The independent-reporter., 1909-12-09
CHAPTER XVII.

@EOh many minutes lle WutCueTr
In the chateau stared at the
burning bungalow. fascinated.
- petrified Through the mind of
each man ran the sudden sharp dread
that Chase had met death at the hands
OF his enemies.
Geneyra felt her heart turn cold.
Then something seemed to clutch her
by the throat and choke the breath out
of her body. Through her brain went
whirling the recollection of his last
words to her that afternoon, They'll
find me ready II they come for trou-
ble" She wondered II he had been
ready for them or If they had sur
prised him! She hal heard the shots.
Chase could not have fired them all.
Was he now lying dead In that blaz-
ing She screamed aloud with the
thought of 1t!
Cant something be done" she cried
again and again, without taking her
gaze from the doomed bungalow. She
turned fercely upon Bobby Browne.
his countryman. Afterward she re-
called that he stood staring as she had
stared. Lady Deppingham clasping his
arm with both of her hands. The
glance also took In the face Of Dep
bingham. He was looking at his wife.
and his eyes were wide and CLASSY, but
not with terror. ut may not be too
latei" again cried the princess. There
are enough of US here to make an ef-
fort, no matter how futile. He may be
alive and trapped up
You're rightr shouted Browne.
"He's not the kind to so down with
the first rush. We must go to him.
We can get there In ten minutes.
Britt! Where are the guns? Are you
with us. Deppingham?"
He did not wait for an answer but
dashed out of the garden and down
the steps. calling to his wife to follow
"Stop! shouted Deppingham. I'VE
dare not leave this place! IL they have
turned against Chase, they are also
ready for us. I'm not coward,
Browne. We're needed here that's all
It's too late to help Chase. They've
got him, poor devil! Everybody inside!
Get to the guns II possible and cut of
the servants quarters. We must not
let them surprise US. Follow me"
There was wisdom In what he said
and Browne was not slow to see 1t
clearly. With a single penetrating
glance at Genevra's despairing face,
he shook his head gloomily and turned
to follow Deppingham. who was hur-
rying off through the corridor with her
ladyship.
Come" he called. and the princess,
feeling Drusilla's hand grasping her
arm. gave one helpless look at the fire
and fastened to obey.
In the grand hallway they came
upon Britt and Saunders. white faced
and excited. The white servants were
clattering down the stairways, filed
the native attendants in sight. This
was ominous enough in itself. The
sound of violent struggle in the lower
corridor came to their ears. Loud
voices, blows, single shot, the rush.
ing Of feet the painting Of men in fierce
combat-and then. even as the whites
turned to retreat up the stairway. a
crowd of men surged up the stairs
from below. headed by Baillo. the ma
Jor domo.
"Stop. excellencies!" he shouted
again and again. Bobby Browne and
Deppingham were covering the retreat.
prepared to fight to the end for their
women. although unarmed 1t was the
American who first realized that Baillo
was not heading an attack upon them.
Baillo and u score of his men had re-
fused to join the stablemen and gar
deners In Ahe plot to assassinate the
white people. AS last resort the con-
spirators contrived to steal into the
chateau, hoping to fall upon their vic
TINS before Baillo could interpose. The
major domo. however, with the willy
sagacity Of his race, anticipated the
move. The two forces met In the
south hall after the plotters had eff
fected an entrance from the garden.
The struggle was brief, for the con-
spirators were outnumbered and sur
prised. They were even now lying be-
low, bound and helpless, awaiting the
disposition Of their intended victims.
ut Is not because we love you, ex-
cellencies," explained Baillo, with a
sudden fierce look In his eyes, but be-
cause Allah has willed that we should
serve you faithfully. We are your
dogs. Therefore we fight for you. 1t
Is vile dog which bites its master"
Browne, with the readiness Of the
average American, again assumed
command of the situation He gave
instructions that the prisoners, seven
in number. be confined In the dungeon,
temporarily at least.
''Thare will he no other attack on us