The Adventures of Kathlyn

"Who will know?" said one.

"The moon will not speak," said another.

"Then, let us go and smoke."

The three approached the elephant. A bit of gymnastics and one of them

was boosted to the back of the elephant to whom this episode was more

or less familiar. Another followed; the third was pulled up, and from

the elephant's back they made the top of the wall and disappeared down

into the street. Here they paused cautiously, for two guards always

patrolled the front of the compound during the night. Presently the

three truants stole away toward the bazaars which in this desert town

occupied but a single street. Down they went into a cellar way and the

guru's curse stalked beside them. For opium is the handmaiden of all

curses.

Perhaps twenty minutes later slight sounds came from the front of the

compound wall. A rifle barrel clattered upon the cobbles. Then, over

the wall, near the elephant, a head appeared, then a body. This was

repeated four times, and four light-footed nomads of the desert lowered

themselves into the compound. They ran quickly to the gate and

noiselessly unbarred it. Outside were five more desert nomads,

gathered about the insensible bodies of the sentries.

These nine men were the dancers who had entered the town in advance of

Kathlyn. For weeks they had lain in wait for this moment. They had

spied upon the three low caste keepers and upon learning of their

nocturnal junkets into the opium den had cast the die this night.

With the utmost caution they approached the sacred elephant, took off

his chains and led him from the compound. Immediately six of the

marauders trotted far ahead toward the gate they knew to be the least

guarded. The sacred elephant, passing through the streets, attended by

three men, aroused no suspicions in any straggler who saw. So remote

was the walled city, so seemingly impregnable, and so little interfered

with that it was only human that its guardians should eventually grow

careless.

When the keepers, straggling under the fumes of the drug, returned near

daybreak, first to find the gate open, second to find their sacred

charge gone, they fled in terror; for it would be death, lingering and

painful, for them to stay and explain how and why they had left their

post.

The wild and lawless brigands knew exactly what they were about. There

were several agents of European and American circuses after this white

elephant, and as it could not be purchased there was no reason why it

could not be stolen.

When the Brahmin arrived at sunrise to find his vocation gone he set up

a wailing which awakened the household. The Khan was furious and

ordered a general search. He vowed death to the foul hands which had

done this sacrilege!