y, and a stray bullet might
hit the girl. So he resolved on a bolder policy. While the raiders, who had
put out no sentries, lay about in groups unconscious of the proximity of an
enemy, Dermot touched Badshah with his hand, and the elephant broke
noiselessly out of the undergrowth and suddenly appeared in their midst.

CHAPTER IX

THE RESCUE OF NOREEN

There was a moment's consternation among the Bhuttias. Then they sprang to
their feet and began to draw their _dahs_. But suddenly one cried:

"The demon elephant! The devil man!"

Another and another took up the cry. Then all at once in terror they turned
and plunged panic-stricken into the undergrowth. All but two--the wearer of
shoes and a man with a scarred face beside him. While the rest fled they
stood their ground and called vainly to their companions to come back. When
they found themselves deserted the wearer of shoes pulled out a revolver
and fired at Dermot, while his scarred comrade drew his sword and ran
towards Noreen.

The soldier, ignoring his own danger but fearing for the girl's life, threw
his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet crashing through her
assailant's skull, then with his second barrel he shot the man with the
pistol through the heart. The first raider collapsed instantly and fell in
a heap, while the other, dropping his weapon, swayed for a moment,
staggered forward a few feet, and fell dead.

Only then could Dermot look at Noreen. In the dramatic moment of his
appearance the girl had uttered no sound, but sat rigid with her eyes fixed
on him. When the swordsman rushed at her she seemed scarcely conscious of
her peril but she started in terror and grew deadly pale when his companion
fired at her rescuer. When both fell her tension relaxed. She sank back
half-fainting in her chair and closed her eyes.

When she opened them again Badshah was kneeling a few yards away and Dermot
stood beside her cutting the cords that bound her.

She looked up at him and said simply:

"I knew you would come."

With an affectation of light-heartedness that he was far from feeling he
replied laughing:

"Of course you did. I am bound to turn up like the clown in the pantomime,
saying, 'Here we are again.' Oh, I forgot. I am a bit late. I should have
appeared on the scene when those beggars got to your bungalow."

He pretended to treat the whole affair lightly and made no further allusion
to her adventure, asking no questions about it. He w