out delay on the good offer Jack made him to
act as guide to the region where Mr. Haydon had been surveying Lane &
Baumann's concession.

"When we start?" asked Me Dain.

"To-morrow morning," said Jack, and the Burman grinned.

"Then we be very busy at once," he replied, and their preparations for
the march were commenced forthwith.

"Can't we manage without coolies?" said Jack, and Buck nodded.

"Best plan," said Jim Dent. "Just the four of us, and a couple of
ponies to carry the traps." And so it was decided.

The dawn of the next day saw them afoot and leaving the rest-house.
Their baggage was strapped on a couple of Burmese ponies, strong,
shapely little beasts, not more than twelve hands high, hardy as wild
boars, nimble as cats.

Me Dain marched ahead with the ponies, and the three comrades walked
behind. The Burman followed a country road which soon took them
through tall palm groves out of sight of the river, and then began to
climb upwards. They made a march of four hours, when a halt was called
on a lofty ridge, where they sat down in a little clearing to eat and
rest.

"That's the country we've got to push through," said Jim Dent, and
pointed ahead.

Jack gazed eagerly on the magnificent scene which filled the vast
outlook before him. Peak upon peak, spur upon spur, rose a vast array
of wild mountains running to the north-west, till a range of great
summits closed in the horizon.

"See that big mountain shining red over there, the one with twin
peaks?" continued Jim.

"Yes," said Jack, "I see it plainly."

"That's near upon seventy miles from here," returned Jim, "and lies in
the ruby country. That's the finest ground in the whole world for the
ruby hunter," and he swung his hand in the direction of the vast sweep
of wild hill country into which they were about to plunge.

For three days their march was quite uneventful. By day Me Dain led
them along secret ways, sometimes mule tracks, sometimes hidden
country roads, sometimes through trackless jungle where he steered a
course as straight as a ship at sea. Then, towards evening on the
third day, he rejoiced them by describing a village where he intended
to spend the night, and at the thought of fresh warm milk, eggs,
chickens, fruit, and such like provisions to be obtained there, the
four travellers made swinging headway.

Presently Me Dain pointed forward and said, "Here we are," and they
saw the slender spire of a pagoda dart above the lo