right across from
one tree to another, a distance of about thirty feet, when again it
gathered itself together for another flying leap to the ground,
alighting with singular ease within a few paces of the spot where
the dead leopard was lying.

With outstretched neck and twitching nose, it stepped to its mate,
sniffed, then threw its head up with bristling hair and emitted a
terrible scream of rage, ending in a harsh cough.

As Compton pressed the trigger it bounded aside, as if it had seen
him, and an instant later had reached the trunk of a tree.

"Where is it?"

"Went up that tree," said Venning, rising and stretching his neck.

"You take that side, I this."

They moved slowly, finger on trigger and eyes swiftly scanning the
branches, but they made the circuit of the tree without a glimpse of
the yellow and black body that had so swiftly come and gone.

"Where the dickens has it gone?"

"Maybe into a hole up there."

They stood staring up in bewilderment, but there was not a movement
anywhere, and presently they wandered around examining the trees
near. The beast had vanished as completely as if it had been no
bigger than a fly.

"Well," said Compton, with a short laugh, "I'm going to take the
skin off the dead one, before it disappears too."

They set to work stripping the skin off the muscular body, stopping
often to listen and glance around. The work, however, was completed
in peace, and then, suddenly remembering their position, they
hastened to retrace their steps. Slowly they hit off the trail, and
finally arrived as far as the place where Venning had first missed
his bundle.

"It's after us, Dick!"--in a whisper.

"Where?"

"Up among the branches. I saw it spring across as I looked back."

They looked up into the trees, and then at the dark shadows before
them, for the afternoon was slipping away.

"I don't like it. The beggar may spring on us at any moment."

"Or it may wait bill it is too dark for us to see."

"Yes, by Jove!"

"It is bad; but I am afraid we do not know the worst."

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Hume must have missed us a long time back; and he would have
come after us if----"

"I see," said Compton, gravely. "You think that something has
happened to them?"

Venning nodded. "It's all my fault, Dick."

Compton was glancing up into the trees. "We must dispose of that
brute first. But how?"

"I have an idea," said Venning, after a long pause. "One of us will
go