A caution scarce needed, for they too stood listening, still as death, with hushed voices, and hearts only heard in their dull sad beatings.
But for a short time were they thus occupied; altogether not more than five minutes.

They still detected the crackling of branches which indicated the passage of the ape through the tree-tops.
All at once these sounds suddenly ceased, or rather were they drowned out by sounds louder and of a very different intonation.

It was a chorus of cries, in which barking, grunting, growling, coughing, cachinnation and the squalling of children seemed all to have a share.
There were evidently more than one individual contributing to this strange _fracas_ of the forest; and the noises continued to come apparently from the same place.
"Allah be thank!" exclaimed Saloo, in a subdued tone.

"He home at lass.
Him family makee welcome.

Maybe chile be live yet.