hlyn, "you speak the dialect. I can understand only a
word here and there. But listen. Tell the chief that all we desire is
to be permitted to depart in peace later," she added significantly.

"What's up?"

"The child has a coin--a British sovereign--in her hand. She knows
where Umballa has secreted the treasure. Since father can not be
budged from his purpose, let us try deceit. You speak to the chief
while I explain to father."

To the chief Bruce said: "The treasure is evidently lost. So, after a
short rest, we shall return to our caravan and depart. We do not wish
to be the cause of trouble between you and your people."

"But, Sahib, they have the gold!"

"The false holy one doubtless gave them that before the explosion."
Bruce laid hold of his arm in a friendly fashion apparently, but in
reality as a warning. "All we want is a slight rest in your house.
After that we shall proceed upon our journey."

The mutineers could offer no reasonable objections to this and
signified that it was all one to them so long as the white people
departed. They had caused enough damage by their appearance and it
might be that it was through their agency that the promontory was all
but destroyed. The fish would be driven away for weeks. And what
would the fierce gun-runners say when they found out that their stores
had gone up in flame and smoke? Ai, ai! What would they do but beat
them and torture them for permitting any one to enter the cave?

"When these men come," answered the chief, with a dry smile, "I will
deal with them. None of us has entered the cave. They know me for a
man of truth. Perhaps you are right," he added to the mutineer.
"There could not have been a treasure there and escape the sharp eyes
of those Arabs. Go back to your homes. These white people shall be my
guests till they have rested and are ready to depart."

Reluctantly the men dispersed, and from his hiding-place Umballa saw
another of his schemes fall into pieces. There would be no fight, at
least for the present. The men, indeed, had hoped to come to actual
warfare, but they could not force war on their chief without some good
cause. After all, the sooner the white people were out of the way the
better for all concerned.

Did the leader of this open mutiny have ulterior designs upon the
treasure, upon the life of Umballa? Perhaps. At any rate, events so
shaped themselves as to nullify whatever plans he had formed in his
g