The Adventures of Kathlyn

"They will be coming soon, Sahib," said Ahmed. Bruce wiped the sweat

from his palms and nodded.

Now, when Umballa and his captain of the guard departed with the

betrothal chain they did not firmly close the outer door, which shut

off the leopards from the main palace. The leopards were immediately

freed and began their prowling through the corridors, snarling and

growling as they scented the air through which the two men had just

passed. One paused by the door, impatiently thrusting out a paw.

The door gave.

In the throne room the mockery of the betrothal was gone through, and

then the calm Ramabai secretly signified that the hour for escape was

at hand; for everywhere, now that the ceremony was done, vigilance

would be lax.

Immediately the high priest announced that the successful candidate

would be conducted to the palace zenana and confined there till the

final ceremonies were over.

Umballa dreamed of what he had seen.

To Ramabai was given the exalted honor of conducting the king and his

betrothed to their respective quarters. Once in the private passageway

to the harem, or zenana, Ramabai threw caution to the winds.

"We must go a roundabout way to the garden of brides, which will be

deserted. Outside the gate Bruce Sahib and Ahmed and Lal Singh await

with elephants. Once we can join them we are safe. And in a month's

time I shall return."

Meantime one of the leopard keepers rushed frantically into the throne

room, exclaiming that the seven guardian leopards were at large. Even

as he spoke one of the leopards appeared in the musicians' balcony.

The panic which followed was not to be described. A wild scramble

ensued toward all exits.

The fugitives entered the royal zenana. Kathlyn proceeded at once to

the exit which led to the garden of brides. There she waited for her

father and Ramabai, who had paused by the door of one of the zenana

chambers. Between them and Kathlyn lay the plunge.

Ramabai addressed the lady of the zenana, telling her that if guards

should come to state that Kathlyn was concealed in her own chamber. To

this the young woman readily agreed.

Suddenly a leopard appeared behind the colonel and Ramabai. Kathlyn,

being first to discover the presence of the animal, cried out a warning.

"Fly, Kit! Save yourself! I am accursed!" called the colonel.

Ramabai and the young woman at the chamber door hurriedly drew the

colonel into the chamber and shut the door. The colonel struggled, but

Ramabai held him tightly.

"We are unarmed, Sahib," he said; "and the Mem-sahib never loses her

head."

"Ramabai, I tell you I shall die here. It is useless to attempt to aid

me. I am accursed, accursed! Kit, Kit!"

The leopard stood undecided before the door which had closed in his

face. Then he discovered Kathlyn, fumbling at the wicker door at the

far side of the swimming pool. There was something upon which to wreak

his temper; for all this unusual commotion and freedom had disturbed

him greatly. Kathlyn opened the wicker door, closing it behind her.

Clear headed, as Ramabai had said, she recollected the palanquin which

had been last to enter the garden of brides. She ran into the garden,

flew to the palanquin just as she heard the leopard crash through the

flimsy wicker door. She reached and entered the palanquin not a moment

too soon. She huddled down close to the door. The leopard trotted

round and round, snarling and sniffing. Presently he was joined by

another. From afar she could hear shouting. She readily understood.

Through some carelessness the leopards of the treasury were at liberty,

and that of her own and her father was in jeopardy. Just without the

garden of brides was Bruce and help, and she dared not move!