about a mile down there is a ford."

"We'd better light out for it without losing any more time then,"
cried Buck. "We might see an ugly row of Kachins any minute now along
the brink of the gully behind us."

"True for you, Buck," said Jack. "Lead us at once to the ford, Me
Dain."

The Burman turned and hurried down the banks of the stream, and the
others followed. In a moment they were lost to sight among the tall
bushes which were dotted about the bank. When the sound of their
footsteps had completely died away, two figures slipped from the edge
of the jungle and approached the spot where the fugitives had stood.
The newcomers were a couple of dacoits, one the man who had been
wounded by Jack's first shot. The short, broad, powerful figures stood
for a moment in close conversation, then the wounded man started to
climb the bank of the ravine. The second dacoit plunged into the
bushes, and followed easily the track left by four men and two ponies.
It was his task to track the intruders down: his comrade was
despatched to find the rest of the band and lead them to enjoy the
revenge for which the blood-thirsty dacoits lusted.

CHAPTER XVII.

A FRIGHTFUL PERIL.

Meanwhile the fugitives, unconscious that a sleuth-hound was on their
track, hurried forward and came to a point where the river spread out
broadly over sandy flats.

"This is the ford," cried Me Dain.

"Why was it given up?" asked Jack.

"Because it was too dangerous, sahib," replied the Burman. "Many men,
many women have been seized by alligators at this ford. So the
villagers made a bridge at the narrow place higher up."

"Well, we shall have to face it," said Jack. "How deep is it in the
middle?"

"To the waist when the water is low," replied Me Dain.

"H'm, that's awkward," remarked Jim Dent, "for the water certainly
isn't low to-day. There's been rain among the hills. You can tell by
the colour. It may mean swimming in the middle."

"I'll try it first," cried Jack, "and I'll sing out to you how I find
it. Here goes!" He was about to spring into the river, when Jim Dent
called to him to stop.

"No, no," said Jim. "That won't do, Jack. We might lose you that way,
and we should prefer a good deal to lose a pony."

"Sure thing," said Buck, as Jim looked at him.

"Now," went on Dent, "here's our best plan. We'll go in in a bunch
with a pony each side of the party. Then, if some of these ugly brutes
come up to see who's crossing thei