"What is it?" asked Avery in a whisper.
"Something is following us, sahib."
"Man or beast?"
"I cannot yet tell, sahib."
They stood motionless several minutes, but, hearing nothing more, pushed on again.
Just before reaching the path, where they had left their friends, Avery caught the rustling of the vegetation so near him that he started with a shudder of terror.
"I believe it is a tiger," he said in the same guarded tone to the guide.
"Wait where you are, sahib, until I learn."
The native was gone but a few minutes when he came back disappointed: he had not been able to ascertain anything more definite of the danger.
A few minutes later they rejoined the missionary and his family, who were growing nervous over the absence of their friends. The journey was resumed in the same order as before.