esired above all things just than revenge for the
humiliating experience in the ceil; he wanted to put pain and terror
into her heart. Ah, she would be on her knees, begging, begging, and
her father would struggle in vain at his shackles. Spurned; so be it.
She should have a taste of his hate, the black man's hate. Two should
hold her by the arms while the professional flogger seared the white
soft back of her. She would soon come to him begging. He had been too
kind. The lash of the zenana, it should bite into her soft flesh. He
would break her spirit and her body together and fling her into his own
zenana to let her gnaw her heart out in suspense. She should be the
least of his women, the drudge.

First, however, the lash should bite the father till he dropped in his
chains; thus she would be able to anticipate the pain and degradation.

And always there would remain the little dark-haired sister. She would
marry him; she would do it to save her father and sister. Then the
filigree basket heaped with rubies and pearls and emeralds and
sapphires! As for the other, what cared he if he rotted? It gave him
the whip hand over the doddering council. Master he would be; he would
blot out all things which stood in his path. A king, till he had
gathered what fortune he needed. Then let the jackals howl.

Accompanied by torch bearers, servants and the professional flogger, he
led the way to the cell and flung open the door triumphantly. For a
moment he could not believe his eyes. She was gone, and through yonder
window! Hell of all hells of Hind! She was gone, and he was robbed!

"Out of your reach this time, you black devil!" cried the colonel. "Go
on. Do what you please to me, I'm ready."

Umballa ran to the tabouret and jumped upon it. He saw the trampled
grass. Elephants. And these doubtless had come from the colonel's
camp. He jumped off the tabouret and dashed to the door.

"Follow me!" he cried. "Later, Colonel Hare, later!" he threatened.

The colonel remained silent.

Up above, in the palace, Umballa summoned a dozen troopers and gave
them explicit orders. He was quite confident that Kathlyn would be
carried at once to her father's bungalow, if only for a change of
clothes. It was a shrewd guess.

As the iron door changed upon the sill Colonel Hare leaned against the
pillar and closed his eyes, praying silently.

At the bungalow Pundita fell at Kathlyn's feet and kissed them.

"M