Kathlyn opened the wicker door, closing it behind her.
Clear headed, as Ramabai had said, she recollected the palanquin which
had been last to enter the garden of brides. She ran into the garden,
flew to the palanquin just as she heard the leopard crash through the
flimsy wicker door. She reached and entered the palanquin not a moment
too soon. She huddled down close to the door. The leopard trotted
round and round, snarling and sniffing. Presently he was joined by
another. From afar she could hear shouting. She readily understood.
Through some carelessness the leopards of the treasury were at liberty,
and that of her own and her father was in jeopardy. Just without the
garden of brides was Bruce and help, and she dared not move!
Bruce, from his howdah, heard the noise in the palace; female shrieks,
commands, a shot from a musket. What in heaven's name had happened?
Where was Kathlyn? Why did she not appear? He fingered his revolvers.
But Ahmed signaled to him not to stir. The knowledge of whatever had
happened must be brought to them; on their lives they dared not go in
search of it.
"This comes from your damnable oriental way of doing things. If I had
had my way, Umballa would be dead and buried."
"All in good time, Sahib.
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