wn carelessness.

"Kit," said her father, "our only chance is to refuse to discover to
Umballa where we have hidden the basket. Winnie, if you open your lips
it will be death--yours, Kit's, mine. To have been careless like this!
Oh, Kit, on my honor, if Umballa would undertake to convoy us to the
seaport I'd gladly give him all the treasure and all the money I have
of my own. But we know him too well. He will torture us all."

"I have gone through much; I can go through more," calmly replied
Kathlyn. "But I shall never wear a precious stone again, if I live. I
abhor them!"

"I am my father's daughter," said Winnie.

"Put the howdahs on the two elephants," Umballa ordered.

The men obeyed clumsily, being fishermen by occupation and mahouts by
compulsion.

Kathlyn tried in vain to see where they were taking Bruce and the
others. Some day, if she lived, she was going to devote a whole day to
weeping, for she never had time to in this land. The thought caused
her to smile, despite her despair.

When the elephants were properly saddled with the howdahs Umballa gave
his attention to the prisoners. He hailed them jovially. They were
old friends. What could he do for them?

"Conduct us to the seaport," said the colonel, "and on my word of honor
I will tell you where we have hidden the treasure."

"Ho!" jeered Umballa, arms akimbo, "I'd be a fool to put my head into
such a trap. I love you too well. Yet I am not wholly without heart.
Tell me where it lies and I will let you go."

"Cut our throats at once, you beast, for none of us will tell you under
any conditions save those I have named. Men," the colonel continued,
"this man is an ingrate, a thief and a murderer. He has promised you
much gold for your part in this. But in the end he will cheat you and
destroy you."

Umballa laughed. "They have already had their earnest. Soon they will
have more. But talk with them--plead, urge, promise. No more
questions? Well, then, listen. Reveal to me the treasure and you may
go free. If you refuse I shall take you back to Allaha--not publicly,
but secretly--there to inflict what punishments I see fit."

"I have nothing more to say," replied the colonel.

"No? And thou, white goddess?"

Kathlyn stared over his head, her face expressionless. It stirred him
more than outspoken contempt would have done.

"And you, pretty one?" Umballa eyed Winnie speculatively.

Winnie drew closer to her sister, th