There was a wild stampede--men tumbled over and over each other in their
efforts to escape from the terrible presence, and then, getting to their
feet, started off at full speed. For a moment the boys had lain paralyzed
with the sudden advent of the terrible man-eater, and then had, like the
rest, darted away.

"To the jungle!" Ned exclaimed; and in an instant they had plunged into
the undergrowth, and were forcing their way at full speed through it. Man-
eating tigers are rarely found in pairs, and there was little fear that
another was lurking in the wood; and even had such been the case, they
would have preferred death in that form to being murdered in cold blood by
the enemy. Presently they struck on a track leading through the wood, and
followed it, until in five minutes they emerged at the other side. As they
did so they heard the report of firearms in the direction of their last
halting-place, and guessed that the peasants were firing at hazard, in
hopes of frightening the tiger into dropping his prey. As to their own
flight, it was probable that so far they had been unthought of. The first
object of the fugitives was to get as far as possible from their late
captors, who would at daybreak be sure to organize a regular hunt for
them, and accordingly they ran straight ahead until in three-quarters of
an hour they came into a wide road. Then, exhausted with their exertions,
they threw themselves down, and panted for breath.

Dick was the first to speak. "What on earth are we to do now, Ned? These
uniforms will betray us to the first person we meet, and we have no means
of disguise."

"We must get as far away as we can before daylight, Dick, and then hide
up. Sooner or later we must throw ourselves on the hospitality of some
one, and take our chance. This is evidently the main road to Cawnpore,