em-sahib!" she cried brokenly.

"Pundita!" Kathlyn stooped and gathered her up in her arms.

After that Ramabai would have died for her under any torture.

"Now, Ahmed, what did my father mean when he said 'curse or no curse'?"

"It's a long story, Mem-sahib," said Ahmed evasively.

"Tell it."

"It was in a temple in the south. The Colonel Sahib took a sapphire
from an idol's eye. The guru, a very wise and ancient priest, demanded
the return of it. The Colonel Sahib, being a young man, refused. The
guru cursed him. That is all."

"No, Ahmed; there must be more. Did not the guru curse my father's
children and their children's children?"

"Ah, Mem-sahib, what does the curse of a Hindu amount to?"

"Perhaps it is stronger than we know," glancing down at her dress.

Further discussion was interrupted by one of the armed keepers, who
came rushing up with the news that armed soldiers were approaching.
Bruce swore frankly. This Umballa was supernaturally keen. What to do
now?

"Quick!" cried Ahmed. "Get the howdahs off the elephants." It was
done. "Hobble them." It was immediately accomplished. "Into the
bungalow, all of you. Mem-sahib, follow me!"

"What are you going to do?" asked Bruce.

"Hide her where none will dare to look," answered Ahmed.

He seized Kathlyn by the hand and urged her to run. She had implicit
faith in this old friend, who had once dandled her on his knees. They
disappeared behind the bungalow and ran toward the animal cages. He
stopped abruptly before one of the cages.

"A leopard, but harmless. You'll know how to soothe him if he becomes
nervous. Enter."

[Illustration: You'll know how to soothe him.]

Kathlyn obeyed.

This cage was not a movable one, and had a cavity underneath. The
heavy teak flooring was not nailed.

The soldiers arrived at the bungalow, boisterously threatening the
arrest of the entire camp if Durga Ram's slave was not produced
forthwith.

"You are mistaken," said Bruce. "There is no slave here. Search."

"You stand in extreme danger, Sahib. You have meddled with what does
not concern you," replied the captain, who had thrown his fortunes with
Umballa, sensing that here was a man who was bound to win and would be
liberal to those who stood by him during the struggle.

"Search," repeated Bruce.

The captain and his men ran about, but not without a certain system of
thoroughness. They examined the elephants, but were baffled there,