present desperate circumstances, utterly stranded in these wilds
among savage hill-tribes, he knew not at any moment when a savage
enemy might appear. He knew well that he had been lucky in falling in
with these quiet wood-cutters, and he hoped that such luck would stay
with him for a little till he could rejoin his friends.

The thought had scarcely crossed his mind when he saw that it was
vain, and that at this very moment he stood in the utmost danger from
his worst and deadliest foes. The moving objects he had seen came in
sight once more, a couple of naked fellows in turban and waist-cloth.
Jack knew them for Panthays, like the men who were now behind him
making ready for the march. Then, at the next second, he saw two
brilliant spots of colour, and knew that the Panthays were not alone.
A little cavalcade of six riders, mounted on ponies, followed the two
naked men on foot. The whole of the tiny procession passed over a
little clearing, and was lost again in a clump of bamboos.

Jack's heart beat fast and he drew a deep breath. Who were these men
the Panthays were leading towards him? He remembered two of his
enemies yesterday, and the two leading riders brought them to mind
again. Saya Chone had worn a head-dress of brilliant flaming scarlet,
the Strangler a turban of bright yellow.

Again the little procession filed into sight, out of the bamboos.
Scarlet and yellow the head-dresses of the first couple of mounted men
flashed vivid into the burning radiance of the sunlight. The riders
were too far off for Jack to make out their faces, but he did not need
that; he felt in his bones that his terrible enemies were upon him
once more, and he turned to fly. It was plain enough, too, how they
had hit upon his whereabouts. They had followed up the tracks of the
flying elephants, and inquired in every village round-about. Then the
Panthay, returning to his home for food, had spoken of the sahib they
had found among the hills, and had put the pursuers on Jack's trail.

As Jack turned he heard a grunt of surprise. One of the Panthays had
stepped forward and caught sight of the approaching cavalcade. Jack
sprang upon him, seized his naked shoulder, and drew him back into
shelter of the thicket. The two men looked at him in wonder. Our hero
had nothing but signs with which to communicate to these men the
danger in which he stood. He chose three effective movements. He
pointed to the oncoming strangers, he pointed to himse