w you are within there. You have left a score of signs in
the outer cave to show whither you have retreated. Come out, I tell
you."

He ceased, and stood as if awaiting a reply, but Jack made no answer.
He meant to give his enemies no idea of the point where he had
stationed himself. Again the half-caste's voice rang out.

"I will give you one minute again to come out," he called, "and then,
if you do not appear, I shall send in those who will fetch you out
more roughly than you will like."

Jack made no answer, but went down on one knee to give himself plenty
of room to strike overhead in the combat which was now near at hand.

The minute passed, and Saya Chone called out some orders to the
savage little men in blue, who were now hovering about the mouth of
the tunnel as if burning to rush in to the assault. Upon the orders
being given, three Kachins started forward.

Jack saw them clearly against the bright light outside, and his heart
swelled with rage and fierce anger. Not because each man held in his
hand his broad and glittering _dah_. Oh, no. That was all in the game,
and Jack was willing to give and take in the struggle between man and
man, out-numbered as he was. But each man had now drawn out a coil of
fine rope and slung it about his left arm. Jack saw that shameful
bonds were being prepared once more for his free limbs, and his heart
burned with fury.

"I'll die fighting before they shall tie me up again," breathed Jack
to himself, and he clutched still more tightly the heavy _dah_. Then
he drew a short, sharp breath, and held himself ready, every nerve
strung up to its highest tension, every muscle braced and ready for
action.

The Kachins were coming. Already their figures darkened the mouth of
the tunnel.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE RESOLVE OF BUCK AND JIM.

We must now return to Buck and Jim, whom we left in great perplexity
at the village festival, wondering what had become of their young
leader.

At the moment that Jack was dragged into the bushes by the Buddhist
monk, who was not really a monk at all, but one of Saya Chone's
followers in disguise, and the dancing girl, who was Saya Chone
himself, Buck was within a dozen yards of them, looking all about for
Jack. But he saw nothing of his young master, because a group of
people, also in Saya Chone's pay, covered the movements by which Jack
was drugged and carried off by his enemies.

"Thunder and mud," growled Buck. "Where's Jack got t