But every minute the vines, sturdy as they were, threatened to come
tumbling to the ground.
Her long and lonely experiences in the jungle had taught her the need
of climbing quickly yet lightly. She flung herself across the top of
the wall, exhausted. For the time being, at least, she was safe. She
hung there for a few minutes till she had fully recovered her breath.
Below the leopards were still leaping and striking futilely! and even
in her terror she could not but admire their grace and beauty. And,
oddly, she recalled the pet at home. Doubtless by this time he had
fallen back into his savage state.
When she dared risk it she gained a securer position on the wall and
sat up, flinging her legs over the side of it. She saw things in a bit
of blur at first, her heart had been called upon so strenuously; but
after a little objects resumed their real shapes, and she espied the
two elephants. She called, waving her hands.
"It is Kathlyn!" cried Bruce.
"Kit!" shouted the colonel, who shared the howdah with Bruce. "Kit,
hang on for a moment longer! Ahmed, to the wall!"
The colonel and Ramabai had left the zenana by one of the windows
overlooking the passage which ran past the garden of brides. They had
had no trouble whatever in reaching the elephants. But the subsequent
waiting for Kathlyn had keyed them all up to the breaking point. The
pity of it was, they dared not stir, dared not start in search of her.
Had it been leopards only, Bruce would have made short work of it; but
it would have been rank folly to have gone in search of the girl. If
she had been made captive, she needed their freedom to gain her own.
Besides, the council of both Ahmed and Lal Singh was for patience.
Ahmed had the greatest faith in the world in Kathlyn's ability to take
care of herself. Think of what she had already gone through unscathed!
Kathlyn Mem-sahib bore a charmed life, and all the wild beasts of the
jungles of Hind could not harm her. It was written.
And then Bruce discovered her upon the wall. It took but a moment to
bring the elephant alongside; and Kathlyn dropped down into the howdah.
"A narrow squeak, dad," was all she said.
"Let us get on our way," said the colonel hoarsely. "And remember,
shoot to kill any man who attempts to stop us. My Kit!" embracing
Kathlyn. "Perhaps the escape of the leopards is the luckiest thing
that could have happened. It will keep them all busy for an hour or
more. Since Umballa believes you to be dead, he will be concerned
about my disappearance only. And it will be some time ere they learn
of my escape. Forward, Ahmed! This time . . ."