"A black leopard is the most vicious thing on earth," Finnerty said in English, his gun holding guard, "and one wounded and in a cave is a matter for consideration."
"He won't come out; that's sure," Swinton commented.
"Not before night—if we're here—and we can't afford the time to wait that long."
"Smoke him out," Swinton suggested.
"Difficult; smoke won't go where you want it to, but I'll ask Mahadua if it's possible."
"The cave is too big," the shikari replied to the query.
"How big?" Swinton asked with sudden interest.
"I don't know," and the native's eyes were evasive. "I have heard it said that the cave went far in, but I have no desire to go into the home of the spirits."
"My Rampore hounds would draw him," Finnerty said thoughtfully; "but I don't want to get them mauled—perhaps killed."
The name Rampore conveyed to Mahadua the sahib's meaning, though the English words were unintelligible. "The Banjara would send in dogs if the sahib would pay him well," he suggested.