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Next, the curtains were thrown back, and Kathlyn stood revealed Near

her a leopard strained ily She was like the woo And

yet to him she seemed less beautiful than when he paid five thousand

rupees for her in the slave mart He waited

"Umballa, write an order for ain time

"You shall be liberated at the same time as this leopard You have had

experience with leopards Do you not recall the onethe life of your benefactor?"

"I will free hie for yourself"

"Write"

She offered the pen to hied and made no effort to take it

"Very well," said Kathlyn "Leave us" Once alone she said: "Can you

run as fast as this cat?" She approached and began at the knots of the

ropes

He saw by the thin determined line of her lips that she meant to do

exactly as she threatened He concluded then to sign the paper His

er could reach the city

"I will sign," he said "For the present you have the best ofto hold you as hostage, Umballa When my father arrives

we intend to escort you to the frontier and there leave you"