"To the tiger with him!"
"Now!" cried Bruce.
He flung the rope from his hands, caught Kathlyn by the arm, and
running and stumbling, they gained the cave, either ignored or
unobserved by the victorious brigands.
They dragged the stunned leader to his feet and haled him to the cage,
lashing him to a wheel. Next, they seized the rope which operated the
door and retired to the mouth of the cave.
"Rob us, would he!"
"Take the lion's share when we did all the work!"
"Swine!"
"I will give it all to you!" whined the whilom chief, mad with terror.
"And knife us in the back when we sleep! No, no! You have kicked and
cuffed us for the last time!"
Bruce picked up one of the rifles and drew Kathlyn farther into the
cave.
"Get behind me and crouch low. They'll come around to us presently."
The rascals gave the rope a savage pull, and from where he stood Bruce
could see the lean striped body of the furious tiger leap to freedom.
"Keep your eyes shut. It will not be a pleasant thing to look at," he
warned the girl.
But Kathlyn could not have closed her eyes if she had tried. She saw
the brute pause, turn and strike at the helpless man at the wheel, then
lope off, doubtless having in mind to test his freedom before he fed.
The remaining brigands rushed out and gathered up the bags of rupees.
This was the opportunity for which Bruce had waited.
"Come. There may be some outlet to this cave. Here is another rifle.
Let us cut for it! When thieves fall out; you know the old saying."
They ran back several yards and discovered a kind of chasm leading
diagonally upward.
"Thank God! We can get out of this after all. Are you strong enough
for a stiff climb?"
"I've got to be--John!"
"Trust me, Kathlyn," he replied simply. He had but one life, but he
determined then and there to make it equal or outlast the six lives
which stood between him and liberty.
The brigands, having succeeded in their mutiny, bethought themselves of
their prisoners, only to find that they had vanished. Familiar with
the cave and its outlet, they started eagerly in pursuit. They
reasoned that if an old man was worth three bags of rupees, two young
people might naturally be worth twice as much. And besides, being
tigers, they had tasted blood.
A shout caused Bruce to turn. Instantly he raised his rifle, and
pulled the trigger. The result was merely a snap. The gun had not
been loaded. He snatched Kathlyn's rifle, but this, too, was useless.
The brigands yelled exultantly and began to swarm up the ragged cliff.
Bruce flung aside the gun and turned his attention to a boulder.
Halfway up the chasm had a width which was little broader than the
shoulders of an ordinary man. He waited till he saw the wretches
within a yard or so of this spot, then pushed this boulder. It roared
and crashed and bounded, and before it reached the narrow pathway Bruce
had started a mate to it. Then a third followed. This caused a
terrific slide of rocks and boulders, and the brigands turned for their
lives.