Battle Battle Battle

"She has lost us; but that will not matter. Ordinarily I should be
wild with anxiety; but to-day Kathlyn may go where she will, and
nothing but awe and reverence will follow her. Besides, she has her
revolver."

At the same time Kathlyn was fighting vigorously to get free of the
mob, Winnie was struggling with Pundita, striving to wrench the dagger
from the grief-stricken wife's hand.

"No, no, Pundita!"

"Let me go! My lord is dead, and I wish to follow!"

As the latter's eyes opened wildly Winnie heard a pounding at the door.
She flung open the door.

"Pundita?" cried the man.

Winnie caught him by the sleeve and dragged him into the chamber.

"Highness," he cried, "he lives!" And he recounted the startling
events of the morning.

"They live!" cried Pundita, and covered her face.

To return to Kathlyn: by and by she was able to slip into a doorway,
and the bawling rabble passed on down the narrow street. The house was
deserted, and the hallway and what had been a booth was filled with
rubbish. Kathlyn, as she leaned breathlessly against the door, felt it
give. And very glad she was of this knowledge a moment later, when two
lions galloped into the street, their manes stiff, their tails arched.
Doubtless, they were badly frightened.

Kathlyn reached for the revolver she carried and fired at the animals,
not expecting to hit one of them, but hoping that the noise of the
firearm would swerve them into the passage across the way. Instead,
they came straight to where she stood.