pen. The two gasped for
breath; for Umballa had never before looked within. Everywhere gold
and gems; fabulous riches, enough to make a man ten times a king.

"Highness," whispered the captain, "there is enough riches here to
purchase the whole of Hind!"

As he stared Umballa surrendered to a passing dream. Presently he
shook himself, sought the chain for which he had come, and reluctantly
stepped out into the corridor again. He would return soon to this
door. But for that fool of a white man who had saved the king from the
leopard, he would have opened this door long since. As he walked to
the outer door he thought briefly of the beauty of Kathlyn. She was
dead, and dead likewise was his passion for her.

Beyond the gate to the garden of brides Ahmed and Lal Singh waited with
elephants. From here they would make the north gate, transfer to new
elephants, and leave Allaha and its evil schemes behind. They created
no suspicion. There were many elephants about the palace this day. In
one of the howdahs sat Bruce, armed; in the other, Pundita, trembling
with dread. So many arms had Siva, that evil spawn, that Pundita would
not believe all was well till they had crossed the frontier.

"They will be coming soon, Sahib," said Ahmed. Bruce wiped the sweat
from his palms and nodded.

Now, when Umballa and his captain of the guard departed with the
betrothal chain they did not firmly close the outer door, which shut
off the leopards from the main palace. The leopards were immediately
freed and began their prowling through the corridors, snarling and
growling as they scented the air through which the two men had just
passed. One paused by the door, impatiently thrusting out a paw.

The door gave.

In the throne room the mockery of the betrothal was gone through, and
then the calm Ramabai secretly signified that the hour for escape was
at hand; for everywhere, now that the ceremony was done, vigilance
would be lax.

Immediately the high priest announced that the successful candidate
would be conducted to the palace zenana and confined there till the
final ceremonies were over.

Umballa dreamed of what he had seen.

To Ramabai was given the exalted honor of conducting the king and his
betrothed to their respective quarters. Once in the private passageway
to the harem, or zenana, Ramabai threw caution to the winds.

"We must go a roundabout way to the garden of brides, which will be
deserted. Outside t