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.  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.