ly rule; for of a truth the principality was lawfully hers. He
would make his will at once, but in order that this should be legal he
would have to destroy the previous will he had given to Colonel Hare,
his friend.

"Forgive me, my friend," he said. "I acted unwisely in your case. But
I was angry with my people for their cowardice."

"Your Majesty," replied the colonel, "the fault lay primarily with me.
I should not have accepted it or returned. I will tell you the truth.
It was the filigree basket of gold and precious stones that brought me
back."

"So? And all for nothing, since the hiding-place I gave you is not the
true one. But of that, more anon. I want this wretch Durga Ram spread
out on an ant hill . . ."

And then, without apparent reason, he began to call for Lakshmi, the
beautiful Lakshmi, the wife of his youth. He ordered preparations for
an elephant fight; rambled, talked as though he were but twenty; his
eyes dim, his lips loose and pendulent. And in this condition he might
live ten or twenty years. Ramabai was sore at heart.

They had to wait two days till his mind cleared again. His first
question upon his return to his mental balance was directed to Kathlyn.
Where was the document he had given to his friend Hare? Kathlyn
explained that Umballa had taken it from her.

"But, Your Majesty," exclaimed the colonel rather impatiently, "what
difference does it make? Your return has nullified that document."

"Not in case of my death. And in Allaha the elder document is always
the legal document, unless it is legally destroyed. It is not well to
antagonize the priests, who hold us firmly to this law. I might make a
will in favor of Pundita, but it would not legally hold in justice if
all previous wills were not legally destroyed. You must find this
document."

"Did you ever hear of a law to equal that?" asked Bruce of the colonel.

"No, my boy, I never did. It would mean a good deal of red tape for a
man who changed his mind frequently. He could not fool his relations;
they would know. The laws of the dark peoples have always amazed me,
because if you dig deep enough into them you are likely to find common
sense at the bottom. We must search Umballa's house thoroughly. I
wish to see Ramabai and Pundita in the shadow of their rights. Can't
destroy a document offhand and make a new one without legally
destroying the first. Well, let us be getting back to the bungalow.
We'll tal