ed the Burman, and led Jack to a long, narrow room
at the back of the monastery, a room lighted by a large window. Coming
from the blackness of the passages, Jack saw the window clearly, a
grey patch in the gloom of the walls. He ran across to it and looked
out. The window was high above the ground, twenty feet at least, and
looked upon a tangle of low bushes which ran almost to the wall of the
building.

"Men in the bushes. Me hear them," said Me Dain.

Jack nodded, and watched intently. The window was a mere hole in the
wall, closed, when necessary, by a shutter. At present the shutter was
fastened back, and Jack could hear every sound that was made below.

Presently his ears caught a rustling among the bushes, and he threw
his rifle forward. Then he returned it to the hollow of his arm. He
would wait and see what were the plans of the freebooters now ambushed
below. At this moment he found Me Dain's lips at his ear.

"They make ladder and come up here," breathed the Burman.

Jack nodded. That was the idea that had already struck him. Well, it
would be easy enough from above to sweep the ladder with a swift rifle
fire and drive the dacoits back into their hiding-place.

Then another idea struck him, and he turned it over and over. To drive
them back. Yes, that was all right. But it would still leave him and
his comrades prisoners with the Kachins in hiding about the monastery
and thirsting for their blood. Would it be possible to win a chance of
escape out of this? It seemed to him there was a chance, just a bare
chance, and he resolved to seize it. He drew Me Dain back into the
shadows, and whispered softly, "How many doors lead into this room?"

"One," answered the Burman, who had thoroughly explored the monastery
before the dusk fell.

"Can you fasten it?"

"Yes, very easy. Big lock, strong lock, and key in it."

"All right," said Jack. "Now you keep watch on, the men below. I'll be
back soon."

CHAPTER XIV.

JACK'S PLAN.

He hurried to the ground floor, and in a dozen swift words laid his
plan before his friends.

"Frightful risky!" said Jim, "Frightful risky! I don't say there's
nothing in it, but a big risk."

"We stand in fearful danger now, Jim," said Jack. "I know it's only a
chance, but we've got to do something, or these fellows will wipe us
out for a certainty."

"Sure thing," said Buck, "and there is a chance in Jack's idea. I'll
carry it out."

"No, Buck," said Jack firmly,