"Then listen; I want your help. I am not alone, as I said. Away in the swamp lie twenty good men who would raze this place to the ground if anything were to happen to me. I, too, want revenge, and upon Jackson--he who ruined your husband, he who has hunted me until I live a beast of the field. I could kill him at any time, but that is not enough. I want him to live with a wound on his heart from which he will never recover. I will kill him afterward if it suits me, and now--stoop--see here," and the dacoit rapidly whispered to Ma Mie words that made her start back and say, "No! no!" "But I say yes--think of it--it is a vengeance worthy of a Burman. We will sack the place on the third night from this, and but one shall be spared. I shall take her to my swamp, and she shall live as my slave; but these white women are delicate, and I do not want her to die _yet_. I want your help, therefore--a woman needs a woman. Soh! You understand? You can name your price." "Vengeance has no price," said Ma Mie, "and I agree." "So be it," said the dacoit. "Then you will be ready?" "Yes," she replied; "and now go." "My blessing," and the dacoit rose and tottered out of the room. "Ho, mother!" he said as he passed the old Mah Kit, "the night air is chilly for old bones; you had better go in." "Old bones," the hag mumbled--"old bones, but eyes young yet, young yet. There is devilment abroad. What is it, daughter?" she asked as she entered the room. "It would have been death, mother, had he stayed another five minutes. I would have put my dagger in his heart. But let me be; I will tell you all. I must think." And she sat moodily slowly drawing the point of her stiletto in little crosses on the wood flooring. An hour or two passed in this way, and then Ma Mie looked up. "Mother," she said, "I am going on a journey. I shall be back on the third day from this. If _he_ comes, make some excuse. Listen, it will be worth a thousand to us." "Clever girl! clever girl!" said the hag; "leave it to Ma Kit. I know now. Oh, yes, I know many things that nobody else knows. He! he! When are you going, child?" "Now," said Ma Mie. "The little steamer touches here at ten to-night, and it now wants but a half hour to the time."