Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-02-18


side. undecided. for she could hear
them shifting at the doorsill. If they
leaped she was lost. for she could not
hope to hold the door against the on
rush of beasts as heavy as these lions
were.
Elsewhere in the bazaars the colo
mel. Bruce. and Ahmed were setting
nets for the recapture of the lions.
quite confident that Kathlyn was by
this time safe in the haven of Rama
BATS house.
The girl glanced nurriedly over her
shoulder toward the dim rickety stair
case The moment the smiling ceased
she withdrew from the door and ran
up the stairs to the first landing. to
find all these doors lockless! A crash
below announced that the lions had
| heard her and had entered. There
| was second flight, and up this flew
the girl. She might fire at the beasts,
| and even If she succeeded In hitting
them 1t would serve only to madden
them. One cannot kill lions with
toy. ...
Still lockless doors! No safety.
| She then espied a ladder which gave
to the roof top. and up this she
climbed. They could not possibly fol-
low her up the ladder. and as she
reached the top she knew that for the
present she had nothing to fear from
the lions.
The interior of the house was Of the
flimsiest wood. slovenly put together.
Along the roof was a parapet She
left the trap one 80 that she could
see all that went on below. Almost
as she looked the tawny bodies swept
up to the foot of the ladder. and there
remained, snarling and splitting and
reaching up as far as they could.
Somewhere on the way Kathlyn knew
that these lions had tasted blood.
1t was In this street dwelt the sister
an who loved Umballa.
Kathlyn leaned over the parapet.
the street was totally deserted All
the doors OF the shops were closed
and the windows shut She must
fight 1t out alone. She drew a deep
breath and squared her shoulders. a
trick she had long ago learned from
her father. She had fought battles
alone ere this. 30 she was not with
out confidence. Perhaps the lions.
finding their efforts futile. would de-
part. She must wait.
It grew to noon. The sun beat down
upon her savagely. Here and there
she could see fires in the city. Pillage.
The muezzin's tower Of the mosque
was like finger pointing to heaven.
She could even glimpse a patch Of
white stucco which belonged to the
palace.
And she had fought her way that
morning to the steps OF the palace, as
the daughter of the Goth had scaled
the steps OF the Quirinal In Rome! 1t
was unbelievable! She could not 70.
member anything but the dead Lal
Singh and the strong arms OF her IA
ther as she came out of her swoon.
And she had turned defeat into vic
tory! She drew her hand across her
eyes.
One Of the lions sent up a nerve
shaking roar: but Kathlyn did not stir.
Silence.
Then, round the passage she saw =
palanquin. carried by slaves. She
leaned far over.
"Help!" she cried. "Help!"
The bearers paused abruptly. and
the curtain OF the palanquin was
swept back The dark sinister visage
of Umballa was revealed.
."Thou?" he said. Then his laughter
rose up to the girl. motionless through
her terror Come down. o houri OF
Sa'adi! Come to the arms of Durga
Ram, who loves you. Wilt not? Woe
to thee!" dropping his mockery.
"Yes. Durga Ram. 1t is II" replied
Kathlyn, finding her voice. insensate
rage usurping the throne of terror.
Here am; come and take mel"
Let him face the lions!
Umballa left the palaquin. opened
the door OF the house. espied the rub
bish in the hall: was in the act OF
mounting the first steps when one OF
the lions roared again. Drunk as he
was. filled with a drunkard's courage.
Umballa started back. The lions! Out
into the street he went He turned
to the bearers and ordered them to fire
the inflammables In the hall. But they
refused, for they recognized the chain
armor. Mad with rage, Umballa struck
at them, entered the hall again. and
threw q lighted match into the rub
bish.
He left the Mortified bearers and
staggered to the house where he was
to find shelter. He was admitted. the
door closed and barred. From a win
dow he watched the progress OF the
fire. At last! He would pass from
Alfalfa, but not without his revenge
It was sweet! She could not escape;
the lions would bar the way till II was
too late. Let her God save her II he