parted from the elephants, the forest which ran along the
foot and clothed the northern slopes of the second-last range of
mountains between them and the frontier. But alas! there was no trace of
Badshah's herd; yet this was not surprising, for they found themselves
in a part unknown to them. Through this vast jungle they travelled by
day, until one evening they reached a deep gorge that pierced the range
and seemed to promise a passage through the mountains.

They camped for the night by its mouth, intending to enter it at
sunrise. Dawn found them breaking their fast on a scanty meal of dried
mutton and bananas. Suddenly Tashi stopped eating and held up a warning
hand. His companions drew their pistols, Frank having given his second
weapon to Muriel. Presently they heard the faint sounds of an animal's
approach on their track. Just as they had risen silently to their feet
three gigantic dogs appeared, scenting their trail. They were Tibetan
mastiffs, such as are to be seen chained in the court yards of
lamaseries. At sight of them the huge brutes stopped, crouched for an
instant, showing their fangs in a fierce snarl, and then rushed at them.

Without hesitation the three fired. One of the dogs dropped dead; but
the others, though wounded, came on. One bounded at Muriel. Frank threw
himself in front of her, firing rapidly at it. Several bullets struck
it, but the savage brute sprang at his throat. He grappled with it,
striving by main strength to hold it off. Muriel rushed to his aid and
putting her pistol to the mastiff's head shot it dead. Tashi meantime
had killed the third.

Knowing that their pursuers must be close behind the dogs they fled into
the gorge. On either hand stupendous cliffs towered up two thousand feet
above them, scarcely a hundred yards apart, seeming to meet overhead
and shut off the sky. Here and there the giant walls were split from top
to bottom in slits opening off the main passage. As the fugitives ran on
the gorge narrowed until it was scarcely fifty yards wide, and they
began to fear that it might prove only a _cul-de-sac_ in which they
would be hopelessly trapped. They heard cries behind them, strangely
echoed by the rocky walls. Breathless, panting, their tired limbs giving
way under them, they staggered blindly on.

The pass turned sharply to the right. As they approached the bend they
became aware of a dull rumbling, and the ground, which suddenly began to
slope steeply down, shook