The Adventures of Kathlyn

But every minute the vines, sturdy as they were, threatened to come

tumbling to the ground.

Her long and lonely experiences in the jungle had taught her the need

of climbing quickly yet lightly. She flung herself across the top of

the wall, exhausted. For the time being, at least, she was safe. She

hung there for a few minutes till she had fully recovered her breath.

Below the leopards were still leaping and striking futilely! and even

in her terror she could not but admire their grace and beauty. And,

oddly, she recalled the pet at home. Doubtless by this time he had

fallen back into his savage state.

When she dared risk it she gained a securer position on the wall and

sat up, flinging her legs over the side of it. She saw things in a bit

of blur at first, her heart had been called upon so strenuously; but

after a little objects resumed their real shapes, and she espied the

two elephants. She called, waving her hands.

"It is Kathlyn!" cried Bruce.

"Kit!" shouted the colonel, who shared the howdah with Bruce. "Kit,

hang on for a moment longer! Ahmed, to the wall!"

The colonel and Ramabai had left the zenana by one of the windows

overlooking the passage which ran past the garden of brides. They had

had no trouble whatever in reaching the elephants. But the subsequent

waiting for Kathlyn had keyed them all up to the breaking point. The

pity of it was, they dared not stir, dared not start in search of her.

Had it been leopards only, Bruce would have made short work of it; but

it would have been rank folly to have gone in search of the girl. If

she had been made captive, she needed their freedom to gain her own.

Besides, the council of both Ahmed and Lal Singh was for patience.

Ahmed had the greatest faith in the world in Kathlyn's ability to take

care of herself. Think of what she had already gone through unscathed!

Kathlyn Mem-sahib bore a charmed life, and all the wild beasts of the

jungles of Hind could not harm her. It was written.

And then Bruce discovered her upon the wall. It took but a moment to

bring the elephant alongside; and Kathlyn dropped down into the howdah.

"A narrow squeak, dad," was all she said.

"Let us get on our way," said the colonel hoarsely. "And remember,

shoot to kill any man who attempts to stop us. My Kit!" embracing

Kathlyn. "Perhaps the escape of the leopards is the luckiest thing

that could have happened. It will keep them all busy for an hour or

more. Since Umballa believes you to be dead, he will be concerned

about my disappearance only. And it will be some time ere they learn

of my escape. Forward, Ahmed! This time . . ."