Her request was granted. So when Durga Ram and has soldiers arrived
before the closed gates they beheld Kathlyn mounted on the white
elephant alone.
"What wish you here, Durga Ram?" she called down to the man on the
richly caparisoned war elephant.
"You! Your father and those who have helped you to escape."
"Indeed! Well, then, come and take us."
"I would speak with Bala Khan," imperiously.
"You will deal with me alone," declared Kathlyn.
Umballa reached for his rifle, but a loud murmur from the men stayed
his impulse.
"It is the sacred white elephant, Highness. None dare fire at that,"
his captain warned him. "Those with him or upon him are in sanctity."
"Tell Bala Khan," said Umballa, controlling his rage as best he could,
"tell Bala Khan that I would be his friend, not his enemy."
"Bala Khan," boomed a voice from the other side of the wall, "cares not
for your friendship. Whatever the Mem-sahib says is my word. What!
Does Allaha want war for the sake of gratifying Durga Ram's spite?
Begone, and thank your evil gods that I am not already at your lying
treacherous throat. Take yourself off, Durga Ram. The people of Bala
Khan do not make war on women and old men. The Mem-sahib and her
friends are under my protection."
"I will buy them!" shouted Umballa, recollecting the greed of Bala Khan.
"My word is not for sale!" came back.
Kathlyn understood by the expression on Umballa's countenance what was
taking place. She smiled down at her enemy.
"So be it, Bala Khan," snarled Umballa, his rage no longer on the rein.
"In one month's time I shall return, and of your city there will not be
one stone upon another when I leave it!"
"One month!" Ramabai laughed.
"Why are you always smiling, Ramabai?" asked Bruce.
"I have had a dream, Sahib," answered Ramabai, still smiling. "Umballa
will not return here."
"You could tell me more than that."
"I could, but will not," the smile giving way to sternness.
"If only I knew what had become of Ahmed," said the colonel, when the
last of Umballa's soldiers disappeared whence they had come, "I should
feel content."
"We shall find him, or he will find us, if he is alive," said Kathlyn.
"Now let us make ready for the last journey. One hundred miles to the
west is the Arabian gulf. It is a caravan port, and there will be
sailing vessels and steamships." She shook him by the shoulders
joyously. "Dad, we are going home, home!"
"Kit, I want to see Winnie!"
The word sent a twinge of pain through Bruce's heart. Home! Would he
ever have a real one? Was she to go out of his life at last? Kathlyn
Hare.