The painted dancing girl in the house where Umballa had taken temporary
refuge began to gather her trinkets, her amber and turquoise necklaces,
bracelets and anklets. These she placed in a brass enameled box and
tucked it under her arm. Next she shook the sodden Umballa by the
sleeve.
"Come!" she cried.
"I would sleep," he muttered.
She seized a bowl containing some flowers and cast the contents into
his face. "Fire, fire and death!" she shrilled at him.
The douche brought the man out of his stupor.
"Fire?" he repeated.
"Come!"
This time he followed her docilely, wiping his face on his sleeve.
They heard a great shouting in the street, but did not tarry to learn
what had caused it.
One of Umballa's bearers, upon realizing what his master had done, had
run down the street for aid. He had had two objects in view--to save
the white goddess and to buy his freedom.
A few hundred yards away, in another street, the colonel, Bruce and
Ahmed were dragging a net for the purpose of laying it for a lion at
bay in a blind alley. Into their presence rushed the wild-eyed bearer.
"Save the white goddess!" he cried.
Bruce seized him by the shoulder. "What is that?"
"The white goddess, Sahib! She is on the roof of a burning house.
Durga Ram, my master, set fire to it. He is drunk and hiding in a
house near by."
"The man is mad," declared the colonel. "Kit would not have lost her
way this far. He is lying. He wants money."
Ahmed spoke. The bearer fell upon his knees.
Three shots, at intervals!
The colonel and Bruce stared into each other's eyes.
"God in Heaven!" gasped the colonel; "those are revolver shots!"
"Bring the net!" shouted Ahmed. To the trembling bearer he said: "Lead
us; we follow. And if you have spoken the truth you shall not only
have your freedom, but rupees for your old age."
A lion's net is a heavy affair, but with the aid of the keepers the men
ran as quickly and lightly as if burdenless. Smoke. There was a fire.
The hearts of the white men beat painfully. And the same thought
occurred to both of them; they should have gone to Ramabai's house
first, then turned their attention to the lions. And Umballa was
hiding in a house near by!
Well for them that they entered the doomed quarter as they did.
Kathlyn saw them, and the muzzle of the revolver which she was pressing
to her heart lowered, the weapon itself slipping from her hand to the
roof. God was not going to let her die like this.
"Spread out the net!" commanded Bruce. "Kathlyn, can you hear me?" he
shouted, cupping his hands before his mouth. Faintly he heard her
reply. "When I give the word, jump. Do not be afraid."