"Kit," said her father, "Ahmed warned you not to stop."
"I am sorry."
It was on the tip of her tongue to retort that his own carelessness was
the basic cause of the pursuit; but she remembered in time what her
father had been through.
"There is a village not far," reminded Ahmed. "They are a friendly
people. It is quite possible, with the money we have, to buy some
horses, small but sturdy. But there is one thing I do not understand,
Sahib."
"And what is that?" asked the colonel.
"The readiness with which Umballa gave up the pursuit. It's a long
walk; let us be getting forward."
Late that afternoon they were all mounted once more, on strong
tractable ponies, with water and provisions. And the spirits of all
rose accordingly. Even Ahmed became cheerful.
"We'll make it, please God!" said the colonel. "Give me a telegraph
office. That's all I need just now."
"Two days, Sahib," said Ahmed, "we will reach the sea."
They rode all through the night, stopping only at dawn for breakfast
and a cat nap after. Then forward again till they came upon a hunter's
rest house, deserted. Here they agreed to spend the night. Beyond the
rest house were half a dozen scattered mud huts, occupied by natives
who pretended friendliness, lulling even the keen Ahmed into a sense of
security. But at dawn, when they awoke cheerfully to pick up the
trail, they found their horses and provisions gone.
The colonel, Bruce and Ahmed, still armed, never having permitted the
rifles out of their keeping, set out grimly in pursuit of the thieves,
while Kathlyn proceeded to forage on her own initiative.
She came presently upon a magnificent ravine, half a mile in depth.
There was a broad ledge some fifteen feet below. It was evidently used
as a goat path, for near at hand stood a shepherd's hut. Stirred by
the spirit of investigation, she made preparations for descent by
attaching the rope she had brought along to a stout boulder.
Panthers!
They were coming up the pathway behind her. It would be simple enough
to descend; but how to get back to the rest house? There was no time
to plan; she must act at once. She must drop down to the ledge and
trust to her star.
She called out loudly as she swung downward. The shepherd came running
out of his hut, dumfounded at what he saw.