ke but little; indeed I soon fell into a state of dreamy
unconsciousness, which was not sleep, though at the same time I could
not be said to be awake. All sorts of strange sights passed before me,
and strange noises sounded in my ears, though I was sensible that they
were not realities. I saw horses galloping before me, some with riders,
and others wild steeds with flowing manes. Troops of Indians came by in
their feathers and gay dresses, and soldiers marched past with colours
flying and bands playing; and hunters, and dogs, and animals of every
description. Indeed there appeared no end to the phantom shapes which
met my sight.

In vain I endeavoured to arouse myself. A weight I could not throw off
pressed me to the ground. I cannot more particularly describe my
sensations; I only know that they were very dreadful. I was aware that
my father was near me, and that I wished to preserve him from some
danger; but I thought sometimes that we were at sea on a raft; at
others, that we were sliding down a snowy mountain, and that, though I
tried to catch some of the snow in my hand to cool my tongue, it
vanished before it reached my mouth; and then I felt that we were
sinking into the earth, which, as we sunk, grew hotter and hotter, till
it scorched my skin, and I shrieked out with the pain. I started and
lifted up my head; a pair of fierce glowing eyes met my view--a huge
jaguar or tiger stood before me! We eyed each other for a moment with a
fixed gaze. I was more astonished than alarmed; for owing to the state
of stupor from which I had been aroused, I had not time to be aware of
the peril in which we were placed. Fortunately, when I lay down, I had
taken my pistol from my belt, and placed it by my side, ready to grasp
it at a moment's warning. My first impulse was to seize it; and while
the jaguar still stood apparently considering whether he should spring
upon me and carry me off to the mountains to serve him as a banquet, I
lifted the weapon and fired it directly in his face. Startled by so
unexpected a reception, instead of springing forward, he turned round
with a roar of rage and pain, and galloped off across the desert.

The report of the pistol aroused my father, who could scarcely believe
what had occurred. I regretted not having been able to kill the brute;
for, driven to extremity as we were, we should eagerly have drunk his
blood to attempt to quench our thirst. I reloaded my pistol in the
expe