The Adventures of Kathlyn

And through all this turmoil and clamor Ahmed and Lal Singh moved,

sounding the true sentiments of the people. They did not want white

kings or white queens; they desired to be ruled by their kind, who

would not start innovations but would let affairs drift on as they had

done for centuries.

Nor was Bruce inactive. Many a time Umballa had stood within an arm's

length of death; but always Bruce had resisted the impulse. It would

be rank folly to upset Ramabai's plans, which were to culminate in

Umballa's overthrow.

But upon a certain hour Ramabai came to Bruce, much alarmed. During

his absence with Pundita at some palace affair his home had been

entered, ransacked, and ten thousand rupees had been stolen. His real

fortune, however, was hidden securely. The real trouble was that these

ten thousand rupees would practically undo much of what had been

accomplished. He was certain that Umballa had instigated this theft,

and that the money would be doled out to the soldiers. For upon their

dissatisfaction rested his future.

"Take Bala Khan at his word," suggested Bruce, "and ask him for his

five thousand hillmen."

Ramabai smiled. "And have Bala Khan constitute himself the king of

Allaha! No, Sahib; he is a good friend, but he is also a dangerous

one. We must have patience."

"Patience!" exploded Bruce.

"I have waited several years. Do you not see that when I strike I must

succeed?"

"But these warnings to Umballa?"

"He is not molesting me, is he?" returned Ramabai calmly.

"Well, it is more than I could stand."

"Ah, you white people waste so much life and money by acting upon your

impulses! Trust me; my way is best; and that is, for the present we

must wait."

"God knows," sighed Bruce, "but I am beginning to believe in the

colonel's guru."

"Who can say? There are some in this land who possess mighty wills,

who can make man sleep by looking into his eyes, who can override and

destroy weaker minds. I know; I have seen. You have heard of

suspended animation? Well, I have seen examples of it; and so have my

people. Can you wonder at their easiness in being swayed this way and

that? But these men I refer to do not sit about in the bazaars with

wooden bowls for coppers. It is said, however, that all curses die

with their makers. It depends upon how old the Colonel Sahib's guru

is. I know priests who are more than a hundred years old, and wrinkled

like the bride of Hathi, the god of elephants."

"But a child could see through all this rigmarole."

"Can Bruce Sahib?" Again Ramabai smiled. "My people are sometimes

children in that they need constant amusement. Have patience, my

friend; for I understand. Do I not love Pundita even as you love the

Mem-sahib?"