After that they gave Kathlyn's dog tent plenty of room.
One day, in the heart of a natural clearing, she saw a tree. Its
blossoms and leaves were as scarlet as the seeds of a pomegranate.
"Oh, how beautiful! What is it, Rao?"
"The flame of the jungle, Mem-sahib. It is good luck to see it on a
journey."
About the tree darted gay parrakeets and fat green parrots. The green
plumage of the birds against the brilliant scarlet of the tree was
indescribably beautiful. Everywhere was life, everywhere was color.
Once, as the natives seated themselves of the evening round their dung
fire while Kathlyn busied with the tea over a wood fire, a tiger roared
near by. The elephants trumpeted and the mahouts rose in terror.
Kathlyn ran for her rifle, but the trumpeting of the elephants was
sufficient to send the striped cat to other hunting-grounds. Wild ape
and pig abounded, and occasionally a caha wriggled out of the sun into
the brittle grasses. Very few beasts or reptiles are aggressive; it is
only when they feel cornered that they turn. Even the black panther,
the most savage of all cats, will rarely offer battle except when
attacked.
Meantime the man who had followed Kathlyn arrived at the city.
Five hours later Kathlyn stepped out of her howdah, gave Rao the money
for the mahouts and looked about. This was the gate to the capital.
How many times had her father passed through it? Her jaw set and her
eyes flashed. Whatever dangers beset her she was determined to meet
them with courage and patience.
"Rao, you had better return to Calcutta. What I have to do must be
done alone."
"Very good. But I shall remain here till the Mem-sahib returns." Rao
salaamed.
"And if I should not return?" affected by this strange loyalty.
"Then I shall seek Bruce Sahib, who has a camp twenty miles east."
"Bruce? But he is in Singapore!"--a quickening of her pulses.
"Who can say where Bruce Sahib is? He is like a shadow, there to-day,
here to-morrow. I have been his servant, Mem-sahib, and that is how I
am to-day yours. I received a telegram to call at your hotel and apply
to you for service. Very good. I shall wait. The mahout here will
take you directly to Hare Sahib's bungalow. You will find your
father's servants there, and all will be well. A week, then. If you
do not send for me I seek Bruce Sahib, and we shall return with many.
Some will speak English at the bungalow."
"Thank you, Rao. I shall not forget."
"Neither will Bruce Sahib," mysteriously. Rao salaamed.
Kathlyn got into the howdah and passed through the gates. Bruce Sahib,
the quiet man whose hand had reached out over seas thus strangely to
reassure her! A hardness came into her throat and she swallowed
desperately. She was only twenty-four. Except for herself there might
not be a white person in all this sprawling, rugged principality. From
time to time the new mahout turned and smiled at her curiously, but she
was too absorbed to note his attentions.