violently under their feet. Wondering what new
danger, what fresh horror, awaited them they stumbled on, turned the
corner and stopped short in dismayed despair.

From side to side the gorge was filled with a tumultuous, racing flood
of foam-flecked water, a rushing river that poured out of a natural
tunnel in the steeply sloping rocky bottom of the pass as from a sluice.
It surged against the precipitous cliffs, leaping up against the walls
that hemmed it in, sweeping in mad onset of white-topped waves and
eddying whirlpools flinging spray high in air. The stoutest swimmer
would be tossed about helplessly in it, rolled over and over, choked,
suffocated, sucked under, the life beaten out of him.

For one wild moment Frank thought of seizing Muriel in his arms and
springing into the raging flood, but the sheer hopelessness of escape
that way checked him. It was certain death. Better to turn and face
their pursuers. There was more chance of life in battling with a score
or two of Bhutanese swordsmen than with the tumbling, tossing waters.

So, pistol in hand, the three retraced their steps, looking everywhere
for a suitable spot to make a stand. But on either hand the cliffs rose
sheer, their faces seamed here and there with cracks, but with never a
crevice big enough to shelter them. They passed the bend; and a few
hundred yards beyond it some large rocks fallen from the cliff on one
side lay close against its base.

Frank resolved to take their stand here. It was the only cover visible.
They fitted the holster-stocks to their pistols, converting them into
carbines which could be fired from the shoulder, enabling them to aim
more accurately at a longer range. Then while Tashi crept cautiously
along the pass to scout, the subaltern and the girl examined the
position for defence. Thus occupied they were startled by shots ringing
out, echoing down the vast canyon. Taking cover they saw their companion
running back followed by a body of men, a few mounted, the majority on
foot. Some had fire-arms, others bows, the rest swords.

Wargrave and Muriel opened on the pursuers with their automatic weapons
and checked them. Tashi was about a hundred yards from shelter when a
shot struck him. He stumbled and fell, while a howl of delight rose from
his foes. As he tried to struggle up bullets kicked up the dust round
him and several arrows dropped near.

"Muriel, loose off as many cartridges as you can to cover me," said
Wargrav