at was all.

"So be it. Allaha it shall be, without a meddling Ramabai; back to the
gurus who love you so!" He dropped his banter. "You call me a
murderer. I admit it. I have killed the man who was always throwing
his benefits into my face, who brought me up not as a companion but as
a plaything. He is dead. I slew him. After the first, what are two
or three more crimes of this order?" He snapped his fingers. "I want
that treasure, and you will tell me where it is before I am done with
you. You will tell me on your knees, gladly, gladly! Now, men! There
is a long journey before us."

The colonel, Kathlyn and Winnie were forced into one howdah, while
Umballa mounted the other. As for the quasi-mahouts, they were not
particularly happy behind the ears of the elephants, who, with that
keen appreciation of their herd, understood instinctively that they had
to do with novices. But for the promise of gold that dangled before
their eyes, threats of violent death could not have forced them upon
the elephants.

They started east, and the jungle closed in behind them.

As for Umballa, he cared not what became of the other prisoners.

They were being held captive in one of the village huts. The chief had
pleaded in vain. He was dishonored, for they had made him break his
word to the white people. So be it. Sooner or later the glitter of
gold would leave their eyes and they would come to him and beg for
pardon.

Moonlight. The village slept. Two fishermen sat before the hut
confining the prisoners, on guard. An elephant squealed in the
distance. Out of the shadow a sleek leopard, then another. The guards
jumped to their feet and scrambled away for dear life to the nearest
hut, crying the alarm. Bruce opened the door, which had no lock, and
peered forth. It was natural that the leopards should give their
immediate attention to the two men in flight. Bruce, realizing what
had happened, called softly to Ramabai and Pundita; and the three of
them stole out into the night, toward the camp. Bruce did not expect
to find any one there. What he wanted was to arm himself and to
examine the boulder.

Meantime, Ahmed returned with the truant elephant to find nothing but
disorder and evidence of a struggle. A tent was overturned, the long
grass trampled, and the colonel's sola-topee hat lay crumpled near
Kathlyn's tent.

"Ai, ai!" he wailed. But, being a philosopher, his wailing was of
short duration.