miles away. Let us be cheerful!"

"Kit," said her father, "I couldn't help it. I can't think quickly any
more. I am like a man in a nightmare. I've been down to hell, and I
can't just yet realize that I am out of it. I'm sorry!"

"Poor dad!" Kathlyn pressed him in her arms, while Bruce nodded
enviously but approvingly.

By and by they drew aside the curtains. Kathlyn saw here and there
objects which recalled her first journey along this highway. If only
she had known!

"One thing is forecast," said Bruce. "When Ramabai returns it will be
to fight. He will not be able to avoid it now. I shouldn't mind going
back with him. Ahmed, what is this strange hold Umballa has over the
actions of the Council of Three? They always appear to be afraid of
him."

"Ah, Sahib," said Ahmed, resting his ankus or goad on the skull of his
mount, "there is said to be another prisoner in the palace prison. Lal
Singh knows, I believe."

"What's your idea?"

"Sahib, when I put you all safe over the frontier I am coming back to
Allaha to find out." And that was all Ahmed would say regarding the
subject.

"I'll wager he knows," whispered Bruce.

"But who can it be? Another poor devil of a white man? Yet how could
a white man influence the actions of the council?" The colonel spoke
irritably.

"Look!"--from Kathlyn; "there is one of those wonderful trees they call
the flame of the jungle." She called their attention to the tree
merely to cause a diversion. She wanted to keep her father's thoughts
away from Allaha.

So they journeyed on into the sunset, into twilight, into the bright
starry night.

Back in the city the panic was already being forgot as a thing of the
past. The leopards were back at their patrolling; the high officials
and dignitaries, together with the unsuccessful candidates, had gone
their several ways. Umballa alone paced the halls, well satisfied with
the events of the day, barring the disturbance caused by the escape of
the leopards.

His captain entered and saluted.

"Highness, a mahout has news."

"News? Of what?"

"He claims that he saw the king's turban in a howdah which passed the
ancient gate about an hour gone."

"That is not possible," replied Umballa.

"I told him that the king was in his chamber."

"So he is. Wait! I will go myself and see," all at once vaguely
perturbed. He was back in a very short time, furious.

"It is true! Woe to those who permitted him to e