But the man whose wife had been the last victim came up at the moment, and led an irresistible rush which bore back the hermit as well as his comrades, who had crowded round him, and in another minute the maniac was almost hacked to pieces.
"I did not kill him--thank God!" muttered Van der Kemp as he left the market-place, where the relatives of those who had been murdered were wailing over their dead.
After this event even the professor was anxious to leave the place, so that early next morning the party resumed their journey, intending to make a short stay at the next village.

Failing to reach it that night, however, they were compelled to encamp in the woods.

Fortunately they came upon a hill which, although not very high, was sufficiently so, with the aid of watch-fires, to protect them from tigers.

From the summit, which rose just above the tree-tops, they had a magnificent view of the forest.

Many of the trees were crowned with flowers among which the setting sun shone for a brief space with glorious effulgence.
Van der Kemp and Nigel stood together apart from the others, contemplating the wonderful scene.
"What must be the dwelling-place of the Creator Himself when his footstool is so grand ?" said the hermit in a low voice.
"That is beyond mortal ken," said Nigel.
"True--true.