Jack Haydon's Quest

belongings at the riverside village, and a couple of coolies carried t

nes 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 Burm

id Buck. "How are y

n, who had picked up a fair amount of English o

d Buck, pointing to Jack, and

e Dain," said Jack. "My father

of his servants," replied the Burman. "I, Me Dain,

y moved out of earshot of the inquisitive Chetti, hanging ab

ed 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 an

tart?" ask

," said Jack, and

replied, and their preparations for

hout coolies?" said

four of us, and a couple of ponies to

aggage was strapped on a couple of Burmese ponies, strong, shapely little b

h soon took them through tall palm groves out of sight of the river, and then began to climb upwards. They made a ma

ot to push through," said J

ore him. Peak upon peak, spur upon spur, rose a vast array of wild mountains

g red over there, the one wit

Jack, "I see

hat's the finest ground in the whole world for the ruby hunter," and he swung his hand in

kless 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 t

of a pagoda dart above the low trees ahead. A few steps again carried them from the fore

said Buck, and the Burman look

ward, 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,

ere 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 loo

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 mi

t's this game? Why, it's a Ka

going to lop Me Dain's h

ade up and looked

)," he said. "Did you see a

; three of them have

turbed by his queer experience, "this dangerous place to

ke of it, Me Da

ner, "but plenty more in the forest." He seized the dah as a weapon for himself, and all fou

llage," muttered Jim. "Let's see what