The Adventures of Kathlyn

es away. He was happy. Here was the long delayed opportunity for the hand of the British Raj: a captive whit

hen he had secretly worked upon the king to throw himself into the protecting arms of the British Raj-assassinated! The

eady now and at all times to lay down his life for her; in this the British Raj came second. He had se

e being set up, native bearers and coolies were running to and fro, building fires, carrying water, hobbling the pack elephants. Wandering in and out of this ani

l make it tomorrow. It's but two hours' ride, but there's no hurry; and besides there

ws wort

, Sa

e; it signified a

ib will no

Bruce, emptying his p

white queen

bally nonsen

e been told, Sahib.

ip through his finger

how Hare Sahib saved him from the leopard? Well, he made Hare Sahib his heir. He had that right; th

ent pole. "Am I dreaming

ll me, Sahib. I kno

s some devil work; and I'll wager my shooting eye that that sleek scoundrel Umballa, as they call him, is at the bottom of it. A white woman, good old Hare's daughter. I'll look into this. It's the ninete

en miles away. He had been a bheestee (water carrier) to the house of Ramabai up to the young banker's incarcerati

ime in taking thi

am called a queen; tell him I am Colonel Hare's daughter, she who traveled with him on the same ship

simple evening meal

ce S

r face is

twice to my ban

ut what are yo

hib, aid for a young wom

facts. She is Hare Sahib's daughter; Ali told me

e same boat from Hongkong to Singapore." Ramab

he few women who had ever stirred him after the first glance. In God's name, why hadn't she said something? Why hadn't she told him she was Colonel Hare's daughter? How was he to know? (For Hare

on as I can settle my bungalo

ickly he outlined the desperate straits in whi

lled Bruc

, Sa

looking Colts; for this was before the days of the convenient automatics. "All aboard, Ramabai!" Bruce laughed; the sound was as hard and metallic as the click of the cartridge belt as he slung it roun

ny pitfalls, Sahi

dee

for. The priests and the council are back of him. And, after all, the pri

at for the jackals ... or I shall be," he added, in afterthought. "Now, do not speak till I sp

ad detailed him to follow, night and day, the young banker Ramabai. The white hunter was coming hot-foot to the city. He turned and ran. Running was his business; he was as tirele

stood about with torches. Suddenly beyond the gate half a reg

hunter is B

the dialects with

b will be pleas

y way to t

r guns at half aim. It was a necessary precaution. These white sahibs were general

mahout reached down with his silver tipped goad and touched the elephant on the knee. The big brute slowly and ponderously kneeled. Bru

n philosophically; argument or protest was futile. Next they took away his cartridge belt. He trembled for a moment with apprehension,

w?" he d

s guns and ammunition the h

the me

s he does not approach the palace. If he is found in the v

ll very hi

here. The orders of the regent a

y we

mab

By a kind of clairvoyan

shall retire to your house and r

queen's bo

accompany you if he wishes; there are no orders against that. The Sahib's elephant w

ayed," said Ramaba

er. "I have a servant by the name of Rao. I believe he acted as

smiled and s

t black scoundrel Umballa is at least thorough." Aloud

of action like Bruce it was maddening. He walked out of the house into the garden and back again at least a dozen times, always to find Ramabai with his head held despairingly in his hands. Another

dawn, and was aroused by

ier. Each day at dawn I water the

pt the sleep of the profoundly weari

gate, which can be op

about jerkily as the bheestee emptied his goatskin. He watched the man curiously; saw him drop the skin and tiptoe toward the h

ruce whispered

hm

Who was

"Ahmed is here. Who i

e enough: "Ahmed? He was Hare Sahi

up, Ahmed; I am Bruce.

w my master's daughter is to be carried into the jungle. The Mem-sahib is

" murmure

n, Ah

sources she is free, at least till the second ordeal. I know not what that is at present or when it is to take place. The troops will be there, and the populace, the council, the priest and Umballa

sked Ramabai. "Guards all about, and

low. A bheestee entered, a bheestee goes out. What is simpler than that? It is not light enough for the soldiers to notice. There

, holding out his h

must at least stand the ordeal of terror, for she is guarded too well. Yet, if they were not going to bind her, I should not w

w the water skin which Ramabai threw carelessly over his head. They sat down against the wall again and replenished the dung fi

wood with iron bars. The rear of the cage was solid; the front had a falling door. The whole structure rested upon low wheels, and there was a drop platform which rested upon the ground. An iron ring was attached

ok with horror and voiceless rage. He caught Ramabai by the

ll the Mem-sahib do? They will tie her in that and

ury, and I am wide awake! I may not be able to kill the brute with these revol

rned Ramabai, hu

ceremonials), a necklace of wonderful emeralds about her throat, stepped from her palanquin and stood waiting. From other vehicles and conveyances stepped Umballa, the council and the y

Well, there's going to be a miracle. See how straight she stands; not a sign of

sist taking a pot at the man. Kathlyn shook her head. Thereupon she was led to the

eyes. They could laugh behind Umballa's back, the gutter born, the iron heeled upstart; they could riddle (confidentially) the council with rude jests. The law was the law; and none, not even the priests in their shaven polls and yellow robes, might slip beyond the law as it read. The first ordeal was over. Nor, as the law read, cou

would come." And what she had seen in his eyes had

wled and cheered about her palanquin to the very gate

might have disquieted Bruce

there like one dead, nor would she be comforted by the worshiping Pundita. Bruc

d to the populace that on the next fete day the queen would confront the lions in the elephant arena.

conference between Br

d knows I can't do the impossible. Wh

powder mines you and your friends hid when the late king signified that he was inclined toward British protectorate? Eh? What about the republic thou hadst dreams of? Poor fool!

," said the bewildered Ramabai. Who was thi

ouf! Bang! There's your miracle. And a little one under the royal pavilion. And Umballa a

e. "But the fuses? No, no,

ull of strange magic-magic with copper wires that spit b

here, in thi

of his feet in the treadmill. He shall grind the poor man's corn. I know what I know. Now I must be off. I shall return to-morrow ni

ars another gazed at the sunny heavens in a far country, a sprite o

not lose his reason. With the finished cruelty of the East, Umballa had not visited Colonel

*

as only after much persuasion and argument could Bruce hold the men. At the testin

s was laid. This box was directly over a wooden canopy where the mahouts loafed between fights. Back of this canopy was a door which led outside. Through this Bruce proposed to l

aars, all were deserted as thoroughly as if the black wings of the plague had swept through the

leading the council was prevailed upon to permit him to sit with Bruce. A co

kindly attention on the part of Umballa to twist the white man's hear

ut softly in Spanish, "do y

thing desperate. Don't throw away your life.

e but save you. Attend me carefully. Behind you is a door. There will be an explosion in the center of the arena. Th

Mr. B

my name

e lions!" howl

at, tawny African brutes blinked and turned their shaggy heads this way and that, uneasily. Kathlyn stood very still. How, how could they save h

ith her. A great crevice had opened up between Kathlyn and the lions, one of which lay dead. Then came the rush toward the exits, a mad frantic rush. Not

o Kathlyn's side. But the key upon which the