Instead of the usual activity, there was not a man in sight.  It was some time before his bewildered brain could grasp the meaning of the puzzle.  Selim, who rode behind, came up and without a word directed his master’s attention to the long ridge of trees that bordered the broken hillsides.  Then he saw the miners.  Five hundred half-naked brown men were congregated in the shade of the trees, far to the right.  By the aid of his glasses he could see that one of their number was addressing them in an earnest, violent harangue.  It was not difficult, even at that distance, to recognise the speaker as Von Blitz.  From time to time, the silent watchers saw the throng exhibit violent signs of emotion.  There were frequent gesticulations, occasional dances; the faint sound of shouts came across the valley.

Chase shuddered.  He knew what it meant.  He turned to Selim, who sat beside him like a bronze statue, staring hard at the spectacle.

“How about Allah now, Selim?” he asked sententiously.

“Allah is great, Allah is good,” mumbled the Moslem youth, but without heart.

“Do you think He can save me from those dogs?” asked the master, with a kindly smile.

“Sahib, do not go among them to-day,” implored Selim impulsively.

“They are expecting me, Selim.  If I don’t come, they will know that I have funked.  They’ll know I am afraid of them.”

“Do not go to-day,” persisted Selim doggedly.  Suddenly he started, looking intently to the left along the line of the hill.  Chase followed the direction of his gaze and uttered a sharp exclamation of surprise.

Several hundred yards away, outlined against the blue sky beyond the knob, stood the motionless figure of a horse and its rider—­a woman in a green habit.  Chase could hardly believe his eyes.  It did not require a second glance to tell him who the rider was; he could not be mistaken in that slim, proud figure.  Without a moment’s hesitation he turned his horse’s head and rode rapidly toward her.  She had left the road to ride out upon the crest of the green knob.  Chase was in the mood to curse her temerity.

As he came up over the slope, she turned in the saddle to watch his approach.  He had time to see that two grooms from the stables were in the road below her.  There was a momentary flash of surprise and confusion in her eyes, succeeded at once by a warm glow of excitement.  She smiled as he drew up beside her, not noticing his unconscious frown.

“So those are the fabulous mines of Japat,” she said gaily, without other greeting.  “Where is the red glow from the rubies?”

His horse had come to a standstill beside hers.  Scarcely a foot separated his boot from her animal’s side.  If she detected the serious look in his face, she chose to ignore it.

“Who gave you permission to ride so far from the chateau?” he demanded, almost harshly.  She looked at him in amazement.