The Adventures of Kathlyn - Page 135/201

There was no weeping or wailing or struggling. The dark proud face of

the young girl gave forth no sign of the terror and utter loneliness of

her position. And Umballa realized that it was in the blood of these

children to be brave and quiet. There was no mercy in his heart. He

was power mad and gold mad, and his enemies lived because he could

reach neither of his desires over their dead bodies.

The rigmarole and mummery Winnie went through affected her exactly as

it had affected her sister. It was all a hideous nightmare, and at any

moment she expected to wake up in her cozy corner at Edendale.

In the bazaars they began to laugh at Umballa and his coronations, or

durbars. They began to jest at his futile efforts to crown some one

through whom he could put his greedy hand into the treasury. Still,

they found plenty of amusement and excitement. And so they filled the

square in front of the platform when Umballa put the crown on Winnie's

head. How long would this queen last?

And Kathlyn, her father and Bruce were forced to witness the event from

behind the cordon of guards, dressed in native costume, their faces

stained and their hearts swelling with impotent anger and despair. For

it was in such guise they had returned to Allaha.

During a lull in the ceremonies a resonant voice from out the dense

throne cried, "Give us a queen of our blood and race, thou black,

gutter born dog!"

Ramabai started at the sound of that voice, but caught himself before

he looked in the direction from whence it rose. It belonged to one Lal

Singh.

Umballa scowled, but gave no other sign that he heard. But a guard

dove into the crowd; uselessly, however.

Kathlyn touched Ramabai's arm.

"Oh, I must speak to her!"

"Be careful, Mem-sahib!" he warned.

But even as she spoke she stepped past him, toward her beloved sister,

and offered the flowers she held.

Winnie, not dreaming that this dark veiled creature was her sister,

smelled the flowers and beheld a card which had writing on it--English!

"Courage! Father and I have a plan for your escape. Kathlyn."