Bruce and Ramabai had no difficulty in passing the guards. The white
hunter was free to come and go, and the sleepy soldiers saw the water
skin which Ramabai threw carelessly over his head. They sat down against
the wall again and replenished the dung fire. Bruce and Ramabai wisely
made a wide detour to the peepul tree, which they climbed, disturbing the
apes and the parrakeets.
Somewhere near eight o'clock they heard the creaking of wheels and a
murmur of voices. Shortly into their range of vision drew a pair of
bullocks, pulling a tiger trap toward the clearing. This cage was of
stout wood with iron bars. The rear of the cage was solid; the front had
a falling door. The whole structure rested upon low wheels, and there
was a drop platform which rested upon the ground. An iron ring was
attached to the rear wall, and to this was generally tied a kid, the
bleating of which lured the tiger for which the trap was laid. The
moment the brute touched the bait the falling door slid down, imprisoning
the prowler.
When Bruce saw this damnable thing he understood, and he shook with
horror and voiceless rage. He caught Ramabai by the arm so savagely that
a low cry came from the brown man's lips.
"Patience, Sahib!" he warned. "Without you what will the Mem-sahib do?
They will tie her in that and liberate a tiger. The rest lies with you,
Sahib."
"Ramabai, as God hears me, some one shall pay for this! . . . The
nineteenth century, and I am wide awake! I may not be able to kill the
brute with these revolvers, but I'll stop him, even if I have to use my
bare hands. . . . Kathlyn Hare!"
"Hush!" again warned Ramabai, hugging his perch.
Later by half an hour Bruce witnessed a spectacle such as few white men,
happily for their reason, are permitted to see. Kathlyn, in her royal
robes (for ordeals of this character were ceremonials), a necklace of
wonderful emeralds about her throat, stepped from her palanquin and stood
waiting. From other vehicles and conveyances stepped Umballa, the
council and the yellow robed priests. Troops also appeared, and behind
them the eager expectant populace. They were to be amused. There were
many of them, however, who hoped that a miracle would happen.
"Ramabai," whispered Bruce, "she is as beautiful as a dream. If I had
only known! Well, there's going to be a miracle. See how straight she
stands; not a sign of fear in her face. There's a woman . . . a woman
for me!" he added under his breath.
He saw the bejeweled turban of Umballa bend toward the girl, and it was
hard to resist taking a pot at the man. Kathlyn shook her head.
Thereupon she was led to the trap, her hands bound and the rope round her
waist attached securely to the ring.