Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-02-04


lowers. not being aware OF this inde-
cision. proposed camping in the first
spot which afforded protection from
the chill of night. not daring to make
for the bungalow. certain that 1t was
being watched. In this they were wise.
for Gordon of soldiers with some
thing besides promises in their purses)
surrounded the camp on the chance
that its owner might hazard return.
Now. Ramabai. what is your plan?"
asked the colonel, as he wrapped Kath-
lyn in the howdah blanket. I'VE are
to pose as animal trainers. Good.
What next?"
"A trap and tunnel"
"Ah!"
There used to be one. A part Of It
caved in four or five years ago. 1t
can be re-excavated in night The
men who do that shall be my own.
Your animals will be used. To Kath-
lyn Memsahib your pet leopards will
be as play fellows. She has the eye.
and the voice. and the touch. She
shall be yelled to her eyes, with a bit
of ochre on her forehead. Who will
recognize herr"
THE sight Of you. Ramabai. will
cause him to suspect"
THAT remains in the air. There
must be luck in it."
IF Umballa can be lured to drink
his pegs" Then, with an impatient
gesture. Ahmed added: Folly! What!
Umballa and the Council will not rec
ognize the Colonel Sahib's hair. the
memsahib's golden head?"
"In the go-down of Lal Singh, the
cobbler, there are many things. even
wigs and false Boards" retorted Ra-
mabai slyly.
Ahmed started, then laughed.
"You are right. Ramabai. So then
we have wigs and boards. Go on"
He was sitting cross-legged and rock
ing back and forth.
After the tricks are done Kathlyn
Memsahib will throw aside her veil
and stand revealed. to Umballa. to the
Council. to the populace."
Bruce jumped to his feet.
BE patient. Bruce Sahib." reproved
Ramabai. Il am not yet done"
Bruce sat down again. and Kathlyn
stole a glance at his lean. unhappy
face. How she longed to touch 1t, to
smooth away the lines of care! The
old camaraderie was gone; there
seemed to be some invisible barrier
between them now.
She will discover herself. then"
proceeded Ramabai. "Umballa will
at once start to order her capture.
when she shall stay him by crying
that she Is willing to face the arena
lions Remember, there will be a trap
and a tunnel"
And outsider" said Ahmed. still
doubling.
There will be soldiers. my men.
But they will at that moment be else
where"
IF you have soldiers. then. why not
slip them into the palace and have
them take the young memsahib by
force?"
MY men are not permitted to enter
the palace. Ahmed. Umballa is afraid
of them. To go on. Winnie Mem
sahib will stand up and exclaim that
she will Join her sister to prove that
she is no less brave"
But the lions!"-from Bruce. From
his point of view the plan was as abb
surd as 1t was impossible.
Ramabai. however. knew his people
and Bruce did not
Always remember the trap and the
tunnel, Bruce Sahib. At the entrance
of the lions the trap will fall. Inside
the tunnel will be the Colonel Sahib
and Bruce Sahib. Outside will be All
med and the brave men he had with
him this night And all the road free
to the gates!"
"Ah. for those thousand men!"
sighed Ahmed. Il cannot forget them"
Nor l the dungeon-keep." replied
Ramabai. Il must go my own way.
OF the right and wrong of it you are
not concerned, Ahmed"
by the Lord!" exclaimed the colo
mel. getting up. Il begin to under
stand. He is alive. and they hold him
there in a den, vile like mine was.
Alive!"
| "Umballa did not put him there. 1t
was the politics of the Council; and
this is the sword which Umballa
holds over their heads. And If l sum-
moned my thousand men their zeal for
Pardon. Ramabai!" cried Ahmed.
contritely. "Pardon!"
| "Ah! finally you understand"
"Yes. You are not only a good man
but a great one. If you gave the sign
to your men there would be no one in
yonder dungeon-keep alive!"
"They know. and l could not stay
tempest once l loosed it. There. that
is all. That is the battle | have
fought and won"
The colonel reached down and of.
fered his hand.
"Ramabai. you're a man"