w 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?"