He ran to the boulder and examined it carefully. It
had not been touched. That was well. At least that meant that his
Sahib and Mem-sahib lived. Treasure! He spat out a curse . . . and
threw his rifle to his shoulder. But his rage turned to joy as he
discovered who the arrivals were.

"Bruce Sahib!"

"Yes, Ahmed. Umballa got the best of us. We were tricked by the
truant elephant. He has taken Kathlyn back toward Allaha."

"And so shall we return!"

Ahmed called his weary men. His idea was to fill the elephant
saddle-bags with gold and stones, leave it in trust with Bala Khan, who
should in truth this time take his tulwar down from the wall. He
divided his men, one company to guard and the other to labor. It took
half an hour to push back the boulder and dig up the basket. After
this was done Bruce and Ramabai and Ahmed the indefatigable carried the
gold and precious stones to the especially made saddle-bags. All told,
it took fully an hour to complete the work.

With water and food, and well armed, they began the journey back to
Allaha, a formidable cortege and in no tender mood. They proceeded in
forced marches, snatching what sleep they could during the preparation
of the meals.

Many a time the impulse came to Bruce to pluck the shining metal and
sparkling stones from the saddle-bags and toss them out into the
jungle, to be lost till the crack of doom. There were also moments
when he felt nothing but hatred toward the father of the girl he loved.
For these trinkets Kathlyn had gone through tortures as frightful
almost as those in the days of the Inquisition. Upon one thing he and
Ahmed had agreed, despite Ramabai's wild protest; they would leave the
treasure with Bala Khan and follow his army to the walls of Allaha. If
harm befell any of their loved ones not one stone should remain upon
another. And Bruce declared that he would seek Umballa to the ends of
the earth for the infinite pleasure of taking his black throat in his
two hands and squeezing the life out of it.

Eventually and without mishap they came to the walled city of the
desert, Bala Khan's stronghold. Bala Khan of necessity was always
ready, always prepared. Before night of the day of their arrival an
army was gathered within the city.

Ramabai sat in his howdah, sad and dispirited.

"Bala Khan, we have been friends, and my father was your good friend."

"It is true."

"Will you do a favor for the son?"

"Yes. If the