At a depth of three feet the basket was lowered, covered and the
boulder rolled into place. After that the colonel stooped and combed
the turf where the boulder had temporarily rested. He showed his
woodcraft there. It would take a keener eye than Umballa possessed to
note any disturbance. The safety of the treasure ultimately, however,
depended upon the loyalty of the keepers under Ahmed. They had been
with the colonel for years; yet . . . The colonel shrugged. He had to
trust them; that was all there was to the matter.
A sentinel came rushing up--one of the keepers.
"Something is stampeding the elephants!" he cried.
Ahmed and the men with him rushed off. In Ahmed's opinion, considering
what lay before them, elephants were more important than colored stones
and yellow metal. Without the elephants they would indeed find
themselves in sore straits.
"Let us move away from here," advised Bruce, picking up the implements
and shouldering them. He walked several yards away, tossed shovel and
pick into the bushes, tore at the turf and stamped on it, giving it
every appearance of having been disturbed. The colonel nodded
approvingly. It was a good point and he had overlooked it.
They returned hastily to camp, which was about two hundred yards beyond
the boulder. Kathlyn entered her tent to change her clothes, ragged,
soiled and burned. The odor of wet burned cloth is never agreeable.
And she needed dry shoes, even if there was but an hour or two before
bedtime.
Only one elephant had succeeded in bolting. In some manner he had
loosed his peg; but what had started him on the run they never learned.
The other elephants were swaying uneasily; but their pegs were deep and
their chains stout. Ahmed and the keepers went after the truant on
foot.
The noise of the chase died away. Bruce was lighting his pipe. The
colonel was examining by the firelight a few emeralds which he had
taken from the basket. Ramabai was pleasantly gazing at his wife.
Kathlyn and Winnie were emerging from the tent, when a yell greeted
their astonished ears. The camp was surrounded. From one side came
Umballa, from the other came the mutineers. Kathlyn and Winnie flew to
their father's side. In between came Umballa, with Bruce and Ramabai
and Pundita effectually separated. Umballa and his men closed in upon
the colonel and his daughters. Treasure and revenge!
Bruce made a furious effort to join Kathlyn, but the numbers against
him were too many. It was all done so suddenly and effectually, and
all due to their own carelessness.
"Kit," said her father, "our only chance is to refuse to discover to
Umballa where we have hidden the basket. Winnie, if you open your lips
it will be death--yours, Kit's, mine. To have been careless like this!
Oh, Kit, on my honor, if Umballa would undertake to convoy us to the
seaport I'd gladly give him all the treasure and all the money I have
of my own. But we know him too well. He will torture us all."