The latter walked some distance through the jungle, which was so dense that they were obliged to follow one of the numerous paths made by the animals in going to and coming from the water.  The doctor, by virtue of his superior knowledge, took the lead, with his daughter close behind, and Jack Everson bringing up the rear.  They were silent and thoughtful, for their spirits were oppressed by a deep gloom and the feeling that something dreadful impended.

Not far off the path which they were following expanded into a natural clearing two or three rods in extent.  When they reached the spot the doctor halted and faced his companions.

“I now know where we are,” he said in an undertone; “we have to follow this path a little way back, when we enter a hilly and rough country, where the jungle is more open.  It is cut up by numerous trails like this, most of which have been made by the feet of wild animals, but one of them leads northward and finally enters a highway, which if followed far enough will land us in the Nepaul country.”

“I assume from what you have said that it will not be safe to stick to this road?” said Jack.

“No; for two or three days while travelling over it we shall be in constant danger; our task will be to make our way over it without attracting the notice of any of our enemies who are scouring the country for us.”

“Is the thing possible?”

“I should not undertake it did I not think so; the danger will threaten for probably a hundred miles, though growing steadily less as we proceed.”

“Will it not be safer to do our travelling by night?” asked the daughter.

“That is what I mean to do after reaching the more plainly marked path, which connects with the highway.  I see no risk in pushing through the jungle by day, since the only foes we are likely to encounter are four-footed ones.  If we meet any such we must refrain from firing, since the reports of our guns will be sure to draw attention to us.  I mean, of course,” explained the doctor, “that our weapons are not to be appealed to unless there is no escape otherwise, as was the case with the tiger.”

While he was speaking, Mary gave a faint gasp and caught his arm.  She and Jack were facing the point toward which his back was turned.  Seeing that it was something behind him that had startled both, the doctor turned his head.  As if to emphasize the words just spoken, he saw an immense spotted leopard, motionless in the trail not more than fifty feet away.  Evidently he was trotting to the stream, when he caught sight of the three persons, stopped short, raised his head and stared wonderingly at them.

The leopard shares the reputation of the tiger for deadly ferocity and daring.  When more than 20,000 persons are killed in India every year by wild animals and serpents, it will be found that the leopard is one of the most active among these factors of death, and holds his own well up with the tiger.