“No, Ahmed; there must be more.  Did not the guru curse my father’s children and their children’s children?”

“Ah, Mem-sahib, what does the curse of a Hindu amount to?”

“Perhaps it is stronger than we know,” glancing down at her dress.

Further discussion was interrupted by one of the armed keepers, who came rushing up with the news that armed soldiers were approaching.  Bruce swore frankly.  This Umballa was supernaturally keen.  What to do now?

“Quick!” cried Ahmed.  “Get the howdahs off the elephants.”  It was done.  “Hobble them.”  It was immediately accomplished.  “Into the bungalow, all of you.  Mem-sahib, follow me!”

“What are you going to do?” asked Bruce.

“Hide her where none will dare to look,” answered Ahmed.

He seized Kathlyn by the hand and urged her to run.  She had implicit faith in this old friend, who had once dandled her on his knees.  They disappeared behind the bungalow and ran toward the animal cages.  He stopped abruptly before one of the cages.

“A leopard, but harmless.  You’ll know how to soothe him if he becomes nervous.  Enter.”

[Illustration:  You’ll know how to soothe him.]

Kathlyn obeyed.

This cage was not a movable one, and had a cavity underneath.  The heavy teak flooring was not nailed.

The soldiers arrived at the bungalow, boisterously threatening the arrest of the entire camp if Durga Ram’s slave was not produced forthwith.

“You are mistaken,” said Bruce.  “There is no slave here.  Search.”

“You stand in extreme danger, Sahib.  You have meddled with what does not concern you,” replied the captain, who had thrown his fortunes with Umballa, sensing that here was a man who was bound to win and would be liberal to those who stood by him during the struggle.

“Search,” repeated Bruce.

The captain and his men ran about, but not without a certain system of thoroughness.  They examined the elephants, but were baffled there, owing to Ahmed’s foresight.  They entered the native quarters, looked under the canvases into the empty cages, from cellar to roof in the bungalow, when suddenly the captain missed Ahmed.

“Where is the Colonel Sahib’s man?” he asked bruskly.

“Possibly he is going the rounds of the animal cages,” said Bruce, outwardly calm and shaking within.

“And thou, Ramabai, beware!”

“Of what, Captain?” coolly.

“Thou, too, hast meddled; and meddlers burn their fingers.”

“I am innocent of any crime,” said Ramabai.  “I am watched, I know; but there is still some justice in Allaha.”

“Bully for you!” said Bruce in English.

The captain eyed him malevolently.

“Search the animal cages,” he ordered.

Bruce, Ramabai and Pundita followed the captain.  He peered into the cages, one by one, and at length came to the leopard’s cage.  And there was the crafty Ahmed, calmly stroking the leopard, which snarled suddenly.  Ahmed stood up with a fine imitation of surprise.  The captain, greatly mystified, turned about; he was partially convinced that he had had his work for nothing.  Still, he had his tongue.