When the prisoners saw Umballa a shout went up. There were some there
who had Umballa to thank for their miseries. They hailed him and
jeered him and mocked him.
"Here is the gutter rat!"
"May his feet be tender!"
"Robber of the poor, where is my home, my wife and children?"
"May he rot in the grave with a pig!"
"Hast ever been thirsty, Highness?"
"Drink thy sweat, then!"
"Give the 'heaven born' irons that are rusted!"
The keepers enjoyed this raillery. Umballa was going to afford them
much amusement. They forced him to the wrist bar, snapped the irons on
his wrist, and shouted to the men to tread. Ah, well they knew the
game! They trotted with gusto, forcing Umballa to keep pace with them,
a frightful ordeal for a beginner. Presently he slipped and fell, and
hung by his wrists while his legs and thighs bumped cruelly. The lash
fell upon his shoulders, and he shrieked and grew limp. He had fainted.
* * * * * * Among the late king's papers they found an envelope addressed to
Kathlyn. It was in grandiloquent English. Brevity of speech is
unknown to the East Indian. Kathlyn read it with frowning eyes. She
gave it to her father to read; and it hurt her to note the way his eyes
took fire at the contents of that letter. The filigree basket of gold
and gems; the trinkets for which he had risked his own life, Kathlyn's,
then Winnie's. In turn Bruce and Ramabai perused the letter; and to
Ramabai came the inspiration.
They would seek this treasure, but only he, Ramabai, and Pundita would
return. Here lay their way to freedom without calling upon Bala Khan
for aid. The matter, however, had to be submitted to the priests, and
those wily men in yellow robes agreed. They could very well promise
Durga Ram his freedom again, pursue these treasure seekers and destroy
them; that would be Durga Ram's ransom.
The return to the palace was joyous this time; but in her heart of
hearts Kathlyn was skeptical. Till she trod the deck of a ship
homeward bound she would always be doubting.
Bruce did not have to seek Bala Khan. The night of Kathlyn's defiance
Ahmed had acquainted them with his errand. He was now on his way to
Bala Khan. They need trouble themselves no longer regarding the future.
"All goes well," said Ramabai; "for, to reach the hiding-place, we must
pass the city of Balakhan. I know where this cape is. It is not
large. It juts off into the sea, the Persian Gulf, perhaps half a
dozen miles. At high tide it becomes an island. None lives about
except the simple fishermen. Still, the journey is hazardous. The
truth is, it is a spot where there is much gun running; in fact, where
we found our guns and ammunition. I understand that there are great
secret stores of explosives hidden there."