"I might go for anything, Chandra."
Biff let it go at that, because his own recollections of what had happened on the ledge were somewhat confused, so he could allow for a few mistakes on Chandra's part. Besides, there were more important things to think about. The most important of all was brought up in an odd way when they pitched camp late that same afternoon. Biff heard Li and Kamuka begin one of their old arguments, while the other boys gleefully listened in.
"Well, Kamuka," commented Li in an indulgent tone, "now that you're high in the Himalayas, how do the Andes stack up?"
"Still bigger," returned Kamuka. "Anyway, they look bigger. That's what's most important."
Kamuka looked for someone to agree, and he received an approving nod from Chuba.
"But there are things here that you won't find in the Andes," Li went on. "For instance"—he caught himself when Biff gave him a warning glance. Instead of mentioning Yetis, Li made a quick switch. "For instance, we have Lamas. You don't have people like that in the Andes."
"Sure we do," rejoined Kamuka. "Only they don't look like people. They look like yaks."
That brought a laugh from Biff, in which Mike joined. Chandra and Chuba were still puzzled, so Biff explained:
"Li means a Lama, spelled with one 'L' like Li. The Lamas are important people. We are on our way to see one now. But Kamuka is talking about llamas, spelled with a double 'l.' They are animals that carry packs in the Andes, as yaks do here."
Biff left it to Mike to go into further details on the subject while he went over to talk to Uncle Charlie and Barma Shah. Biff put a simple question.
"How are we going to find Chonsi?" Biff asked them. "When will we hear from the Grand Lama, the wisest man in the East?"
"I don't know," began Barma Shah, "unless—"
His eyes narrowed as he spoke. He was looking off toward the nearest mountain pass, and Biff, following his gaze, saw a tiny figure coming toward them at a jog-trot.
"What is it?" Biff asked anxiously. "Not—not a Yeti?"
"No, no." Barma Shah had raised a pair of binoculars and was studying the approaching man. "It is alongompa, a special kind of runner, who carries messages from one Lama to another. A longompa can keep up that pace all day."
"And he may have a message for us?"
"Very possibly."
The rangy longompa never slackened speed until he pulled into the camp. There, in some uncanny fashion, he picked out the leaders of the party. But when he approached Barma Shah and Charles Keene, he did not hand them the envelope he carried. Instead, he gave it to Biff. Then, with a faraway stare, the runner started off again, oblivious to everything—including the weather, for despite the freezing temperature, he wore only a simple goat skin and a pair of open sandals.
Biff opened the envelope and brought out a sheet of parchment which proved to be a map. He showed it to Uncle Charlie and Barma Shah. Together, they studied it in the firelight, for it was now dusk. The map puzzled them completely until Charles Keene declared: "I don't get it. Somebody has drawn what looks like a streak of lightning—"
"That's it! The Place of Living Thunder!" Barma Shah exclaimed.
He brought out another map and spread it in the firelight. It showed the whole course that the party had followed. Near the present campsite was a zig-zag line, exactly like the one on the parchment, but on a smaller scale.
"It is a chasm a mile deep," explained Barma Shah, "but only half that distance across. Nobody has ever gone there, because it is supposed to be impassable." He traced a dotted line on the longompa's chart. "It must lead to the Lost City of Chonsi. No wonder no one has ever found it! We'll start for there tomorrow."
They were off to an early start the next morning and soon were among scenes of grandeur that surpassed any so far encountered. Narrow valleys filled with odd, colorful flowers formed a contrast to the snow-topped peaks that loomed high above. Then, abruptly, the trail reached the brim of a deep, granite-walled canyon. Nearby was a cluster of trees indicated on the parchment map. A dotted line began from there, so the party moved into the grove. There they were halted by a big rock until the boys probed the underbrush around it and found stone steps leading downward.
Soon, the whole procession was following a dizzy trail chiseled in the canyon wall. Barma Shah had been right regarding its depth: it was at least a mile and perhaps more. The vast gulch followed a zigzag as shown on the map, and as they steadily descended, the brim of the gorge was totally lost from view, due to the narrowing of the walls.
Then, the zigzag sharpened, and on their own side of the gorge, they saw a fascinating sight. Through an opening in the granite poured what looked like a mammoth waterfall, except that it was utterly motionless. At the bottom, half a mile beneath, was a vast, glassy mass, pock-marked by thousands of huge stones.
"An icefall!" exclaimed Charles Keene. "A stream of water, frozen solid, pouring down to a glacier below!"
As he spoke, they saw a chunk of ice and rock drop from the brink and slide out along the graceful, frozen curve until it dropped straight down and struck the glacier. Then came a rising echo that reverberated through the gorge like a long roll of thunder. When the sound finally died away, Barma Shah said coolly:
"That is why they call it the Place of Living Thunder. People have heard that roar from the brink above, but we are the first to see what caused it—except for those who live in the valley."
Their course brought them to the huge icefall. This time Charles Keene and Barma Shah led the way together, followed by Hurdu and the Tibetan bearers, with Biff and the boys bringing up the rear. The path seemed a very safe one, being hewn in the solid rock. Granite steps took them upward to the overhanging curve of the giant icefall. Above that, a bridge of large steppingstones crossed the whitish flowing mass.
Biff, in the lead, leaped to the first stone and felt it quiver. He should have turned back, but instead, he tried to jump on to the next. The first stone suddenly went from under him, spilling Biff backward. Mike, who had reached the top of the steps, grabbed for Biff's hand and caught it with both of his own. Then Mike was swept off balance by the force of Biff's slide. Both would have gone skimming over the brink, except that Chuba and Kamuka, coming next, were in time to catch Mike's ankles and hold them.
They hadn't the strength to pull the pair back, and Biff, from his precarious position, realized why. That curving brink of perpetual ice was so smooth that it offered nothing in the way of a hold, not even the slightest amount of friction. Slowly, surely, the drag would bring all four along, unless someone's hold gave out.
In any case, Biff Brewster would be the first to slide out over that fatal curve and plunge the half mile to the glacier below!
XIXThe Lost City
From his hopeless perch, Biff heard Kamuka and Chuba shouting up above. "Come on, you fellows!" they yelled. "Lend a hand!" They were calling to Li and Chandra, who were still coming up the granite steps, but it was useless. Biff and Mike represented too much dead weight, even for all four.
Mike had Biff's wrist in a powerful grip. They were face to face as Biff looked up and said, "You'll have to let go, Mike. They may be able to haul you back, but not both of us."
"It's both," gritted Mike, "or neither!"
"But you'll only be dragging the others along, too. Can't you understand?"
"No." Mike grinned grimly as he was jolted upward. Then, as he slipped back downward, he added, "Yes."
Mike realized that Li had joined Chuba and Kamuka; that with Li's helping hand, they had managed a temporary lift, only to lose what little they had gained. But Mike still gripped Biff.
"Chandra will be helping them next," Mike said reassuringly. "With four pulling, it will make a difference."
"Yes, they'll manage to hold on a little longer," groaned Biff, "but it can't change things, Mike. They still can haul you up, if you'll only let go."
"Only Iwon'tlet go!"
A sharp sound was beating through Biff's brain. It came, "Crack—crack—crack—" in deadly monotone. He imagined he heard a new voice too, Chandra's voice, saying, "I'll be there, Biff!" Then came the "Crack—crack—" and again, "I'll be there—" closer, it seemed, and just below. For the first time, Biff steeled his nerve and looked down.
Chandrawasthere! On the curving brink itself, hanging to the ice where it was steeper than the spot where Biff himself was stretched. In his hand, Chandra held his axe, which he had retrieved after hurling it at the bear. With it, he was chopping into the ice, making those "Crack—crack—" sounds. Chandra hadn't gone up the steps to join the boys above. Instead, he had hacked steps of his own into the fringe of the icefall!
He'd made enough to gain hand and toeholds for himself. Working up from those at an outward angle, he had literally chopped a slanted ladder, climbing it as he did. Now he was denting the ice beside Biff's right ankle. That done, he shoved Biff's right foot into place. Biff shifted his weight in that direction. Instantly the strain on Mike lessened just enough for him to open his half-closed eyes and stare downward in wonder.
Crack—crack—crack—
There was a toehold for Biff's left foot now. That really eased the strain, for Mike's body immediately moved up a bit, pulled by the boys above. Chandra kept hacking, more steps, higher; Biff kept climbing the new ones, leaving the old to Chandra, who promptly followed. Then suddenly, Mike was up to safety and they were hauling Biff up, too, when he gasped:
"Wait! I'm bringing Chandra, too!"
So Biff was, for by now Chandra was tiring. He clung to Biff's leg with one hand and kept chopping steps with the other, just enough to work himself up. Then hands from above gripped Chandra, and he and Biff were hauled up side by side.
Kamuka found a board from an old catwalk and used it to bridge the gap across the missing steppingstone. One by one, the boys crossed the frozen stream above the mammoth icefall. They found steps on the other side and descended for nearly half a mile before they overtook the party. Charles Keene, Barma Shah, Hurdu, and all the rest were waiting on a great, wide lookout platform, viewing a stupendously breathtaking scene.
There, set in a tremendous niche across the mile-deep gorge, was the Lost City of Chonsi. There were small stone huts in the foreground. These, if seen from straight above, would look like nothing more than rock heaps. But the pride of Chonsi, the palace of the Grand Lama, rose above a towering array of great stone steps and castellated walls forming tier after tier of magnificent buildings to a height of nearly five hundred feet, only to be dwarfed by the more tremendous mass of the cliff that overhung it.
From the top of the great gorge it would be impossible even to glimpse this hidden wonder of the Himalayas in the massive hollow that had been hewn to contain it. Yet its relation to the gorge was such that sunlight streamed down into this secret setting during a good proportion of the day.
Barma Shah summed it up when he stated:
"There is an old saying: 'As long as the Himalayas stand, so will Chonsi.' Now I understand its meaning. If that cliff should tumble, the city would fall, too."
Amazed at the sight of the stupendous citadel, Biff did not tell hisUncle Charlie and Barma Shah about his near-plunge from the icefall.Instead, he reminded them of his mission:
"The sooner we get over there, the quicker we will find my father."
Both men agreed, but Barma Shah added, "You will have to see the GrandLama first."
That was the part that worried Biff most, though he didn't say so. Now that he was practically at his goal, he felt shakier than ever, for the Chonsi Lama now represented power on a vast scale, considering the size of his secret stronghold.
The party continued down the granite trail, which zigzagged to the bottom of the canyon and there crossed a deep but narrow stream on a bridge of simple logs. At the other side, they came to a great wall, where gates were being swung wide to receive them. They were ushered in by lesser lamas and other dignitaries, all wearing robes and costumes of an ancient day.
[Illustration:There, across the mile-deep gorge, was the Lost City ofChonsi]
With Hurdu and the porters following, they were conducted up outer steps, then deep beneath a portico and up more steps until they reached a magnificently tiled inner courtyard, where they were bowed to rows of benches. An elderly lama approached and gestured to Biff, as he said, "You may come."
Next, he addressed Charles Keene and Barma Shah. "You two may follow." Then, to the boys, "And you next." Pausing, he looked toward the porters and asked, "Any of these?"
Barma Shah decided to bring Hurdu and three others. So, in the order as arranged, they entered another portico and climbed a short flight of gilded steps into a reception room also decorated in gold. There, Biff was told that he was to enter the throne-room of the Grand Lama alone, while Charles Keene and Barma Shah were to be ready when summoned.
Golden doors were opening when Uncle Charlie whispered to Biff, "Remember, you're meeting one of the wisest men in the East, as I can now believe. Pay close attention." To that, Biff nodded. Then, as trumpets blared, he was ushered through the doors, clutching the ruby that he had carried all along as his final passport to the Grand Lama's presence.
Then Biff reached a throne where a figure in great golden robes and peaked hat awaited him. On each side stood a solemn dignitary, each in similar robes. One asked in a droning tone, "You have brought the Light of the Lama?" Then as Biff solemnly replied, "Yes," the other dignitary ordered, "Give it to the Great One."
No promises, no conditions, no mention of Biff's father. Just hand over the ruby and hope for the best. With a bow, Biff produced the magnificent red gem, which was glowing more vividly than ever. He placed it in the Chonsi Lama's outstretched left hand. Then, hoping to ask the obvious question, he looked up at the Great One.
Biff gasped despite himself. Instead of viewing the austere visage of a man in his mid-fifties, he was looking into the smiling, friendly face of a boy no older than himself. Still weighing the ruby in his left hand, the Chonsi Lama extended his right in greeting, as he said:
"Thank you, Biff!"
XXThe Master Spy
Before Biff could recover from his astonishment, the Chonsi Lama nodded to one of the men beside him. A moment later, a door opened in the side of the room and Mr. Brewster entered, as brisk and smiling as when Biff had last seen him. A glad meeting followed. Then, with his arm around Biff's shoulder, Mr. Brewster approached the throne, where the youthful Lama handed him the ruby, saying, "I know you would like to see this, after all you have done to bring it here."
Biff suddenly felt very much at home with this boy who was so friendly toward his father.
"The ruby is sparkling now," said Biff, "but it changes sometimes and turns dull. That worried Diwan Chand."
"Due probably to the setting," observed Mr. Brewster with a smile. "If moisture gets beneath the gem, it detracts from the sparkle, but only temporarily."
"I am glad to hear that." The Chonsi Lama smiled, as he took back the ruby. "I notice that its glow has lessened, and I do not care for bad omens."
As he placed the ruby in his robe, the Chonsi Lama turned to Biff again.
"Your father told me much about you," he said. "That was one reason why I wanted you to bring the ruby, as it was a good way to meet you. But we weren't quite ready to tell the world that I am now the Chonsi Lama. At last we can declare it."
He turned to one of the robed dignitaries.
"Usher in the others," he ordered. Then, as an afterthought, he added,"Bring the boys in first."
As Biff and his father stepped to one side, Mr. Brewster quietly explained that the former Chonsi Lama had died a few years after his visit to Leh, some twenty years before.
"He gave orders to keep his death a secret," explained Biff's father, "until times became less troubled. So a boy who was born at the time the old Lama died was chosen to succeed him. He grew up on the throne, and there he is now. I was as much surprised as you when I met him."
More surprises were due. As Biff's friends were ushered in, they looked as awed as Biff had been when he approached the throne. Awe turned to amazement when the boy Lama greeted them each by name and gave them the same winning smile that he had shown Biff.
"Bring in the others," the Chonsi Lama ordered, referring to Charles Keene and Barma Shah. He turned to Mr. Brewster. "I shall now officially announce that your mission is complete," he said. "The Light of the Lama has been returned. Since it was restored by the present government of India, I shall ally myself with that nation for our mutual advantage. As for the trouble you encountered at the gold mines, it still has puzzling factors—"
The Chonsi Lama broke off to greet the newcomers who were being ushered in. To Charles Keene, he said cordially, "I know you must be Biff's uncle." Then, turning to the other man, he added, "And you are Barma Shah—"
Mr. Brewster was coming forward in quick interruption to confront the bland man with the broad face and the wide ears. Biff, accustomed to his father's calm, was surprised to hear Mr. Brewster exclaim excitedly, "Wait! This man is not Barma Shah. He is an impostor! I have never seen him before!"
"No, I am not Barma Shah," the impostor stated. "But are you sure we haven't met? Don't you remember—"
He drew his hands over his ears, pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes to thin slits as he leered mockingly at Biff's father. His complete change of appearance was startling.
"The spy we nearly trapped down at the mine!" Mr. Brewster exclaimed."You are Bela Kron, the man who was after the ruby!"
"Yes, I am Bela Kron," the master spy answered, smiling. "And I took the place of your friend Barma Shah after he was killed in a Calcutta riot of a month ago. Now, I am taking over here!"
Kron, the pretended Barma Shah, was drawing a revolver from his pocket. He had raised his voice and it must have carried beyond the golden doors, for they suddenly burst open to admit Hurdu and the three men with him. No longer were the Changpas carrying bows and arrows. Hurdu had a revolver, and the others were similarly armed.
Efficiently, Kron motioned the robed dignitaries to one corner of the throne room, Thomas Brewster and Charles Keene to another, Biff and the boys to a third. That left the youthful Chonsi Lama still on his throne—for how long was a question, though he took the situation calmly.
Pleased by the way he and his picked crew had taken over, Bela Kron decided to enlarge upon it.
"I started the trouble at the mines," he bragged. "I wanted to acquire the Rajah's ruby as a passport to bring me to this hidden citadel, so I could either make my own terms with the Chonsi Lama, or else notify certain foreign factions just where they could find him. Brewster beat me here, but when I learned his son was bringing the ruby, I decided to come along with him."
With a mocking look toward Biff, Kron swept his hand around his head, turban fashion, then downward from his chin to indicate a beard.
"Remember that Sikh in the bus?" he demanded. "The one with the false beard? I was that Sikh. That's how I picked up your trail. I saw Chandra buy the tickets, and I purposely crossed your path later.
"For other reasons, I had helped stir the Kali cult into making trouble, but I didn't know they were hot after you. So from then on, I looked out for you, knowing that as Barma Shah, your father's friend and contact, you would bring me here. I saved your life during the tiger hunt, and again, when the bear was after you. I tried to get rid of your uncle on the bridge, because I didn't want him in the way. So I had Hurdu cut the cable."
Kron glanced at Hurdu, who shrugged apologetically.
"Hurdu was slow that time," declared Kron, "but he did a good job faking Yeti tracks to scare Tikse and his crew clear back to Leh, so we could hire the Changpas, who were waiting in the valley where the trails met."
It seemed that Bela Kron, the master spy, had called every possible turn. But he had a still bigger trick to play.
"My men are stationed in the courtyard below," he declared. "I shall have Hurdu send two of his men down and bring the rest up." He waved toward the door, and Hurdu promptly started the two men on their way. "Then we shall leave, taking you with us." Kron approached the Chonsi Lama as he spoke. "It will take all the wealth of this hidden city to make the first payment on your ransom."
Calmly, the youthful Lama studied Kron, then smiled as though ready to accept whatever fate decreed. Kron responded with a glare, then swung to view the others in the same ugly fashion.
"I'll soon decide what to do with the rest of you," Kron began. "In fact—" he paused as a heavy rap sounded on the golden door—"I'll decide right now, because Hurdu's men are back. Let them in, Hurdu." Hurdu turned and opened the door. As he did, he came flying back as though a tornado had hit him. Hurdu's gun scaled from his hand as he landed hard and flat. The one man still with Hurdu was jumping in to help him, only to be sprawled in the same efficient fashion.
Now, Biff saw the man with the double-barreled fists who had played the part of a human whirlwind. Biff raised a shout that the other boys echoed:
"Muscles!"
XXISecret of the Snows
Bela Kron, though standing ready with his gun, was caught flatfooted by the speed and power that Muscles showed. Kron was a crack shot, but he had to wait until Hurdu and the other husky guard were out of the way before he could open fire. In his eagerness to concentrate on Muscles, Kron forgot two others.
Those two were Thomas Brewster and Charles Keene. Knowing exactly how far Muscles could carry his drive, Biff's father and uncle acted accordingly. At the crucial moment, they launched a double drive of their own. Kron, coming to deliberate aim as Muscles hulked up as a target, was suddenly overwhelmed before he could pull the trigger of his gun.
Excitedly, Biff and the other boys were pointing to the outer room where more figures were appearing, but Muscles motioned for them to be calm. Then, through the doorway, came Tikse and half a dozen of his Ladakhi crew. Amiably, Muscles waved them out, saying, "Never mind, boys, you won't be needed."
The men from Leh realized suddenly that they were in the presence of the Chonsi Lama, and that in itself accomplished results. Bowing low, they backed out through the golden doors. Gravely, the Chonsi Lama returned their bows until they were gone. Then he turned to Biff and said, "If you introduce your friend Muscles, I will grant him an audience. Then he can tell his story of how he turned the tables."
Biff introduced Muscles, who responded characteristically.
"Everything's under control," he said, "so I can take time out to talk.It seems like talking is getting to be the best thing I do. ThoseSherpas we landed among thought I was what they called a Yeti, but Italked them out of it.
"Then they were so glad, they were ready to do anything I wanted, so I talked them into coming over this way and catching up with the party that was on its way here, just on the chance I might be needed.
"We tried to take a short cut and whom did we run into?" Muscles turned to Biff. "Your whole crew of porters, heading back to Leh. When they told me they'd been seeing Yeti tracks, I figured somebody had been faking them."
"Somebody was," returned Biff. "Hurdu."
The Chonsi Lama was becoming more and more intrigued. He expressed the eagerness felt by all the boys when he suddenly urged, "Go on, Muscles, tell us more!"
"Well, your honor," Muscles resumed, suddenly impressed by the youthful Lama's robe, "I did some more talking to Tikse and his friends. I told them that there weren't any such things as Yetis, and that having been mistaken for one, I was somebody who should know. So they turned right around and came along with me.
"Then, to convince them further, I rigged myself up in an old yak hide and wrapped old towels around my shoes, so I could scare Hurdu and his tribe into thinking they were really looking at a Yeti and not just his footprints."
"So you were the thing we saw go bounding up the ledge!" exclaimed Biff.
"That's right," said Muscles. "I kept on going, too, clear up beyond a big rock pile."
Chandra turned to Biff. "You see? I was right."
"It was dark when I started out," continued Muscles, "so I brought a rifle with me. I'd left it up behind the rock pile, and when I saw you tangling with that big bear, I up and clipped him, first shot. There was other shooting coming from down your way, so I had my chance to clear out and did."
"And you followed us from then on?" queried Biff.
"Sure did," returned Muscles. "We saw you go into a woods and disappear, so we did the same and found the steps that brought us down here. They let us in when I said I was with you, Biff, so I guess you're pretty important around here."
"Biff is important here," declared the Chonsi Lama. "Very important."
"I decided to take over," Muscles went on, "when we found a lot of Hurdu's men down in the courtyard. We jumped them before they knew what to expect. They knew, though, when they got it. I came on up and ran into a couple of Hurdu's men coming down. So I bagged them and turned them over to my crew. Then I walked in here, and you saw the rest."
It was time now for the Chonsi Lama to hold a conference with his advisers, so he politely bowed his visitors and rescuers out. On the way down from the throne room, Biff said to Muscles, "So you don't believe there are such things as Yetis?"
"I didn't when I came here," returned Muscles, "but after one look at this place, I am ready to believe anything."
They left Bela Kron, Hurdu, and a few of his men in the custody of the palace guards, a dozen men in garish red-and-yellow uniforms whose chief business was blowing trumpets, opening doors, and participating in ceremonies generally. The guards were armed with brass muskets that looked like models of ancient Chinese cannon and probably hadn't been fired since the day gunpowder was invented.
The guards were good custodians, however, for the massive buildings forming the foundations of the slant-walled palace were honeycombed with secret passages and hidden cells. Escape was impossible, even for Bela Kron, the master spy, and his principal followers.
As for the rest, they were simply Changpa tribesmen who had been coaxed in from remote Tibet by Hurdu, just as Muscles had brought in the visiting Sherpas from Nepal. By now, Sherpas and Changpas were becoming friends, rather than one group having the other in its charge. The Ladakhi, too, were fraternizing with both groups and all were so overwhelmed by the importance of the Chonsi Lama that they were ready to follow his commands. So they were given the freedom of the fabulous city until the time should come for them to return to their native climes.
Mr. Brewster sat in on the conferences held by the Chonsi Lama and his advisers, with Charles Keene an occasional participant in the deliberations. During breaks in the session, they chatted with Biff and the other boys, who were lodged in special guest quarters with Muscles.
"When the previous Lama died," Mr. Brewster stated, "he saw to it that his successor would be educated in modern ways as well as those of ancient days. Your friend, the young Lama, had an English tutor and is versed in other modern languages as well. He is now just sixteen years old and has two more years to go until he is of age.
"The two men you saw with him were the Acting Regent and the Prime Minister, who have been keeping Chonsi as it was, until the new Grand Lama takes full power. But now that the Rajah's ruby has been returned to become again the Light of the Lama, they have decided that this is their day of decision. All agree that Chonsi no longer should be the Lost City."
That became official the next day. The natives of Chonsi were told that they were free to visit the outer world without restriction. The Chonsi Lama entrusted Mr. Brewster with state despatches to be taken to New Delhi, so that the boundaries of tiny Chonsi could be defined and its status determined through international negotiations. Bela Kron, Hurdu, and a few others were to be turned over to the government of India, as they were wanted for crimes committed within the jurisdiction of that nation.
Biff and the boys had a last pleasant visit with the Chonsi Lama and then were on their way. All Chonsi was out to wave farewell to the departing visitors. From the distance came booming sounds like a parting salute, but not from guns. Those were the reverberations from the crashing masses of rock and ice that so frequently toppled from the granite walls that flanked this narrow land, the Place of Living Thunder.
All the porters and native tribesmen made the return climb from the mile-deep chasm and back through the mountain passes beyond. There were no serious incidents along the way, as the expedition no longer was troubled with plotters such as Bela Kron and Hurdu. Instead of returning to Leh with the Ladakhi, Biff and his father and the rest of the party continued south to the ranges where the Sherpas lived.
There, Charles Keene and Muscles put the plane in flying order, and after a few pleasant days in the fertile valley, the first group took off for New Delhi. Charles Keene was at the controls. With him were Mr. Brewster, Biff, Chandra, and Kamuka, all of whom could give first-hand evidence concerning the double dealings of the notorious Bela Kron.
Charles Keene was then to fly back to the Sherpa valley and pick up Muscles, Li, Chuba, and Mike Arista, to bring them on to New Delhi, where all the boys would meet again. But as the plane climbed high above the mountain pass, thoughts of a more immediate reunion flashed through Biff's mind and brought an anticipatory smile to his lips.
By the time they reached New Delhi, Biff's mother would be there from Darjeeling, with the twins. Eyes half closed, Biff could already picture the eager faces of Ted and Monica as his brother and sister waited breathlessly to hear the full story of his latest adventures!
[Illustration: Endpapers]
Transcriber's Notes
—Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is publicdomain in the country of publication.
—Provided a cover based on elements from the book, provided for free and unrestricted use with this eBook.
—Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings anddialect unchanged.
—In the text versions, delimited italics text inunderscores(theHTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.)
End of Project Gutenberg's Mystery of the Ambush in India, by Andy Adams