Bala Khan nodded.
"Bruce Sahib, here, and I will undertake to carry them doctored opium. I know something about the drug. I believe that we saw the thieves last evening as we came through the streets. My plan is this: we will take five racing camels, go north and turn, making the well from the west. That will not look like pursuit."
"But five camels?" Bala Khan was curious.
"Yes. In order to allay the suspicions of the brigands, Kathlyn Mem-sahib and my wife must accompany us."
The colonel objected, but Kathlyn overruled his objections.
"But, Kit, they will recognize us. They will not have forgot me. They will know that we have come from the town, despite the fact that to all appearances we come from the West."
Bruce also shook his head. "It doesn't look good, Ramabai. Why not we three men?"
"They would be suspicious at once. They would reason, if they saw Kathlyn Mem-sahib and my wife with us that we were harmless. Will you trust me?"
"Anywhere," said the colonel. "But they will simply make us prisoners along with the elephant."
"Ah, but the Colonel Sahib forgets the opium." Ramabai laid his hand upon the colonel's arm. "Let them make prisoners of us. The very first thing they will do will be to search the saddle-bags. They will find the opium. In a quarter of an hour they will be as dead and we can return."