ourge to the cities of the
Meinam, for, by Allah, as I told the sahibs at Ayuthia, the Hunted Tribe
has a weird history indeed."

Trailing our rifles, we walked through the rank grass, then resting upon
a fallen column, where the shadow of the ruined palace wall concealed us
from the view of the enemy if they crossed the bridge, we listened to
Hassan's story. At the same time we kept a careful watch upon the jagged
limestone spanning the river, ready at a moment's notice to renew the
struggle, and it was well for us that we did so.

II.

"It is a strange, wild story which the sahibs shall again hear of the
Hunted Tribe and of its leader," began Hassan, as he rested at our feet
with his sword gripped in his hand ready to wield it in our service at
any moment; "and thus ye will know why the band is out to-night on its
fell errand. Years ago, before the Burmese had overrun Siam, and while
Ayuthia was its capital, so famous for its pagodas and palaces, Yu Chan
became head of the bonzes or priests of the royal monastery.

"Who the great bonze was by birth none knew, although it was whispered
through the kingdom that he sprang from a certain illustrious family
which urged his claim to the position to which the ruler reluctantly
appointed him. The subject bonzes looked darkly upon him, for he was but
young, while many of them were bowed with age and aspired to hold the
high office to which Yu Chan had been appointed. Oft they drew together
in the gloomy cloisters, and when he swept past in silence, raised their
hands threateningly at his disappearing form, though before his lofty,
stern-set face they bowed in seeming humility as they kissed the hem of
his magnificent robe.

[Illustration: "THEY RAISED THEIR HANDS THREATENINGLY AT HIS
DISAPPEARING FORM."]

"Among these bonzes was one who especially resented Yu Chan's rule over
him, for he was more learned in the subtile crafts of the East than the
rest, and the potency of his spells was known and feared throughout
Siam. An unbending ascetic, indeed, was the grey-bearded Klan Hua, and
the ruler of the country had already promised to him that he should
become the head of the bonzes whenever the office was vacated. So much
was this ruler influenced by Klan Hua that he built a covered way from
his palace by which he might pass at night into the bonze's rude cell to
hear the interpretation of his dreams, or learn the coming events of his
destiny. Yet, in spite of all this,