"In the go-down of Lal Singh, the cobbler, there are many things, even
wigs and false beards," retorted Ramabai slyly.
Ahmed started, then laughed.
"You are right, Ramabai. So then we have wigs and beards. Go on." He
was sitting cross legged and rocking back and forth.
"After the tricks are done Kathlyn Mem-sahib will throw aside her veil
and stand revealed, to Umballa, to the council, to the populace."
Bruce jumped to his feet.
"Be patient, Bruce Sahib," reproved Ramabai. "I am not yet done."
Bruce sat down again, and Kathlyn stole a glance at his lean unhappy
face. How she longed to touch it, to smooth away the lines of care!
The old camaraderie was gone; there seemed to be some invisible barrier
between them now.
"She will discover herself, then," proceeded Ramabai. "Umballa will at
once start to order her capture, when she shall stay him by crying that
she is willing to face the arena lions. Remember, there will be a trap
and a tunnel."
"And outside?" said Ahmed, still doubting.
"There will be soldiers, my men. But they will at that moment be
elsewhere."
"If you have soldiers, then, why not slip them into the palace and have
them take the young Mem-sahib by force?"
"My men are not permitted to enter the palace, Ahmed. Umballa is
afraid of them. To go on. Winnie Mem-sahib will stand up and exclaim
that she will join her sister, to prove that she is no less brave."
"But the lions!"--from Bruce. From his point of view the plan was as
absurd as it was impossible.
Ramabai, however, knew his people and Bruce did not.
"Always remember the trap and the tunnel, Bruce Sahib. At the entrance
of the lions the trap will fall. Inside the tunnel will be the Colonel
Sahib and Bruce Sahib. Outside will be Ahmed and the brave men he had
with him this night. And all the road free to the gates!"
"Ah, for those thousand men!" sighed Ahmed. "I can not forget them."
"Nor I the dungeon-keep," replied Ramabai. "I must go my own way. Of
the right and wrong of it you are not concerned, Ahmed."
"By the Lord!" exclaimed the colonel, getting up. "I begin to
understand. He is alive, and they hold him there in a den, vile like
mine was. Alive!"
Ramabai nodded, but Ahmed clapped his hands exultantly.
"Umballa did not put him there. It was the politics of the council;
and this is the sword which Umballa holds over their heads. And if I
summoned my thousand men their zeal for me . . ."
"Pardon, Ramabai!" cried Ahmed contritely. "Pardon!"
"Ah! finally you understand?"
"Yes. You are not only a good man but a great one. If you gave the
sign to your men there would be no one in yonder dungeon-keep alive!"