on behalf of Ramabai.

The frail woman who loved Umballa raised her hands in supplication.

Kathlyn understood. She shook her head. Umballa should end his days
in the treadmill; he should grind the people's corn. Nothing should
stir her from this determination.

"Majesty, and what of me?" cried the unhappy woman, now filled with
another kind of remorse.

"You shall return to the zenana for the present."

"Then I am not to die, Majesty?"

"No."

"And Bala Khan?" inquired the priest.

"He shall stand prepared; that is all."

The people, crowding in the temple and in the square before it,
salaamed deeply as Kathlyn left and returned to the palace. She was
rather dizzy over the success of her inspiration. A few days might
pass without harm; but sooner or later they would discover that she had
tricked them; and then, the end. But before that hour arrived they
would doubtless find some way of leaving the city secretly.

That it would be many days ere Pundita wore the crown--trust the
priests to spread the meshes of red tape!--Kathlyn was reasonably
certain.

"My girl," said the colonel, "you are a queen, if ever there was one.
And that you should think of such a simple thing when we had all given
up! They would not have touched Umballa. Kit, Kit, whatever will you
do when you return to the humdrum life at home?"

"Thank God on my knees, dad!" she said fervently. "But we are not safe
yet, by any means. We must form our plans quickly. We have perhaps
three days' grace. After that, woe to all of us who are found here.
Ah, I am tired, tired!"

"Kit," whispered Bruce, "I intend this night to seek Bala Khan!"

"John!"

"Yes. What the deuce is Allaha to me? Ramabai must fight it out
alone. But don't worry about me; I can take care of myself."

"But I don't want you to go. I need you."

"It is your life, Kit, I am certain. Everything depends upon their
finding out that Bala Khan will strike if you call upon him. At most,
all he'll do will be to levy a tribute which Ramabai, once Pundita is
on the throne, can very well pay. Those priests are devils incarnate.
They will leave no stone unturned to do you injury, after to-day's
work. You have humiliated and outplayed them."

"It is best he should go, Kit," her father declared. "We'll not tell
Ramabai. He has been a man all the way through; but we mustn't
sacrifice our chances for the sake of a bit of sentiment. John must
seek Bala Khan's aid