"I wonder if there's another bridge handy," remarked Jack. "Where's the next bridge, Me Dain?" "A long way down the river, sahib, but there is a village about four miles off." "Then they've gone there to borrow a boat, I'll wager a trifle on that," cried Jack. "Right for you, Jack," said Dent. "We'd better be on the move. But what can we do with this pony?" The poor beast, which the alligator had mauled, had managed to get ashore and that was all. Its leg was frightfully torn. "This pony 'll never hit the trail again," remarked Buck, after he had examined it carefully. "We shall have to carry its pack partly between us and partly on the other pony." "Poor little brute," said Jack. "It's suffering fearfully. Look at its eyes!" "We can do nothing for it, I'm afraid," remarked Jim. "No," said Buck, "but if we don't hump round a bit, somebody'll do something for us." This hint of the danger in which they still stood from the blood-thirsty and revengeful dacoits quickened their movements, and the wounded pony was stripped in a few moments. The other pony was quite unhurt, and a good share of the baggage was added to its load for the present; the remainder was swung up on the shoulders of the four members of the party. Jack, Jim, and the Burman now marched swiftly up the river bank towards the road which ran from the broken bridge. Buck stayed behind for a moment. Soon his companions heard the crack of the pistol which put an end to the sufferings of the wounded pony, then heard Buck's footsteps as he hastened to rejoin them. "What a lucky thing you packed the ammunition in water-tight tins, Jim," remarked Jack, as they pushed at full speed along the bank. "Yes," said Jim, "I've been in this country a time or two afore. It wasn't wetter in that river than it is in the jungle at times when a storm catches you." "I've lost my Mauser pistol," said Jack. "It had to go when that brute knocked my legs from under me. I had to drop it to whip my knife out. Luckily I've got my rifle all right. That was on the sling." "We've got another Mauser in the outfit," said Jim. "I slipped a couple of spare ones in. We'll turn it out at the next stopping-place." No more was said, and they pushed on swiftly along the river bank. The day was fearfully hot and the road rough. Jim Dent began to puff and blow under his burden. "Say," grunted Buck, "this is a tough job running away under loads from dacoits who'll scour after us like coyotes as soon as they hit our bank of the river." "It is," panted Jim. "Me Dain, how far is it to the next village which is strong enough to make us safe against the Kachins?" The Burman shook his head. "Soon the road leaves the river," he said. "Then it goes through jungle. But it passes only little villages, very little."