Margaret cut off a huge piece of venison, and ran to the window and threw it out to the green eyes of fire.

They darted on to it with a savage snarl; and there was a sound of rending and crunching: at this moment, a hound uttered a bay so near and loud it rang through the house; and the three at the window shrank together.

Then the leopard feared for her supper, and glided swiftly and stealthily away with it towards the woods, and the very next moment horses and men and dogs came helter-skelter past the window, and followed her full cry.

Martin and his companions breathed again: the leopard was swift, and would not be caught within a league of their house.

They grasped hands.