Later Kathlyn was standing under the cell window gazing at the yellow
sunset. Two hours had gone, and no sign of Umballa yet. She
shuddered. Had she been alone she would have hunted for something
sharp and deadly. But her father; not before him. She must wait. One
thing was positive and absolute: Umballa should never embrace her; she
was too strong and desperate.
"Kit!"
"Yes, father."
"I have a sharp piece of metal in my pocket. Could you . . . My God,
by my hand! . . . when he comes?"
"Yes, father; I am not afraid to die, and death seems all that remains.
I should bless you. He will be a tiger now."
"My child, God was good to give me a daughter like you."
She turned to him this time and pressed him to her heart.
"It grows dark suddenly," he said.
Kathlyn glanced toward the window.
"Why, it's a baboon!" she exclaimed.
"Jock, Jock!" cried her father excitedly.
The baboon chattered.
"Kit, it's Jock I used to tell you about. He is tame and follows me
about like a dog. Jock, poor Jock!"
"Father, have you a pencil?"
"A pencil?" blankly.
"Yes, yes! I can write a note and attach it to Jock. It's a chance."
"Good lord! and you're cool enough to think like that." The colonel
went through his pockets feverishly. "Thank God, here's an old stub!
But paper?"
Kathlyn tore off a broad blade of grass from her dress and wrote
carefully upon it. If it fell into the hands of the natives they would
not understand, If the baboon returned to camp . . . It made her weak
to realize how slender the chance was. She took the tabouret and
placed it beneath the window and stood upon it.
"Jock, here, Jock!"
The baboon gave her his paws. Deftly she tied the blade of grass round
his neck. Then she struck her hands together violently. The baboon
vanished, frightened at this unexpected treatment.
"He is gone."
The colonel did not reply, but began to examine his chains minutely.
"Kit, there's no getting me out of here without files. If there is any
rescue you go and return. Promise."
"I promise."
Then they sat down to wait.
And Ahmed in his search came to the river. Some natives were swimming
and sporting in the water. Ahmed put a question. Oh, yes, they had
seen the strange-looking ape (for baboons did not habitate this part of
the world); he had gone up one of the trees near by. Colonel Hare had
always used a peculiar whistle to bring Jock, and Ahmed resorted to
this device. Half an hour's perseverance rewarded him; and then he
found the blade of grass.
"Dungeon window by tree. Kathlyn."
That was sufficient for Ahmed. He turned the baboon over to the care
of one of his subordinates and hurried away to Bruce's camp, only to
find that he had gone to the colonel's. Away went Ahmed again,
tireless. He found Bruce pacing the bungalow frontage.