Next he ascertained that the British ship Simla would weigh anchor the following evening for Bombay; that there they could pick up the _Delhi_, bound for England.

There was nothing further to do but wait for the answer to the colonel's cable to Winnie, which would arrive somewhere about noon of the next day.
And that answer struck the hearts of all of them with the coldness of death.

Umballa had beaten them.

Winnie had sailed weeks ago for Allaha, in search of father and sister! Ahmed spat out his betel-nut and squared his shoulders.

Somehow he had rather expected something like this.