When they reached the spot the doctor halted and faced his companions.
"I now know where we are," he said in an undertone; "we have to follow this path a little way back, when we enter a hilly and rough country, where the jungle is more open.

It is cut up by numerous trails like this, most of which have been made by the feet of wild animals, but one of them leads northward and finally enters a highway, which if followed far enough will land us in the Nepaul country." "I assume from what you have said that it will not be safe to stick to this road ?" said Jack.
"No; for two or three days while travelling over it we shall be in constant danger; our task will be to make our way over it without attracting the notice of any of our enemies who are scouring the country for us." "Is the thing possible ?" "I should not undertake it did I not think so; the danger will threaten for probably a hundred miles, though growing steadily less as we proceed." "Will it not be safer to do our travelling by night ?" asked the daughter.
"That is what I mean to do after reaching the more plainly marked path, which connects with the highway.

I see no risk in pushing through the jungle by day, since the only foes we are likely to encounter are four-footed ones.

If we meet any such we must refrain from firing, since the reports of our guns will be sure to draw attention to us.

I mean, of course," explained the doctor, "that our weapons are not to be appealed to unless there is no escape otherwise, as was the case with the tiger." While he was speaking, Mary gave a faint gasp and caught his arm.