s entailed in a _shikar_, however insignificant.

To lose a sahib would be bad enough, but to see a mem-sahib seized and
carried off before your very eyes, well, by the power of all the gods,
that would mean ruin if not death; for, being a very wise old man,
however good the news, he always prepared for the worst.

"I dislike these clearings at the setting of the sun, O defender of the
poor!" he explained to the major, who kept his wife close and was
beginning to wish he had not brought her, even if she were far and away
the better shot of the two. "The trouble is upon one without even the
warning of a cracking twig. Neither have I any love for the temple,
for behold! one, even a great _guru_ up to within a few moons of this
day, lived there in worship, making sacrifice to the Black One. Yet is
he not there to welcome us. Maybe he has fallen victim to the _bhoot_
of the great cat whom he once fed."

Luckily for their peace of mind the sahib log only understood a quarter
of a man's lament, and did not trouble their heads about ghosts.

"Aye, verily am I bewitched to allow of such tarrying, likewise to let
such fear enter my head," he muttered to himself, and as a cloak to his
misgivings sharply ordered ten men to proceed to the centre of the
clearing in a semi-circle, and there await further orders.

They did as they were ordered, and were standing motionless when
suddenly without a sound a great striped body leapt straight from the
shadows of the surrounding trees upon a boy who had out-distanced his
companions.

The instant double report of Jan Cuxson's rifle deadened the lad's
horrible screaming and the growling of the wounded beast as it crouched
flat, almost hidden behind the human body in the undergrowth, with tail
lashing, and great claws tearing the boy's shoulder, as the rest of the
terrified coolies ran shouting back to the party.

"Fire, sahib," commanded the _shikari_.

"Can't," tersely replied Major Talbot. "I shall kill the boy if I do;
the brute's making a shield of his body. I'll creep round to the flank
and----"

"Fire, sahib," urged the native. "Better to kill the lad as he is
badly wounded," then added, "Tesch," as Talbot shook his head. "Stay
here, sahib, to protect the mem-sahibs, I will creep to----"

"_God_!"

The word simultaneously escaped the three men as they and Edna Talbot
raised their rifles.

Leonie was walking across the space, neither hastening nor hesitating,
towar