"They will be coming soon, Sahib," said Ahmed. Bruce wiped the sweat
from his palms and nodded.
Now, when Umballa and his captain of the guard departed with the
betrothal chain they did not firmly close the outer door, which shut
off the leopards from the main palace. The leopards were immediately
freed and began their prowling through the corridors, snarling and
growling as they scented the air through which the two men had just
passed. One paused by the door, impatiently thrusting out a paw.
The door gave.
In the throne room the mockery of the betrothal was gone through, and
then the calm Ramabai secretly signified that the hour for escape was
at hand; for everywhere, now that the ceremony was done, vigilance
would be lax.
Immediately the high priest announced that the successful candidate
would be conducted to the palace zenana and confined there till the
final ceremonies were over.
Umballa dreamed of what he had seen.
To Ramabai was given the exalted honor of conducting the king and his
betrothed to their respective quarters. Once in the private passageway
to the harem, or zenana, Ramabai threw caution to the winds.
"We must go a roundabout way to the garden of brides, which will be
deserted. Outside the gate Bruce Sahib and Ahmed and Lal Singh await
with elephants. Once we can join them we are safe. And in a month's
time I shall return."
Meantime one of the leopard keepers rushed frantically into the throne
room, exclaiming that the seven guardian leopards were at large. Even
as he spoke one of the leopards appeared in the musicians' balcony.
The panic which followed was not to be described. A wild scramble
ensued toward all exits.
The fugitives entered the royal zenana. Kathlyn proceeded at once to
the exit which led to the garden of brides. There she waited for her
father and Ramabai, who had paused by the door of one of the zenana
chambers. Between them and Kathlyn lay the plunge.
Ramabai addressed the lady of the zenana, telling her that if guards
should come to state that Kathlyn was concealed in her own chamber. To
this the young woman readily agreed.
Suddenly a leopard appeared behind the colonel and Ramabai. Kathlyn,
being first to discover the presence of the animal, cried out a warning.
"Fly, Kit! Save yourself! I am accursed!" called the colonel.
Ramabai and the young woman at the chamber door hurriedly drew the
colonel into the chamber and shut the door. The colonel struggled, but
Ramabai held him tightly.
"We are unarmed, Sahib," he said; "and the Mem-sahib never loses her
head."
"Ramabai, I tell you I shall die here. It is useless to attempt to aid
me. I am accursed, accursed! Kit, Kit!"
The leopard stood undecided before the door which had closed in his
face. Then he discovered Kathlyn, fumbling at the wicker door at the
far side of the swimming pool. There was something upon which to wreak
his temper; for all this unusual commotion and freedom had disturbed
him greatly. 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!