owing to Ahmed's foresight. They entered the native quarters, looked
under the canvases into the empty cages, from cellar to roof in the
bungalow, when suddenly the captain missed Ahmed.

"Where is the Colonel Sahib's man?" he asked bruskly.

"Possibly he is going the rounds of the animal cages," said Bruce,
outwardly calm and shaking within.

"And thou, Ramabai, beware!"

"Of what, Captain?" coolly.

"Thou, too, hast meddled; and meddlers burn their fingers."

"I am innocent of any crime," said Ramabai. "I am watched, I know; but
there is still some justice in Allaha."

"Bully for you!" said Bruce in English.

The captain eyed him malevolently.

"Search the animal cages," he ordered.

Bruce, Ramabai and Pundita followed the captain. He peered into the
cages, one by one, and at length came to the leopard's cage. And there
was the crafty Ahmed, calmly stroking the leopard, which snarled
suddenly. Ahmed stood up with a fine imitation of surprise. The
captain, greatly mystified, turned about; he was partially convinced
that he had had his work for nothing. Still, he had his tongue.

"Thou, Ramabai, hast broken thy parole. Thou wert not to leave thy
house. It shall be reported." Then he took a shot at Bruce: "And thou
wilt enter the city on the pain of death."

With this he ordered the soldiers right about and proceeded the way he
had come.

"Ahmed, where is she?" cried Bruce, who was as mystified as the captain.

Smiling, Ahmed raised one of the broad teak boards, and the golden head
of Kathlyn appeared.

"Ahmed," said Bruce, delighted, "hereafter you shall be chief of this
expedition. Now, what next?"

"Secure files and return for my master."

"Wait," interposed Kathlyn, emerging. "I have a plan. It will be
useless to return to-night. He will be too well guarded. Are you
brave, Pundita?"

"I would die for the Mem-sahib."

"And I, too," added Ramabai.

Ahmed and Bruce gazed at each other.

"What is your plan, Mem-sahib?" asked Ahmed, replacing the board and
helping Kathlyn out of the cage, the door of which he closed quickly,
as the leopard was evincing a temper at all this nocturnal disturbance.

"It is a trap for Umballa."

"He is as wise as the cobra and as suspicious as the jackal," said
Ahmed doubtfully.

"Reason forbids that we return to-night. Umballa will wait, knowing
me. Listen. Pundita, you shall return to the city. Two men will
accompany you to the gate. You