er, Kyan Nyat. That's
where the man came from who was the Professor's head man on his last
trip, the chap who engaged the coolies and looked after everything. He
was about as useful as they make 'em, the Professor said when he got
back. His name's Me Dain, and he told me he was going back to his
native village. He was tired of Mogok."

"We'll look him up then, Buck," said Jack. "If we can get hold of him,
he could pilot us across country."

"Yes, yes," said Jim. "Straight from the river. Very good, now we know
what we're after. The sailing orders are Kyan Nyat."

CHAPTER X.

THE DACOITS.

Two days later a swift river steamer dropped three travellers and
their belongings at the riverside village, and a couple of coolies
carried the baggage to a rest-house on the crest of a slope above the
wide stream.

"Me Dain," said the landlord of the rest-house, a huge, fat Chetti,
with shaven head and scantily-clothed body. "Oh, yes, sahibs, he lives
here. He has returned from the ruby-mines with much pay, and has built
himself a fine, new house. I will send a messenger for him at once."
Within half an hour Me Dain appeared, a middle-sized, powerfully-built
Burman, with a broad, flattish, good-humoured face, marked by high
cheekbones. At sight of Buck, a merry face lighted up with the widest
of smiles, and he rushed forward to greet him.

"Well, Me Dain," said Buck. "How are you getting on now?"

"Pretty good, yes, pretty good," replied Me Dain, who had picked up a
fair amount of English on his travels. "And you, and the Sahib
Haydon?"

"This is the sahib's son," said Buck, pointing to Jack, and the Burman
bent very politely.

"I am very glad to know you, Me Dain," said Jack. "My father has
spoken very well of you."

"The Sahib was always kind to the poorest and worst of his servants,"
replied the Burman. "I, Me Dain, was always glad to be of use to so
kind a master."

"Come aside with me, Me Dain," said Buck, and the whole party moved
out of earshot of the inquisitive Chetti, hanging about to hear what
passed between the sahibs and his neighbour.

In two minutes Me Dain agreed to go with them. They had no difficulty
whatever in enlisting him. Despite his monied leisure and his new
house, Me Dain was already bored by the quiet life of his native
village, where nothing happened save that a river-steamer selling
goods called once a week. He was already longing for the trail and the
camp fire, and closed with