"Behold!" cried Umballa later, as he entered the presence of the
council, "behold a slave of mine!" He pushed Kathlyn forward. "This
day I bought her for five thousand rupees."
The council stirred nervously.
"Do you not recognize her?" exultantly.
The council whispered to one another.
"Legally she is mine, though she has been a queen. But by running away
she has forfeited her rights to the law of the ordeals. Am I not
right?"
The council nodded gravely. They had not yet wholly recovered from
their bewilderment.
"On the other hand, her identity must remain a secret till I have
developed my plans," continued Umballa.
"You are all courting a terrible reprisal," said Kathlyn. "I beg of
you to kill me at once; do not prolong my torture, my misery. I have
harmed none of you, but you have grievously harmed me. One even now
seeks aid of the British Raj; and there are many soldiers."
The threat was ill timed.
The head of the council said to Umballa: "It would be wise to lock her
up for the present. We all face a great complication."
"A very wise counsel," agreed Umballa, knowing that he had but to say
the word to destroy them all. "And she shall have company. I would
not have her lonely. Come, majesty; deign to follow your humble
servant." Umballa salaamed.
Kathlyn was led to a cell in the palace prison, whose walls she had but
a little while ago viewed in passing, and thrust inside. A single
window admitted a faint light. Umballa remained by the door, chuckling
softly. Presently, her eyes becoming accustomed to the dark, Kathlyn
discovered a man chained to a pillar. The man suddenly leaned forward.
"Kit, my Kit!"
"Father!"
She caught him to her breast in her strong young arms, crooned to him,
and kissed his matted head. And they stood that way for a long time.
At this very moment there appeared before the council a wild eyed,
disheveled young man. How he had passed the palace guard none of them
knew.
"A white woman was brought into this room forcibly a few minutes ago.
I demand her! And by the God of my father I will cut out the heart of
every one of you if you deny me! She is white; she is of my race!"
"There is no white woman here, Bruce Sahib."
"You lie!" thundered the young man.
Two guards came in quickly.
"I say you lie! She was seen to enter here!"
"This man is mad! Besides, it is sacrilege for him to enter our
presence in this manner," cried one of the council. "Seize him!"
A fierce struggle between the guards and Bruce followed; but his race
to the city and the attendant excitement had weakened him. He was
carried away, still fighting manfully.