e same
time the parent leopards came for drink. They had not cared to seek
their lair during the night on account of the fires; and, worrying over
their cubs, they were not in the most agreeable mood.

Kathlyn saw their approach in time to reach her platform. They snarled
about the tree, and the male climbed up as far as the platform.
Kathlyn reached over with a stout club and clouted the brute on his
tender nose.

A shot broke the silence and a bullet spat angrily against the tree
trunk. Two cats fled. Immediately there came a squealing and
trumpeting from the stockade.

This is what had happened: The chief mahout had discovered the cubs and
had taken them into the stockade just as another hunter had espied the
parent leopards. The rifle shot had frightened one of the wild
elephants. With a mighty plunge he had broken the chain which held him
prisoner to the decoy elephant and pushed through the rotten stockade,
heading straight for the river.

Kathlyn saw his bulk as it crashed straight through the brush. He
shuffled directly toward her tree. The ground about was of clay,
merging into sand as it sloped toward the river. The frantic runaway
slipped, crushed against the tree trunk, recovered himself, and went
splashing into the water.

Kathlyn was flung headlong and only the water saved her from severe
bodily harm. When she recovered her senses she was surrounded by a
group of very much astonished Mohammedans.

They jabbered and gesticulated to one another and she was conducted to
the stockade. She understood but two words--"Allaha" and "slave."

CHAPTER VIII

THE SLAVE MART

Having decided upon the fate of Kathlyn, the natives set about
recapturing the wild elephant. It took the best part of the morning.
When this was accomplished the journey to Allaha was begun. But for
the days of peace and quiet of the wilderness and the consequent
hardness of her flesh, Kathlyn would have suffered greatly. Half the
time she was compelled to walk. There was no howdah, and it was a
difficult feat to sit back of the mahout. The rough skin of the
elephant had the same effect upon the calves of her legs that sandpaper
would have had. Sometimes she stumbled and fell, and was rudely jerked
to her feet. Only the day before they arrived was she relieved in any
way: she was given a litter, and in this manner she entered the hateful
city.

In giving her the litter the chief mahout had been inspired by no