The Adventures of Kathlyn

Kathlyn heard the shouts from behind, but she could not understand

whether these were warnings or advice. Could they overtake her before

she was flung off? She tried to recall the "elephant talk" Ahmed had

taught her in the old days at the farm, but just now she was too dazed.

At the end of an hour all sounds from the rear ceased; no more pistol

shots to encourage her with the knowledge that friends were near.

Rajah must have outstripped them two or three miles.

At length she came into a small clearing amid the tall jungle grass, a

dead and brittle last year's growth. She saw two natives in the act of

kicking out a dung fire. Rajah headed directly toward them, the fire

evidently being in the line of path he had chosen. This rare and

unexpected freedom, this opportunity to go whither he listed, was as

the giant fern he used to eat in the days when he was free and wild in

Ceylon.

Kathlyn called out to the men, but they turned and fled in terror. To

them Rajah was amuck. The elephant passed the fire so closely that the

wind of his passing stirred the fire into life again; and this time it

crept toward the highly inflammable grass. A few hundred yards beyond

Kathlyn turned to see the flames leaping along the grass. Rajah,

getting a whiff of the acrid smoke, quickened his stride. The fire

followed with amazing rapidity and stopped only when it reached the bed

of a trickling stream, no doubt a torrent during the big rains. A

great pall of smoke blotted out everything in the rear; blotted out

hope, for Bruce could never pick up the trail now.

Kathlyn's eyes were feverishly dry and bright. It was only a matter of

time when the howdah would slip down the brute's side. She prayed that

she might die instantly. Strange fancies flitted through her mind,

disordered by all these days of suspense and terror. . . .

And suddenly the jungle came to an end, and a long plowed field opened

into view. Beyond this field rose a ruined wall, broken by a crumbling

gate, and lounging in the gateway were soldiers. Near by were two

elephants employed in piling logs.

Rajah, perforce, slackened his gait. The soldiers became animated.

Immediately the two mahouts charged their brutes toward Rajah, who

stopped. He had had his sport. He swayed to and fro. One of the

mahouts reached forward and clouted Rajah on the knee. He slowly

kneeled. The soldiers ran forward to help Kathlyn out of the howdah.

At the sight of her skin their astonishment was great.

She was very weak and faint, and the increasing babel of tongues was

like little triphammers beating upon her aching head. One of the

soldiers gave her a drink of water. He held his canteen high, so that

the water trickled into her mouth; no lips but his own must touch the

nozzle, otherwise, being a Brahmin, he would be denied. Natives

instantly flocked about, jabbering in wonder. Some of the bolder

touched her bare arms. The soldiers drove them back angrily. Through

the press a horseman pushed forward. The rider stared at the strange

captive, started and uttered an astonished cry.