, "cares not
for your friendship. Whatever the Mem-sahib says is my word. What!
Does Allaha want war for the sake of gratifying Durga Ram's spite?
Begone, and thank your evil gods that I am not already at your lying
treacherous throat. Take yourself off, Durga Ram. The people of Bala
Khan do not make war on women and old men. The Mem-sahib and her
friends are under my protection."

"I will buy them!" shouted Umballa, recollecting the greed of Bala Khan.

"My word is not for sale!" came back.

Kathlyn understood by the expression on Umballa's countenance what was
taking place. She smiled down at her enemy.

"So be it, Bala Khan," snarled Umballa, his rage no longer on the rein.
"In one month's time I shall return, and of your city there will not be
one stone upon another when I leave it!"

"One month!" Ramabai laughed.

"Why are you always smiling, Ramabai?" asked Bruce.

"I have had a dream, Sahib," answered Ramabai, still smiling. "Umballa
will not return here."

"You could tell me more than that."

"I could, but will not," the smile giving way to sternness.

"If only I knew what had become of Ahmed," said the colonel, when the
last of Umballa's soldiers disappeared whence they had come, "I should
feel content."

"We shall find him, or he will find us, if he is alive," said Kathlyn.
"Now let us make ready for the last journey. One hundred miles to the
west is the Arabian gulf. It is a caravan port, and there will be
sailing vessels and steamships." She shook him by the shoulders
joyously. "Dad, we are going home, home!"

"Kit, I want to see Winnie!"

The word sent a twinge of pain through Bruce's heart. Home! Would he
ever have a real one? Was she to go out of his life at last? Kathlyn
Hare.

"But you, Ramabai?" said Kathlyn.

"I shall return to Allaha, I and Pundita," replied Ramabai.

"It will be death!" objected Bruce and Kathlyn together.

"I think not," and Ramabai permitted one of his mysterious smiles to
stir his lips.

"Ramabai!" whispered Pundita fearfully.

"Yes. After all, why should we wait?"

"I?"

"Even so!"

"What is all this about?" inquired Kathlyn.

"Allaha is weary of Umballa's iron heel, weary of a vacillating
council. And the time has arrived when the two must be abolished. A
thousand men await the turn of my hand. And who has a better right to
the throne of Allaha than Pundita, my wife?"

"Good!" cried Kathlyn, her eyes sparkling. "Good! And if