ely. 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 f