us 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