Evening star., 1914-06-07

not have touched Umballah. Kit. Kit,
whatever will you do when you return
to the humdrum life at homer"
Thank God on my knees. dad" she
said, fervently.- But we are not safe
yet. by no means. We must form our
plans quickly. We have perhaps three
days grace. After that woe to all Of
US who are found here. All, I am
tired, tired!'
Kit" whispered Bruce. ct intend this
night to seek Balalhan!"
"John!
Yes. What the deuce is Alfalfa to
me? Ramabai must fight It out alone.
But don't worry about me; I can take
caro- Of myself"
But I don't want you to go. I need
you"
tIt is your life. Kit, am certain.
Everything depends upon their finding
out that Balakhan will strike II you
call upon him. At most all he'll do
will be to levy g. tribute which Rama
bal, once Pundita is on the throne. can
very we'll pay. Those priests are devils
incarnate. They will leave no stone
unturned to do you injury. after to-
days work You have humiliated and
outplayed them"
'It is best he should go, Kit" her
father declared. "weii not tell Rama
ho3 haS oil ha
through: but we mustn't sacrifice our
chances for the sake of q bit Of senti-
ment. John must seek Balakhan's aid"
Kathlyn became resigned to the in
evitable.
Umballah. He tried to bribe the SOL
diers. They laughed and taunted him.
He took his rings from his fingers and
offered them. The soldiers snatched
them out Of his palm and thrust him
along the path which led to the mill.
In Allaha political malefactors and
state; not bad law II 1t had always
been Just one. But many a poor devil
had died at the wrist bar for no other
reason than that he had offended some
high official. disturbed the serenity of
some priest.
When the prisoners saw Umballah a
shout went up. There were some there
who had Umballah to thank for their
miseries. They hailed him and jeered
him and Knocked him.
Here is the gutter rat!'
May his feet. be tender!'
"Robber Of the poor, where is my
home, my wife and .children?' %
May he rot in the grave with a pig!"
Hast ever been thirsty. highness?"
Drink thy sweat. them
Give the heaven-born' irons that
are rusted!"
The keepers enjoyed this raillery.
Umballah was going to afford them
much amusement They forced him
to the wrist bar. snapped the irons on
his wrist and shouted to the men to
tread. All, well they knew the game!
They trotted with gusto, forcing Um-
ballah to keep pace with them,
frightful ordeal for q beginner. Pres
emily he slipped and fell and hung by
his wrists while his legs and thighs
bumped cruelty. Tho lash fell upon his
shoulders and he shrieked and grew
limp. He had tainted.
Among the late kings papers they
found an envelope addressed to Kath-
lyn. 1t was in grandiloquent English.
Brevity of speech is unknown to the
East Indian. Kathlyn read 1t with
frowning eyes. She gave it to her
father to read, and it hurt her to note
tents of that letter. The fligree basket
of gold and gems: the trinkets for
which he had risked his own life
Kathlyn's. then Winnie's. In turn
Bruce and Ramabai perused the letter,
and to Ramabai came the inspiration.
They would seek this treasure, but
only he, Ramabaf and Pundita would
return. Here lay their way to free
dom without calling upon Balakhan for
aid. The matter. however. had to be
submitted to the priests, and those willy
men in yellow robes agreed. They
could very well promise Durga Ram
his freedom again: pursue these treas
ure seekers and destroy them, that
would be Durga Rams ransom.
The return to the palace was joyous
this time: but in her heart of hearts
Kathlyn was skeptical. Till she trod
the deck of ship homeward bound
she would always be doubling.
Bruce did not have to seek Balakhan.
The night of Kathlyn's defiance Ahmed
had acquainted them with his errand.
He was now on his way to Balakhan.
They need trouble themselves no longer
regarding the future.
"All goes WELL" said Ramabai, "for.
to reach this hiding place. we must
pass the city of Balakhan. I know