Though Biff was eager to hear more about his father, he realized that Judge Arista was following proper procedure—learning the facts so that he and Colonel Gorak could weigh them. Biff related the events from the time the Northern Star had docked in Calcutta. Judge Arista encouraged Kamuka and Chandra to add their impressions. Chandra, especially, came in for questioning regarding Jinnah Jad, Diwan Chand, and Barma Shah.
All three boys had much to say about Barma Shah and their adventures with him, including how he had saved Biff's life during the tiger hunt and had later responded to Biff's call when a thug had tried to steal the ruby at the dak bungalow. Judge Arista finally turned to Colonel Gorak and said:
"I am sure that we can trust these other boys as well as Biff. So I think they should all hear what you have to tell him about Senor Brewster."
Colonel Gorak bowed acknowledgment, then spoke to Biff in an even, methodical tone.
"Your father came here to India to open some old gold mines," related Colonel Gorak. "We were hopeful that investors would supply money to work them. Among these mines were some that once belonged to the Rajah of Bildapore, a small domain that was absorbed by a larger princely state, though the Rajah's family still owned the mines until the Indian government finally acquired them.
"When miners went down into the old shafts, they met with inexplicable accidents. They claimed that the mines were haunted by ghosts and demons, but we blamed it on outside factions. However, Mr. Brewster found there was some basis for the superstition, as it was part of a legend dating back five hundred years."
As Colonel Gorak paused, Kamuka exclaimed despite himself, "Five hundred years! That is a long, long time!"
"Not in India," put in Chandra promptly. "Here it is very short."
"Quite true," agreed Colonel Gorak seriously. "Five hundred years ago, the ruling Rajah of Bildapore received a magnificent ruby from the Grand Lama of Chonsi, a lost city near the border of India and Tibet. The saying was, 'While the Light of the Lama shines, so will the Star of the Rajah'—and that proved true, for the mines showed steady profits and were finally sold at a good price.
"Part of those profits were invested in gems which the Rajah's family promised to give to the Chonsi Lama in return for the luck the ruby had brought them. That was to be done if ever the Rajah's descendants disposed of their holdings, which they finally did. But Mr. Brewster learned that the gems had been hidden by loyal servants of the Rajah's family, because outsiders were seeking them."