The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15

pot Umballa. That will simplify every
thing. Without a head the soldiers
will be without a cause. and they'll
desert kathlyn as quickly as our COO
lies deserted US
Where is Ahmed?"
Ahmed? l had forgotten all about
him. But We can't wait now. He'll
have to look out for himself Hark,"
Sauealng and trumpeting and thun-
derous crashing in the distance.
Wild elephant" cried the Colonel.
the old impulse wheeling him round.
But the younger man caught hold of
his arm significantly.
The soldiers poled diligently. but
against the stream, together with the
clumsiness Of the barge. they could not
make Roadway with any degree of
speed. 1t was not long before Bruce
could see them. He raised his rifle
and let go: and in the boat Cmballa
felt his turban stir mysteriously. The
report which instantly followed was
enough to convince him that he in
particular was being made n target.
He crouched behind kathryn. while two
or three of the soldiers returned the
shot. aiming at the clump OF scrub
from which a film Of pale blue smoke
issued. They waited for another shot.
but none came.
The reason was this: the herd Of wild
elephant which Bruce and the Colonel
had heard came charging almost d.
rectly toward them. smashing young
trees and trampling the tough under
brush. Some Of them made for the water
directly in line with the passing boats
Kathlyn, keenly alive to the fact that
here was chance. jumped overheard
before Umballa could reach out a stay
ing hand.
To Kathlyns there was only death in
the path Of the elephants: to remain on
the barge was to face eventually that
which was worse than death. Her arm
throbbed painfully. but in the desperate
energy with which she determined to
take the chance she used It. Quite con-
trary to her expectations, her leap was
the best thing she could have done.
Most OF the barges were upset and the
great beasts We're laundering across
the river between her and the barges.
Bruce witnessed Kathlyn's brave at
tempt and dashed into the water after
her. 1t took him but a moment to bring
her to land, where her father clasped
her in his arms and broke down again.
you see our God is powerfulest? | be-
lieved was going to be trampled A.
death, and here I am with you once
more"
They hurried back as fast as Kath-
lyn's weakness would permit to where
they had left their own elephants,
doubling that they should find them,
considering that 1t was quite probable
| that they had Joined their wild brethren.
But no; they were standing SHOULDER to
shoulder, Tapping their ears and curling
their trunks So many years had they
been trained to hunt elepha that they
did not seem to know what to do with
out some one to guide them.
Bruce ordered one Of them to kneel
doubtfully; but the big fellow obeyed
the command docilely and the Colonel
and Bruce helped the exhausted girl
into the howdah. The Colonel followed.
while Bruce took upon his own shout
ders the duties OF mahout. Pundita got
into the other howdah and Ramabai
| initiated Bruce. The elephants shuffled
on away from the river.
Later Umballa, dulled and stupefied
from his immersion, stood on the shore,
with but nine Of the twenty soldiers he
had brought with him. Evidently his
star had. faltered. Very well: he would
send for the other sister. She was the
Colonel Sahib's daughter, and young !;
she would be as wax In his hands. A
passion remained In Umballa's heart,
but II was now the passion Of revenge,
When he had recovered sufficiently
he gave orders to one Of the soldiers
to return to the city to bring back AT
once servants. elephants and all that
would be required for long pursuit
The messenger was also to make known
these preparations to the Council, who
would undertake to forward the cable
submitted to them. All these things
of his mind Umballa sat down and
shIversd outwardly. while he boiled
within.