e Ramabai promise that if ever he had
need of him to send. And Ramabai promised, hoping that he could adjust
and regulate his affairs without foreign assistance. They went on,
this time with Ahmed.

Toward the end of the journey they would be compelled to cross a chasm
on a rope and vine bridge. Umballa, knowing this, circled and reached
this bridge before they did. He set about weakening the support, so
that the weight of passengers could cause the structure to break and
fall into the torrent below. He could not otherwise reach the spot
where the treasure lay waiting.

The elephants would be forced to ford the rapids below the bridge.

Kathlyn, who had by this time regained much of her old confidence and
buoyancy, declared that she must be first to cross the bridge. She
gained the middle, when she felt a sickening sag. She turned and
shouted to the others to go back. She made a desperate effort to reach
the far end, but the bridge gave way, and she was hurled into the
swirling rapids. She was stunned for a moment; but the instinct to
live was strong. As she swung to and fro, whirled here, flung there,
she managed to catch hold of a rock which projected above the flying
foam.

A mahout, seeing her danger, urged his elephant toward her and reached
her just as she was about to let go.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE INVINCIBLE WILL

"Those ropes were cut," declared Ahmed.

"But who in the world could have cut them?" demanded the colonel.

Ahmed shrugged. "We may have been followed by thieves. They could
have got here before us, as we were forced to use the elephant trails.
Let us keep our eyes about us, Sahib. When one speaks of gold, the
wind carries the word far. And then . . ." He paused, scowling.

"And then what?"

"I do not want the Mem-sahib to hear," Ahmed whispered. "But who shall
say that this is not the work of the gurus, who never forget, who never
forgive, Sahib."

"But they would not follow!"

"Nay, but their servant would, on the fear of death. I will watch at
night hereafter."

Ahmed searched thoroughly about the ledge from which the east side of
the bridge had swung, but the barren rocks told him nothing. Armed
with his rifle, he plunged boldly back along the elephant trail, but
returned without success. Whoever was following them was an adept, as
secret as a Thuggee. All this worried Ahmed not a little. He readily
understood that the murderous attempt had not been directe