"Where does U Saw sell his rubies?" asked Dent.
"In China," replied the Burman. "Takes them along the great road to China from Burmah over the mountains. Sells them there for big, big money. Very rich and very strong is U Saw."
Then, with scarcely a pause, Moung San came out with a piece of news that made his hearers jump.
"When I am at Prome two weeks ago, the 'fire-boat' of U Saw pass me, and go up the river."
"Fire-boat!" cried Jim Dent. "U Saw possesses a steamer. How big, Moung San?"
Moung San went into details. He compared the "fire-boat" with the size of his hnau, he compared it with a river-steamer which now went puffing past, he described it with the greatest minuteness, for he had lain beside it at Bhamo for three days on the trip before last.
"Say," murmured Buck, looking round on his deeply-interested companions, "this beats the band. I didn't know U Saw had a steam yacht of about three hundred tons, for that's what Moung San's talk comes to. Say, Jim, my son, this clears things up a bit."
"It does that," said Dent. He turned to Jack.
"You see, sir," he remarked, "that Buck's guess hit the mark pretty straight. I'd stake my shop that the party we want was on that yacht."
Jack nodded, with bright eyes. "It must be so," he said, but Buck was again in conversation with the Burman.