nclean jackals and hyenas.

Tanned deeply by wind and sun, Kathlyn was darker than many a native
woman. Often she thought of Bruce, but hope of his finding her had
long since died within her. Every night when she climbed to her
platform she vowed she would start south the next morning; south,
toward the land where there were white people; but each morning found
her hesitant.

Behind her tree there was a clearing, then a jumble of thickly growing
trees; beyond those was another clearing, upon which stood a deserted
elephant stockade. The grass had grown rank in it for want of use.
She was in the act of putting on grass sandals when she saw, to her
dismay, the approach of men and elephants. Two elephants were ridden
by mahouts. Two other elephants were being jostled toward the
stockade, evidently new captives. They proceeded passively, however,
for elephants submit to captivity with less real trouble than any other
wild beast. Kathlyn crouched low in the grass and waited till the men
and elephants entered the stockade; then she ran quickly toward her
haven, the platform in the tree. She never went very far from this,
save in search of food. She had also recovered the idol and set it
back in its place. It was not, fortunately, a much frequented spot.
It was for the benefit of the occasional pilgrim, the ryots having
shrines more conveniently situated.

She nestled down among her rushes and waited. She could not see the
stockade from where she now was, but she could hear shouts from the
mahouts.

Recently she had discovered a leopard's lair near the stockade and was
very careful to avoid it, much as she wanted to seize the pretty cubs
and run away with them. By this time she knew the habits, fears, and
hatreds of these people of the jungle, and she scrupulously attended
her affairs as they attended theirs. Sometimes the great striped tiger
prowled about the base of the tree, sharpened his claws on the bark,
but he never attempted to ascend to the platform. Perhaps he realized
the uselessness of investigation, since the platform made it impossible
for him to see what was up there. But always now, to and from the
truce water, he paused, looked up, circled the tree, and went away
mystified.

Only the grass eating beasts came down to water that night, and Kathlyn
understood by this that the men and the elephants were still in the
stockade.

The following morning she went down to the stream to bathe; at th