ng done the sixty miles from the
village without a halt. They had already cooked some rice and some
slices of venison--which Meinik had brought, with the water skins,
from the town that morning--and were now lying smoking their cigars
with placid contentment.

For the next six days Meinik went to the town every afternoon. On
his return on the last evening, he said that the guard had told him
that the governor had paid a visit to the prison, that day, and had
seen the white captive; and had decided that he was now well enough
to travel, and that in two days' time he was to start for Ava, the
court having sent down an urgent order that he should be carried
there as soon as he was well enough to bear the fatigue.

"Then tomorrow we must get him out," Stanley said. "Will our two
men be on duty?"

"Yes, master, they have not been on since the last night we were
there. They will form the second watch, and will go on guard at
midnight. I have bought two very sharp saws, and have cut two
strong bamboos for the litter."

This was constructed the next day. It was very simple, being formed
by sewing a blanket strongly to the two bamboos. Two slighter
bamboos, each four feet long, were tied loosely to the main poles.
These were to be lashed across, as soon as they had got beyond the
palisade, so as to keep the poles three feet apart--which, as the
blanket was four feet, from pole to pole, would allow it to bag
comfortably. The cross pieces could not be attached until they were
beyond the palisade; for the window was but two feet wide, and it
was therefore proposed to make the gap through the palisade the
same width, only.

Late in the evening they entered the town, and sat down in a
deserted corner until the time came for them to begin their work.
At last Meinik said that, by the stars, it was already past
midnight; and they then proceeded to the spot where they had before
climbed the palisade. Here they at once set to work. The saws were
well oiled and, in a very few minutes, five bamboos were cut away,
at the level of the ground and six feet above it. As the stockade
was bound together by cross pieces, behind, the other portions of
the bamboos remained in their places.

Meinik and Stanley went first, followed by three of the Burmans,
one of whom carried the litter. The other two Burmans with the
boys, remained on guard at the opening. All were barefooted, except
that Stanley wore a pair of the lightest leather sandals. T