"On the way to the palace!" Ahmed laughed and told what he had
accomplished.
Bruce raised his hands in anger.
"But, Sahib!" began Ahmed, not comprehending.
"And, having him in your hands, you let him go!"
Ahmed stood dumfounded. His jaw sagged, his rifle slipped from his
hands and fell with a clank at his feet.
"You are right, Sahib. I am an unthinking fool. May Allah forgive me!"
"We could have held him as hostage, and tomorrow morning we all could
have left Allaha free, unhindered! God forgive you, Ahmed, for not
thinking!"
"In the heat of battle, Sahib, one does not always think of the
morrow." But Ahmed's head fell and his chin touched his breast. That
he, Ahmed, of the secret service, should let spite overshadow
forethought and to be called to account for it! He was disgraced.
"Never mind, Ahmed," said Kathlyn kindly. "What is done is done. We
must find safety. We shall have to hide in the jungle to-night. And
there is my sister. You should have thought, Ahmed."
"Umballa will not harm a hair of her head," replied Ahmed, lifting his
head.
"Your work has filled his heart with venom," declared Bruce hotly.
"And my words, Sahib, have filled his veins with water," replied Ahmed,
now smiling.
"What do you mean?" demanded the colonel.
"Ask Ramabai. Perhaps he will tell you."
"That," returned Ramabai, "is of less importance at this moment than
the method to be used in liberating the daughter of Colonel Sahib.
Listen. The people are angry because they were not permitted to be
present at the sacrifice to Juggernaut. To pacify them Umballa will
have to invent some amusement in the arena."
"But how will that aid us?" interrupted the colonel.
"Let us say, an exhibition of wild animals, with their trainers."
"Trainers?"
"Yes. You, Colonel Sahib, and you, Kathlyn Mem-sahib, and you, Bruce
Sahib, will without difficulty act the parts."
"Good!" said Ahmed bitterly. "The three of them will rush into the
royal box, seize Winnie Mem-sahib, and carry her off from under the
very noses of Umballa, the council and the soldiers!"
"My friend Ahmed is bitter," replied Ramabai patiently.
"Ai, ai! I had Umballa in my hands and let him go! Pardon me,
Ramabai; I am indeed bitter."
"But who will suggest this animal scheme to Umballa?" inquired Bruce.
"I." Ramabai salaamed.
"You will walk into the lion's den?"
"The jackal's," Ramabai corrected.
"God help me! If I only had a few men!" groaned the colonel, raising
his hands to heaven.
"You will be throwing away your life uselessly, Ramabai," said Kathlyn.
"No. Umballa and I will understand each other completely."
"Ramabai," put in Ahmed, with his singular smile, "do you want a crown?"