"Ahmed."
"Yes, Sahib. Listen." He told his tale quickly.
"The guards at all the gates have orders to shoot me if they catch me
within the walls of the city. I must disguise myself in some way."
"I'll find you an Arab burnoose, hooded, Sahib, and that will hide you.
It will be dark by the time we reach the city, and we'll enter by one
of the other gates. That will allay suspicion. First we must seek the
house of Ramabai. I need money for bribery."
Bruce searched his wallet. It was empty. He had given all he had to
the Brahmin.
"You lead, Ahmed. I'm dazed."
In the city few knew anything about Ahmed, not even the keenest of
Umballa's spies. Umballa had his suspicions, but as yet he could prove
nothing. To the populace he was a harmless animal trainer who was only
too glad not in any way to be implicated with his master. So they let
him alone. Day by day he waited for the report from Lal Singh, but so
far he had heard nothing except that the British Raj was very busy
killing the followers of the Mahdi in the Soudan. It was a subtle
inference that for the present all aliens in Allaha must look out for
themselves.
"Sahib," he whispered, "I have learned something. Day after day I have
been waiting, hoping. Colonel Sahib lives, but where I know not."
"Lives!"
"Ai! In yonder prison where later we go. He lives. That is enough
for his servant. He is my father and my mother, and I would die for
him and his. Ah! Here is the north gate. Bend your head, Sahib, when
we pass."
They entered the city without mishap. No one questioned them. Indeed,
they were but two in a dozen who passed in at the same time. They
threaded the narrow streets quickly, skirting the glow of many dung
fires for fear that Bruce's leggings might be revealed under his
burnoose.
When at length they came to the house of Ramabai they did not seek to
enter the front, but chose the gate in the rear of the garden. The
moon was up and the garden was almost as light as day.
"Ramabai!" called Bruce in a whisper.
The dreaming man seated at a table came out of his dream with a start.
A servant ran to the gate.
"Who calls?" demanded Ramabai, suspicious, as all conspirators ever are.
"It is I, Bruce," was the reply in English, flinging aside his burnoose.
"Bruce Sahib? Open!" cried Ramabai. "What do you here? Have you
found her?"
Ramabai's wife, Pundita, came from the house. She recognized Bruce
immediately.
"The Mem-sahib! Have you found her?"
"Just a moment. Kathlyn Mem-sahib is in one of the palace dungeons.
She must be liberated to-night. We need money to bribe what sentries
are about." Bruce went on to relate the incident of the baboon. "This
proves that the note was written not more than three hours ago. She
will probably be held there till morning. This time we'll place her
far beyond the reach of Umballa."