When the attack on Muhammad was discovered, and the Pathans rushed to the drawbridge, the Kalmucks were aroused by the din, and flocked to the fence marking the boundary line. But they were unaware of what had happened until their turn came to cross the bridge and they heard the story from the Sikh on duty. A few minutes afterwards, however, it was discovered that neither Nurla Bai nor his dwarf henchman was among their party. No sooner was this reported than the head stableman rushed excitedly across the bridge, to announce that the ponies on which the two boys had ridden to the mine had disappeared. These successive discoveries threw the whole community into a state of seething agitation. Instead of going to their work, the men gathered in groups, discussing the strange thing that had happened to their foreman. Already the Pathans were shouting accusations of Nurla Bai across their fence, and Gur Buksh with his armed squad stood ready to intervene if the wild passions of the miners led from recrimination to blows. Mr. Appleton did not allow these events to interrupt his ministrations to the injured Pathan. When Muhammad, with his wound well dressed, had recovered consciousness, and was laid in one of the outhouses belonging to the domestic staff, Mr. Appleton and the boys returned to their rooms to finish dressing and breakfast. "It’s all as plain as a pikestaff now," said the elder man. "Nurla has got all he wanted; he must have guessed that he was suspected, and very wisely decamped. And he paid off his old grudge against Muhammad before he left. He’s got your ponies too. That’s what they call robbery with violence, I think." "What shall you do, Uncle?" asked Lawrence. "Go after him, of course. I couldn’t otherwise hold the Pathans for an hour. They know I’m just, and as good as my word. If I tell them that Nurla shall be caught and punished they’ll believe me and remain as quiet as Gur Buksh can keep them. Otherwise they’d desert in a body and hunt the hills themselves." "Nurla’s got a good start: it won’t be easy to catch him," said Lawrence. "You forget Bob’s aeroplane, my boy," said Mr. Appleton. CHAPTER THE SEVENTH NURLA AT BAY