Morrowbie Jukes embarks on a mysterious journey when a fever leaves him weak and disoriented. His restless sleep is disrupted by the relentless howling of dogs. In a bid to silence them, he kills one, only to witness the pack consuming the carcass and continuing their howling with renewed vigor.

Desperate Measures

Frustrated, Morrowbie attempts to shoot the loudest dog, but his fever-induced dizziness causes him to miss, despite firing both barrels of his shotgun. Determined to put an end to the dog's torment, he decides to confront it using his boar spear. He mounts his pony, Pornic, and sets off, racing recklessly past the dog. The pony gallops on for miles, and before long, the river Sutlej looms before them. Suddenly, the pony stumbles, sending both horse and rider tumbling down a slope, where Morrowbie loses consciousness.

Strange Awakening

When Morrowbie regains his senses, he finds himself trapped inside a horseshoe-shaped crater, surrounded by towering slopes on three sides and bordered by the river on the fourth. His attempts to escape prove futile against the steep inclines. He is startled when he hears a gunshot from across the river, with a bullet narrowly missing Pornic.

An Unexpected Community

As time passes, Morrowbie becomes aware that he is not alone in this desolate place. Gradually, a group of about sixty-five people emerges from what he thought were abandoned badger holes. Among them is Gunga Dass, a Brahman and former telegraph master, whom Morrowbie recognizes by a distinctive scar he once caused. Gunga Dass greets him enthusiastically, calling him “Sahib” and begins to explain the peculiar nature of their predicament.

The Living Dead

The residents of the crater are individuals presumed dead from cholera, hastily taken for cremation. Some, however, were buried alive, with mud plastered over their mouths and noses. Those who survived the ordeal wound up in the crater, including Gunga Dass. During the day, a gunboat patrols the Sutlej, ensuring no one escapes the bizarre confines of the crater.

Power Shift

Gunga Dass seizes Morrowbie's money and even tries to take his boots, asserting that Morrowbie should eventually serve him. Reluctantly, Morrowbie realizes his position has shifted drastically; he is no longer in control. The residents kill his pony for food, a delicacy compared to their usual fare of roasted crow.

Finding a Way Out

Through his interactions with the crater's inhabitants, Morrowbie learns of a single perilous escape route along the riverbank, mostly consisting of deadly quicksand. He also becomes aware that another Briton had fallen into the crater, only to be murdered by Gunga Dass. In a bold move, Morrowbie retrieves the man's mummified body and discovers a journal containing the secret to escaping the deadly pit.

Confrontation and Escalation

Inside the journal, Morrowbie finds a piece of paper bearing the key to escape, edges singed by fire. Gunga Dass, realizing what Morrowbie has uncovered, seizes the paper. In a calculated act, Gunga Dass drops it, provoking Morrowbie to lunge for it. As he does, Gunga Dass strikes him on the head, rendering him unconscious.

Unexpected Rescue

Upon awakening, Morrowbie hears someone calling out, "Sahib! Sahib!" Looking up, he sees his dog boy, Dunnoo, peering down from a great height. Dunnoo ties together leather punkah ropes, forms a loop, and lowers it to Morrowbie. Securing the loop under his arms, Morrowbie is pulled up the crater’s side by Dunnoo, who has followed Pornic’s hoofprints over fourteen miles to rescue him.