n to the palace was joyous this time; but in her heart of
hearts Kathlyn was skeptical. Till she trod the deck of a ship
homeward bound she would always be doubting.

Bruce did not have to seek Bala Khan. The night of Kathlyn's defiance
Ahmed had acquainted them with his errand. He was now on his way to
Bala Khan. They need trouble themselves no longer regarding the future.

"All goes well," said Ramabai; "for, to reach the hiding-place, we must
pass the city of Balakhan. I know where this cape is. It is not
large. It juts off into the sea, the Persian Gulf, perhaps half a
dozen miles. At high tide it becomes an island. None lives about
except the simple fishermen. Still, the journey is hazardous. The
truth is, it is a spot where there is much gun running; in fact, where
we found our guns and ammunition. I understand that there are great
secret stores of explosives hidden there."

"Any seaport near?" asked the colonel.

"Perhaps seventy miles north is the very town we stopped at a few weeks
ago."

The colonel seized Kathlyn in his arms. She played at gaiety for his
sake, but her heart was heavy with foreboding.

"And the filigree basket shall be divided between you and Pundita, Kit."

"Give it all to her, father. I have begun to hate what men call
precious stones."

"It shall be as you say; but we may all take a handful as a keepsake."

Two days later the expedition was ready to start. They intended to
pick up Ahmed on the way. There was nothing but the bungalow itself at
the camp.

Umballa was thereupon secretly taken from the treadmill. He was given
a camel and told what to do. He flung a curse at the minarets and
towers and domes looming mistily in the moonlight. Ransom? He would
destroy them; aye, and take the treasure himself, since he knew where
it now lay, this information having been obtained for him. He would
seek the world, choosing his habitation where he would.

Day after day he followed, tireless, indomitable, as steadfast upon the
trail as a jackal after a wounded antelope, never coming within range,
skulking about the camp at night, dropping behind in the morning, not
above picking up bits of food left by the treasure seekers. Money and
revenge; these would have kept him to the chase had he been dying.

As for Bala Khan, he was at once glad and sorry to see his friends.
Nothing would have pleased him more than to fall upon Allaha like the
thunderbolt he was. But he mad