The Adventures of Kathlyn

begun. But for the days of peace and quiet of the wilderness and the consequent hardness of her flesh, Kathlyn would have suffered greatly. Half the time she was compelled to walk. Th

Only the day before they arrived was she relieved in any way: she

y no expressions of pity; simply they desired her to appear f

if such things could be! And then her own journey to Allaha; the nightmarish durbar, during which she had been crowned; the escape from the ordeals with John Bruce; the terrors of the te

ought and sold. The litter, in charge of the chief mahout, proceeded to the slave mart. Kathlyn glanced at the wall, wondering. Was her father alive? Was he in some bleak cell behind that crumbling masonry? Di

, his head buried in his thin wasted hands, beheld her in a vision-but i

ed robe and resumed his determined quest. Often, standing beside his evening fires, he wo

xisted many of them here and there across the face of the globe. Men buy and sell men and women

om all over India. Persia, Beloochistan, Afghanistan, and even southern Russia ha

latform with a roof, but open on all four sides. Here the slaves were exhibited, the poor things

tal idea of a club, and much the same things were discussed. Thus, Appaji bought a beautiful girl at the last barter and Roya found a male who was a good juggler, and only night before last they had traded. The bazaars were not what they used to be. Dewan Ali had sold

s and wrists), and solemn Brahmins, and men who painted red and ocher caste marks on one's forehead, and ash covered fakirs with wither

n a beautiful saree, or veil, which p

houlder, whenever she lagged, for they

which was to offer some loophole. On through the noisy bazaars, the object of many a curious remark, sometimes insulted by the painted women at the windows, sometimes

ver her nerves; nothing startled her; she sensed only the w

idding to announce that she was gentle. He even went so far as to pat her on the shoulder. The steel film did not cover all her nerves

r nodded approvingly, hearing the sound but not sensing its import. Ah, when the moment came, when the fool who bought her started to lead her home, she would beguile him and at the first sign of carelessnes

s the old mahout turned her

cass

the

from th

llow-

r of the n

that night; bags of rupees; a well thatched house to cover his gray hairs till

bout all these failures this thought irked him most. Here was a crown almost within reach of his greedy fingers, the water to Tantalus. To have underestimated this yellow haired young woman, he who knew women so well-there lay the bitter st

gloom on the face of the latter was reassuring to Umballa. Ahmed's master had not found her. T

ng to grow uneasy. How long

another he hated her, longed to get her into his hands again, to wreak his vengeance upon her for the humiliation she had by wit and courage

aped with gold and precious stones; and torture could not wring the hiding-place from him. May he be damned to the nethermost hell! Let him, Durga Ram, but bury his lean hands

m beware; let them remain wisely in their

usand

and would have passed on but for the strange, unusual figure standing on the platform. A golden

ousand

radise? O ye of weak hearts, what is this I hear? Two thousan

He stared and sucked in his breath. He found himself

this maiden

mmed

ch i

uats t

and touched the old m

e, and my master w

on garb. "Ah! 'My master' must be rich to dress th

es!" shouted the p

ll give 10,000 rupees for yonder

, thou

old ma

r all will be lost. I am Ali, Bruce Sahib's chief mahout; and we have believ

e heard that voi

that stirred his recollection. Where had he seen that graceful poise? The c

housand

som! He would own his elephant; his wife should ride in a gilded palanquin, and his childre

Umballa, impelled by he kne

d. The regent, the powerful Durga Ram,

den bounding of her heart stifled her. Umballa! She w

lighted. He was indeed

e is gentle

had bid 3,000 rup

," he said. "I can not

ill not recognizing her, waved her aside toward the Brahmin caste markers, one of whom d

ken Hindustani. "Many rupees. Bring him to the

river, and he was the white hunter who had rescued the vanished queen from the ordeals. He nodded almost imperceptibly. Inwardly he smiled. He was

y mahout. Presently he would have his

ned his ankle. Moaning, less from the pain than from the attendant helples

any base level in order to attain their equivocal ends his actions were unhampered by any sense of treachery toward Umballa. A Thuggee's twist to the schemes of the street rat Umballa, who wore the

heavy. He had searched the bewildering jungle as one might search a plot of grass before one's door, blade by blade. A hundred times he had found traces of

dden upon them. So straight she stood, so calm in the eyes, mannered with that gentleness,

ahmin desire

what he

the sahib's

him to me

approached

wish?" Bruce

rupees, Huzo

hat is worth that ma

alla, so-called. She has skin the color of old tusks, and eyes like turquoise, and li

alive, eager. He caught

oman white

of Allaha are alw

sold as

ut a crown, Huzoor. It is wor

tremor in his voice, "tell me, did

a struggle hav

rupees in Bank of India notes. "Now, listen. Umball

he word of

g here. Where is Ali?" cried B

this morning, Sahib,

he had been immersed in ice water. It was Kathlyn, not the least doubt of it, bought and sold in the slave mart. Mi

ined to reveal her identity. She had passed through the ordea

e!" she cried s

steppe

n speak a few words, enough to make myself known to the populace. I will make a bargain with you. I will give you five

stonishment. He knew now why that

to attempt to move this man, turned and started to run, but he intercepted her. "My queen, my bride tha

!" But she said

ning away. You will be whatever I choose! Oh, it will be legally done. You shall go w

she replied, "and it will be

who you were? Are you not mine? At this very moment I could place you in my

without

again and swiftly caught her in his arms. She struggled like a tigress, but without avail. He covered her face and neck with kisses, then thrust her aside. "

d a weapon in her hand she would have killed him wi

e done under that word. It is the shibbo

l not

he replied, becko

, n

e'll ride together

te longing to be revenged upon this man began to consume her. She wanted the feel of his brown throat in her fingers; w

of the council, "behold a slave of mine!" He pushed Kathly

l stirred

ecognize her?

whispered to

en. But by running away she has forfeited her r

They had not yet wholly reco

st remain a secret till I have deve

ce; do not prolong my torture, my misery. I have harmed none of you, but you have grievo

at was i

"It would be wise to lock her up for the

rd to destroy them all. "And she shall have company. I would not have her lo

rust inside. A single window admitted a faint light. Umballa remained by the door, chuckling softly. Presently, her

, my

the

ng arms, crooned to him, and kissed his matted

ouncil a wild eyed, disheveled young man. How h

. I demand her! And by the God of my father I will cut out the heart

hite woman her

thundered t

s came in

! She was seen

for him to enter our presence in this man

ut his race to the city and the attendant excitement had w

union had lasted long enough. He caught Kathl

he slave mart. Legally mine! Now will you tell me where

thlyn. "So long as we do not tell hi

it

poor

ool!" sai

This time her strength was superhuman. She freed her hands and beat him in the face, tore his garments, dragged off his turban. T

u black