y would
not understand, If the baboon returned to camp . . . It made her weak
to realize how slender the chance was. She took the tabouret and
placed it beneath the window and stood upon it.

"Jock, here, Jock!"

The baboon gave her his paws. Deftly she tied the blade of grass round
his neck. Then she struck her hands together violently. The baboon
vanished, frightened at this unexpected treatment.

"He is gone."

The colonel did not reply, but began to examine his chains minutely.

"Kit, there's no getting me out of here without files. If there is any
rescue you go and return. Promise."

"I promise."

Then they sat down to wait.

And Ahmed in his search came to the river. Some natives were swimming
and sporting in the water. Ahmed put a question. Oh, yes, they had
seen the strange-looking ape (for baboons did not habitate this part of
the world); he had gone up one of the trees near by. Colonel Hare had
always used a peculiar whistle to bring Jock, and Ahmed resorted to
this device. Half an hour's perseverance rewarded him; and then he
found the blade of grass.

"Dungeon window by tree. Kathlyn."

That was sufficient for Ahmed. He turned the baboon over to the care
of one of his subordinates and hurried away to Bruce's camp, only to
find that he had gone to the colonel's. Away went Ahmed again,
tireless. He found Bruce pacing the bungalow frontage.

"Ahmed."

"Yes, Sahib. Listen." He told his tale quickly.

"The guards at all the gates have orders to shoot me if they catch me
within the walls of the city. I must disguise myself in some way."

"I'll find you an Arab burnoose, hooded, Sahib, and that will hide you.
It will be dark by the time we reach the city, and we'll enter by one
of the other gates. That will allay suspicion. First we must seek the
house of Ramabai. I need money for bribery."

Bruce searched his wallet. It was empty. He had given all he had to
the Brahmin.

"You lead, Ahmed. I'm dazed."

In the city few knew anything about Ahmed, not even the keenest of
Umballa's spies. Umballa had his suspicions, but as yet he could prove
nothing. To the populace he was a harmless animal trainer who was only
too glad not in any way to be implicated with his master. So they let
him alone. Day by day he waited for the report from Lal Singh, but so
far he had heard nothing except that the British Raj was very busy
killing the followers of the Mahdi in the Soudan. It