The Adventures of Kathlyn

Umballa remained in the palace, burning with the fires of murder.

Messenger after messenger came to report that the fugitives were still

at large. Contrary to Ahmed's expectations, Umballa did not believe

that his enemies would be foolhardy enough to seek refuge in the house

of Ramabai. The four roads leading out of the city were watched, the

colonel's bungalow and even the ruins of Bruce's camp. They were still

in the city; but where?

A king's peg, and another; and Umballa stormed, his heart filled with

Dutch courage.

Ramabai made his preparations in case the hunters entered the house.

He opened a secret door which led into a large gallery, dim and dusty

but still beautiful. Ancient armor covered the walls; armor of the

days when there existed in Delhi a peacock throne; armor inlaid with

gold and silver and turquoise, and there were jewel-incrusted swords

and daggers, a blazing helmet which one of Pundita's ancestors had worn

when the Great Khan came thundering down from China.

"Here," said Ramabai to the colonel, "you will be safe. They might

search for days without learning this room existed. There will be no

need to remain here now. Time enough when my servant gives warning."

They filed out of the gallery solemnly. Kathlyn went into the garden,

followed by Bruce.

"Do you know," said Kathlyn, "the sight of all that armor, old and

still magnificent, seemed to awaken the recollection of another age to

me?"

He wanted to take her in his arms, but he waited for her to continue

the thought.

"I wonder if, in the dim past, I was not an Amazon?"

She stretched out her arms and suddenly he caught them and drew them

down.

"I love you, Kathlyn!"

"No, no!" She struggled back from him. "Let us return to father and

Winnie," she said.

During this talk in the garden Umballa had not been inactive. He

ordered his captain of the guard to proceed at once to the house of

Ramabai and learn if they were there, or had been.

The captain salaamed and departed with his men.

As Bruce and Kathlyn reached the door leading into the house they were

met by Ramabai, whose face was grave.

"Ah, Mem-sahib, you ought not to have come out here. You might be

seen." The servant who had been watching the street burst in with the

cry: "Soldiers!"

The colonel, Winnie and Pundita appeared. For a moment they believed

that Ramabai was going to guide them to the secret gallery. But

suddenly he raised his head and stared boldly at the gate. And by that

sign Bruce and the colonel understood: Ramabai had taken up the dice to

make his throw. The two men put their hands on their revolvers and

waited.

Soon the captain and his men came rushing in, only to stop short at a

sign from Ramabai.