The Adventures of Kathlyn

It was the shock of the bullet rather than the seriousness of the wound

that had toppled Kathlyn into the river. In the confusion, the rattle

of musketry, the yelling of the panic-stricken pack coolies who had

fled helter-skelter for the jungle, the squealing of the elephants, she

had forgot to crouch low in the howdah. There had come a staggering

blow, after which sky and earth careened for a moment and became black;

then the chill of water and strangulation, and she found herself

struggling in the deepest part of the ford, a strange deadness in one

arm. She had no distinct recollection of what took place; her one

thought was to keep her head above water.

Instantly the firing ceased; on one side because there were no more

cartridges, on the other for fear of hitting the one person who had

made this pursuit necessary.

Kathlyn struggled between the elephant which carried Ramabai and

Pundita and the boat or barge which held the eager Umballa and his

soldiers. The mahout, terrorized, had slid off and taken to his heels

ingloriously. Thus, Ramabai could do nothing to aid Kathlyn. Nor

could the elephant ridden by the colonel and Bruce be managed.

Umballa was quick to see his advantage, and, laughing, he urged his men

toward the helpless girl. The colonel raised his rifle and aimed at

Umballa, but there was no report, only a click which to the frantic

man's ears sounded like the gates of hell closing in behind him.

"Forward!" shouted Umballa.

She was his again; he would have the pleasure of taking her from under

the very eyes of her father and lover. His star never faltered.

Bruce stood up in the howdah, ready to dive; but the colonel restrained

him.

"Don't waste your life! My God, we can't help her! Not a bullet in

either gun. God's curse on all these worthless stones men call

guns! . . . There, he's got her! Not a shell left! Kit! Kit!" The

colonel broke down and cried like a child. As for Bruce, hot irons

could not have wrung a tear from his eyes; but Kit, in the hands of

that black devil again!

"Colonel," said Bruce, "I'd going to get some cartridges."

He realized then that Kathlyn's future depended upon him alone. The

colonel was a broken man. So he struck the elephant, who lumbered

ashore. The moment Kathlyn was safe in the barge Umballa would

probably give orders to resume firing. He could do so now with

impunity.

The soldiers drew Kathlyn into the barge. Umballa saw that she was

wounded in the fleshy part of the arm. Quickly he snatched off the

turban of one of the soldiers, unwound it and began to bandage

Kathlyn's arm.

The man, for all his oriental craftiness, was still guileless enough to

expect some sign of gratitude from her; but; as he touched her she

shrank in loathing. His anger flamed and he flung her roughly into a

seat.