Evening star., 1914-04-12


were still leaping and striking futile
": and even in her terror she could not
but admire their grace and beauty. And
oddly. she recalled the pet at home.
Doubtless by this time he had fallen
back into his savage state
X
When she dared risk it she gained
d securer position on the wall and sat
up. fiinging her legs over the side of it
She saw things in a bit of blur at
first. her heart had been called upon
so strenuously;. but after a little OBJ
jects resumed their real shapes, and
she espied the two elephants. She
called. waving her hands.
1T Is Kathlyn." cried Bruce, for the
eyes of a lover are always keenest
Kit shouted the colonel, who
shared the howdah with Bruce. Kit.
hang on for a moment longer. All
med. to the wall.'
The colonel and Ramabai had left the
zenana by one of the windows over
looking the passage which ran past
the garden of brides. They had had no
trouble whatever in reaching the ele-
plants. But the subsequent waiting
for Kathlyn had keyed them all up to
the breaking point. The pity of it was,
they dared not stir. dared not start in
only. Bruce would have made short
work of it; but ir would have been
rank folly to have gone in search of
the girl. If she had been made cap
tive, she needed their freedom to gain
her own. Besides, the r",rs"'
Ahmed and Lal Singh was Cor patience.
Ahmed had the greatest la.... =. .Ar
world in Kathlyn's ability to take care
of herself. Think of what she had al
ready gone through unscathed. Kath-
Iyn Memsahib bore charmed life. and
all the wild beasts of the jungle of
Hind could not harm her. 1t was writ
ten.
And then Bruce discovered her upon
the wall.
1t took but a moment to bring the
elephant alongside, and Kathlyn dropped
down into the howdah.
said
Let US get on our way, said the col
onel, hoarsely. And remember, shoot
to kill any man who attempts to stop
US. My Kit,'' embracing Kathlyn.
Perhaps the escape of the leopards is
the luckiest thing that could have
happened. 1t will keep them all busy
for an hour or more. Since Umballah
believes you to be dead, he will be
concerned about my disappearance
only And it will be some time ere
they learn of my escape. Forward.
Ahmed! This time"
Don't father.' interrupted kathlyn.
Perhaps we shall escape. but none of
US is sure. Let US merely hope. I'm
so tired!''
Bruce reached over and pressed her
hand reassuringly. and the colonel eyed
him as from new angle.
''Good,' he murmured under his
breath. Nothing better could hap
pen. He Is a man, and tried one, 1
know. Good. If once we get clear of
this hell shall not stand in their way.
But Winnie, Winnie; what in Gods
name will that kitten be doing all these
terrible weeks? Will she try to find
US? The first telegraph Office we reach
I must cable her under no circum-
stances to stir from home. Ahmed"
he said aloud, how far are we from
the nearest telegraph station?'
Three days. sahib."
Shall We be obliged to stop at the
gate to change our mounts2"
mo. sahib; only to take supplies
enough to last u.s.
Lose as little time as you can. Now
drop the curtains. Bruce
So through the streets they hurried.
unmolested. Those who saw the cur
tanned howdah took it for granted that
some unsuccessful candidate was re-
turning to her home.
1t was well for Kathlyn that she had
made up her mind to leap for the vines,
at the moment she did. For the ele-
plants had not left the first turn in
the street when keepers and soldiers
came running pell-men into the street
with ropes and ladders. prepared for
the recapture of the treasury leopards,
which, of course, were looked upon as
sacred.
At the ancient gate the fugitives
paused for the supplies awaiting them.
Ahmed was not known to the guards
there; that was good fortune. In the
dialect he Tested with them, winked
and nodded toward the curtained how
dab. The guards laughed; they under
stood. Some disappointed houri was
returning whence she had come. All