He might be three or four miles away.
He at once drew out his revolver, which he always carried strapped to his belt, and discharged the six chambers, waiting for half a minute between each shot, and listening intently for an answer to his signal.
None came.

The stillness of the wood was unbroken, and Frank felt that he must have wandered far indeed from his starting place, and that he was completely lost.

His first impulse was to start off instantly at the top of his speed, but a moment's thought convinced him that this would be useless.

He had not an idea of the direction which he should pursue.
Besides the sun was sinking, twilight is short in the tropics, and in half an hour it would be as dark as midnight in the forest.

Remembering his adventure with the leopard he determined to climb into a tree and pass the night there.