One of the Ghoorka sentinels, in the meantime, seeing him on his feet, had approached him. 'Does the Rajah Sahib require anything?' he asked.
'I want to know if Bâl Narîn has been seen,' said Tom.
'Bâl Narîn has not come back to camp,' answered the man.
'Then, of course, he has not been seen,' said Tom impatiently. 'Have you heard anything?'
'We have heard nothing but the beasts of the jungle. Purtab killed a serpent. It would have stung him. The gods grant that it may not bring misfortune!'
'The gods have brought Purtab good fortune, my friend. His life is better than a snake's—to himself at least.'
'That is as it may be, Sahib,' said the man enigmatically.
'Settle it your own way, but, in the meantime, listen to me! I don't like this lengthened absence of Bâl Narîn's, and I fear some evil has come to him. I will go and look round.'
'If you go far, Sahib, you will never return. This is the devil's hunting-ground. Men in company they spare. Solitary men they destroy.'
'Then how about Bâl Narîn?'