The Adventures of Kathlyn

"Our troubles are over, father."

"Perhaps! So long as I remain in India, there is that curse. Ah, I

once laughed at it; but not now."

Umballa at length found his captain.

"Follow me'" he cried in a fury.

He led them back to the colonel's camp, but those he sought had flown.

He reasoned quickly. The trail led toward the camp of Bruce Sahib, and

along this he led his men, arriving in time to find the native boatmen

leaving for their boats.

A hurried question or two elicited the direction taken by the

fugitives. Umballa commandeered the boats. There was some protest,

but Umballa threatened death to those who opposed him, and the

frightened natives surrendered. The soldiers piled into the boats and

began poling down-stream rapidly. A mile or two below there was a ford

and to go south the pursued must cross it.

Later, pursuer and pursued met, and a real warfare began, with a death

toll on both sides. Bruce and Ahmed kept the elephants going, but in

the middle of the ford a bullet struck Kathlyn, and she tumbled

headlong into the water.

The curse had not yet lifted its evil hand.