The Adventures of Kathlyn

The colonel, Kathlyn and Winnie were forced into one howdah, while

Umballa mounted the other. As for the quasi-mahouts, they were not

particularly happy behind the ears of the elephants, who, with that

keen appreciation of their herd, understood instinctively that they had

to do with novices. But for the promise of gold that dangled before

their eyes, threats of violent death could not have forced them upon

the elephants.

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.