fortune for each of you when you put this on the sloop!"

Back through the cave they rushed, torches flaring. Once a bearer
stumbled over a powder can, and the torch holder all but sprawled over
him. Umballa's hair stood on end. Fear impelled the men toward the
exit.

"There is powder enough here to blow up all of Hind! Hasten!"

At the mouth of the exit the men with the torches, finding no further
need of them, carelessly flung them aside.

"Fools!" roared Umballa; "you have destroyed us!"

He fled. The bearers followed with the burden. Down the side of the
promontory they slid. Under a projecting ledge they paused, sweating
with terror. Suddenly the whole island rocked. An explosion followed
that was heard half a hundred miles away, where the gunboat of the
British Raj patrolled the shores. Rocks, trees, sand filled the air,
and small fires broke out here and there. The bulk of the damage,
however, was done to the far side of the promontory, not where the
frightened Umballa stood. A twisted rifle barrel fell at his feet.

"To the sloop!" he yelled. "It is all over!"

On the far side the other treasure seekers stood huddled together,
scarce knowing which way to turn. The miracle of it was that none of
them was hurt. Perhaps a quarter of an hour passed before their
faculties awoke.

"Look!" cried Kathlyn, pointing seaward.

What she saw was Umballa, setting adrift the boats which had brought
them from the mainland.

Came a second explosion, far more furious than the first. In the
downward rush Kathlyn stumbled and fell, the debris falling all about
her.

CHAPTER XXV

ON THE SLOOP

Blinded by the dust, tripped by the rolling stones, Bruce turned to
where he had seen Kathlyn fall. The explosion--the last one--had
opened up veins of strange gases, for the whole promontory appeared to
be on fire. He bent and caught up in his arms the precious burden,
staggered down to the beach, and plunged into the water. A small
trickle of blood flowing down her forehead explained everything; a
falling stone had struck her.

"Kit, Kit! I hope to God the treasure went up also." He dashed the
cold water into her face.

The others were unhurt, though dazed, and for the nonce incapable of
coherent thought or action.

"The boats!" Bruce laid Kathlyn down on the sand and signed to Winnie.
"Tend to her. I must take a chance at the boats. We could cross the
neck of sand at ebb, but Umballa will