The Adventures of Kathlyn

"And those conditions I have refused."

"You have, yes, but now----" Umballa smiled. Then he suddenly blazed

forth: "Think you a white man shall sit upon this throne while I live?

It is mine. I was his heir."

"Then why didn't you save him from the leopard? I'll tell you why.

You expected to inherit on the spot, and I spoiled the game. Is that

not true?"

"And what if I admit it?" truculently.

"Umballa, or Durga Ram, if you wish, listen. Take the throne. What's

to hinder you? You want it. Take it and let me begone."

"Yes, I want it; and by all the gods of Hind I'll have it--but safely.

Ah! It would be fine to proclaim myself when mutiny and rebellion

stalk about. Am I a pig to play a game like that? Tch! Tch!" He

clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in derision. "No; I

need a buckler till all this roily water subsides and clears."

"And then, some fine night, Hare Sahib's throat? I am not afraid of

death, Umballa. I have faced it too many times. Make an end of me at

once or leave me to rot here, my answer will always be the same. I

will not become a dishonorable tool. You have offered me freedom and

jewels. No; I repeat, I will free all slaves, abolish the harems, the

buying and selling of flesh; I will make a man of every poor devil of a

coolie who carries stones from your quarries."

Umballa laughed. "Then remain here like a dog while I put your golden

daughter on the throne and become what the British Raj calls prince

consort. She'll rebel, I know; but I have a way." He stepped outside

and closed the door.

"Umballa?"

"Well?"

"Kit, my daughter? Good God, what is she doing here when I warned

her?" Hare tugged furiously at his chains. "Durga Ram, you have

beaten me. State your terms and I will accept them to the

letter. . . . Kit, my beautiful Kit, in this hellhole!"

"Ah, but I don't want you to accept now. I was merely amusing myself."

The door shut and the bolt shot home.

Hare fell upon his knees. "My head, my head! Dear God, save me my

reason!"

* * * * * * The moment Kathlyn arrived at the animal cages of her father she called

for Ahmed.

"My father?"

"Ah, Mem-sahib, they say he is dead. I know not. One night--the

second after we arrived--he was summoned to the palace. He never came

back."

"They have killed him!"

"Perhaps. They watch me, too; but I act simple. We wait and see."

Kathlyn rushed across the ground intervening between the animal cages

and the bungalow. There was no one in sight. She ran up the

steps . . . to be greeted inside by the suave Umballa.