The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-08-07

tne worry and the planning. II We
can reach my elephants, all right;
wen be in Delhi within even days.
The rest of the going will be as simple
as falling off a log"
That Yankee phrase did more to re-
habiiitate her than all his assurances
From time to time Bruce stole q
glance through the curtained window.
S~tragglers were Fastening along eiose
to the walls, and there were soldiers
who had forgotten to bring their guns
from the elephant arena. Once he
heard the elatter of hoofs, A horse
man ran alongside the gharri. slowed
up. peered down, and shrugged. Kath-
F., lyn shrank toward Bruce. The rider
proceeded on his way. Ahmed recog-
nized him as the ambassador from the
neighboring principally. ruled by a
kumor. who was In turn ruled by the
British raj. Kathlyn could not shut
out the leer on his face.
By midafternoon the gharrirreached
Bruce's camp. Ramahai and Pundi-
ia greeted Kathlyn with delight All
their troubles were over, They had
but to mount the elephants and ride
away.
Ahmed" urged Kathiyn, leave the
gharri and come with u.s."
mo, memsahib, Ahmed gazed at
her strangely have work to do,
much work. Allah guard you'll" he
struck the horse with his bamboo and
~careened away.
Let us be off!" cried Bruce. I'VE
have 60 miles to put between us and
freedom in fact. We cannot make the
railway. Ali, pack! Go to the bun.
galow and remain there. You will be
questioned. Tell the truth. There Is
not an elephant in the royal stables
that can beat Rajah. All aboard! No
stopsi" smiling as he helped Kathlyn
into the howdah. 1--WE shall be forced
to ride all night"
The elephants started forward, that
ridden by Bruce and Kathlyn in the
lead. Ramabai and Pundita following
a few yards in the rear.
"Mr. Bruce. / am sure Ahmed has
some information regarding father. l
don't know what. Who knows? They
may have lied to me. He may be
alive, alive!"
I'll return and find out, once I've
| got you safe. / don't blame you for
thinking all this a nightmare. God
knows it's n~ightmarish. Do you know,
| I've been thinking 1t over. It appears
to me that the king latterly took a dis
like to his protege, Umballa, and
turned this little trick to make him I'M
happy. l daresay he thought your IA
ther wise enough to remain away. I'm.
balla hangs between wind and wa
ter; he can go neither forward nor
backward. But poor Ramabai back
there will lose his gold for this"
"Ramabai has always been very
kindly to the poor; and the poor man
generally defends his benefactor when
the right time comes. To Umballa
| was only a means to the end. If he
declared himself king, that would
open up the volcano upon which he
stands; but as my prince consort, that
would leave him fairly secure"
"Only a MEANS" unused Bruce In.
wardly. stealing a glance at her sad
| yet lovely profile. Umballa was a
man, for all his color; he was human;
and to see this girl 1t was only human
to want her. Your father was one Of
the best friends had. But, oddly
enough. I never Jay a photograph Of
you. He might have been afraid we
young chaps. )" He paused EN-.
barrassedly. III only you had taken
me into your confidence on board the
Yorck!"
"Ah, but did you offer me the
chance?" she returned,
Il never realized till now that a chap
might be too close Tipped sometimes.
Well. here we are, In fight together"
That night for the first time in many
hours Kathlyn closed her eyes with a
sense of security. True, it was not the
most comfortable place to sleep in, the
howdah; there were ceaseless rollfngs
from side to side, intermingled with
spine-racking bumps forward as the
elephant occasionally fastened his
stride. Kathlyn succeeded In stealing
from the god Of sleep only his cat
maps Often the cold would awaken
her, and she would find Bruce had
been bracing her by extending his arm
across the howdah and gripping the
rail.
You mustn't do that she protested
feebly. You will be dead In the morn
ing"
you might fall out"
"Then ! sha'n't 60 to sleep again till
the journey ends. You have been 80
good and kind to mel"
"Nonsense!"
They came out into the scrub jun.
gle, and the moonlight lay magically
over all things. Sometimes a shadow
crossed the whitened sands; scurried.
rather; and quietly Bruce would tell
her what the animals were--jackals.
with an occasional prow1ing red wolf.
They were not disturbed by any Of the
cat family. But there wal n In
terval Of suspense. Bruce spied in the
distance a small herd Of wild elephant.
So did Rajah. who raised his trunk
and %trumpeted into the night. The
mahout, fully awake to the danger,
beat the old rascal nightly with his
goad. Yet that would have failed to
hold Rajah. Bruce ayerted the dan
ger by shooting his revolvers into the
air. The wild animals stampeded, and
Rajah, disgruntled. was brought to the
compass.
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