s Bruce and help, and she dared not move!

Bruce, from his howdah, heard the noise in the palace; female shrieks,
commands, a shot from a musket. What in heaven's name had happened?
Where was Kathlyn? Why did she not appear? He fingered his revolvers.
But Ahmed signaled to him not to stir. The knowledge of whatever had
happened must be brought to them; on their lives they dared not go in
search of it.

"This comes from your damnable oriental way of doing things. If I had
had my way, Umballa would be dead and buried."

"All in good time, Sahib."

The elephants stirred restlessly, for they scented the cat whom they
hated.

Within the palanquin Kathlyn dared scarcely to breathe; for outside
seven leopards prowled and sniffed and snarled!

CHAPTER XV

THE SEVEN LEOPARDS

Crouched in the palanquin Kathlyn waited for the onslaught of the
leopards. Once she heard a tremendous scratching at the rear of her
hiding-place; the palanquin tottered. But the animal was not trying to
get inside; he was merely sharpening his claws after the manner of his
kind, claws which were sharp enough, heaven knew, since, regularly,
once a month the keepers filed them to needle-points.

An elephant trumpeted near by, and Kathlyn could have wept in despair.
Outside the wall were friends, doubtless by this time joined by her
father and Ramabai, and all wondering where she was. She dared not
call out for fear of attracting the leopards, whose movements she could
hear constantly: the jar of their padded feet as they trotted under and
about the palanquin, the sniff-sniff of their wet noses, an occasional
yawning.

By and by her curiosity could not be withstood, even though she might
be courting death. Cautiously and soundlessly she moved the curtain
which faced the wall. A mass of heavy vines ran from the ground to the
top of this wall. If only she could reach it; if only she dared try!
Presently the keepers, armed with goads and ropes, would be
forthcoming, and all hope of flight banished. Umballa, upon close
inspection, would recognize her despite her darkened skin and Indian
dress.

From the other window she peered. There, in the path, were two
leopards, boxing and frolicking in play. As she watched, always
interested in the gambols of such animals, she noticed that two other
leopards left off prowling, approached, sat upon their haunches, and
critically followed the friendly set-to. Then the other three, seeking