The Adventures of Kathlyn

From the soldiers about came wild huzzahs.

Ahmed and Lal Singh, packed away in the heart of the crowd, exchanged

gloomy looks. Once the army was Umballa's, they readily understood

what would follow: Umballa would acclaim himself, and the troops would

back him.

"We have a thousand guns and ten thousand rounds of ammunition,"

murmured Lal Singh.

"Perhaps we had best prevail upon Ramabai to strike at once. But wait.

The Colonel Sahib understands. He knows that if he signs anything it

will directly proved his death-warrant. There is still an obstacle at

Umballa's feet. Listen!"

Sadly Umballa recounted his adventure in full. The daughter of the

king and his friend, the American hunter, were dead. He, Umballa, had

arrived too late.

The colonel, mad with rage, was about to give Umballa the lie publicly,

when he saw a warning hand uplifted, and below that hand the face of

Ahmed. Ahmed shook his head. The colonel's shoulders drooped. In

that sign he read danger.

"They live," said Ahmed. "That is enough for the present. Let us

begone to the house of Ramabai."

"The Colonel Sahib is safe for the time being."

"And will be so long as he refuses to open the treasury door to

Umballa. There is a great deal to smile about, Lal Singh. Here is a

treasury, guarded by seven leopards, savage as savage can be. Only two

keepers ever dare approach them, and these keepers refuse to cage the

leopards without a formal order from the king or queen. Superstition

forbids Umballa to make way with the brutes. The people, your people

and mine, Lal Singh, believe that these leopards are sacred, and any

who kills them commits sacrilege, and you know what that amounts to

here. So there he dodders; too cowardly to fly in the face of

superstition. He must torture and humiliate the Colonel Sahib and his

daughter. Ah, these white people! They have heads and hearts of

steel. I know."

"And Umballa has the heart of a flea-bitten pariah dog. When the time

comes he will grovel and squirm and whine."

"He will," agreed Ahmed. "His feet are even now itching for the

treadmill."

The colonel was taken to one of the palace chambers, given a tub and

fresh clothing. Outside in the corridors guards patrolled, and there

were four who watched the window. He was a king, but well guarded.

Well, they had crowned him, but never should Umballa, through any

signature of his, put his hand into the royal treasury. Besides, this

time he had seen pity and sympathy in the faces of many who had looked

upon his entrance to the city. The one ray of comfort lay in the

knowledge that faithful Ahmed lived.

He dared not think of Kathlyn. He forced his mind to dwell upon his

surroundings, his own state of misery. Bruce was there, and Bruce was

a man of action and resource. He would give a good account of himself

before those bronze devils in the desert made away with him. He feared

not for Kathlyn's death, only her future. For they doubtless had lied

to Umballa. They would not kill Kathlyn so long as they believed she

was worth a single rupee.