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.