"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.
Luc