are two short," said Jack, after counting them. + +"Yes," returned his father, "they have been despatched for +reinforcements, and to give word that we have been discovered. Their +friends are on guard." + +At this moment the Kachin whom Jack had felled with the bar began to +move. Jack was upon him in a moment, whipping off his girdle, and +tying him hand and foot with stout strips of it. Mr. Haydon now began +to talk with the native woman. As a rule he had preferred to speak +with her through Me Dain, for her dialect contained many words +unfamiliar to him. But now Me Dain, their stout-hearted, faithful +guide, was gone, and it seemed as if no great interval could elapse +before their fate, too, would be settled. + +The woman had brought a small store of food with her. She ate, and +offered some to her companions. But they would not touch it, though +hunger was gnawing keenly at them. + +Mr. Haydon sat down with his back against the cliff, but Jack could +not keep still. He moved restlessly to and fro on their narrow patch, +and glanced into the depths on every side. Was there nothing to be +done? Must they wait idly here until their enemies were strong enough +to rush them in overwhelming force? + +Jack had gone to the farthest point of their refuge, and was lying at +full length with his head over the edge of the last beam. He was +staring into the wild foaming torrent, when an inequality in the face +of the descending cliff caught his eye. He looked intently, and saw +that some fifteen feet above the river a narrow ledge ran horizontally +along the cliff. He followed the ledge with his eye. It ran down +towards the river, narrowed, and disappeared. He raised his head and +called his father. Mr. Haydon was by his side in a moment. Jack +pointed out the ledge. + +"If we could drop on to that," he said, "we might get away up the pass +after all." + +"I'm afraid there's not much of a chance there," returned his father. +"The ledge shelves away to the river. But in any case, how are we +going to descend a precipice as smooth as glass? It's a good +five-and-thirty feet down to that point." + +Jack bit his lip in perplexity for a moment. Then his brow cleared, as +a sudden idea slipped into his mind. + +"We'll make a rope," he said. "There's stout stuff in these fellows' +kilts and jackets," and he pointed to the Kachins lying near at hand. + +Mr. Haydon slapped his son on the shoulder. "Good for you, Jack, my +boy!" he cried. "We'll have a try at it." + +He spoke a few words to the native woman, and she laid her child down +and sprang at once to help. She proved by far the deftest and +cleverest of the three at the task now to be performed. Jack and his +father quickly stripped off belt, jacket, girdle, and turban from the +fallen Kachins, and their clothes were tossed over to the woman. With +a small, sharp knife which she produced from the little basket in +which she had carried her food, she swiftly cut up kilts and jackets, +while the other two knotted together turbans and girdles. Half an +hour's hard work saw the heap of clothing converted into a stout, +well-knotted rope. Jack took a glance at the men on guard. They were +still seated at the end of the shelf-road, smoking calmly, and +confident that their prey could not escape them. Jack now tied a heavy +stone at the end of the rope and let it down. The stone slid along the +face of the precipice and rested on the ledge. Nine or ten feet of +their rope were still unpaid out. + +"Plenty long enough," said Jack, and they hauled the rope up quickly. + +The woman and her child were, of course, sent down first. With a broad +strip of the strong home-spun the child was bound on its mother's +breast, so that she might at least have one hand free to hold herself +steady as she was lowered. At the end of the rope they made a broad +loop, and this was drawn tight about her body. When all was ready, she +slipped over the edge of the abyss with all the coolness and bravery +of her race, and the strong hands began to lower her. Foot by foot she +slid down the face of the cliff, and at last those above felt the +strain upon their muscles suddenly relieved. The woman was safely on +the ledge. + +They now made the rope secure around the outer beam, which, luckily, +was fairly sound. The Kachin who was their prisoner was shouting and +yelling at the full pitch of his voice to warn his comrades that the +fugitives were escaping. His dark eyes snapped and glittered with +fury. He cared not what danger he brought upon himself if he could +but warn his friends. Jack and Mr. Haydon took no notice whatever of +the man's clamour. A hundred voices would have been drowned in the +hoarse roar of the torrent which thundered below. + +"I'll go down now, father," said Jack, "and hold the rope steady for +you." He slipped over the side and was gone. Hand below hand he swung +himself swiftly down the rope, and was on the ledge in a few moments. +He held the rope steady, and Mr. Haydon descended in safety. + +They left the rope where it hung, and crept forward along the narrow +ledge. Jack led the way, the woman came next, and Mr. Haydon brought +up the rear. There was very little room on the ledge, but it was sound +and smooth. It had clearly been made by the river eating away the +softer rock in times of flood. It descended gently towards the stream, +and within thirty yards it broke short off. The river was now not more +than five feet below, and Jack bent and looked into it. Then he swung +himself off the ledge, and dropped into the stream with a cry of +delight. It was clear and shallow, and he stood in it barely +knee-deep. He helped the woman down, his father sprang after them, and +they all waded on in a shallow backwater, where the furious torrent of +the main stream died away to an easy flow. + +Moving on in this manner, they gained the farther side of the ravine, +which had been spanned by the shelf-road. Here a vast mass of rock and +boulders lay piled along the cliff wall. + +"That's the landslip which carried away the road," said Mr. Haydon. + +Jack eyed it critically. + +"We can get up into the pass again by it," he said. "It'll be a rough +climb, but we can do it." + +Jack was right. They did it. It took them an hour's hard climbing, but +at last they stood at the point where the shelf-road had joined the +main path along the pass. Here they rested awhile, for the steep climb +under a burning sun had been very exhausting. + +Then Jack sprang to his feet "Come on," he cried cheerily. "We'll hit +on Buck and Jim's camp yet, and with them at our back we'll stand off +U Saw and his men easily enough." + +"I think I can strike towards it all right once we clear this path," +said his father. Mr. Haydon had had much talk with Me Dain about the +spot where he had left Buck and Jim, and he believed that he could +find the place. + +"Poor old Me Dain," said Jack, in a tone of bitter sorrow; "if we'd +only brought him up with us out of the fix there, it would have been +all right. He was a fine, brave chap." + +"He was," said Mr. Haydon; "it is a terrible loss to us that he has +gone." + +They pushed on in silence, thinking of the good, faithful Burman who +had fallen, close-grappled with his enemy, into the raging torrent. +From this sad reverie they were roused by the voice of the native +woman speaking to Mr. Haydon. + +"She says that we shall soon be out in the open country," said he to +his son. + +"Good business!" replied Jack. "As long as we are between these walls +of rock, there seems a trap-like feeling about the affair." + +Ten minutes later they crossed a low ridge, and at once the precipice +which had encompassed them opened out swiftly on either hand. Before +them lay a huge, cup-like hollow, filled with buildings. + +"A town!" gasped Jack. "We shall be seen!" + +"Deserted, my boy," said his father quietly. The more experienced eye +had at once seen the true nature of the place. Jack looked again, and +saw that all was silent, and that the buildings were empty shells. The +walls of the houses stood up along the streets, the vane of a pagoda +darted aloft and glittered in the sun, but no form moved along the +narrow ways, no face peered out upon them as they passed. + +Their way lay along what had been the main street of the city, and the +silence, which had been pleasant in the pass, became strange and +creepy here. It told of utter ruin, and seized upon the spirit of +those who passed with a sense of haunting desolation. + +Suddenly, into this eerie silence, there broke a sound which set every +heart leaping. It was the swift rattle of a pony's hoofs galloping +towards them. The sound had broken out sharply and near, for the main +street was paved, and the rider had burst on to it from the sandy +track beyond, where he had ridden in silence. They could not see the +rider, for the way bent sharply just before them, and their only +thought was to hide from this newcomer, for to be seen by anyone in +this country spelled danger. + +Close at hand was a narrow alley, and into this they hurried. Just +inside the opening was an empty doorway, and they ran through it, and +paused inside a house which turned a blank wall to the street A huge +crack seamed this wall from top to bottom, and Jack, springing forward +softly, clapped his eye to it. + +The wall stood at an angle to the street, and the rider darted into +sight as Jack peered out. The latter turned and shot a single whisper +over his shoulder, "Danger," and all stood silent. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +IN THE DESERTED CITY. + + +Jack had known the rider at once. It was the tall Malay, the +Strangler. He was mounted on a nimble pony, and flogging it to its +utmost speed. A few yards from the house the pony slipped on the +smooth stones and nearly came down. This, perforce, checked its +headlong career, and the Malay drew it in to a walk. Everyone held +their breath, and Jack watched the dark, sinister figure pace by, +wishing that his furious speed had not been interrupted. + +He was past, he was gone, and Jack breathed more freely. Then, oh, +unhappy turn of luck, the infant in its mother's arms stirred and gave +a feeble cry. + +The mother hushed it at once, and the fugitives looked at each other +aghast. Had that cry been heard? The answer came at once. They heard +the pony swiftly wheeled on the stones without. A second later it +dashed back the way it had come, the Malay flogging fiercely, reckless +of slips or stumbles. + +"It was U Saw's man, that big Malay," said Jack to his father. "What +shall we do?" + +"We must push on and see what lies beyond the town," said Mr. Haydon. +"It is clear that he suspects something. All depends now on whether +our line into the open country is blocked." + +The little party swiftly sped up the farther part of the alley, and +worked their way through the town by the narrow lanes which threaded +the mass of buildings like runs in a rabbit warren. Through these +by-ways the native woman proved a sure guide, and soon, through a gap, +they saw the open, sandy waste which lay around the deserted town. + +From the last patch of cover they looked out cautiously and saw a +dismal sight. The town, as has been said, lay in a great cup-like +depression. On the rim of the farther rise, straight in their path, a +horseman sat motionless. Jack knew him again at once. It was the +Malay. He had drawn up his pony on the ridge above the town, and now +sat there, watching intently, a dark figure on the sky-line. + +"We are beset front and rear," groaned Mr. Haydon. "He is waiting for +companions, and watching to see which way we break cover." + +Mr. Haydon had hit upon the truth. At earliest dawn skilful trackers +had been set upon the trail of the fugitives at the point where Jack +had silenced the dog. Thence they had followed them to the mouth of +the pass, and had divined their number and the identity of those who +made up the party. + +U Saw and Saya Chone had been on the scene without loss of time. The +Ruby King ordered that a party of his men should march up the pass +and pursue the fugitives. He himself, with the half-caste, the +Strangler, and a score of other men, all well mounted, had galloped by +a long detour to gain the other end of the pass, in hopes of cutting +them off. It was a long journey which the mounted party had to make, +and they would have failed if Jack and his friends had been able to +keep steadily forward. But the long delay on the shelf-road had told +heavily against the fugitives, and now, as they suspected, fierce +enemies lay between them and the open country. + +As the Ruby King and his followers approached the place where the pass +ran out on to the plain, the Malay had been sent forward to gallop at +breakneck speed down the path the fugitives must follow, and report +any sign he could observe of their presence. He had heard the cry of +the child, and suspected at once their presence in the deserted city. +Now he sat watching the hollow and waiting for his companions. + +"Can we dodge back through the city, and slip out on the other side?" +said Jack anxiously. His father shook his head. + +"The lie of the ground is dead against that," said Mr. Haydon. "The +place is built in a cup. Leave it where you may, you must go up open +hill-side, and he will see us at once." + +"Then we must find a hiding-place among the ruins until nightfall," +said Jack. + +"That's all there is for it now," replied his father. "If we can keep +out of their hands until the dark, we can slip off and travel by the +stars." + +He told the native woman what had been decided upon, and she nodded. +She knew perfectly well what terrible fate awaited her and her child +if they fell alive into the merciless hands of U Saw. The little party +turned in search of a hiding-place, and their steps were quickened by +seeing the figures of half a dozen mounted men rise over the rim of +the ridge and join the Strangler. + +In a few moments the fugitives had lost all sight of the men without +the city; they were swallowed up in the maze of narrow lanes and +by-ways which had once been thronged by busy crowds of city folk, and +were now given up to the snake, the owl, and the wolf. + +Here and there they glided, looking on every hand for some secure +hiding-place, but found none; every house, every room seemed open to +the sun and the broad light of day. + +"Surely among so many houses we should hardly be found, if we lay +close in some of these open places," murmured Jack, but Mr. Haydon +shook his head. + +"They will split up, and every man will take a patch of the city for +himself," replied Mr. Haydon. "And they are adepts at a search of this +kind." + +"Hallo, what's that?" said Jack in a low voice. They paused and +listened, then looked at each other. The chase was afoot. They could +hear afar off the voices of men shouting to each other as they hunted +through the deserted city. + +"That sounds as if they were about the main street," said Mr. Haydon. + +"Sure to be there first," replied Jack. "They're searching the place +where the Malay heard the youngster cry." + +"Very true," said the father. "Let's strike towards the pagoda. It +lies away from the danger zone, and there may be a chance for us +there." + +As they hurried towards the tall shaft which shot high above the maze +of ruined houses, Mr. Haydon chatted coolly about its possibilities. + +"A pagoda, my boy, is often a solid piece of masonry, built above a +relic chamber. The latter is a large room of immense strength, and if +anything has stood in the place, that is the most likely. If it has +stood, and we can find the way in, we may be able to hide till +nightfall. In any case, we can make it an awkward job to attack us." + +Both father and son had brought a _dah_ from the battle-ground, and at +close quarters no better lethal weapon can be found. + +They arrived before the pagoda, and Mr. Haydon, leaping on the first +platform, ran swiftly to and fro in search of the entrance. His wide +knowledge of such buildings guided him to the spot where it would most +likely be found, but, as it happened, the entrance was not difficult +to find. They saw a low doorway half-blocked by a huge fallen stone, +but with ample room left for them to creep in. + +"Here's the spot," said Mr. Haydon. "In we go. But," he hesitated for +a moment, "we don't know what may be inside. I'd give a trifle for a +torch." + +"We'll make one," said Jack. "There are heaps of dried sticks and +grass about, and I've got some matches." + +He put his hand into an inner pocket of his tunic, and pulled out a +waterproof metal box half full of vestas. + +"Good! good!" ejaculated Mr. Haydon. "I haven't had a match for a long +time, and I'd forgotten you might have a few." + +He caught up a bundle of dried grass, and Jack took up several sticks, +dry and tindery, ready to burst into flame as soon as a light was set +to them. All three now crawled through the low, half-blocked doorway. +As soon as they crept into the darkness, a strong, fetid, musty smell, +mingled with a horrible scent of decay, made the air pungent and +choking. + +"Some beasts or other here," murmured Mr. Haydon calmly. "Let's see if +they're dangerous." + +He struck a match and applied it to the great bundle of dried grass +which he had collected. The flame ran through it at once, and it +flared up strongly. Jack thrust a stick into the blaze, and they now +had ample light to see around them. + +They found themselves in a large, low room, whose floor was littered +with bones and the remains of animals dragged there for food. They +darted glances on every side to discover what kind of beast it was +whose lair they had entered. But for a moment they saw nothing. There +was a movement in a bed of dried reeds in one corner, and presently +they saw two pretty little creatures, having the appearance of big +cats, bound out and begin to yowl plaintively. At sight of them the +native woman gave a shrill scream of terror. + +"Tiger cubs!" snapped Mr. Haydon. + +He glanced quickly around the place, but there was no sign of any +other living creature there save the two cubs, which now began to +frisk about the light. + +"Lucky for us Mrs. Stripes isn't at home," said Jack, "or it would +have been a case of out of the frying-pan into the fire." + +"It would," agreed his father. "But it isn't long since she was here," +he added. "Here's a fresh kill." + +He pointed to a small buck lying almost at their feet. The blood was +still wet on the graceful creature's coat, and it was untorn save for +the rents made by the huge claws which had brought it down and dragged +it to the tiger's lair. + +"If this is the only place available," said Mr. Haydon quietly, "we +shall have to creep out again. It isn't healthy to ask a tigress to go +halves in her den when she's rearing a family." + +"We'll have a look round in any case," laughed Jack, and they crossed +swiftly to the other side of the place, holding their torches high, so +that a red, dancing light was cast before them. + +"What's this?" cried Jack, who was a little ahead. "What's this?" He +was standing at the foot of a narrow flight of stone steps which ran +upwards and was soon lost to sight in the thickness of the wall. + +"Up, up!" cried Mr. Haydon. "This is what I hoped for." + +The little party climbed the narrow, winding stairs as fast as they +could go. Round and round in the wall the steps twisted, and then they +saw a dim light ahead, and came out into a second room, as large as +the one below. A broken door of teak hung loosely at the narrow +opening which led into the room, and Mr. Haydon put his shoulder to it +at once. + +"Here's our refuge, Jack," he cried joyously. + +"Half a minute, father, before you clap that door to," said Jack. "I'm +frightfully hungry." + +"So am I, ready to drop," returned his father. "What of that?" + +"I'm going to fetch that buck up, or a good piece of it," remarked +Jack. "It's a fresh kill, and quite sweet." + +"I'll come with you," said Mr. Haydon. "Food is priceless at present, +for we may well need all our strength." + +"No, no," said Jack, "I don't want to brag, father, but I can leg it a +lot quicker than you if the old lady comes home suddenly." + +"Very likely," said his father. "I don't doubt that for an instant, +Jack, but I'll come all the same." They lighted a couple of fresh +torches and went quickly down the steps and across the room below. +They found the tiger cubs, drawn by the scent of blood, playing with +the new kill, trying to fix their baby fangs into it, and leaping to +and fro like a couple of kittens. + +"Clear off," said Jack, thrusting one of them aside with his foot, "we +want this." + +The buck was only a young one, not more than forty or fifty pounds' +weight, and Jack swung it up from the ground by its horns. As he drew +it away from them, both cubs gave a loud cry of complaint. Their cry +was answered upon the instant by a frightful roar, and turning their +heads, the two men saw a long, low, huge form gliding in at the +opening with lightning speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +THE SECRET CHAMBER. + + +"Shout, shout!" cried Mr. Haydon, and the two yelled at the top of +their voices and waved their torches as they ran for the steps. But +neither the noise nor the fire saved them. They owed their safety to +the cubs. These ran at once to their mother, and the fierce creature +stayed a moment to lick and fondle them and assure herself of their +safety. + +Jack and his father used the respite to full advantage. They tore up +the steps and hurled themselves into the room above. Mr. Haydon and +the woman pushed the broken door into place before the opening and +held it, fearing a rush from the great savage beast But the tigress +made no charge. They heard her prowling about the foot of the steps +below, and growling horribly, but she made no attempt to pursue them +farther, and presently her fierce notes of anger died away. + +"She has gone back to the cubs," said Mr. Haydon with a deep breath of +relief. "That was a close shave, Jack. If she'd come straight at us +instead of staying beside them for an instant, it would have been all +up with us." + +"We could have had a chop at her with a _dah_," said Jack. Mr. Haydon +shook his head grimly. + +"Not good enough to tackle a charging tigress," he said. "Might as +well chop at a hurricane." + +"Well," said Jack, "a miss is as good as a mile; and anyhow, we've +landed the buck." + +Jack had hung on to their quarry like grim death, and the buck now lay +on the floor at their feet. But before they satisfied their hunger, +they looked carefully around the place in which they found themselves. +Like the vault below, the room was large and low, and it was lighted +by a number of small apertures on two sides. They approached these +little holes, and found that none was of greater size than to admit of +a fist being thrust through them. Mr. Haydon looked carefully at them. +"These holes," said he, "are hidden among the ornaments and carving of +the exterior. The room below is in the base of the pagoda. This room +is built in the second of the three terraces known as Pichayas. Above +us the pagoda is solid right away to the vane." + +"We're in a queer fix now," said Jack. "Mrs. Stripes below is very +useful to keep out U Saw and his friends, but she'll keep us in as +well. It will be an awkward job to slide out after dark and take the +chance of blundering into her with claws and fangs ready for +business." + +"Yes," replied his father, "it cuts both ways." + +"Well, we won't worry about it now," said Jack. "Let's have something +to eat. Here's plenty of meat, but how shall we cook it?" + +It would have been easy to make a fire, for the remains of a couple of +large chests lay in one corner, but smoke curling from the holes would +betray their hiding-place. + +"We'll make some biltong, as I've done many and many a time in South +Africa," said Mr. Haydon. "In this sun the meat will parch very +quickly." + +He cut some long and very thin slices from the leg of the buck. Then +he thrust them through one of the holes which lay towards the sun, and +spread them on the flat stone outside. The stone was burning hot, so +hot that the hand could not be borne upon it, for the sun had been +beating there with immense power for many hours. Between the fiery sun +and the hot stone, the meat parched swiftly, and ere long they were +satisfying their ravenous hunger with the excellent venison. They +offered some to the native woman, but she preferred to eat from her +own stock of food. + +"I wonder why this city was deserted," said Jack, as he devoured his +venison. + +"War, pestilence, or famine," replied his father briefly. "I'll pump +this woman and see how the local tradition runs." + +He conversed with her for some time, then turned to his son. + +"I can begin as I used to begin stories when you were a nipper," said +Mr. Haydon. "Once upon a time there was a great king." + +"How long ago?" queried Jack. + +"Goodness knows," said his father. "Time is a mere blur in these old +stories. A hundred, two hundred, five hundred years, all are one to a +people who keep no written records. Well, a great king ruled here over +a busy and wealthy people. He built this pagoda and was immensely +proud of it He delighted to deck it with gold and precious stones. She +says that once the whole of the exterior was covered with plates of +solid gold, and the _Hti_, the umbrella, that is the topmost stage of +the pagoda, was hung with thousands of golden and silver bells, and +decked with huge rubies and other precious stones. Most of these +didn't belong to him. For he had a habit of marching upon neighbouring +rulers and stripping their treasuries to brighten up his pagoda. + +"At last the usual thing happened. A better fighting man came along +and stripped him. He and his people fought well, but in the end they +were overcome and the whole city was put to the sword. The conqueror +had the plates of gold and a vast number of rubies, emeralds, and +diamonds. But many of the finest rubies slipped out of his grasp. The +priests fled and carried them off. Since that day the city has been a +desert. And so you have the legend." + +"Is it true, do you think?" asked Jack. + +"Substantially true, without a doubt," replied his father. "The thing +has happened again and again. It might easily happen to-day in Burmah +itself, were it not for the British Raj. These local rulers were +forever cutting each other's throats." + +At this point the low murmur of his voice became mingled with a +louder noise without. The sound of busy Kachin tongues in full flow +came through the tiny apertures which lighted the room, and Jack and +his father sprang to their feet. + +"The enemy have arrived," murmured Jack, and his father nodded. They +stole swiftly across the room and peered through the little apertures +which lighted the place. No better spying-place could be needed. They +looked straight into the broad open space before the pagoda, and saw +their pursuers defiling from a narrow street. One man was mounted, and +they knew him at once for U Saw, the great ruby in his head-dress +glinting scarlet fire in the rays of the sun. At the tail of his horse +strode the Strangler, and a dozen busy little blue-kilted figures ran +hither and thither, chattering and calling to each other, and +searching eagerly for traces of the fugitives. + +A loud shout presently told the Haydons that something had been +discovered. Half a dozen Kachins began to yell together, and Mr. +Haydon listened intently. + +"They've found the hole," he murmured coolly. "What next?" + +"It's very lucky for us that Mrs. Stripes is at home and on guard," +said Jack. "We could hold them in the narrow stairs there with our +_dahs_, but she'll do the job much better." + +"Yes, for a time, without doubt," replied his father, shaking his +head. "But these chaps are splendid little shikarees, and fear nothing +that stands on four legs." + +They could not see the group of Kachins which had gathered before the +opening, but they saw the Ruby King wave his hand, and knew that the +blue-kilts had been ordered to explore. They listened breathlessly, +but, for some moments, all was silence. Then in the vault below there +broke out a frightful roar of anger, and mingled with it came yells +and outcries. The two watchers looked eagerly from their apertures, +and saw the Kachins recoiling in a disorderly body, carrying among +them a man whose legs dragged along the ground. + +"Looks as if she'd settled one of them," remarked Mr. Haydon. It was +soon apparent that the tigress had thinned by one the number of their +enemies. The man was laid down in the open space, and his fellows +gathered about him. But very soon they left the body lying where it +had been placed, and collected about the Ruby King in a chattering +crowd. + +"Clearly the man is dead," said Jack. "They do not attempt to do +anything for him." + +"I should say she smashed his skull in, by the look of things from +this distance," remarked his father. "See how the blood spreads in a +pool about his head!" + +Their eyes were fixed on the debating crowd, and they were wondering +what the next move of the Kachins would be, when they heard a low call +behind them. Both whirled round at once, and saw that it was their +companion who was attracting their attention. She was kneeling on the +floor, and they ran to her at once. She knelt beside a large stone +which was sunk three or four inches below its fellows and shook easily +under the touch. + +"This is strange," said Jack. "We dried our meat and ate our meal just +about here, and the stone was not out of its place then." + +"Perhaps our movements loosened it," replied his father. He spoke with +the native woman for a little, then turned to his son. "It sank a +moment back when she stepped on it," he said. "Just when she cried +out. She feared she was going to fall through the floor." + +Jack knelt down and pressed heavily on the stone. It slid away from +his hands, and, had he not grasped the edge of the hole quickly, he +would have rolled after it The stone vanished, and was heard to land +with a heavy ringing crash on stone below. + +"By Jove, I nearly went head first after it," said Jack. "It was as +loose as possible. Where does this lead to?" + +Mr. Haydon knelt down and looked carefully around the sides of the +square hole left in the floor. + +"It's a secret entrance to some place or other," he said. "See, Jack, +the wooden bar on which this stone worked. It has rotted through, and +the stone held its place, as you may say, by clinging to the +neighbouring stones. But a slight weight was sufficient to start it +moving." + +"What's underneath, I wonder?" murmured Jack. + +"Some chamber built in the thickness of the floor between this room +and the vault below," replied his father. + +"We ought to have a look into this," remarked Jack. + +"We will," said his father; "but I hardly see how it will avail us. +There might be a chance to make it useful if we could get the stone +into place, but it is very heavy, and the machinery on which it worked +has rotted away." + +Jack took a half-burned torch, whose flare had been quenched upon +their regaining the room from the raid in which they had secured the +buck, and relighted it. He held it as far into the darkness as he +could, and the red light showed that a ladder, built of heavy beams of +teak, ran downwards from the edge of the hole. Mr. Haydon sniffed +cautiously. "The air doesn't smell bad," he remarked; "close and +musty, but no mephitic vapours. I think we'll go down." + +Jack swung himself over the lip of the hole, dropped his feet on the +stout ladder, and went down first, holding the torch before him, and +his father followed. They found themselves in a low room of fair size, +but not one-half as large as that above and below. + +"What's that?" said Jack, and pointed to the far corner, where +something gleamed white. They crossed to it, and stood before a knot +of skeletons. Nine they counted, each lying as the dead man had fallen +long, long ago. In the houses of the city, where roofs had fallen in, +where wild beasts had devoured the flesh, and where sun and rain and +wind had worked their will upon the bones, all trace of the citizens +of that long bygone day had utterly disappeared, but here, where the +secret chamber had protected their remains, the skeletons were +perfect. + +"These are some of the men who fell in the sack of the city," said +Jack. + +His father bent and carefully examined them by the light of the torch. + +"I scarcely think so, Jack," he said. "The bones are perfect and bear +no sign of injury. It is more likely that they were priests of the +pagoda who took refuge here, and perhaps died of famine, not daring to +leave their hiding-place." + +Jack moved a little, and started. In his new position a ray of red +fire darted at him from one of the heaps of white bones. He stepped +forward, bent, and picked up the glittering object. + +"Look here," he said to his father, "this is something in your line, +if I'm not very much mistaken." + +His father turned it over, rubbed the dirt off it, and held it up to +the light. It lay in his palm and winked in the light of the torch +with dancing gleams of deep scarlet fire. + +"Whew!" whistled Mr. Haydon, "a magnificent ruby, large, and of the +purest water. Where did you get it, my boy?" + +Jack pointed to the skeleton at his feet, among whose bones it had +lain. + +"Could this have been their secret treasure-room?" said Mr. Haydon, +looking round. "Yet it is very unlikely. It is too large, and hardly +in the place where they would have built it." + +At this moment they heard a murmur at their shoulders. The woman had +followed them, and they turned to see that she had picked up a couple +of rubies from among the bones of another skeleton, and was holding +them out to Mr. Haydon. + +The great expert took them and examined them swiftly. + +"Finer than the one you found in point of size," he said to his son. +"As to purity, they are all of the highest quality. These three stones +in my palm represent a substantial fortune." + +Jack had never before seen such magnificent stones. He gazed in wonder +at the three gleaming splendours, and turned them over with his +finger. + +"They are true oriental rubies," said his father, "of the finest +colour and without flaw. Any one of them is ten times as valuable as a +diamond of the same weight." + +The native woman was turning over the bones of another skeleton. She +straightened herself, came forward, and dropped another noble ruby +into Mr. Haydon's hand. + +"Jack, Jack," cried the latter to his son, "don't you see what this +means, my boy? Here is proof positive of the truth of the legend." + +"I see," said Jack, "these are the monks who were said to have fled +with the pick of the rubies." + +"These are they without a doubt," said his father. "They disappeared, +and the conquerors believed that they had escaped, and so the story of +their flight was worked into the tradition. But they had hidden +themselves here, and here they died. The rubies were shared among +them, and concealed in their garments. The ants have made short work +of the robes long since, and the stones have fallen among the bones." + +"Then among these skeletons lie the chief treasures of the ancient +city?" said Jack. + +"The thing is beyond all question," replied his father. "These +glorious stones bear ample witness." + +The intense interest of this marvellous find had almost driven the +thought of their enemies from their minds. But the recollection of +their deadly peril came back in full flood when a hoarse thunder broke +out beneath their feet in the lower vault. + +"The tigress!" cried Jack. "Is it a fresh assault?" + +Not another thought did they give to the gleaming treasures within +their grasp. Life was worth a mountain of rubies. + +They rushed at once to see what U Saw and his retainers were doing. +Mr. Haydon did not even pocket the rubies, such was his haste. He +tossed them aside among the mouldering bones, where they had lain for +so many generations, and flew after his son, who was already climbing +the ladder. + +They raced across the room, and now heard the savage roars of the +tigress pealing louder and louder up the narrow stairway. In the vault +below they heard shots and yells. + +"They have attacked her in her lair, there is no doubt of it," said +Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep anxiety. "They have without doubt flung +torches in to light the place up, and shot her as she stood before her +cubs, checking her charge with fire, noise, and spears. I have known a +band of them take as desperate a risk for the sake of a mere skin to +sell, so they would certainly take it to seize us." + +The growls of the tigress became more furious and deafening. + +"They are running out!" cried Jack. "They are flying before her." + +In the open space below, the Kachins were running swiftly from the +entrance to the vault. Some looked over their shoulders, as if fearing +pursuit. + +"Very possibly," said his father. "They are running for the moment, +but I fear they have done their work. See how joyous they look!" + +This was quite true. The dark faces of the little mountaineers were +bright with smiles, and their teeth flashed white as they grinned at +each other, and shouted as if in triumph. + +"Their muskets at close range are not to be despised," murmured Mr. +Haydon uneasily. "They fling a heavy ball, and drive it with great +smashing power. And again, the bullets may be poisoned. They often +are." + +The Kachins did not run far. They faced about, and three or four who +were armed with spears threw their weapons forward, ready to receive +the charge of the wounded creature. But no charge was made. Had the +tigress been alone, she would have rushed out, but the presence of her +cubs made a great difference. She stayed beside them, growling and +roaring with rage and pain until the very building shook. + +Half an hour passed, and the tigress was now making no more than a +low moan. Little by little her growling had died away. The Haydons +heard the sound diminish with uneasy hearts. They knew that the +strength of the great fierce beast was going with it, and that very +soon the Kachins would be at the foot of the stairs. + +They talked the situation over, and looked at it from every point of +view, but could see only one thing to do. That was to wait for the +enemy on the narrow winding steps, where but one could pass at a time, +and hold them at bay. + +Jack looked round. "Where's the woman?" he said, "she has not come +up." + +"No more she hasn't," said his father. They had been so deeply engaged +in watching every movement of their enemies that they had utterly +forgotten their companion. When Jack rushed up from the secret +chamber, he had thrust the flaring torch into her hand, in order that +she might follow at her leisure, but there was no sign of her in the +room behind them. + +Jack ran across to the spot where the square black hole yawned in the +floor. + +"It's all dark down here," he cried in surprise. "Has the torch gone +out? But why has she not come up?" + +Near at hand lay a large lock of dried grass, part of a bundle which +the woman herself had gathered and brought up on their first entrance. + +Jack caught it up, struck a match, and thrust the burning vesta into +it. In an instant the tuft of grass was ablaze, and he flung it into +the secret chamber. It dropped to the floor, and the flame shot up +brightly, lighting the little room from corner to corner, from roof to +floor. + +"She's gone!" gasped Jack in utter amazement "She's gone!" Save for +the skeletons, the little room was completely empty. There was not the +faintest sign of the native woman. She had disappeared absolutely and +entirely. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE BATTLE ON THE STAIRS. + + +Jack was about to spring down the ladder and see what had become of +their companion, when a low cry of warning burst from his father's +lips. The elder man had been watching the enemy, and now he called +out, "They are coming! they are coming!" + +Jack caught up his _dah_ and ran at once for the stairs. The mystery +of the woman's disappearance must wait; the first thing to be done was +to keep the Kachins from their throats. + +He and his father had already settled upon the point which they would +occupy for defence. Halfway down the narrow winding flight there was a +small landing, about six feet long, with a sharp turn above and below. +Jack felt his way down to this in the darkness, then stood and +listened eagerly for any sounds of movement in the vault below. He +heard his father softly tiptoeing after him, and then all was silence, +save for the mournful cries of the tiger cubs trying to rouse their +dead dam. + +"They have not come in yet," whispered Jack to his father. + +"No," replied Mr. Haydon, "but I saw seven of them start across the +open space, clearly bent on a fresh attack." + +At this moment a muffled sound of voices rang through the vault and +came up the narrow stairs. The Kachins were at the entrance. Then +there was silence for a short time. The next sound was a joyous yell, +which rang and re-echoed from wall to wall. The Kachins had discovered +the dead tigress. Then the vault resounded with voices as they ran to +and fro, searching every corner. + +The fugitives knew that the flight of steps running upwards must be +discovered at once, and Mr. Haydon gave a low murmur as they heard a +party of searchers gather at the foot of the stairs. Up to this moment +Jack and his father had stood in complete darkness, but now a faint +glimmer of light began to shine up from below, and they knew that the +flare of their pursuers' torches was being reflected along the winding +walls. + +The preparations of the savage little men in blue were quickly made, +and up they came. As Jack heard their feet shuffle swiftly up the +steps, and saw the shine of the torches become brighter and brighter, +he poised his heavy blade and prepared to launch a swinging blow. +Nearer, nearer came the light and the chattering voices, for they +talked as they came. Then a gleaming spear-head flashed round the bend +below. It was held by the leading Kachin, and the second man carried a +torch to light his comrade's way. + +Jack drew aside to the wall, and waited for the man's head to appear. +In an instant it came, and the dark face and glittering eyes of the +mountaineer were filled with excitement as he saw the white men within +arm's length. He shortened his grasp of the spear to strike at Jack, +but the broad, gleaming _dah_ fell at that very instant with +tremendous force. + +The Kachin whirled up the spear to guard his head, but the trenchant +blade, wielded by those powerful young arms, was not to be denied. It +shore clean through the stout shaft of the spear, it fell upon the +shoulder of the Kachin, and clove him to the spine. He pitched +backwards among those following, and the torch was dashed from its +bearer's hand. But it was caught as it fell, and another of the +dauntless little men sprang up to cross swords with the defender who +could strike so dreadful a blow. + +Again Jack launched a sweeping cut at his assailant, but this time his +blade was caught upon a blade of equal strength and temper, and the +iron muscles of the wiry Kachin turned the slashing stroke. He fetched +a swift return blow at Jack, and the latter avoided this by springing +a pace backwards as he recovered his own weapon. + +The little man followed with the leap of a cat, and gave a grunt of +satisfaction. This was his aim, to make ground, and Jack saw it in an +instant. It allowed another man to come round the turn and support the +assault with a long spear. The second Kachin was crouching low, and at +the next moment the shining head of a spear darted past the first +assailant and was directed at Jack's thigh. Jack avoided it by a +miracle. He did not see it, did not know the man had struck at him, +for he was too busy cutting and parrying with the leader. But as the +spear-head was darted at him, he sprang aside to avoid the _dah_, and +so dodged both sword and spear. + +The Kachin with the spear had made his stroke so heartily, and with +such certainty of reaching his mark, that on missing his blow he +sprawled forward. Mr. Haydon bent down, gripped the strong shaft +behind the spear-head, and tore the weapon from the baffled Kachin's +grasp. Then, with a growl of satisfaction that he could take a share +in the fray, he reversed the long weapon, and swung its keen point +forward. + +The spear came to his hand at a most opportune moment. A third man was +creeping on hands and knees beside the wall, aiming to pass his +leader. He gripped a huge knife in his hand. In another instant he +would have seized Jack by the ankles and dragged him down, had not Mr. +Haydon driven the spear into him with such force that the head was +completely buried in his body. He dropped to the floor with a +frightful yell, and at that moment the leading Kachin gave way and +leapt back among his friends. Jack had half cut through the swordman's +right arm, and the latter could no longer wield the heavy _dah_. + +"Come back a few steps, Jack!" cried his father. "They are meeting us +on the flat, and that is to their advantage." + +Father and son darted up half a dozen steps from the landing, gained +the sharp turn above, then faced about again. But no Kachin was +following them. The little men chattered and yelled, argued and +disputed with each other, but did not advance. Finally, they retired +to the vault below, taking their fallen with them. + +"First round to us," breathed Jack. "How strange they brought no +muskets with them! My dread from first to last was of a bullet being +loosed into us." + +"I observed as they crossed towards the door that they carried only +spears and swords," said his father. "That is U Saw. He wishes to take +us alive, wounded, perhaps, but still alive. So he forbade shooting." + +"What next?" murmured Jack. + +"I wish we knew," replied his father, "then we might be prepared for +it." But no preparation within their power could have availed against +the cunning of the next assault. They had been watching and waiting +half an hour or more in the darkness, when again the red shine of fire +began to glow on the walls below them. + +"What is this?" muttered Mr. Haydon. "This light is far too strong for +torches." And now with the gleam of fire came gusts of heat sweeping +up to them, and clouds of thick pungent smoke. Half choked, and with +smarting eyes, they watched for the fire to appear. Presently they saw +it below them, and saw that a furnace of leaping flame was advancing +towards them, flame which filled the whole of the space, licking +walls, roof, and floor. They watched it with horrified eyes. It was +impossible to meet this subtle and dreadful enemy with spear or _dah_. + +"What is it?" cried Jack. + +"A cunning trick, a cruelly cunning trick," replied his father. "They +are thrusting great burning bundles of dried reeds and grass before +them. The draught comes up the stairs and keeps the air cool and sweet +for them, while it drives suffocating smoke and heat upon us." + +Jack ground his teeth as he saw how perfectly the plan was calculated +to drive them out of the staircase into the open room above, where the +numbers of the Kachins could be used to deadly purpose. + +"The fire is flagging," gasped Jack. + +"For the moment, yes," said his father. + +The glowing mass of flames wavered and began to sink. Then they saw +how it was fed. A huge bundle of dried canes and reeds on the end of a +spear was thrust into the flickering glow, and at once took fire and +burned with the utmost fury. Fresh bundles were pushed forward beside +it, and these, too, flared up with a shrill crackle of snapping canes +and the roar of a fire fanned by a strong draught. Inch by inch the +flames moved forward, themselves a terrible enemy, and behind them +crept up and up a savage and merciless foe. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +THE SECRET PASSAGE. + + +Within that confined space, the heat became that of a fiery furnace, +the pungent smoke became overpowering. + +"We must get back or we shall be overcome," gasped Mr. Haydon, and +they climbed the steep steps of stone. + +"Who's here?" snapped Mr. Haydon, as they turned the last bend. Jack +looked under his father's arm. + +"It's the woman," he gasped, for the pungent smoke had almost stopped +his breath. "She's come back. Where has she been?" + +Now the woman's voice came to them calling earnestly, "Sahib, sahib, +sahib!" she cried. + +Jack and his father leapt into the room, where the wider space, though +dim with smoke, made the air taste wonderfully fresh and sweet after +the choking passage. + +The woman at once sprang at Mr. Haydon and seized his arm, talking +earnestly. As she spoke, the elder man's face lighted up with a great +hope. + +"Jack! Jack!" he cried. "Come on! come on! Here's a wonderful chance +turned up." + +Jack asked no questions. He only followed as the other two hurried for +the hole which led to the secret chamber. The woman went swiftly down +the teak ladder, and the other two followed. At the foot of the ladder +a torch, freshly lighted, was thrust into a wide crack between two +stones, and stood there burning steadily. The woman caught it up and +led the way. They passed the heap of skeletons, and went to the far +corner, where a very low, small door stood open. It had been closed +when Jack looked into the chamber, and so he had been able to gain no +idea of the fashion in which the woman had left the place. + +The woman shot through the opening, and the light of her torch showed +that she had entered a low tunnel not more than four feet in height +and about the same in width. + +"Duck your head down and come on," said Mr. Haydon, and Jack brought +up the rear in the march along this tiny passage, where he had almost +to scramble on hands and knees. + +"What is this?" he called to his father, as the latter scrambled ahead +of him. + +"This," said Mr. Haydon, "explains the secret chamber. It is a passage +by which the priests could enter or leave the pagoda without the +knowledge of worshippers. The secret chamber was merely its ante-room, +as one may say." + +"How did the woman hit on it?" asked Jack. + +"Looked round the place and saw the door and found it would open +easily. She crept along the passage till she saw daylight, then she +returned to give us the word." + +"Good for her!" said Jack. "She's a first-rate sort. But I wonder how +long it will be before those little ferrets behind are after us. +They'll come along here in double-quick time." + +"We've got a fair start," replied his father. "They'll come up the +steps very slowly, having to push the fire before them." + +They had gone fifty or sixty yards along the tunnel, when the woman +looked over her shoulder and spoke to Mr. Haydon. + +"We've got to be careful here," said the latter to Jack. "The roof is +sagging and hangs very low. We must go through one at a time." + +At this moment the woman threw herself on the floor and began to wind +her way along like a snake. By the light of her torch Jack saw that +the roof threatened at every second to fall in and block the passage. +One great stone hung half-released from the grip of its fellows, as if +about to topple headlong. The woman went through the tiny space in +safety, and then crouched down on the other side and threw the light +into the gap to show her companions the road. + +"For heaven's sake, be careful how you come through, Jack!" breathed +his father. "Don't touch this huge stone for your life. It trembles +now, and there isn't thirty inches fairway." + +Very slowly and cautiously Mr. Haydon and then Jack wriggled along +flat to the ground until the dangerous spot was cleared. + +At last all were on the other side, and the woman began once more to +hurry forward. Mr. Haydon began to follow her, but Jack sang out, +"Half a moment!" + +"What for?" cried his father. + +"Can't we put a stopper on the pursuit here?" said Jack. "Seems to me +we can tumble these wobblers down, and block the route." He pointed to +the over-hanging stones. + +"Right, right!" called his father. "Where's my sense? I never thought +of it." + +Mr. Haydon took the torch from the native woman and looked at the roof +above his head. "Mustn't fetch too much down," he remarked, "and pin +ourselves under the ruin." + +"There's no fear of that," replied his son. "Look at the roof over us. +It's as sound as a bell. The loose stones come from a flaw in the +masonry, not from general decay of the roof." + +"I believe you're right, my boy," said Mr. Haydon. "You hold the torch +and I'll have a try at it." + +Jack took the torch, and Mr. Haydon raised the spear which he had +brought with him. He thrust the head into a long crack above the great +stone, and bore with all his weight and strength on the extremity of +the long shaft. Luckily the latter was very stout and of a tough wood, +enabling him to bring a great stress on the big stone. + +"Look out!" cried Jack, "it's going, it's going!" + +Both of them moved back, as the huge stone toppled swiftly to the +ground. It was followed in its fall by a dozen more, and in an instant +the path through the tunnel was blocked by a heap of ruins which rose +from floor to roof. + +"That's all right," said Jack, in a tone of deep satisfaction. "It +will take an hour or two to shift those whacking big stones. This +tunnel's a case of no thoroughfare at present." + +The torch was handed once more to the native woman, and on they went. +The next time she paused was to dash the head of the torch against the +wall of the tunnel and put out the light. As soon as the red flare had +been extinguished, they saw that the beams of day were pouring faintly +through branches and brushwood a little before them. + +"Ah," said Mr. Haydon, "that's why the air was fairly sweet in the +tunnel. There has been a draught through, more or less." + +Jack sprang forward, _dah_ in hand, and began to slash at the network +of creepers and saplings which blocked the mouth of the tunnel. In a +few minutes he had cut a path out, and they crept cautiously forth and +looked round to see what place they had gained. + +They found themselves in the broad courtyard of a large, ruined house. + +"May have been a monastery," said Mr. Haydon. "Now for U Saw and his +men. Are we clear of them or not?" + +He moved cautiously forward to reconnoitre, Jack following him. + +"Where's the pagoda?" murmured Mr. Haydon. "That will give us our +bearings." + +"I see it through this doorway," said Jack, and pointed to a gap in +the wall. Mr. Haydon looked at the pagoda, and noted how it stood with +regard to the sun and their present position. + +"This is capital," he said. "We've come out on a side opposite to the +open space where U Saw is waiting for reports from his men. We can go +ahead in safety. He will have men on the watch all round the pagoda, +of course. But we've come clean under their feet, and risen to earth +amid the ruins behind them." + +"I should say our best plan now would be to try to get clear of the +city before they push a way through the tunnel," said Jack. "We've +certainly got a couple of hours before they find where we came out. +Then, very likely, they'll start a fresh search for us among the +ruined houses. That would give us a bit more pull in making a flit of +it." + +"We can't do better," said his father, and the latter spoke a few +words to the native woman, who would be by far the best guide to set +them on the line they wished to follow. Led by her, they threaded once +more the narrow by-ways and lanes tangled with creepers, and sometimes +so choked with growth that they had to turn back and choose another +way. At last they came to a broken gap in what had once been the city +wall, and from it they looked across the bare, bright, open plain. + +"There's no one to be seen," murmured Jack, "and if we can once get +over the rim of the hill, we shall be out of sight. What is it? Not +more than four hundred yards." + +They stayed for a few moments longer in shelter of the ruined wall, +and looked warily on either hand again and again. But there was not +the slightest token of danger to be seen or heard. The sun, now +sloping to the west, shone brilliantly upon the open space of stones +and sand, stones too small to hide a spy, and sand too bare of +brushwood to afford him an ambush. + +"There's a risk, of course, in venturing into the open," murmured +Jack. "But there's risk whichever way you take it. We may as well make +a dash for it as hang about in the ruins till someone drops on us or +on our tracks." + +"That's true," agreed his father. + +"Come on, then," said Jack in a low voice, and he led the rush across +the open. + +For the first hundred yards they ran breathlessly. How naked and bare +the land seemed around them after the friendly shelter of the narrow +lanes and alleys they had just left! Then, as they forged steadily +ahead, and the rim of the cup-shaped hollow came nearer at every +stride, hope awoke in their hearts and they strained forward, counting +on the moment when they would slip over the sky-line, and be lost to +sight of the broken walls and towers amid which their enemies sought +them. + +"See that big white stone," said Jack, who had to draw himself in to +an easy trot lest he should outrun his companions, "we have only got +to make that, and we're clean out of sight." + +Thirty yards from the white stone the woman tripped, stumbled, and +fell. Before they left the ruins Jack had wished to carry the child, +but she had refused. + +"Push ahead, father," called Jack. "I'll pick her up and bring her +on." + +He sprang to the woman's side, and swung her to her feet by main +strength. He glanced back as he did so--he had looked back every few +yards as he ran. He gave a mutter of deep satisfaction, "All quiet!" +But the words on his lips came to a sudden end in a gasp of dismay and +horror. Round a far angle of the ruined wall four horsemen swept into +sight at a gentle trot. + +For a second Jack stared at them aghast He knew at once what it was. +Their enemies had foreseen the possibility of such a bolt from cover +as they were now making, and a patrol was on guard about the deserted +city. + +Jack hurried the woman forward, hoping against hope that no eye would +be raised to catch sight of the knot of fugitives on the hill-side. A +wild yell raised from four savage throats told him a moment later that +his hopes were vain. He glanced back, and saw that the riders had +lashed their speedy ponies to a furious gallop and were climbing the +slope towards them at terrific speed. + +The fugitives exchanged not a word. They ran now in silence, looking +on every hand for some way of escape from the horsemen who followed. +Jack burned to gain the ridge and see what was beyond. "If it's broken +and rocky ground," he thought, "it may prove too rough for their +ponies to face." + +[Illustration: THE INTERCEPTED FLIGHT.] + +He looked eagerly out as they gained the ridge, and a bitter +exclamation broke from his lips. The ground was more open and easy +than that they had just crossed. They still ran on, but now without +hope of escape, merely running forward with the instinct of flight +which possesses every hunted creature. They heard the ponies' hoofs +rattle over the ridge, they heard the thud of the galloping feet close +at their backs, they heard the mocking laughs and yells of the +triumphant riders. + +"I can run no farther, Jack," gasped Mr. Haydon, and pulled up. + +Jack whirled round, _dah_ in hand, and stood at bay, his blood on fire +to have a stroke at those who hunted them. + +The riders were now not more than a score of yards away, and coming on +at the same furious speed. Scarce had Jack turned, when the leading +horseman was upon him. Jack looked up and saw the tossing mane and +fiery eyes of the pony straining to its utmost speed, and above the +tossing mane leaned forward the half-caste, his dark eyes shining with +savage fire, his mouth widened in a cruel grin. Jack sprang aside and +launched a sweeping blow at Saya Chone. The latter, with hand and +knee, swung his pony round and hurled the animal full on Jack. The +knees of the powerful beast, just rising to the first movement of the +gallop, caught the English lad square in the body and dashed him +headlong to the ground. Stunned and unconscious, Jack was left in a +heap on the sand, while the horsemen encircled the other fugitives. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +IN THE COURTYARD. + + +When Jack came to himself after that rough tumble he felt bruised from +crown to heel, and his head was aching dully. For a few moments his +mind was in a puzzle as returning consciousness began slowly to array +before him the last things he remembered. Then he came to himself with +a start, and looked round eagerly to see where he was and what had +happened to his companions. + +The first glance told him that he was once more within the deserted +city. He lay in the corner of a ruined house, bound hand and foot; two +Kachins, with muskets across their knees, squatted within six feet of +him, and watched him with a fixed stare. Over his head the sky was +still bright with sunshine, but the low rays told him that the night +was not far off. + +"They've got us after all," thought Jack bitterly. "We're in their +hands as tight as ever, and they'll take care, I know, that we don't +slip out of them again." + +It was heart-sickening that after their struggle through the pass, +their fight in the pagoda, and their escape by a way which seemed to +open for them in a magical fashion, that they should end by falling +once more into the hands of their cruel foes. As the light faded, Jack +lay and wondered what had become of his father and the native woman, +and what would be the next turn in their strange and wild adventures. + +The sun sank, and the night fell with tropic swiftness; soon he was +gazing at a velvety sky, full of bright stars. Still no one came near +them, and his guards sat before him like two statues. + +An hour after nightfall a voice called to them from the lane without, +and they obeyed the command at once. They sprang up, and removed from +Jack's ankles the thong which bound them together. Next they dragged +him to his feet and led him forward. + +At the gap in the wall, where once a door had been, two other guards +awaited the prisoner, and marched one before and one behind him. Thus +closely watched, Jack was led along the narrow lane. They went fifty +yards or more, and then entered the very courtyard into which the +secret passage opened. Here a huge fire of brushwood and broken beams +was burning, and the place was as light as day, and filled with busy +figures. Jack was led across the courtyard and placed near the +opposite wall. + +He looked round, but could catch no glimpse of his father. He saw the +native woman, their companion in misfortune, seated in a corner, a +Kachin beside her as if on guard. The woman's head was bent upon her +breast, and her child was closely clasped in her arms. She did not +look up when Jack was brought in, and her attitude was one of utter +dejection. She had already learned her fate. She was to be taken back +to the village from which she had fled, and there suffer by fire in +the presence of the other villagers. Thus would U Saw teach a lesson +of obedience to all. + +The Ruby King himself was seated on a rug spread over the stones of +the courtyard on the other side of the great fire. A meal was just +over. A smaller fire was smouldering near the entrance to the +courtyard, and beside it lay cooking-pots and the long, square baskets +in which food had been carried. Several of the retainers were still +devouring the last fragments of their portion, and the rest were +placidly smoking as they moved to and fro. U Saw was quietly pulling +at a huge cheroot, his eyes fixed dreamily on the leaping flames of +the great fire, and, save for the prisoner and his armed guards, the +whole scene had the air of a peaceful camp, of a caravan of merchants +resting for a night on their march. + +An hour passed, and the scene had but changed to this extent that the +moving figures had settled down to a man to give themselves up to the +soothing influence of tobacco. On his rug, U Saw had not stirred a +limb save to flick the ashes from his cheroot, nor had his gaze +wandered aside from the glowing flame. The quiet had become profound. +Then, in deep silence, there was a sound of footsteps approaching the +courtyard. Without turning his head, U Saw raised his hand. The +gesture was scarcely begun when Jack felt himself gripped from behind +by more than one pair of hands, and he knew among them the deadly +clutch of the Strangler. + +He was gripped at the same instant by the throat, the waist, and the +heels, nor, so cunning had been their approach, had he dreamed that an +enemy stood behind him. In an instant the thong at his wrists was +severed and his arms drawn out to their fullest extent, a rope tight +about each wrist, while his ankles were lashed together with magical +swiftness and dexterity. He was swung against the wall despite his +struggles, and his body and feet bound to an upright beam. Then the +ropes which were about his wrists were drawn taut and made fast, and +he was a helpless prisoner. + +Just as the last twist was given to the bonds, a group of four entered +the courtyard. Saya Chone, the half-caste, came first, and he was +followed by Mr. Haydon, under guard of a couple of Kachins. Now U Saw +slowly rose from his rug and moved forward, his silken kilt catching +the light and glowing with the softest, brightest hues of crimson and +gold. + +"How are you, Jack?" called out Mr. Haydon anxiously. "Any bones +broken?" + +"Not one, I believe, father," replied Jack; "only bruises." + +"If either of you speak another word," said the half-caste smoothly, +"I'll gag you till you choke." + +Jack and his father knew that much significance lay under the quiet +words, and they remained silent. U Saw and Saya Chone now spoke +together in a low tone, and then father and son were brought face to +face. + +"You are such a slippery couple, and have evaded us so often," said +the half-caste, "that we are going to pay you the compliment of +dealing with you once and for all upon the spot. Now you can be +assured that your last chance of saving your skins has arrived. Here +and now we settle the matter. You can start for Bhamo or Mandalay with +the break of dawn, or you can become food for wild beasts. It remains +with you to decide." + +"Don't say a word, father," broke in Jack impetuously. "Don't you see +that we're done for in any case? If you told, do you think such men as +these would keep their word? Dead men tell no tales." + +"That's horribly true, Jack," said his father in a low voice. + +The faces of the Ruby King and the half-caste had blackened with rage +upon hearing this swift, shrewd speech, which laid bare their motives +and intentions, for Jack had hit the mark fair in the centre. Saya +Chone thrust his face forward till it was within six inches of Jack's. + +"Bold words," he hissed viciously, "bold words; but we shall see +before we have done with you." + +At this moment there ran into the courtyard a man who panted as if he +had travelled far and fast. He bore beneath his arm a small basket +made of rushes very closely and strongly woven. The Ruby King gave a +grunt of satisfaction, and moved towards him. + +Saya Chone now sprang forward and seized the collar of Jack's tunic. +He fixed both hands in it and ripped it open. Then he gripped the +collar of the flannel shirt beneath and made a snatch at that With a +grin of vicious pleasure he rent that open too, and tore a piece of +the stuff clean out. He raised his open hand and struck the bare +breast of the English lad with a resounding slap. + +"Now we shall see," he cried, "now we shall see!" + +At sight of this Mr. Haydon had attempted to spring forward, but half +a dozen of the iron-muscled little men had leapt at him like cats, and +kept him in his place. They hung on to him and held him a close +prisoner during the scene which followed. + +Jack was little affected by the slap. He had his eyes on U Saw. He +felt strongly that the grim, silent Ruby King was the man to be feared +above all. + +U Saw and the man with the basket had retired to the other side of the +fire, and a group of Kachins watched the Ruby King respectfully from a +little distance. The watching group now gave a loud murmur of wonder +and admiration, as if they had divined some superlatively clever trick +of their master's, and were applauding it. Then U Saw turned and came +across the courtyard, his right arm oddly and stiffly extended. + +Jack watched him come, and wondered what it was that seemed to move +and writhe about his arm as he came. The Ruby King stepped into the +full light of the great, blazing pile, and Jack saw what it was that +moved, and felt his blood run cold within him. + +Upon his right hand U Saw wore a thick leathern hunting glove, and his +right arm was heavily swathed with a woollen girdle. About his arm +the body of a snake was twisted, and he held the head firmly in his +hand. A terrible groan of agony burst from Thomas Haydon's lips as he +saw the venomous reptile coiling and uncoiling its short, thick body +round the arm of the Ruby King. It was a small cobra of the most +venomous kind, a creature whose bite took effect at once, and was +followed swiftly by death. + +U Saw walked up to Jack and held the head of the horrible creature +within a foot of Jack's face. The latter tried to look steadily at the +frightful death which menaced him, and, for a few seconds, was +fascinated by the dreadful sight. The tiny, glittering, bead-like eyes +of the reptile sparkled with rage, and its hood swelled and swelled in +its fury as it sought something to strike, something upon which it +might expend its store of deadly venom. But the grip of the Ruby King +held head and neck immovable except as he wished, and the cobra had no +power save over its coils. These were in constant and furious motion. +They were now wrapped tightly round U Saw's arm, now flung loose, and +then tightened anew as the angry snake twisted and writhed and sought +to free itself from the clutch which imprisoned its head. + +Inch by inch U Saw advanced the frightful flat head until the forked +tongue played immediately before Jack's eyes, and the grip on the head +was now slightly loosened, and the cobra opened wide its horrid jaws +and disclosed its poison fangs, and made convulsive efforts to reach +and strike the face just before it. + +Jack closed his eyes and drew a long, quivering breath. This torture +was exquisite beyond any bodily pain. But there was no thought of +yielding in his heart. Among these dark-skinned Asiatics he and his +father stood alone, and it lay with them to maintain the English name +and credit in this moment when men of a weaker race would have given +way and cringed and begged for mercy. + +Summoning up his utmost resolution, Jack opened his eyes again, +resolute to deny to his enemies the smallest token of their triumph. +But he found that the horrid, gaping jaws were no longer close to his +face. U Saw had stepped a pace backwards, and was adjusting his grip +of the reptile with the greatest care. + +He grasped it anew and more tightly, and stepped forward once more. +Now he advanced the flat head little by little towards Jack's naked +breast. At last it was so close that the cobra's tongue, darting in +and out, was touching the lad's body. Ah! that was horrible. To feel +the cold, forked tongue playing upon the warm flesh above the beating +heart, that heart which would be silenced for ever were but the keen +fangs advanced an inch or so farther. + +The natural repugnance of the flesh to so horrible a situation was too +strong for the spirit, and Jack could not restrain a convulsive +shudder, which shook him from head to foot. His father groaned in rage +and agony. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE FACE AT THE DOORWAY. + + +The sullen face of the Ruby King was lighted up with a smile of deep +relish. His savage nature was pleased to its depths to see the effect +this simple but exquisite torture had upon the Englishman within his +grasp. Again he drew back a pace, and waited a moment for Jack to +recover himself. Next he waved to the men who were holding Thomas +Haydon to bring their prisoner closer to the bound captive. They did +so, and now the position of those gathered in the ruined courtyard was +as follows. Jack faced the doorway, and the Ruby King and the +half-caste, with their followers clustered behind them, were on his +left. His father, under charge of the guards, was on his right, and +the fire, which was now at its highest, lighted the whole scene in +most brilliant fashion. + +Now U Saw raised his arm and stepped forward. His evil grin shone out +once more. He was enjoying himself to the full. Jack braced his back +against the post and clenched his fists as tightly as the ropes around +his wrists would allow, and set his teeth to endure without flinching. +His eyes were staring straight before him, into the blackness of the +ruined doorway. + +Suddenly into that patch of darkness there flashed a face, peeping in +on the scene, and as suddenly vanishing. Jack gave a great start and a +gasp. Was the torture turning his brain? He had known that face, but +it was not the face of any living man. It was the face of Me Dain, +their brave guide, who had fallen headlong into the raging torrent, +close-grappled with his foe. Jack's movement was hailed by a grim +chuckle from the ring of hostile faces. They misjudged it altogether. + +U Saw once more held the cobra forward, and glanced with savage +meaning at both father and son. Thomas Haydon watched the evil +creature with fascinated eyes, and saw that the Ruby King was +loosening ever so slightly, and little by little, his grasp of the +head, so that the venomous reptile was working forward through the +leathern grip towards Jack's breast. + +By tiny degrees the cobra worked itself on and on, but Jack saw it +not. His eyes were strained into the outer darkness. What had it +meant, that face? Was it a mere fancy, or was there more behind it +than he dreamed of? Then, with another great start of his frenzied, +overwrought body, he saw something else, a thing which none saw save +himself, for every eye was fixed on the deadly, wriggling serpent, +fighting to get his venomous fangs into that smooth white breast. + +There slipped into the light of the fire a little round gleaming tube +of steel. Six inches beyond the doorway was it thrust, then held still +and steady. Jack knew it for the muzzle of a Mannlicher, and realised +with a swelling heart what it meant. He turned his eyes on the dark +face of the Ruby King, who, with an air of infinite enjoyment, was +giving the writhing reptile a little and a little more liberty, and +Jack knew that U Saw was a dead man. + +A moment later the rifle spoke. There was a sharp jet of flame, a +crack, and a scream. The three were practically simultaneous, and the +scream rose from the wildly-parted lips of the Ruby King as he whirled +round and staggered against Saya Chone, a slip of lead driven through +his brain. + +The fate of the half-caste was striking and dreadful. The +mortally-smitten man flung out his right arm, and the cobra was swung +full against the man who stood beside him, and, at the same instant, +the Ruby King's grasp was loosened. Here was the chance for which the +creature, irritated to the utmost fury, had longed. It struck, struck +with all its might, and drove its deadly fangs deep into the throat of +the half-caste. + +The latter staggered back with a frightful yell, and tore the horrible +reptile from its grip, and cast it away. But the work was done, and +the full-filled poison sacs had emptied their store of venom into the +blood of Saya Chone. + +All this happened in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye; and +before a hand could be lifted among the retainers, a whirling +hurricane of lead smote with crushing fury among the close-packed +group of Kachins which had been clustered behind the leaders. A stream +of bullets was poured into them as swiftly as magazines could be +worked, and half their number went down headlong. None of the rest +stayed to face this awful and mysterious foe. To them it seemed as if +evil spirits must be encompassing their destruction, and they fled +from this dreadful attack, which leapt upon them so suddenly from the +darkness and the silence. Those who could move ran for a low place in +the ruined wall, climbed it frantically, and fled into the darkness, +yelling and terror-stricken. + +Now there burst into the courtyard three familiar figures. Buck Risley +led the way, Jim Dent followed, and Me Dain raced after. + +"Say," cried Buck, "we only dropped on this little fandango just in +time. Stand steady, Jack." With a few swift strokes of his knife he +severed Jack's bonds, and the English lad staggered aside, and was +caught by his father. They exchanged a strong, silent hand-grip, but +neither could speak. + +Jim Dent, a reloaded Mauser pistol in hand, was standing on guard. But +they had nothing to fear from the groaning wounded, nothing from the +Ruby King who lay with his evil smile fixed for ever on his dark face, +nothing from the half-caste, now writhing in the agonies of a terrible +death. + +"Say, Professor, this is great to see you again!" cried Buck joyfully, +as Mr. Haydon seized his faithful follower's hand. + +"Buck, Buck, this is wonderful," said Mr. Haydon in a shaking voice. +"You have come to our rescue at the moment of our utmost need. And +Dent and Me Dain. A thousand thanks. But what are words to tell you +how we feel?" + +"We know just how you feel, Professor," said Jim Dent. "We're only too +glad we turned up in time to put a stopper on their fiendish tricks. +Now the word is march." + +"Right, Jim," said Buck; "off we go. Come on, Me Dain." + +The Burman was bending over the body of the Ruby King, and stripping +off his rich silken girdle. + +"I come," he said, and they trooped across the courtyard together. + +Jack had not spoken a word. He had clasped the hands of his faithful +friends, but he was too overwrought and bewildered to be able to frame +his feelings into speech. He stumbled as he walked, for his limbs were +numbed from his bonds, and his father and Buck supported him. Near the +doorway the native woman waited for them. Her guard had fled, and she +had at once sprung to join her companions in flight. + +Their path ran across the open space before the pagoda. Here the +ponies of U Saw and his men had been picketed, and were now left +without watchers, for all had been drawn to the courtyard. Three of +these were caught and saddled, and led with the party till the ruins +were cleared and the open hill-side was gained. + +"Now we're right," breathed Jim Dent. "I don't reckon there was much +to fear from that lot we sent scuttling. They're dangerous enough as a +rule, but this time we rattled 'em all to pieces. Still, I'm glad to +be in the open." + +"Me Dain!" cried Jack, who was rapidly becoming himself again. "Is it +really you, alive and in the flesh? How did you escape after that +frightful fall from the ledge?" + +"I had very good luck, sahib," chuckled the Burman, "very good luck. +The Kachin was under when we drop down, and that break my fall. I very +near drowned, but at last I got on bank. Then I go on up the pass, and +run to the other sahibs." + +"Here's the road," said Jim Dent. "There's no moon, but we can see all +we want by the stars. Up you go." + +Jack, Mr. Haydon, and the native woman were set on the ponies, and +then the little cavalcade moved briskly forward, talking as they went, +and exchanging experiences. + +Me Dain's story made it plain that he had cleared the mouth of the +pass just before U Saw and his men blocked the way. He had put his +best foot forward and regained the camp, made in a solitary glen among +the hills, where Buck and Jim awaited him. The three of them had +started back at once well armed, but had travelled on foot in order +the more easily to escape observation. Thus the night had fallen by +the time they had gained the outskirts of the ruined city. They saw +the flare of the fire, and heard the voices of the encampment. Little +by little, and with the utmost care, they crept upon the Kachins and +brought aid in the very nick of time. + +"Say, I don't guess we need trouble much about these little blue-kilts +any more," remarked Buck Risley. + +"Not in the least, Buck," replied Mr. Haydon. "The death of their +leaders sets them at once free from their allegiance. I've no doubt in +the world but that the survivors will hurry back home and plunder U +Saw's house." + +"And how did that little half-caste come off?" asked Jim Dent. "I hope +he had something for his trouble." + +"Say, Jim," cried Buck, "didn't you twig that? It was about the best +touch in the show. The snake they'd got ready for Jack worked loose +when you dropped the King, and nipped the half-caste, and he hit the +long trail right away." + +"Serve him right, the little varmint," was Jim's comment. + +They had covered a league or more from the deserted city, when the +tinkle of running water fell on Jack's ears. + +"That sounds like a brook," he said. "I'm fearfully thirsty." + +"So am I," said his father. A brook it was, and they halted beside it +and drank their fill. + +"Better stop here till daylight," said Me Dain. "Not easy to find the +way over hills in the dark." So it was agreed to make a camp beside +the brook. The fugitives were quite willing, for they were exhausted +by fatigue, and when they had eaten a little of the food which Me Dain +had carried in a wallet across his shoulders, and drunk once more of +the water of the brook, they lay down and slept the deep sleep of +utter weariness. Their fresher companions, Buck and Jim, took turns to +watch through the night. + +By an hour after dawn they were all on the move, and did not halt +again till they reached the secluded hollow where the pack-ponies, +securely hobbled, were quietly grazing. In a trice Me Dain had a fire +blazing, and he and Buck soon made ready a good meal. When the meal +was over they sat in the shade of a clump of bamboos and discussed +affairs. + +Suddenly, with a grunt of surprise as if at his forgetfulness, Me Dain +sprang up and fetched the wallet which had been slung over his +shoulders. He laid it before Mr. Haydon, and began to draw forth a +long band of rich, glittering silk. + +"Why, you've brought U Saw's girdle, Me Dain," said Mr. Haydon. + +"Yes, sahib," said Me Dain, a broad smile lighting up his dark face as +he looked up at his old master. "And for why? You lose a big ruby. U +Saw got it." + +The meaning smile on his face broadened. + +Mr. Haydon slapped his knee with a crack like a pistol shot. There was +no need of words between them. + +"By Jove, Me Dain!" he cried, "I shouldn't be surprised if you are +right." + +"Right, quite right," said Me Dain. "U Saw never leave great stone +like that at home. Carry it everywhere. U Saw trust no man." + +By this time the others had grasped the meaning of this conversation. +Was the great ruby in U Saw's girdle? + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +HOW THINGS ENDED. + + +All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain. His swift, +practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft +band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby +King. + +"Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife. He made a couple of +rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his +old master. + +"Hold your hand, sahib," he said. + +Mr. Haydon held out his hand, and the Burman shook the girdle sharply. +A cry of admiration and wonder burst from every watcher as an immense +ruby fell into Mr. Haydon's palm and lay there glittering with +richest, deepest fire. + +The great expert did not need to take a second glance. "That's my +stone," he said. "Me Dain, I am indebted to you for ever. Its value to +me is beyond all money, for it represents my honour and the good faith +which I owe to those who employ me. Me Dain, my good friend, I shall +give you ten thousand rupees." + +"Oh, sahib," cried the Burman, overcome with the vision of so much +wealth, "it is too much for your servant." + +"Not a penny," said Mr. Haydon earnestly, "not a penny too much. You +have rendered me a service which no money can repay." + +Amid a buzz of wonder and surprise and delighted congratulation, the +huge stone was examined and passed from hand to hand. Then Mr. Haydon +took it again, wrapped it up in a piece of silk cut from the girdle, +and carefully bestowed it in an inner pocket. + +"I'll have another try to get to London with it," he said. "We ought +to manage it this time among us." + +Jack stood looking at his father with shining eyes, and Mr. Haydon now +turned to his son. As he did so, Buck slapped the tall lad on the +shoulder. + +"Say, Jack," he cried, "is this good enough for you? You've got your +father and the big pebble. Seems to me you've worked your way through +this business pretty successful. I reckon you've been the king pin of +this outfit." + +"Right, Buck, right," said Mr. Haydon in a tone of deep feeling. "I +was just thinking of what I owed to my boy." + +The next morning they struck south across the hills for Mogok, the +great mining town, and their journey thither, under the skilful +guidance of Me Dain, was made in safety. The native woman accompanied +them for the first half day of their journey, and then her path +branched off to the west. She took leave of them with a thousand +thanks and good wishes, and, from the store of ready money, carried +on one of the pack-ponies, she was furnished with a bag of silver +pieces which would make her a rich woman when she reached her native +village. + +Her parting words were mysterious. She said, "Tell the young sahib +that he will find that I have not forgotten him." + +Me Dain asked her what she meant, but, with a smile, she refused to +explain, and presently was lost to sight along a forest path, and they +saw her no more. + +From Mogok the travellers pushed on straight to Mandalay, where, +through a merchant of his acquaintance, Mr. Haydon obtained sufficient +money to pay Me Dain the reward he had promised. So that this time the +Burman retired to his native village with wealth beyond anything he +had ever dreamed of. + +This business detained them in Mandalay for some days, but one evening +Mr. Haydon said, "We'll take the first train to-morrow morning," and +the others nodded agreement. + +Jack went to his room to pack the big bag which he had bought to +contain his share of the baggage. The latter had been carried to the +room he occupied in the hotel, and he now began to look over it and +lay things in order. Presently he came to a torn flannel shirt, and he +looked at it with interest. It was the shirt which the half-caste had +rent from his breast, and he had replaced it with a spare one which +had been among their store. He raised it, and it felt oddly heavy. He +unrolled it, and found that it was wrapped round a small parcel. + +"What's this?" murmured Jack. "I never wrapped anything up in this +shirt." + +He took up the parcel and examined it. The outer covering was of +native cloth of a dull blue shade. Jack wondered where he had seen +such cloth before, then remembered that the head-dress of the native +woman, their companion in so adventurous an escape, had been made of +it. + +"Looks like a bit of that great bundle of stuff she twisted round and +round her head," reflected Jack. "Let's see what she's wrapped up for +a keepsake." + +But the chuckle with which these thoughts passed through his mind was +suddenly cut short. A lamp burned brightly on the table beside him. He +untied the scrap of cloth which was fastened about the parcel, and +unwrapped the folds. He gave a jump of astonishment and a cry of +amazement. For there before him, gleaming softly and richly in the +strong light of the lamp, lay a heap of magnificent jewels, glorious +rubies every one. + +He was still staring entranced at this extraordinary find among his +traps when the door was opened and a head thrust in. + +"Say, Jack," began the newcomer. + +"Buck!" cried the lad, "run and fetch my father and Jim, and come back +with them." + +Buck hurried away, and in less than a minute the four of them were +gathered about the heap of precious stones. + +"Oh, thunder!" breathed Jim Dent, in a soft tone of amazed wonder. + +"Say, Jack, who've you been stickin' up on the trail?" murmured Buck. +"Well, if they ain't got a shine on 'em!" and he could say no more. + +Mr. Haydon was whistling softly, his eyebrows raised. At last he +opened his mouth. "I fancy we've seen these before, Jack," he said. + +"Rather," said his son. "These are the rubies that lay among the bones +of the priests in the secret chamber. I dropped to that at once." + +"We never thought of them again," went on Mr. Haydon, "but the woman +gathered them and carried them off. Now she has passed them on to you +in this fashion. She must have tucked them into the baggage at some +moment when our backs were turned." + +"And this is what she meant by saying that he'd find she hadn't +forgotten him," broke in Buck. "Say, Jack, you've struck it rich this +time." + +The fingers of the expert were busy at the next moment among the rich +stones. Mr. Haydon handled each carefully, sorted them, then took a +pencil and began to appraise them roughly on a scrap of paper. While +he did this, Jack related in a low voice to the other two the story of +the secret chamber in the pagoda. + +"Well," said Mr. Haydon at length, "there are thirty-seven altogether. +They vary very much in size, but all are of excellent colour. Speaking +in round figures, they are worth about ninety thousand pounds." + +"Bully for you, Jack!" exclaimed Buck. + +"Bully for all of us, Buck," replied Jack quietly. "If you fancy I'm +going to pocket these, you've missed your kick by a long chalk. We'll +all share and share alike. Where would my father and myself have been +if you hadn't come to the rescue?" + +"Right, Jack, quite right," said Mr. Haydon. "But you will count me +out, if you please. We'll realise this parcel of stones in London, and +then divide the money squarely among you three;" and so it was +settled. + +"Then I'll come home with you!" cried Jim Dent. "I've had enough of +Rangoon, and this trip'll set me up as a rich man for life." + +"I hope the woman kept a few stones for herself," said Jack. His +father laughed. + +"If she's a wise woman she most certainly did not, my boy," he +answered. "The possession of rubies would lead to her getting her +throat cut as sure as she had a throat. No, no. She's much better off +with her bag of rupees." + +Five weeks later, about eleven o'clock on a Thursday morning, Jack and +his father walked into the city, and sought the offices of Messrs Lane +and Baumann. They had come through from Rangoon without a hitch, and +had run into Charing Cross by the boat-train the day before. + +As they walked along the crowded streets, Mr. Haydon smiled, and said +quietly to his son, "You've seen a thing or two, Jack, since last you +paid a visit to Lane & Baumann." + +"I have, father," said Jack. "It seems years ago since I was here +instead of a few months." + +Mr. Haydon had insisted on Jack accompanying him on this visit. "It +was in their offices that you vowed to begin your quest, Jack," he +said; "and in their offices you shall end it, as far as the great +stone is concerned." + +They were expected, and were at once shown up to Mr. Lane. The latter +sprang forward and greeted Mr. Haydon and Jack most warmly. + +"Welcome home," he said, "welcome home. I am delighted to see you safe +and sound in England once more, Mr. Haydon." + +"And I am very pleased to see you, Mr. Lane," said the famous expert, +"and glad to say that I have brought home in safety, after all, that +big stone, an account of which I cabled to you." + +He drew from his pocket the great ruby still wrapped in the fragment +cut from U Saw's girdle, and laid it before Mr. Lane. The latter gazed +spell-bound at its size and beauty. + +"A marvellous stone, Mr. Haydon!" he murmured at last. "A marvellous +stone! Ah," he went on, "I wonder what Baumann would say to-day if he +were confronted with this wonderful proof of his folly in leaving us." + +"Mr. Baumann is no longer your partner?" cried Thomas Haydon. + +"No," said Mr. Lane. "We disagreed, and he withdrew from the +partnership." Mr. Lane had too much delicacy to say that the quarrel +had arisen over their respective opinions as to Thomas Haydon's +honesty. Finding that he could not induce the senior partner to make +public what he believed to be the theft of the great jewel, Baumann +had broken off his connection with the firm. + +"I have a long story to tell you, but this is not the time to tell +it," said Jack's father. "You are too busy." + +"Will you both dine with me to-night?" cried the great merchant. "Then +we can have a good talk over things," and the invitation was accepted. + +As Jack and his father walked away from the offices, the former +remarked, "In one way I was much disappointed that Baumann was not +there. It would have been a cheerful arrangement to make him eat his +words. But on the whole it just caps the affair nicely to find that he +won't benefit by it. Now we'll turn our parcel of rubies into cash and +set up Jim and Buck with a good banking account apiece." + +His father nodded absently. Between his fingers he held the piece of +shining, delicate silk in which the great ruby had been wrapped. + +"I see you've brought the scrap of U Saw's girdle with you," said +Jack. + +"Yes, my boy," returned his father. "I shall never part with this +patch of silk. It stands in my eyes for a good deal. I am here safe +and sound, and the big stone is at last in the right hands." + +"Yes," said Jack quietly, "with the aid of staunch friends, I have +come to the end of my quest." + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Haydon's Quest, by John Finnemore + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK HAYDON'S QUEST *** + +***** This file should be named 19877.txt or 19877.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/9/8/7/19877/ + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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