The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-09-25
CHAPTER v.
The FIlqht From the Arena.

When Bruce dropped down into the
arena to Kathlyns side he had never
given a thought to the possibility OF
the key not being the right one.
Trapped and with Ahmed but a few
yards away with zenana gharri,
ready to convey them to the camp,
freedom! It took the heart out of
him for a moment. The confusion all
about the pail Of dust, the roaring of
the frightened lions which had escaped
destruction, the shrill cries of the
panic-stricken populace, who now
looked upon the white memsahib as
the daughter of Shaitan, these dulled
his inventive faculties for the nonce.
Here was the confusion, properly
planned, and he could not make use
of it. Possibly when no further ex-
plosion shook the air, the mob and
the soldiers would return out of Gu
riosity. And then, good-by!
But the sight of a lion emerging
from the murk the wrong side of the
crevasse reused him thoroughly.
Save YOURSELF" cried Kathlyn in
despair; there is no possible way of
saving me. l have never in all my
life injured any one, and yet God
makes me go through all this. .
| am mad you are, the whole world Isl"
Rum"
Bruce laughed; it was that kind Of
laughter with which men enter battle.
He drew Lal Singh's revolvers and
thrust one into her hand.
Shoot at the keyhole. Leave the
lion to me. With the pandemonium no
one will note the shots, or if they 90,
will think that more explosions are
on the way. III get you out of this
nightmare; that's what l was born
for"
Nightmare"
There, nowl"-as Kathlyn leaned
dizzily against one of the supports.
I've gone through a good DEAL" she
said Without more ado she pressed
the muzzle of the revolver into the
keyhole and fired. She heard shot
behind her, another and another; but
she kept on firing into and about the
keyhole till the revolver was empty.
A firm hand drew her aside.
The lion?"
Gone to sleep. Let me have whack
at that door"
Where's Ramabai?"
went back over the wall Probably
to warn Ahmed; maybe gone directly
off toward camp. Anyhow, he has faith
in me-"
And, o! so have l, so have T."
Bruce bore his weight savagely
against the door-once, twice, thrice;
and pitched forward on his knees, out
side He was up instantly. He caught
Kathlyn by the hand and hurried her
along; and all she could think of was
Winnie romping toward the canopied
studio, her father half asleep on the
veranda, and the leopard cat sprawled
on the diyan.
"sahib! Huzoor!" a voice called.
This way"
Ahmed! Ahmed" cried Kathlyn.
Yes, heaven born; but hurry. hur-
ryl Umballa will return to search
as soon as he can get the better OF his
legs. silva take that battery that was
worn out! Heaven born, you are now
a queen in fact"
81 want to go home, Ahmed, home!"
Here's the gharri. Here, sahib!"
he held out handful of cartridges to-
ward Bruce. These fit Lal Singh's
pistols. Hurry, hurry"
Bruce helped Kathlyn into the We
licle and jumped in beside her, and
Ahmed struck the horse. The gharri
was a rickety old contrivance, every
hinge creaking like some lost soul; but
Ahmed had reasoned that the more
the vehicle, the less con-
;picuous it would be. He urged the |
horse. He wanted the fYing mob to !
hink that he was flying, too, which,
indeed, he was. The gharri rolled and |
,areened like a dory In a squall. A
lozen times Bruce and Kathlyn were
lung together, and quite unconscious
y she caught hold Of his lean, strong |
,rown hand. 1t would not be true to |
Jay that he was unconscious Of the J
lct.
Presently they entered the paved
treets Of the bazaars, and the going |
improved. Kathlyn leaned back.
Il am Kathlyn Hare, and this is the
ear :" !