Carried farther north, Avery and his companions see their first rescue attempt fail, encounter the marauding Ghoojurs, and seek refuge in a ruined temple while searching for another way to escape their pursuers. Wana Affghar of Puneput, Buktar Sing, and several other figures reveal conflicting designs upon the prisoners and the treasure, leading to gunfire, intrusion, deception, and difficult questions about whose honor and promises can be trusted. Determined to save the woman he loves, Avery turns to a final desperate plan involving a ransom and the Star of India, but betrayal and the warning that he may be too late place both the captives and the treasure in mortal danger. With the aid of those who remain loyal to their pledges, the truth and the hidden treasure are finally discovered, and the companions emerge from darkness into freedom before ending their long ordeal with a final salaam.
