Ramabai was forced to sit with the council, much to his terror. After
much pleading the council was prevailed upon to permit him to sit with
Bruce. A cordon of soldiers was accordingly detailed to surround Bruce's
box at the rear.
When Kathlyn arrived she was placed under the canopy: another bit of
kindly attention on the part of Umballa to twist the white man's heart.
But nothing could have happened more to the satisfaction of Bruce.
"Kathlyn Hare," he called out softly in Spanish, "do you hear and
understand me?"
"Yes," she replied in the same tongue. "Do nothing desperate. Don't
throw away your life. I have a sister in America. Will you tell her?"
"Listen. Under no circumstances leave the canopy. The lions come from
the other side. We are not only going to rescue but save you. Attend me
carefully. Behind you is a door. There will be an explosion in the
center of the arena. There was to be another under our friend Umballa,
but the battery was old. Press over toward that door. I have the key."
"Ah, Mr. Bruce!"
"Kathlyn, my name is John."
"The lions, the lions!" howled the populace.
It seemed to Bruce that he had been suddenly flung back into antiquity
and that Nero sat yonder, squinting through his polished emerald. The
great, tawny African brutes blinked and turned their shaggy heads this
way and that, uneasily. Kathlyn stood very still. How, how could they
save her? At length the lions espied her, attracted by the white of her
robe. One bounded forward, growling. The others immediately started in
pursuit.
Suddenly the center of the arena opened and a tremendous roar followed.
A low wail of terror ran round the arena. Surely this Mem-sahib had all
the gods with her. A great crevice had opened up between Kathlyn and the
lions, one of which lay dead. Then came the rush toward the exits, a mad
frantic rush. Not even Umballa, who knew that not the gods, but man had
contrived this havoc, not even Umballa waited, but fled, beating down all
those who blocked his path.
Bruce and Ramabai dropped over the railing to Kathlyn's side. But the
key upon which their escape depended would not unlock the door.