e act of mounting the first steps when
one of the lions roared again. Drunk as he was, filled with a
drunkard's courage, Umballa started back. The lions! Out into the
street he went. He turned to the bearers and ordered them to fire the
inflammables in the hall. But they refused, for they recognized the
chain armor. Mad with rage Umballa struck at them, entered the hall
again, and threw a lighted match into the rubbish.

CHAPTER XXI

THE WHITE GODDESS

The painted dancing girl in the house where Umballa had taken temporary
refuge began to gather her trinkets, her amber and turquoise necklaces,
bracelets and anklets. These she placed in a brass enameled box and
tucked it under her arm. Next she shook the sodden Umballa by the
sleeve.

"Come!" she cried.

"I would sleep," he muttered.

She seized a bowl containing some flowers and cast the contents into
his face. "Fire, fire and death!" she shrilled at him.

The douche brought the man out of his stupor.

"Fire?" he repeated.

"Come!"

This time he followed her docilely, wiping his face on his sleeve.

They heard a great shouting in the street, but did not tarry to learn
what had caused it.

One of Umballa's bearers, upon realizing what his master had done, had
run down the street for aid. He had had two objects in view--to save
the white goddess and to buy his freedom.

A few hundred yards away, in another street, the colonel, Bruce and
Ahmed were dragging a net for the purpose of laying it for a lion at
bay in a blind alley. Into their presence rushed the wild-eyed bearer.

"Save the white goddess!" he cried.

Bruce seized him by the shoulder. "What is that?"

"The white goddess, Sahib! She is on the roof of a burning house.
Durga Ram, my master, set fire to it. He is drunk and hiding in a
house near by."

"The man is mad," declared the colonel. "Kit would not have lost her
way this far. He is lying. He wants money."

Ahmed spoke. The bearer fell upon his knees.

Three shots, at intervals!

The colonel and Bruce stared into each other's eyes.

"God in Heaven!" gasped the colonel; "those are revolver shots!"

"Bring the net!" shouted Ahmed. To the trembling bearer he said: "Lead
us; we follow. And if you have spoken the truth you shall not only
have your freedom, but rupees for your old age."

A lion's net is a heavy affair, but with the aid of the keepers the men
ran as quickly and lightly as if burdenless. Smoke.