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.