The Adventures of Kathlyn

"Quick!" cried Ahmed. "Get the howdahs off the elephants." It was

done. "Hobble them." It was immediately accomplished. "Into the

bungalow, all of you. Mem-sahib, follow me!"

"What are you going to do?" asked Bruce.

"Hide her where none will dare to look," answered Ahmed.

He seized Kathlyn by the hand and urged her to run. She had implicit

faith in this old friend, who had once dandled her on his knees. They

disappeared behind the bungalow and ran toward the animal cages. He

stopped abruptly before one of the cages.

"A leopard, but harmless. You'll know how to soothe him if he becomes

nervous. Enter."

[Illustration: You'll know how to soothe him.] Kathlyn obeyed.

This cage was not a movable one, and had a cavity underneath. The

heavy teak flooring was not nailed.

The soldiers arrived at the bungalow, boisterously threatening the

arrest of the entire camp if Durga Ram's slave was not produced

forthwith.

"You are mistaken," said Bruce. "There is no slave here. Search."

"You stand in extreme danger, Sahib. You have meddled with what does

not concern you," replied the captain, who had thrown his fortunes with

Umballa, sensing that here was a man who was bound to win and would be

liberal to those who stood by him during the struggle.

"Search," repeated Bruce.

The captain and his men ran about, but not without a certain system of

thoroughness. They examined the elephants, but were baffled there,

owing to Ahmed's foresight. They entered the native quarters, looked

under the canvases into the empty cages, from cellar to roof in the

bungalow, when suddenly the captain missed Ahmed.

"Where is the Colonel Sahib's man?" he asked bruskly.

"Possibly he is going the rounds of the animal cages," said Bruce,

outwardly calm and shaking within.

"And thou, Ramabai, beware!"

"Of what, Captain?" coolly.

"Thou, too, hast meddled; and meddlers burn their fingers."

"I am innocent of any crime," said Ramabai. "I am watched, I know; but

there is still some justice in Allaha."

"Bully for you!" said Bruce in English.

The captain eyed him malevolently.

"Search the animal cages," he ordered.

Bruce, Ramabai and Pundita followed the captain. He peered into the

cages, one by one, and at length came to the leopard's cage. And there

was the crafty Ahmed, calmly stroking the leopard, which snarled

suddenly. Ahmed stood up with a fine imitation of surprise. The

captain, greatly mystified, turned about; he was partially convinced

that he had had his work for nothing. Still, he had his tongue.

"Thou, Ramabai, hast broken thy parole. Thou wert not to leave thy

house. It shall be reported." Then he took a shot at Bruce: "And thou

wilt enter the city on the pain of death."

With this he ordered the soldiers right about and proceeded the way he

had come.