p here till daylight," said Me Dain. "Not easy to find the
way over hills in the dark." So it was agreed to make a camp beside
the brook. The fugitives were quite willing, for they were exhausted
by fatigue, and when they had eaten a little of the food which Me Dain
had carried in a wallet across his shoulders, and drunk once more of
the water of the brook, they lay down and slept the deep sleep of
utter weariness. Their fresher companions, Buck and Jim, took turns to
watch through the night.

By an hour after dawn they were all on the move, and did not halt
again till they reached the secluded hollow where the pack-ponies,
securely hobbled, were quietly grazing. In a trice Me Dain had a fire
blazing, and he and Buck soon made ready a good meal. When the meal
was over they sat in the shade of a clump of bamboos and discussed
affairs.

Suddenly, with a grunt of surprise as if at his forgetfulness, Me Dain
sprang up and fetched the wallet which had been slung over his
shoulders. He laid it before Mr. Haydon, and began to draw forth a
long band of rich, glittering silk.

"Why, you've brought U Saw's girdle, Me Dain," said Mr. Haydon.

"Yes, sahib," said Me Dain, a broad smile lighting up his dark face as
he looked up at his old master. "And for why? You lose a big ruby. U
Saw got it."

The meaning smile on his face broadened.

Mr. Haydon slapped his knee with a crack like a pistol shot. There was
no need of words between them.

"By Jove, Me Dain!" he cried, "I shouldn't be surprised if you are
right."

"Right, quite right," said Me Dain. "U Saw never leave great stone
like that at home. Carry it everywhere. U Saw trust no man."

By this time the others had grasped the meaning of this conversation.
Was the great ruby in U Saw's girdle?

CHAPTER XLIV.

HOW THINGS ENDED.

All eyes were fixed in breathless excitement on Me Dain. His swift,
practised fingers rapidly explored the intricacies of the long, soft
band which had been wound twice or thrice round the waist of the Ruby
King.

"Lump here," grunted Me Dain, drawing his knife. He made a couple of
rapid snicks, pulled the silk open, glanced in, then looked up at his
old master.

"Hold your hand, sahib," he said.

Mr. Haydon held out his hand, and the Burman shook the girdle sharply.
A cry of admiration and wonder burst from every watcher as an immense
ruby fell into Mr. Haydon's palm and lay there glittering with
richest, deepest fire.

The g