he gate Bruce Sahib and Ahmed and Lal Singh await
with elephants. Once we can join them we are safe. And in a month's
time I shall return."

Meantime one of the leopard keepers rushed frantically into the throne
room, exclaiming that the seven guardian leopards were at large. Even
as he spoke one of the leopards appeared in the musicians' balcony.
The panic which followed was not to be described. A wild scramble
ensued toward all exits.

The fugitives entered the royal zenana. Kathlyn proceeded at once to
the exit which led to the garden of brides. There she waited for her
father and Ramabai, who had paused by the door of one of the zenana
chambers. Between them and Kathlyn lay the plunge.

Ramabai addressed the lady of the zenana, telling her that if guards
should come to state that Kathlyn was concealed in her own chamber. To
this the young woman readily agreed.

Suddenly a leopard appeared behind the colonel and Ramabai. Kathlyn,
being first to discover the presence of the animal, cried out a warning.

"Fly, Kit! Save yourself! I am accursed!" called the colonel.

Ramabai and the young woman at the chamber door hurriedly drew the
colonel into the chamber and shut the door. The colonel struggled, but
Ramabai held him tightly.

"We are unarmed, Sahib," he said; "and the Mem-sahib never loses her
head."

"Ramabai, I tell you I shall die here. It is useless to attempt to aid
me. I am accursed, accursed! Kit, Kit!"

The leopard stood undecided before the door which had closed in his
face. Then he discovered Kathlyn, fumbling at the wicker door at the
far side of the swimming pool. There was something upon which to wreak
his temper; for all this unusual commotion and freedom had disturbed
him greatly. Kathlyn opened the wicker door, closing it behind her.
Clear headed, as Ramabai had said, she recollected the palanquin which
had been last to enter the garden of brides. She ran into the garden,
flew to the palanquin just as she heard the leopard crash through the
flimsy wicker door. She reached and entered the palanquin not a moment
too soon. She huddled down close to the door. The leopard trotted
round and round, snarling and sniffing. Presently he was joined by
another. From afar she could hear shouting. She readily understood.
Through some carelessness the leopards of the treasury were at liberty,
and that of her own and her father was in jeopardy. Just without the
garden of brides wa