"And why?" asked Harkins.
"Our eyes will be of more service; Luchman will find out something about the family, for they must have left signs in the jungle that will give some clew."
The situation of the three may be described as being in a country cultivated by ryots or small farmers. In the distance could be seen the low huts of the native village, and the well from which the supply of water to irrigate the fields was drawn. The only people visible were a couple of villagers just starting out to begin their toil in the fields that stretched from their dwellings to the very border of the jungle.
The vegetation surrounding them displayed the prodigious exuberance which amazes the traveler who visits India for the first time. The jungle looked impenetrable, and would have closed about a regiment of men like the sea over a sinking ship, so that the wonder remained as to why the three Europeans left the cover, if indeed they had done so.
"There ought to be signs here," said Avery, addressing the guide, "that will help you. I have read that the American Indian will trail his foe over the prairie, mountain and forest, no matter how light his step, and the Hindoo ought to be able to do the same."
Had the latter received the special training of the aborigines of America, there could have been little doubt of his attaining the same wonderful keenness of the eye.
As it was, Luchman and his friends scrutinized the ground as closely as they could. They saw that the soil and undergrowth had been impressed by passing feet. There was no doubt, therefore, of the recent presence of their friends, but it was important to know whether others had also visited the spot.
It was impossible to answer that question, but the probabilities were that strangers had been there very recently.
This was an alarming conclusion, for it showed the natives must have found the place of concealment within a short time after the guide departed, a fact involving some occurrences that even Luchman could not explain.
There were no evidences of anything like a struggle, and he was sure he would have heard the firing of guns had there been any.