THE COLONEL IN CHAINS
The colonel and Umballa swayed back and forth. Umballa sank to his
knees and then fought madly to rise but the hands at his throat were
the hands of a madman, steel, resistless. The colonel's chains clinked
sharply. Lower and lower went Umballa's head; he saw death peering
into the cell. His cry rattled in his throat.
Not a sound from Kathlyn. She watched the battle, unfeeling as marble.
Let the wretch die; let him feel the fear of death; let him suffer as
he had made others suffer. What new complications might follow
Umballa's death did not alarm her. How could she be any worse off than
she was? He had polluted her cheeks with his kisses. He had tortured
and shamed her as few white women have been. Mercy? He had said that
day that he knew not the word.
"Ah, you dog! Haven't I prayed God for days for this chance? You
black caha! Die!"
But Umballa was not to die at that moment or in that fashion.
That nervous energy which had infused the colonel with the strength of
a lion went out like a spark, and as quickly. Umballa rolled from his
paralyzed fingers and lay on the floor, gasping and sobbing. Hare fell
back against the pillar, groaning. The cessation of dynamic nerve
force filled him with racking pains and a pitiable weakness. But for
the pillar he would have hung by his chains.
Kathlyn, with continued apathy, stared down at her enemy. He was not
dead. He would kill them both now. Why, she asked with sudden
passion, why this misery? What had she done in her young life to merit
it? Under-fed, dressed in grass, harassed by men and wild beasts--why?
Umballa edged out of danger and sat up, feeling tenderly of his throat.
Next he picked up his turban and crawled to the open door. He pulled
himself up and stood there, weakly. But there was venom enough in his
eyes. The tableau lasted a minute or two; then slowly he closed the
door, bolted it, and departed.
This ominous silence awoke the old terror in Kathlyn's heart far more
than oral threats would have done. There would be reprisal, something
finished in cruelty.
"My dear, my dear!" She ran over to her father and flung her arms
about him, supporting him and mothering him. An hour passed.
"All in, Kit, all in; haven't the strength of a cat. Ah, great God; if
that strength had but lasted a moment longer. Well, he's still alive.
But, O, my Kit, my golden Kit, to see you here is to be tortured like
the damned. And it is all my fault, all mine!" The man who had once
been so strong sobbed hysterically.
"Hush, hush!"
"There were rare and wonderful jewels of which I alone knew the hiding
place. But God knows that it was not greed; I wanted them for you and
Winnie . . . I knew you were here. Trust that black devil to announce
the fact to me . . . God! what I haven't suffered in the way of
suspense! Kit, Kit, what has he done to you?"
Briefly she recounted her adventures, and when she had done he bowed
his head upon her bare shoulder and wept as only strong men, made weak,
weep.
To Kathlyn it was terrible. "Father, don't, don't! You hurt me! I
can't stand it!"
After a while he said: "What shall we do, Kit; what shall we do?"
"I will marry him, father," she answered quietly. "We can take our
revenge afterward."
"What!"
"If it will save you."
"Child, let me rot here. What! Would you trust him, knowing his false
heart as you do? The moment you married him would be my death warrant.
No, no! If you weaken now I shall curse you, curse you, my Kit! There
has been horror enough. I can die."
"Well, and so can I, father."
Silence. After a cockatoo shrilled; a laugh came faintly through the
window, and later the tinkle of music. Up above the world was going on
the same as usual. Trains were hurrying to and fro; the great ships
were going down the sapphire seas; children were at play, and the world
wide marts were busying with the daily affairs of men.
"Jewels!" she murmured, gazing at the sky beyond the grilled window.
Was there ever a precious stone that lay not in the shadow of blood and
misery? Poor, poor, foolish father! As if jewels were in beauty a
tithe of the misery they begot!
"Ay, Kit, jewels; sapphires and rubies and emeralds, diamonds and
pearls and moonstones. And I wanted them for my pretty cubs! Umballa
knew that I would return for them and laid his plans. But were they
not mine?"
"Yes, if you intended to rule these people; no, if you thought to take
them away. Do you not know that to Winnie and me a hair of your head
is more precious than the Koh-i-noor? We must put our heads together
and plan some way to get out."
She dropped her arms from his shoulders and walked about the cell,
searching every stone. Their only hope lay in the window, and that
appeared impossible since she had no means of filing through her
father's chains and the bars of the window. She returned and sat down
beside her father and rested her aching head on her knees, thinking,
thinking.
Bruce, struggling with the soldiers (and long since their fat flesh had
been stung into such activity!) saw Umballa appear in the corridor.
"Durga Ram," he cried, with a furious effort to free his arms. "Durga
Ram, you damnable scoundrel, it would be wise for you to kill me, here
and now, for if I ever get free. God help you! O, I shan't kill you;
that would be too merciful. But I'll break your bones, one by one, and
never more shall you stand and walk. Do you hear me? Where is Kathlyn
Hare? She is mine!"
Umballa showed his teeth in what was an attempt to smile. He still saw
flashes of fire before his eyes, and it was yet difficult to breathe
naturally. Still, he could twist this white man's heart, play with him.
"Take him away. Put him outside the city gates and let him go."
Bruce was greatly astonished at this sign of clemency.
"But," added Umballa, crossing his lips with his tongue, "place him
against a wall and shoot him if he is caught within the city. He is
mad, and therefore I am lenient. There is no white woman in the palace
or in the royal zenana. Off with him!"
"You lie, Durga Ram! You found her in the slave mart to-day."
Umballa shrugged and waved his hand. He could have had Bruce shot at
once, but it pleased him to dangle death before the eyes of his rival.
He was no fool; he saw the trend of affairs. This young white man
loved Kathlyn Hare. All the better, in view of what was to come.
Bruce was conducted to the gate and rudely pushed outside. He turned
savagely, but a dozen black officers convinced him that this time he
would meet death. Ah, where was Ali, and Ahmed, and the man Lal Singh,
who was to notify the English? He found Ali at camp, the chief mahout
having been conducted there in an improvised litter. He recounted his
experiences.
"I was helpless, Sahib."
"No more than I am, Ali. But be of good cheer; Umballa and I shall
meet soon, man to man."
"Allah is Allah; there is no God but God."
"And sometimes," said Bruce, moodily, "he watches over the innocent."
"Ahmed is at Hare Sahib's camp."
"Thanks, Ali; that's the best news I have heard yet. Ahmed will find a
way. Take care of yourself. I'm off!"
When Umballa appeared before the council their astonishment knew no
bounds. The clay tinted skin, the shaking hands, the disheveled
garments--what had happened to this schemer whom ill luck had made
their master?
He explained. "I went too near our prisoner. A flash of strength was
enough. They shall be flogged."
"But the woman!"
"Woman? She is a tiger-cat, and tiger-cats must sometimes be flogged.
It is my will. Now I have news for you. There is another sister,
younger and weaker. Our queen," and he salaamed ironically, "our queen
did not know that her father lived, and there I made my first mistake."
"But she will now submit to save him!"
"Ah, would indeed that were the case. But tiger-cats are always
tiger-cats, and nothing will bend this maid; she must be broken,
broken. It is my will," with a flash of fire in his eyes.
The council salaamed. Umballa's will must of necessity be theirs, hate
him darkly as they might.
The bungalow of Colonel Hare was something on the order of an armed
camp. Native animal keepers, armed with rifles, patrolled the
menagerie. No one was to pass the cordon without explaining frank his
business, whence he came, and whither he was bound.
By the knees of one of the sentries a little native child was playing.
From time to time the happy father would stoop and pat her head.
Presently there was a stir about camp. An elephant shuffled into the
clearing. He was halted, made to kneel, and Ahmed stepped out of the
howdah.
The little girl ran up to Ahmed joyfully and begged to be put into the
howdah. Smiling, Ahmed set her in the howdah, and the mahout bade the
elephant to rise, but, interested in some orders by Ahmed, left the
beast to his own devices. The child called and the elephant walked off
quietly. So long as he remained within range of vision no one paid any
attention to him. Finally he passed under a tree near the cages and
reached up for some leaves. The child caught hold of a limb and
gleefully crawled out upon it some distance beyond the elephant's
reach. Once there, she became frightened, not daring to crawl back.
She prattled "elephant talk," but the old fellow could not reach her.
The baboon in the near-by cage set up a chattering. The child ordered
the elephant to rise on his hind legs. He placed his fore legs on the
roof of the baboon's cage, which caved in, rather disturbing the
elephant's calm. He sank to the ground.
The baboon leaped through the opening and made off to test this
unexpected liberty. He was friendly and tame, but freedom was just
then paramount.
The elephant remained under the trees, as if pondering, while the child
began to cry loudly. One of the natives saw her predicament and
hastened away for assistance.
Achmed was greatly alarmed over the loss of the baboon. It was a camp
pet of Colonel Hare's and ran free in camp whenever the colonel was
there. He had captured it when a mere baby in British East Africa.
The troglodyte, with a strange reasoning yet untranslatable, loved the
colonel devotedly and followed him about like a dog and with a scent
far keener. So Ahmed and some of the keepers set off in search of the
colonel's pet.
He went about the search with only half a heart. Only a little while
before he had received the news of what had happened in the slave mart
that afternoon. It seemed incredible. To have her fall into Umballa's
hands thus easily, when he and Bruce Sahib had searched the jungle far
and wide! Well, she was alive; praise Allah for that; and where there
was life there was hope.
Later Kathlyn was standing under the cell window gazing at the yellow
sunset. Two hours had gone, and no sign of Umballa yet. She
shuddered. Had she been alone she would have hunted for something
sharp and deadly. But her father; not before him. She must wait. One
thing was positive and absolute: Umballa should never embrace her; she
was too strong and desperate.
"Kit!"
"Yes, father."
"I have a sharp piece of metal in my pocket. Could you . . . My God,
by my hand! . . . when he comes?"
"Yes, father; I am not afraid to die, and death seems all that remains.
I should bless you. He will be a tiger now."
"My child, God was good to give me a daughter like you."
She turned to him this time and pressed him to her heart.
"It grows dark suddenly," he said.
Kathlyn glanced toward the window.
"Why, it's a baboon!" she exclaimed.
"Jock, Jock!" cried her father excitedly.
The baboon chattered.
"Kit, it's Jock I used to tell you about. He is tame and follows me
about like a dog. Jock, poor Jock!"
"Father, have you a pencil?"
"A pencil?" blankly.
"Yes, yes! I can write a note and attach it to Jock. It's a chance."
"Good lord! and you're cool enough to think like that." The colonel
went through his pockets feverishly. "Thank God, here's an old stub!
But paper?"
Kathlyn tore off a broad blade of grass from her dress and wrote
carefully upon it. If it fell into the hands of the natives they would
not understand, If the baboon returned to camp . . . It made her weak
to realize how slender the chance was. She took the tabouret and
placed it beneath the window and stood upon it.
"Jock, here, Jock!"
The baboon gave her his paws. Deftly she tied the blade of grass round
his neck. Then she struck her hands together violently. The baboon
vanished, frightened at this unexpected treatment.
"He is gone."
The colonel did not reply, but began to examine his chains minutely.
"Kit, there's no getting me out of here without files. If there is any
rescue you go and return. Promise."
"I promise."
Then they sat down to wait.
And Ahmed in his search came to the river. Some natives were swimming
and sporting in the water. Ahmed put a question. Oh, yes, they had
seen the strange-looking ape (for baboons did not habitate this part of
the world); he had gone up one of the trees near by. Colonel Hare had
always used a peculiar whistle to bring Jock, and Ahmed resorted to
this device. Half an hour's perseverance rewarded him; and then he
found the blade of grass.
"Dungeon window by tree. Kathlyn."
That was sufficient for Ahmed. He turned the baboon over to the care
of one of his subordinates and hurried away to Bruce's camp, only to
find that he had gone to the colonel's. Away went Ahmed again,
tireless. He found Bruce pacing the bungalow frontage.
"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."
"Either my money or my life. In a month from now . . ."
"What?" asked Ahmed.
"Ah, I must not tell." Pundita stole close to Ramabai.
Ahmed smiled.
"We have elephants but a little way outside the city. We have pulling
chains. Let us be off at once. It is not necessary to enter the city,
for this window, Ahmed says, is on the outside. We can easily approach
the wall in a roundabout way without being seen. Have you money?"
From his belt Ramabai produced some gold.
"That will be sufficient. To you, then, the bribing. The men, should
there be any, will hark to you. Come!" concluded Bruce, impatient to
be off.
"And I?" timidly asked Pundita.
"You will seek Hare Sahib's camp," said Ramabai. "This is a good
opportunity to get you away also."
Ahmed nodded approvingly.
Pundita kissed her husband; for these two loved each other, a
circumstance almost unknown in this dark mysterious land of many gods.
"Pundita, you will remain at the camp in readiness to receive us. At
dawn we shall leave for the frontier. And when we return it will be
with might and reprisal. Umballa shall die the death of a dog."
Ramabai clenched his hands.
"But first," cooed Ahmed, "he shall wear out the soles of his pig's
feet in the treadmill. It is written. I am a Mohammedan. Yet
sometimes these vile fakirs have the gift of seeing into the future.
And me has seen . . ." He paused.
"Seen what?" demanded Bruce.
"I must not put false hopes in your hearts. But this I may say: Trials
will come, bitter and heart burning: a storm, a whirlwind, a fire; but
peace is after that. But Allah uses us as his tools. Let us haste!"
"And I?" said Ramabai, sending a piercing glance at Ahmed.
But Ahmed smiled and shook his head. "Wait and see, Ramabai. Some day
they will call you the Fortunate. Let us hurry. My Mem-sahib waits."
"What did this fakir see?" whispered Bruce as he donned his burnoose
again.
"Many wonderful things; but perhaps the fakir lied. They all lie. Yet
. . . hurry!"
The quartet passed out of the city unmolested. Ramabai's house was
supposed to be under strict surveillance; but the soldiers, due to
largess, were junketing in the bazaars. Shortly they came up to two
elephants with howdahs. They were the best mannered of the half dozen
owned or rented by Colonel Hare. Mahouts sat astride. Rifles reposed
in the side sheaths. This was to be no light adventure. There might
be a small warfare.
Pundita flung her arms around Ramabai, and he consoled her. She was
then led away to the colonel's camp.
"Remember," Ramabai said at parting, "she saved both our lives. We owe
a debt."
"Go, my Lord; and may all the gods--no, the Christian God--watch over
you!"
"Forward!" growled Ahmed. First, though, he saw to it that the pulling
chains were well wrapped in cotton blankets. There must be no sound to
warn others of their approach.
"Ahmed," began Bruce.
"Leave all things to me, Sahib," interrupted Ahmed, who assumed a
strange authority at times that confused and puzzled Bruce. "It is my
Mem-sahib, and I am one of the fingers of the long arm of the British
Raj. And there are books in Calcutta in which my name is written high.
No more!"
Through the moon-frosted jungle the two elephants moved silently. A
drove of wild pigs scampered across the path, and the wild peacock
hissed from the underbrush sleepily. All silence again. Several times
Ahmed halted, straining his ears. It seemed incredible to Bruce that
the enormous beasts could move so soundlessly. It was a part of their
business; they were hunters of their kind.
At length they came out into the open at the rear of the prison walls.
Here Ramabai got down, and went in search of any sentries. He returned
almost at once with the good news that there was none.
The marble walls shimmered like clusters of dull opals. What misery
had been known behind their crumbling beauty!
Ahmed marked the tree and raised his hand as a sign.
"Bruce Sahib!" he called.
"Yes, Ahmed. I'll risk it first."
Bruce moved the elephant to the barred window. His heart beat wildly.
He leaned down from his howdah and strove to peer within.
"Kathlyn Hare?" he whispered.
"Who is it?"
"Bruce."
"Father, father!" Bruce heard her cry; "they have found us!"
Ahmed heard the call; and he sighed as one who had Allah to thank. God
was great and Mahomet was His prophet.
"Listen," said Bruce. "We shall hook chains to the bars and pull them
out, without noise if possible. The moment they give . . . have you
anything to stand on?"
"Yes, a tabouret."
"That will serve. You stand on it, and I'll pull you up and through.
Then your father."
"Father is in chains."
"Ahmed, he is in chains. What in God's name shall we do?"
"Return for me later," said Hare. "Don't bother about me. Get Kit
away, and quickly. Umballa may return at any moment. To work, to
work, Bruce, and God bless you!"
They flew to the task. Round the hooks Ahmed had wrapped cloths to
ward against the clink of metal against metal. The hooks were deftly
engaged. The chains grew taut. So far there was but little noise.
The elephants leaned against the chains; the bars bent and sprang
suddenly from their ancient sockets.
Kathlyn was free.