The Adventures of Kathlyn

While Bruce and two of his men carried Kathlyn out of harm's way to the

shelter of the underbrush, where he liberated her, Ahmed drove Umballa

and his panic-stricken soldiers over the brow of the hill. Umballa

could be distinguished by his robes and turban, but in the moonlight

Ahmed and his followers were all of a color, like cats in the dark.

With mad joy in his heart Ahmed could not resist propelling the furious

regent down-hill, using the butt of his rifle and pretending he did not

know who it was he was treating with these indignities. And Umballa

could not tell who his assailant was because he was given no

opportunity to turn.

"Soor!" Ahmed shouted. "Swine! Take that, and that, and that!"

Stumbling on, Umballa cried out in pain; but he did not ask for mercy.

"Soor! Tell your master, Durga Ram, how bites this gun butt as I shall

tell mine the pleasure it gives me to administer it. Swine! Ha, you

stumble! Up with you!"

Batter and bang! Doubtless Ahmed would have prolonged this delightful

entertainment to the very steps of the palace, but a full troop of

soldiers appeared at the foot of the hill, and Ahmed saw that it was

now his turn to take to his heels.

"Swine!" with a parting blow which sent Umballa to his knees, "tell

your master that if he harms the little Mem-sahib in the palace he

shall die! Let him remember the warnings that he has received, and let

him not forget what a certain dungeon holds!"

Umballa staggered to his feet, his sight blinded with tears of pain.

He was sober enough now, and Ahmed's final words rang in his ears like

a cluster of bells. "What a certain dungeon holds!" Stumbling down

the hill, urged by Ahmed's blows, only one thought occupied his mind:

to wreak his vengeance for these indignities upon an innocent girl.

But now a new fear entered his craven soul, craven as all cruel souls

are. Some one knew!

He fell into the arms of his troopers and they carried him to a litter,

thence to the palace. His back was covered with bruises, and but for

the thickness of his cummerbund he must have died under the beating,

which had been thorough and masterly. "What a certain dungeon holds!"

In his chamber Umballa called for his peg of brandy and champagne,

which for some reason did not take hold as usual. For the first time

in his life Durga Ram, so-called Umballa, knew what agony was. But did

it cause him to think with pity of the agonies he had caused them? Not

in the least.

When Ahmed rejoined his people Kathlyn was leaning against her father's

shoulder, smiling wanly.

"Where is Umballa?" cried Bruce, seizing Ahmed by the arm.