The Adventures of Kathlyn

"The white queen of Allaha, whom mine own eyes saw crowned at the

durbar there!" he murmured. "By the shroud of the prophet what can

this mean? Stop!" he called to the soldiers. Kathlyn looked up dully.

"Convey her to his highness the Kumor!" The prince should decide what

should be done with her.

The Kumor was big and lazy and sensual. He gazed upon Kathlyn with

eyes which sparkled evilly, like a cat's.

"Who is this woman?" he demanded.

"Highness, she is the white queen of Allaha, but who may say that she

is here?" with a smile as evil as his master's.

"But how came she here?"

The horseman briefly recounted the events as he had seen them in the

capital of Allaha.

"Who are you, maiden?" the Kumor asked in English, for, like all

potentates, little or great, in India, he spoke English. It presented

the delectable pastime of conspiring in two languages; for, from Bombay

to Calcutta, from Peshawar to Madras, India seethes, conspires and

takes an occasional pot shot at some poor devil of a commissioner whose

only desire is to have them combine religion and sanitation.

"I am an American. Please take me to the English commissioner."

Somehow instinct told her that she might not expect succor from this

man with the pearls about his gross neck.

"I regret that his excellency the commissioner has gone to Bombay.

Besides, I do not know that you tell the truth. Still, I can offer you

what pearls and emeralds you may find to your liking."

"Your Highness, there are those whose coming shortly will cause you

much annoyance if you refuse to give me proper aid. There is no

possible way for you to cover up my appearance here. Send me to the

commissioner's bungalow, where I may await the coming of my friends."

"Indeed!" The Kumor saw here a conflict not altogether to his liking.

He was lazy, and there was the damnable, unrelenting hand of the

British Raj looming in the distance. He shrugged. "Achmet, call the

captain of the guard and have him convey this runaway queen to Allaha.

Surely, I may not meddle with the affairs of a friendly state." With a

wave of his fat bejeweled hand he appeared to dismiss the matter from

his mind.

Kathlyn was led away. The human mind can stand only so many shocks.

Outside the palace courtyard stood Rajah, the howdah securely attached

once more, Kathlyn was bidden to mount. A water bottle and some cakes

were placed in the howdah beside her. Then a drunken mahout mounted

behind Rajah's ears. The elephant did not like the feel of the man's

legs, and he began to sway ominously. Nevertheless, he permitted the

mahout to direct him to one of the city gates, the soldiers trooping

alongside.