Part 55 (1/2)
She went farther from the camp than she really intended, and ca its cubs while they growled and tore at the dead kid Kathlyn realized that she was unarmed, and that the leopard was between her and the cae below her; so toward the huts she ran
The leopard stood still for a while, eying her doubtfully, then ive chase She had tasted blood, but had not eaten
Meantiot her loss in her interest in the bullock cart with its grotesque lure; and she climbed into the cart just as Kathlyn appeared, followed by the excited leopard She saw the child and snatched her instinctively from the cart The leopard leaped into the cart at the rear, while Kathlyn ran toward the chief's hut, into which she staggered without the for her advent
The father of the child had no need to question, though he marveled at the white skin and dress of this visitor, who had doubtless saved his child fro the door shut and dropped the bar Next he sought his gun and fired through a crack in the door He htened the leopard away
And later, Bruce, ith the anxiety over the disappearance of Kathlyn, caone forth to hunt the leopard, and the leopard had hunted hi the ht the leopard by the back of the neck and by a hind leg and swung her into the sea
The chief was severely et to his feet and walk The white woman had saved his child and the white man had saved him He would remember
Thus the leopard quite innocently served a purpose, for all her deadly intentions; the chief was filled with gratitude
When the colonel and the others came into view the former seized Kathlyn by the shoulders and shook her hysterically
”In God's name, Kit, don't you know any better than to wander off alone? Do you want to drive me mad?”
”Why, father, I wasn't afraid!”
”Afraid? Who said anything about your being afraid? Didn't you know that ere being followed? It is Uives you a start!”
”Colonel!” said Bruce gently
”I know, Bruce, I sound harsh But you were tearing your hair, too”
”Forgive
”I did not think But Umballa?”
”Yes, Ue, and Ra to Umballa Whether he is alone or with many, I do not know; but this I do knoe ain Now, I' to quiz the chief”
But the chief said that no person described had passed or been seen
No one but a holy one to the island in the sloop
”For what?”
The chief sold and precious stones?” demanded the colonel
The chief's eyes widened There were others who knew, then? Bruce noticed his surprise
”Colonel, show the good chief the royal seal on your document”
The colonel did so, and the chief salaahtily bewildered, and gradually he was made to understand that he had been vilely tricked
”To the boats!” he shouted, as if suddenly awakening ”We may be too late, Lords! He said he was a holy man, and I believed”