will make a man of every poor devil of a
coolie who carries stones from your quarries."

Umballa laughed. "Then remain here like a dog while I put your golden
daughter on the throne and become what the British Raj calls prince
consort. She'll rebel, I know; but I have a way." He stepped outside
and closed the door.

"Umballa?"

"Well?"

"Kit, my daughter? Good God, what is she doing here when I warned
her?" Hare tugged furiously at his chains. "Durga Ram, you have
beaten me. State your terms and I will accept them to the
letter. . . . Kit, my beautiful Kit, in this hellhole!"

"Ah, but I don't want you to accept now. I was merely amusing myself."
The door shut and the bolt shot home.

Hare fell upon his knees. "My head, my head! Dear God, save me my
reason!"

* * * * * *

The moment Kathlyn arrived at the animal cages of her father she called
for Ahmed.

"My father?"

"Ah, Mem-sahib, they say he is dead. I know not. One night--the
second after we arrived--he was summoned to the palace. He never came
back."

"They have killed him!"

"Perhaps. They watch me, too; but I act simple. We wait and see."

Kathlyn rushed across the ground intervening between the animal cages
and the bungalow. There was no one in sight. She ran up the
steps . . . to be greeted inside by the suave Umballa.

"You?" her hand flying to her bosom.

"I, Miss Hare." He salaamed, with a sweeping gesture of his hands.

Sadly the wretch told her the tale; the will of the king, his death and
the subsequent death of her father in his, Durga Ram's, arms. Yonder
urn contained his ashes. For the first time in her young life Kathlyn
fainted. She had been living on her nerves for weeks, and at the sight
of that urn something snapped. Daintily Umballa plucked forth the
packet and waited. At length she opened her eyes.

"You are a queen, Miss Hare."

"You are mad!"

"Nay; it was the madness of the king. But mad kings often make laws
which must be obeyed. You will accuse me of perfidy when I tell you
all. The note which brought you here was written by me and substituted
for this."

Duly Kathlyn read:

"Kathlyn--if not heard from, I'm held captive in Allaha. The royal
title given to me by the king made me and my descendants direct heirs
to the throne. Do not come to Allaha yourself. Destroy sealed
document herewith.

"Father."

The Council of Three entered noiselessly f